Patent ID: 8534687

Claim:
A strut system comprising: a compressible fluid; a strut comprising: an inner tube defining an inner cavity, the inner cavity containing a portion of the fluid; a secondary tube disposed coaxially around the inner tube; a housing tube disposed coaxially around the secondary tube; an intermediary cavity defined between the inner tube and the secondary tube, the intermediary cavity containing a second portion of the fluid, wherein the intermediary cavity is fluidly coupled to the inner cavity; a reservoir cavity defined between the secondary tube and the housing tube, the reservoir cavity containing a third portion of the fluid; a piston, having an aperture through the piston thickness, that is disposed substantially coaxially within the inner tube, and separates the inner cavity into a first volume and a second volume, wherein the aperture allows fluid communication between the first volume and the second volume; a one-way aperture valve within the aperture that allows fluid flow from the first volume to the second volume; a displacement rod, coupled to the piston, that extends through the second volume; a valve plate coupled to the strut, the valve plate including: a damping flow path fluidly coupling the intermediary cavity to the reservoir cavity; a replenishment flow path fluidly coupling the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity; a damper valve within the damping flow path that damps fluid flowing therethrough; and a one-way replenishment valve within the replenishment flow path that allows fluid flow from the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity.