Patent GB-596706-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to shock absorbers
IPC: F16F9/50
Filed: 1944-10-12
Abstract: 596,706. Shock-absorbers. GABRIEL CO. Oct. 12, 1944, No. 19704. Convention date, Feb. 4. [Class 108 (iii)] [Also in Group XXVI] In a fluid-pressure mechanism, particularly a shock absorber, having a cylinder member and a piston or plunger member reciprocable therein, a resilient annulus is positioned in an annular groove.in one of the members, the groove, which opens towards the adjacent wall of the other member, being of less depth than the normal thickness of the resilient annulus and being of undulated formation forming alternate portions respectively having axial dimensions greater than and equal to that of the annulus. The double-acting shock-absorber shown comprises an outer cylindrical casing 10 fixed to the pistonrod 12 and concentric cylinders 13, 14 which are closed by end members 15, 25 and 16 and form an annular liquid reservoir 17 between them. The piston comprises a cylindrical member 30 having a central opening 31 counterbored at opposite ends, the piston-rod 12 being threaded in the upper counterbore 32 so as to leave a chamber 33 in communication with the opening 31 and lower counterbore 34. A partition 36 separating the counterbores is formed with a seat for a spring-pressed disc valve 37 slidably mounted on a short rod 38 fixed to a closure plug 40 screwed into the counterbore 34. The plug has openings 45 through which project arms 44 on an adjusting member 43 adapted, when the shock-absorber is collapsed, to engage recesses 47 in a member 22 fixed in the lower end of the cylinder 13 so that, on rotation of the piston-rod, the member 30 is rotated relatively to the plug 40 and varies the pressure of the spring 41 on the valve 37. The counterbore 34 communicates with the space between the flanges 50, 51 on the piston member 30 through radial passages 52. Four axial apertures 53 in the member 30 communicate with the chamber 33 through radial passages 54 and also open at their lower ends into an annular groove 55 in the bottom of a wide annular groove 56 in the periphery of the piston member 30, in which latter groove a combined packing and valve member 60 of resilient material is located. A flange 62 forming the upper wall of the groove 56 is of wave form so that the axial length of the groove is alternately equal to and greater than the width of the valve member 60 while the depth of the groove is slightly less than the thickness of the valve member. Operation. On compression, the parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 2, the bore 31 being closed by the valve 37 so that liquid is forced to flow through the counterbore 34, radial openings 52, annular space 65, past the flange 64, into the grooves 56, 55 and through the apertures 53 into the space above the piston. The movement of the piston causes those portions of the resilient member 60 which are not confined axially to move upwardly into engagement with the flange 62 thus placing the grooves 55, 56 in communication with the space 65 through the clearance around the flange 64 which restricts the flow of liquid to resist the movement. Liquid also passes to the reservoir through an opening 23 in the member 22. On recoil, the parts assume the positions shown in Fig. 3, the valve 37 being unseated when the pressure is sufficiently great. The resilient member 60 moves into engagement with the lower wall of the groove 56, closing the liquid passage via the grooves 55, 56 and the clearance around the valve 64 so that liquid flows only through a fixed orifice 68 in the partition 36 until the valve 37 opens. To supplement the hydraulic resistance on the compression stroke, a resilient annulus 71, similar to the annulus 60, is located in a groove 63 also of wave form, but the bottom wall of which is tapered axially so that when the axially unconfined portions of the annulus 71 move into the position shown in Fig. 2, they are distorted and tightly engage the cylinder 13 thus creating frictional resistance to the piston movement. Alternatively, the annulus 71 may be omitted and the bottom of the groove 56 tapered axially so that the annlus 60 creates frictional resistance to movement. Specification 582,582 is referred to.