Patent ID: 6213261
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B60G,F16F

Abstract:
A hydropneumatic spring, comprising:a fluid filled cylinder having a first end and a second end;a piston rod having a first piston rod end guidably inserted in said cylinder through said first end of said cylinder;a piston having an outer surface and connected to said first piston rod end of said piston rod and axially movably mounted in said cylinder for axial movement with said piston rod in said cylinder, said piston dividing said cylinder into a first working space between said piston and said first end of said cylinder and a second working space between said piston and said second end of said cylinder;a first spring energy store device hydraulically connected to said second working space via a first valve device for altering a force-deflection progressivity chartacteristic of said hydropneumatic spring;a second spring energy store device hydraulically connected to said second working space via a second valve device for altering a force-deflection progressivity chartacteristic of said hydropneumatic spring; anda bypass comprising a channel arranged in a bypass area axially extending between a first store switchover position and a second store switch-over position, said channel being operatively arranged in said cylinder for hydraulically connecting said first working space with said second working space when said piston is positioned in said bypass area between said first store switch-over position and said second store switch-over position, wherein said first working space and said second working space are hydraulically separated such that said first working space is connected solely to said first spring energy store device and said second working space is connected solely to said second spring energy store device when said piston is positioned outside of said bypass area.