Patent ID: 6253889
Filing Date: 2001-07-03
Classification: F16F

Abstract:
An acceleration sensitive shock absorber comprising:a tubular housing for connection to one portion of a vehicle;a piston assembly in the housing comprising a piston dividing the housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and a piston rod for connection to another portion of the vehicle, one of said portions being a chassis of the vehicle and the other portion being a wheel of the vehicle;means for passing shock absorber fluid between the upper chamber and the lower chamber with a restricted flow rate during compression of the shock absorber;means for passing shock absorber fluid between the upper chamber and the lower chamber with a restricted flow rate during extension of the shock absorber;a port for providing an alternative fluid flow path during one of extension or compression of the shock absorber;a movable inertial mass in the shock absorber for opening the port during vertical acceleration of a portion of the shock absorber for increasing flow of fluid, the inertial mass surrounding a cylindrical member;a cylindrical surface inside the inertial mass adjacent to the cylindrical member; andan increased diameter relief portion inside the inertial mass sufficiently close to the cylindrical surface to avoid unbalanced pressure increase at an end of the inertial mass that would open the port in absence of acceleration of a selected portion of the vehicle.