Shock absorber

Abstract: A shock absorber comprises a cylinder assembly (10) defining a working chamber (14) filled with a hydraulic working fluid and disposed therein a piston (18), and a fluid reservoir chamber (16) filled with the hydraulic working fluid and a pneumatic working fluid, a communication path for connecting the working chamber (14) and the fluid reservoir chamber (16) for fluid communication therebetween, and a check and flow restriction assembly disposed within the communication path for selectively establishing and blocking fluid communication between the working chamber and the fluid reservoir chamber, the check and seal assembly includes a check means (56) and a flow restriction means arranged in series, the flow restriction means permitting pneumatic and hydraulic fluid flow directed to the fluid reservoir chamber during piston bounding stroke and providing flow restriction for the hydraulic fluid flow, and the check means blocking fluid communication between the fluid reservoir chamber and the working chamber during piston rebounding stroke and permitting hydraulic fluid flow during the piston bounding stroke.

Description: The present invention relates to a shock absorber for an automotive suspension system. More specifically, the invention relates to a seal structure for a shock absorber for preventing a gaseous state working fluid in a fluid reservoir from leaking into a working chamber. Japanese Patent First (unexamined) Publication (Tokkai) Showa 58-156739 discloses a shock absorber which has coaxially defined inner and outer cylinders defining a fluid reservoir chamber in which hydraulic working fluid and pneumatic working fluid are filled, which fluid reservoir chamber is defined between the inner and outer cylinders. The disclosed shock absorber has a path for establishing a working chamber filled with a hydraulic working fluid and a fluid reservoir chamber. A seal structure is provided in the path for permitting hydraulic fluid flow from the working chamber to the fluid reservoir and blocking pneumatic fluid flow from the fluid reservoir to the working chamber. In the conventional construction of the seal structure for such a type of the shock absorber, a seal member is provided for permitting and blocking fluid communication. Namely, in general, the hydraulic fluid pressure in the working chamber is higher than the pneumatic fluid pressure in the fluid reservoir chamber, and, alternatively, in the piston rebounding stroke, the pneumatic pressure in the fluid reservoir becomes higher than the hydraulic fluid pressure in the working chamber. Therefore, in the usual construction of the seal structure as disclosed in the Japanese Patent First Publication 58-156739 , one or more grooves are formed on the seal member so that part of hydraulic working fluid in the working chamber can flow into the fluid reservoir only in the piston bounding stroke. In such conventional seal structure, various drawbacks have been encountered. For example, when the seal member establishes the gas tight seal by face-to-face contact with a constructional seat member to seat thereof. Substantially high surface accuracy of the mating surfaces of the seal member and the seat member are required. On the other hand, when the seal member is formed of a resin material, wearing of the resin seal member will cause leakage of the pneumatic working fluid into the working chamber to cause aeration. FR-A-2522099 describes a two-chamber shock absorber in which an annular check valve member is provided within a venting space around the piston rod. Recesses are provided in the upper end face of the annular check valve member to permit the flow of hydraulic fluid from the inner working chamber of the shock absorber during outward movement of the piston rod. Alternatively, a recess may be provided in the annular projection which the annular check valve member abuts during outward movement of the piston rod. FR-A-2524098 describes a two-chamber shock absorber in which an annular high pressure seal that is a tight fit on the piston rod is permitted limited axial movement between two piston rod guide rings. Axially throughgoing grooves are formed in the outer edge of the seal and the upper guide ring. Gas trapped in the working chamber can leak up between the lower guide ring and the piston rod and then through the grooves in the seal and the upper guide ring. Reverse flow of hydraulic or pneumatic fluid is prevented by a gland seal that engages the upper portion of the working chamber wall. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shock absorber which can successfully prevent a pneumatic working fluid from leaking into the working chamber at any mode of operation of the shock absorber. According to the present invention there is provided a shock absorber comprising: a cylinder assembly defining a working chamber filled with a hydraulic working fluid and a fluid reservoir chamber filled with the hydraulic working fluid and a pneumatic working fluid; a piston disposed within the working chamber and connected to a piston rod; a communication path for connecting said working chamber and said fluid reservoir chamber for fluid communication therebetween; and a check and flow restriction assembly disposed within said communication path for selectively establishing and blocking fluid communication between said working chamber and said fluid reservoir chamber, said check and flow restriction assembly including a check means and a flow restriction means arranged in series, said flow restriction means permitting pneumatic and hydraulic fluid flow directed to said fluid reservoir chamber during a piston bounding stroke and providing flow restriction for the pneumatic and hydraulic fluid flow, said flow restriction means including a seal ring having an inner periphery, the general surface of which inner periphery is maintained in sealing contact with the outer periphery of said piston rod and said check means including an elastic seal that blocks fluid communication between said fluid reservoir chamber and said working chamber during a piston rebounding stroke and permits pneumatic and hydraulic fluid flow during said piston bounding stroke, characterised in that said seal ring has an orifice comprising an axially extending