Patent ID: 6491313
Filing Date: 2002-12-10
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
A variable damper assembly comprising:a cylinder which forms a chamber containing a fixed amount of fluid; a piston which is slidably disposed within said chamber and which is effective to divide said chamber into a first side and a second side; a biasing spring in combination with a second piston which are disposed within said chamber and which are effective to pressurize said amount of fluid; and a variable orifice valve which is fluidly coupled to said first side and said second side of said chamber and which allows a certain amount of said pressurized fluid to flow between said first and said second sides of said chamber, said variable orifice valve having a variable volume fluid flow path which is effective to selectively increase and decrease the fluid flow rate between said first and second sides of said chamber, thereby selectively altering the damping characteristics of said damper assembly.