Patent GB-1035964-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to hydropneumatic spring apparatus
IPC: B60G17/044
Filed: 1964-08-18
Abstract: 1,035,964. Hydro-pneumatic shock absorbers. FICHTEL & SACHS A.G. Aug. 18, 1964 [Aug. 20, 1963], No. 33672/64. Heading F2S. A self-levelling hydropneumatic shock absorber comprises an outer tube 1 in which is concentrically mounted on load cylinder 2 in which reciprocates a piston 4 and piston-rod 3. The piston-rod guide or closure cover 20 is provided with a plurality of passages 19 which connect the load cylinder 2 and reservoir 9 pressurized by a gas charge 10. The passages are closed by an annular flexible valve 17 the inner periphery of which supports a coil spring 16 coaxial with the piston-rod. The upper end of the load cylinder is provided with a flange formed with a central passage 13 and valved passages 15. An extension 5 having a greater diameter than the pistonrod 3 is mounted on the piston-rod. A gas buffer acts on the liquid in the load cylinder. In operation and on overloading of the shock absorber the extension 5 engages and reciprocates in the orifice 13 thus increasing the effective volume of the load cylinder such that valve 17 is lifted bodily to allow liquid to flow from the reservoir until the piston is again centred in the cylinder. If the load is removed the piston is moved out of the cylinder until it engages spring 16 which acts against and flexes the valve 17 to allow liquid to flow back into the reservoir. The piston is also provided with damping valves 7. In a modification (Fig. 2, not shown) the piston alone acts as the pump, it being provided with a one-way damping valve only and the wall of the load cylinder is formed with a plurality of grooves such that, if the piston reciprocates in the length of the grooves no pumping action follows. The guidance for spring 16 may comprise the wall of the load cylinder (Fig. 3. not shown) or it may be mounted eccentrically of the piston (Fig. 4, not shown). The valve 17 may have its outer periphery clamped and the spring 16 housed in the load cylinder about the piston-rod, engages that surface of the valve which abuts the valve seat (Fig. 5, not shown). Further instead of having its outer periphery clamped the valve may comprise a rigid valve plate being spring-loaded against its seat and against the spring 16 (Fig. 6, not shown). The reservoir, in a further embodiment, is housed in a hollow piston-rod the overflow valve 17 being mounted on the piston. The valve is provided in its inner periphery with recesses which cooperate with the damping passages of the piston to allow an unobstructed flow thereto (Figs. 7, 8, not shown). The cover 20 of the load cylinder may be provided with sets of passages of two different diameters, both sets being covered by the same flexible annular valve. The inner periphery of the valve is recessed such that, when the opening spring acts on the valve, only the smaller passages are opened for liquid flow out of the load cylinder (Figs. 10, 11, not shown). In the construction of Fig. 9 (not shown), the pressure in the reservoir is greater than that in the load cylinder such that on over-contraction of the shock absorber the spring 16 acts against valve disc 54 to allow pressurized liquid to flow into the load cylinder. When the shock absorber is over-extended liquid is pumped back into the reservoir through valve 47. Grooves 25 are provided to prevent the pumping action taking place with the piston in its centralized position.