Patent ID: 6604751
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: B62K,F16F

Abstract:
An acceleration-sensitive dampener, comprising:a cylinder at least partially defining a first chamber containing a source of fluid; a piston movable with respect to said first chamber; a second chamber defined by said dampener; a first flow circuit connecting said first chamber and said second chamber; a shaft defining a first surface; and an inertial mass defining a second surface facing said first surface, said first surface and said second surface cooperating to define a first annular passage and a second annular passage, said first annular passage having a first portion defining a first cross-sectional flow area and a second portion defining a second cross-sectional flow area greater than said first cross-sectional flow area, said shaft defining an opening communicating with said source of fluid, said shaft and said inertia mass having a first position wherein said fluid flows at a first rate of flow through said opening and said first annular passage and said second annular passage straddle said opening, and a second position wherein said fluid flows at a second rate of flow through said opening greater than said first rate of flow and said first annular passage and said second annular passage both extend to one side of said opening and wherein in said first position, fluid flows from said second cross-sectional area to said first cross-sectional area and, for a given fluid pressure through said opening, fluid flow through said first cross-sectional area defines a first velocity and fluid flow through said second cross-sectional area defines a second velocity, wherein said first velocity is greater than said second velocity, so that said first surface and said second surface produce, in the presence of forces tending to push said first surface off-center with respect to said second surface, forces which tend to center said first surface with respect to said second surface.