groove formed on the inner periphery of said seal ring, which orifice permits restricted pneumatic and hydraulic fluid flow between the outer periphery of the piston rod and the inner periphery of said seal ring. Advantageously, said check and flow restriction assembly further comprises a retainer which defines an annular groove in which said seal ring is disposed. Advantageously, said elastic seal elastically contacts an inner periphery of said communication path, said elastic seal being so designed that the pressure in said working chamber is exerted onto said elastic seal in a direction for releasing sealing contact between said elastic seal and said inner periphery of said communication path, and pressure in said fluid reservoir chamber is exerted onto said elastic seal in a direction for urging said elastic seal onto said inner periphery of said communication path. The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given herebelow and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the invention, which, however, should not be taken to limit the invention to the specific embodiment but are for explanation and understanding only. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a section of the first embodiment of a major section of a shock absorber according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective illustration of a sealing member, and Fig. 3 is a section of the second embodiment of a major section of a shock absorber according to the invention. Referring now to the drawings, particularly to Fig. 1, the first embodiment of a shock absorber, according to the present invention, has coaxially arranged inner and outer cylinders 10 and 12. The inner cylinder 10 defines therein an internal space 14 filled with a hydraulic working fluid. The internal space 14 of the inner cylinder 10 serves as a working chamber. An annular chamber 16 is defined between the inner and outer cylinders 10 and 12. The annular chamber 16 is filled with a hydraulic fluid and a pneumatic fluid and serves as a reservoir chamber. A piston 18 is thrustingly and sealingly disposed in the working chamber 14 to separate the working chamber into an upper working chamber 20 and a lower working chamber 22. The piston 18 is fixedly secured onto the lower end section of a piston rod 24. In the shown construction, the piston rod 24 is formed with an axially extending threaded opening 26 to receive a fastening bolt 28. The piston rod extends from the inner and outer cylinders 10 and 12 through the top ends thereof. In order to support the piston rod 18, an upper end plug 30 which serves as a piston rod guide, is fitted onto the top ends of the inner and outer cylinders 10 and 12. The upper end plug 30 has an upper larger diameter section 32 sealingly engaging with the inner periphery of the top end section of the outer cylinder 12. The upper end plug 30 also has a lower smaller diameter section 34 sealingly engaging with the top end of the inner cylinder 10. An upwardly opening recess 36 is formed in the upper end plug 30. The recess 36 comprises an upper larger diameter section 38 and a lower smaller diameter section 40. The upper end plug 30 is formed with a groove 42 having one end opening to the larger diameter section 38 of the recess 36 and the other end opening to the reservoir chamber 16. This groove 42 defines a communication path 44 for fluid communication between the reservoir chamber 16 and the recess 36. The shock absorber has a check and seal assembly including a check means and a flow restriction means arranged in series. A seal assembly 46 is provided above the upper end plug 30 for establishing a liquid-tight and gas-tight seal with the outer periphery of the piston rod 24. The seal assembly 46 comprises an annular rigid reinforcement member 48 and an elastic seal 50. The elastic seal 50 has a section 52 fitted on the upper plane of the annular rigid member 48, an inner lip section 54 sealingly contacting the piston rod 24, and an outer lip 56 contacting the wall section 58 defining the larger diameter section 38 of the recess 36. The outer lip 56 serves as a check lip for permitting fluid flow from the upper working chamber 20 to the fluid reservoir 16 and blocking fluid flow in the opposite direction. As will be seen from Fig. 1, in the shown construction, the point at which the outer lip 56 contacts the wall section 58 is located at a lower elevation in relation to the open end of the communication path, so that the pressure transmitted through the fluid reservoir chamber 16 may serve to depress the outer lip 56 onto the wall section 58 to enhance sealing contact therebetween. On the other hand, the inner lip 54 is biased toward the piston rod by a spring ring 60. The elastic seal 50 is made of a rubber material and vulcanized onto the rigid reinforcement member 48. A seal housing member or retainer 62 is disposed in the recess 36. The seal housing member 62 has a lower portion engaging with the lower smaller diameter section 40 of the recess and extends upwardly to contact to the elastic seal 50 at the upper edge at a location between the inner and outer lips 54 and 56. A plurality of cutouts 64 are formed in the upper edge of the seal housing member 62 for defining a through path for the fluid flowing between the upper working chamber 20 and the fluid reservoir chamber 16. An annular groove 66 is formed on the inner periphery of the lower section of the seal housing member 62. A seal ring 68 is disposed within the annular groove 66. As shown in Fig. 2, the seal ring 68 generally has an internal diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the piston rod 24 so as to establish a sealing and sliding contact therewith. The seal ring 68 is formed with a plurality of axially extending grooves 70. In addition, a bearing sleeve 72 has a slightly greater internal diameter than the outer diameter of the piston rod 24 to define therebetween an annular clearance (though the clearance is not clearly shown in Fig. 1). Therefore, a space 74 defined between the seal housing member 62 and the seal assembly 46, which space is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir chamber 16 via the communication path 44 and the through path 64, is communicated with the upper working chamber 20 via the