Flow path control device and vehicle height adjustment apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10315722-B2
Application number	US-201715463851-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2017
Priority date	Mar 31, 2016
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

A flow path control device according to one embodiment includes a first valve which transitions between a closed state where a first flow is closed and an open state where the first flow path is open by moving toward an space from the closed state. The first valve is formed with an axial through-hole that communicates with the first flow path and the space. A pressure-receiving area of the first valve against a jack chamber is smaller than that against the space. Further, a second valve is provided in the space on a second flow path so as to transition between a first state where the axial through-hole is closed and an inflow path oriented toward the space from the jack chamber is open and a second state where it is closed and the axial through-hole is open.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flow path control device comprising:
a first valve which transitions between a closed state where a first flow path in which a fluid is oriented from a first chamber toward a second chamber is closed and an open state where the first flow path is open by moving toward a third chamber from the closed state,
wherein the first valve is formed with a communication path that communicates with the first flow path and the third chamber, and
wherein, in a closed state, a first pressure-receiving area of the first valve receiving a pressure of the first chamber is smaller than a second pressure-receiving area of the first valve receiving a pressure of the third chamber; and

a second valve which is provided in the third chamber on a second flow path,
wherein the second flow path is oriented from the first chamber toward the second chamber through the communication path of the first valve, and
wherein the second valve transitions between a first state where the communication path is closed and an inflow path, through which the fluid flows from the first chamber to the third chamber, is open and a second state where the inflow path is closed and the communication path is open.

2. The flow path control device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the second valve transitions to a third state where the communication path and the inflow path are open such that a gap between the second valve and an opening portion of the communication path is a smallest restriction portion of the second flow path.

3. The flow path control device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the second pressure-receiving area of the first valve is greater than the first pressure-receiving area in a case where the second valve is in the third state to thereby bring the first valve into the closed state.

4. The flow path control device according to claim 3 ,
wherein the first valve is brought into the open state in a case where the second valve is in the second state.

5. The flow path control device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the first valve is brought into the open state in a case where the second valve is in the second state.

6. The flow path control device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first valve is brought into the open state in a case where the second valve is in the second state.

7. The flow path control device according to claim 1 , wherein the first valve is configured to abut the second valve in the first state.

8. The flow path control device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication path is a through-hole penetrating the first valve in an axial direction thereof.

9. A vehicle height adjustment apparatus comprising:
a spring having
one end supported on a vehicle body side, and
the other end supported on a wheel side;

a changing device which changes a length of the spring in accordance with an amount of fluid in an accommodation chamber that accommodates the fluid;
a first valve which transitions between a closed state where a first flow path oriented from the accommodation chamber toward a storage chamber that stores the fluid is closed and an open state where the first flow path is open by moving from the closed state toward a back pressure chamber in which a pressure in the direction of being closed is generated,
wherein the first valve is formed with a communication path that communicates with the first flow path and the back pressure chamber, and
wherein, in the closed state, a first pressure-receiving area of the first valve receiving a pressure of the accommodation chamber is smaller than a second pressure-receiving area of the first valve receiving a pressure of the back pressure chamber; and

a second valve which is provided in the back pressure chamber on a second flow path,
wherein the second flow path is oriented from the accommodation chamber toward the storage chamber through the communication path of the first valve, and
wherein the second valve transitions between a first state where the communication path is closed and an inflow path, through which the fluid flows from the accommodation chamber to the back pressure chamber, is open and a second state where the inflow path is closed and the communication path is open.

10. The vehicle height adjustment apparatus according to claim 9 ,
wherein the second valve transitions to a third state where the communication path and the inflow path are open such that a gap between the second valve and the opening portion of the communication path is a smallest restriction portion of the second flow path.

Assignees

• Showa Corp

Inventors

• Murakami Yosuke
• Miyata Hiroyuki

Classifications

• B62K2025/044

  Suspensions with automatic adjustment · CPC title

• B60G2206/41

  Dampers · CPC title

• B60G17/048

  with the regulating means inside the fluid springs (B60G17/044 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62K2201/04

  Helical springs · CPC title

• F16F9/56 Primary

  Means for adjusting the length of, or for locking, the spring or damper, e.g. at the end of the stroke {(F16F9/50 takes precedence; for telescopic gas springs or dampers F16F9/0245; vehicle suspension locking arrangements B60G17/005)} · CPC title