Patent ID: 7036802

Claim:
A self-pumping hydropneumatic suspension strut with internal level control, said strut comprising: an outer tube having a first filling opening and a second filling opening; an intermediate wall received in said outer tube, said intermediate wall separating a high pressure chamber from a low pressure chamber, said chambers each containing a damping medium, said first filling opening communicating with said low pressure chamber when said intermediate wall is not fully received in said outer tube and being closed by said intermediate wall when said intermediate wall is fully received in said outer tube; a working cylinder located concentrically inside said outer tube in said high pressure chamber, a gas filled separating envelope located between said working cylinder and said outer tube for pressurizing said damping medium in said high pressure chamber; an axially displaceable piston which divides said working cylinder into a first working space and a second working space, said first working space being connected to the high pressure chamber; a hollow piston rod which supports said axially displaceable piston, said hollow piston rod passing through said second working space and transporting damping medium from said low pressure chamber to said first working space; a pump rod fixed to said intermediate wall and received in said hollow piston rod to form a pump cylinder, said pump rod comprising a suction tube extending into said low pressure chamber for transporting damping fluid from said low pressure chamber to said piston rod; a piston rod guide fitted in said outer tube and receiving said piston rod therethrough, said piston rod guide having a flow connection connected to said separating envelope, said flow connection communicating with said second filling opening when said piston rod guide is not fully received in said outer tube and being closed by said outer tube when said piston rod guide is fully received in said outer tube; a gas lock device fitted to said suction tube in said low pressure chamber, wherein said gas lock comprises a lock element having a closable opening, said suction tube being received in said lock element so that said closable opening remains open until said intermediate wall is fully received in said outer tube, said gas lock preventing flow of gas from said low pressure chamber into said suction tube when said low pressure chamber is filled with damping medium and gas, and said suspension strut is vertically oriented with said low pressure chamber at the top; and a section of tubing surrounding said suction tube coaxially to form a channel which extends toward the intermediate wall.