grooves 70 of the seal ring 68 and the clearance defined between the bearing sleeve and the piston rod 24. The piston 18 is formed with a bounding communication path 76 and a rebounding communication path 78. The lower end of the bounding path 76 is closed by a leaf spring valve 82 which permits flow of the working fluid from the upper working chamber 20 to the lower working chamber 22 during piston bounding motion and blocks fluid flow in the opposite direction. The upper end of the rebounding communication path 78 is closed by a leaf spring valve 80 which permits fluid flow from the lower working chamber 22 to the upper working chamber 20 during the piston rebounding motion and blocks fluid flow in the opposite direction. With flow restriction provided by the communication paths 76 and 78, resistance against displacement of the piston 18 is generated as a damping force. This damping force serves for restricting relative displacement between the vehicular body and a suspension member as employed in the automotive suspension system. In the piston bounding stroke, the fluid pressure in the upper working chamber 20 is increased according to the upward movement of the piston 18. This causes fluid flow from the upper working chamber 20 to the fluid reservoir chamber 16 via the clearance between the bearing sleeve 72, the grooves 70 of the seal member 68, the space 74, the through opening 64 and the communication path 44. For the fluid flowing from the upper working chamber 20 to the fluid reservoir 16, the grooves 70 in the seal member 68 serve as flow restricting orifices for limiting fluid flow therethrough, thus generating a damping force. On the other hand, in the piston rebounding stroke, the pressure in the upper working chamber 20 is decreased by expansion of the volume. The fluid in the lower working chamber 22 is compressed to flow into the upper working chamber 20 via the rebounding communication path 78 in a limited amount. The fluid pressure in the lower working chamber 22 is also transmitted to the hydraulic fluid in the fluid reservoir chamber to compress the pneumatic fluid. Therefore, the pneumatic pressure at the upper section of the fluid reservoir is increased. This causes gas flow from the fluid reservoir chamber 16 through the communication path 44. However, the pressure transmitted from the fluid reservoir chamber 16 serves for increasing the depression of the outer lip 56 onto the wall section 58 to establish a gas tight seal therebetween. Therefore, the pneumatic fluid in the fluid reservoir chamber 16 will never leak into the upper working chamber. Fig. 3 shows the second embodiment of the shock absorber according to the present invention. In the following discussion of the second embodiment, the components common to the foregoing first embodiment will be represented by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the seal housing member 90 has the modified configuration to that disclosed in the former embodiment. In this embodiment, a seal housing member or retainer 90 is integrally formed with a flange section 92 which has a plane 94 mating with the outer lip 56 to serve as the wall section to cooperate with the outer lip to establish the gas tight seal. With this construction, substantially the same effect to that of the foregoing first embodiment can be achieved.

Claims: A shock absorber comprising: a cylinder assembly (10,12) defining a working chamber (14) filled with a hydraulic working fluid and a fluid reservoir chamber (16) filled with the hydraulic working fluid and a pneumatic working fluid; a piston (18) disposed within the working chamber (14) and connected to a piston rod (24); a communication path (38, 44, 64, 68) for connecting said working chamber (14) and said fluid reservoir chamber (16) for fluid communication therebetween; and a check and flow restriction assembly (56, 68) disposed within said communication path (38, 44, 64, 68) for selectively establishing and blocking fluid communication between said working chamber (14) and said fluid reservoir chamber (16), said check and flow restriction assembly (56, 58) including a check means (56) and a flow restriction means (68) arranged in series, said flow restriction means (68) permitting pneumatic and hydraulic fluid flow directed to said fluid reservoir chamber (16) during a piston bounding stroke and providing flow restriction for the pneumatic and hydraulic fluid flow, said flow restriction means (68) including a seal ring (68) having an inner periphery, the general surface of which inner periphery is maintained in sealing contact with the outer periphery of said piston rod (24), and said check means (56) including an elastic seal (56) that blocks fluid communication between said fluid reservoir chamber (16) and said working chamber (14) during a piston rebounding stroke and permits pneumatic and hydraulic fluid flow during said piston bounding stroke, characterised in that said seal ring (68) has an orifice (70) comprising an axially extending groove (70) formed on the inner periphery of said seal ring (68), which orifice (70) permits restricted pneumatic and hydraulic fluid flow between the outer periphery of the piston rod (24) and the inner periphery of said seal ring (68). A shock absorber as set forth in claim 1, characterised in that said check and flow restriction assembly (56, 58) further comprises a retainer (62) which defines an annular groove (66) in which said seal ring (68) is disposed. A shock absorber as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that said elastic seal (56) elastically contacts an inner periphery of said communication path (68), said elastic seal (56) being so designed that the pressure in said working chamber (14) is exerted onto said elastic seal (56) in a direction for releasing sealing contact between said elastic seal (56) and said inner periphery of said communication path (68), and pressure in said fluid reservoir chamber (16) is exerted onto said elastic seal (56) in a direction for urging said elastic seal onto said inner periphery of said communication path.

Inventors: YAMAOKA FUMIYUKI, YAMAURA TAMOTSU, YAMAOKA, FUMIYUKI, YAMAURA, TAMOTSU
Applicants: ATSUGI UNISIA CORP, UNISIA JECS CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F16F9
IPC codes: F16F9