Patent ID: 8950558
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
1. A damper comprising: a housing bounding a primary chamber and a compensation chamber, the primary chamber comprising a first gas compartment and a control compartment each having a volume, the compensation chamber comprising a second gas compartment and an overflow compartment; an expansion piston movably disposed within the primary chamber so as to separate the first gas compartment from the control compartment, the volume of the first gas compartment and the control compartment each being adjustable based on movement of the expansion piston, the expansion piston being movable between a first position and a second position; a compensation piston movably disposed within the compensation chamber so as to separate the second gas compartment from the overflow compartment, the volume of the second gas compartment and the overflow compartment each being adjustable based on movement of the compensation piston; a gas disposed within the first and second gas compartments; hydraulic fluid disposed within the control compartment and the overflow compartment; a piston rod having a first end slidably disposed within the control compartment, the piston rod being movable between a compressed position wherein a portion of the piston rod is advanced into the control compartment and a retracted position wherein the portion of the piston rod is retracted out of the control compartment; a first fluid path in fluid communication with the overflow compartment so that when the expansion piston is in the first position, the expansion piston blocks fluid communication between the control compartment and the overflow compartment by way of the first fluid path and when the expansion piston is in the second position, the hydraulic fluid can freely flow from the control compartment to the overflow compartment by way of the first fluid path; a second fluid path extending from the overflow compartment to the control compartment; and a pressure valve operable between an open position wherein the hydraulic fluid can flow from the overflow compartment to the control compartment by way of the second fluid path and a closed position wherein the pressure valve precludes the hydraulic fluid from flowing from the overflow compartment to the control compartment by way of the second fluid path.