Patent ID: 6216830
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
A shock absorber including a piston and rod assembly slidably disposed within a cylindrically closed housing filled with fluid where an attenuating force is generated by fluid resistence caused by the fluid moving through orifices in the piston during expansion and compression of the shock absorber, the shock absorber comprising:a plurality of valves formed to horizontally move on the upper surfaces of the piston to thereby open and close the orifices;guide means disposed between each valve and the piston, wherein each valve is constrained to move horizontally inwardly and outwardly with respect to the piston rod; andfluid force driven actuating means for horizontally moving each valve responsive to fluid forces acting over a surface of the valve, wherein the fluid force is formed by movement of the piston in the housing during expansion or compression of the shock absorber.