Inertia-actuated valve assemblies as well as gas spring and gas damper assemblies, suspension systems and methods including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11204076-B2
Application number	US-202016860148-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2020
Priority date	Dec 31, 2016
Publication date	Dec 21, 2021
Grant date	Dec 21, 2021

Abstract

An inertia-actuated valve assembly includes a valve housing, a valve body and a biasing element. The valve housing includes a groove that has an open end fluidically accessible from along one side thereof. The valve housing includes a flow channel extending therethrough in fluid communication with the groove from along an opposing side of the valve housing. The valve body is positioned within the groove of the valve housing such that the valve body and the valve housing are axially co-extensive along at least a portion thereof. The biasing element operatively engages the valve body and generates a biasing force urging the valve body in a first axial direction. The biasing force is greater than a predetermined dynamic gas pressure threshold value multiplied by a pressure area and is less than or approximately equal to a valve body mass multiplied by 2.5 times the nominal acceleration due to gravity.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An inertia-actuated valve assembly dimensioned for securement along an associated end member of an associated gas spring assembly, said inertia-actuated valve assembly comprising:
a valve housing dimensioned for securement along the associated end member and in fixed relation thereto, said valve housing having a longitudinal axis and a maximum cross-sectional dimension, said valve housing including a housing wall portion extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis with a first housing side and a second housing side facing opposite said first housing side, said valve housing including a groove extending into housing wall portion from along said second side such that said groove has an open end fluidically accessible from along said second side, said valve housing including at least one flow channel extending through said housing wall portion in fluid communication with said groove from along said first side of said valve housing, and said valve housing including an elongated damping passage extending therethrough in fluid communication between said first and second sides in fluid isolation from said groove, said elongated damping passage having a passage length greater than said maximum cross-sectional dimension of said valve housing;
a valve body extending peripherally about said axis and positioned within said groove of said valve housing such that said valve body and said valve housing are axially co-extensive along at least a portion thereof, said valve body having a valve body mass and a pressure area; and,
a biasing element operatively engaging at least said valve body and generating a biasing force operative to urge said valve body in a first axial direction toward said first side of said valve housing, said biasing force having a magnitude that is:
1) greater than a predetermined dynamic gas pressure threshold value multiplied by said pressure area with said predetermined dynamic gas pressure threshold value corresponding to an internal pressure experienced by the associated gas spring assembly during a predetermined condition of use; and,
2) less than or approximately equal to said valve body mass multiplied by two and one half (2.5) times the nominal acceleration due to gravity.

2. An inertia-actuated valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said valve body is axially displaceable relative to said valve housing between a closed position and an open position such that in said open position said valve assembly has a flow area through which pressurized gas flows with a flow area-to-pressure area ratio within a range of from approximately one-half (0.5) to approximately four (4).

3. An inertia-actuated valve assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said flow area-to-pressure area ratio is within a range of from approximately three-quarters (0.75) to approximately three (3).

4. An inertia-actuated valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said groove is an annular groove, and said valve body has an annular shape dimensioned to be at least partially received within said annular groove.

5. An inertia-actuated valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said biasing element is one of a plurality of biasing elements disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis with said biasing force being at least approximately equal to the sum of individual biasing forces from said plurality of biasing elements.

6. An inertia-actuated valve assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a spring retainer plate disposed along said second side of said valve housing and operatively supporting said biasing element in abutting engagement with said valve body.

7. An inertia-actuated valve assembly according to claim 2 , wherein in said closed position said valve body extends across said at least one flow channel to at least partially form a substantially fluid-tight seal thereacross with said elongated damping passage remaining in fluid communication between said first housing side and said second housing side of said valve housing, and in said open position said first housing side and said second housing side of said valve housing are disposed in fluid communication with one another through said at least one flow channel with said elongated damping passage remaining in fluid communication between said first housing side and said second housing side of said valve housing.

8. An inertia-actuated valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said elongated damping passage has a spiral configuration with a first passage end disposed along said first side of said valve housing and a second passage end disposed along said second side of said valve housing.

9. An inertia-actuated valve assembly dimensioned for securement along an associated end member of an associated gas spring assembly, said inertia-actuated valve assembly comprising:
a valve housing dimensioned for securement in a fixed position along the associated end member, said valve housing having a longitudinal axis and including a valve housing wall portion extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis with a first housing side and a second housing side opposite said first housing side, said valve housing wall portion including a groove extending axially thereinto and at least one flow channel operatively connected in fluid communication with said groove, and said valve housing wall portion including an elongated damping passage extending therethrough in fluid communication between said first housing side and said second housing side separate from said at least one flow channel with said elongated damping passages disposed radially inward of said groove and said at least one flow channel;
a valve body extending peripherally about said axis and positioned within said groove of said valve housing wall portion such that said valve body and said valve housing wall portion are axially co-extensive along at least a portion thereof, said valve body axially displaceable between:
a first position in which said valve body extends across said at least one flow channel to at least partially form a substantially fluid-tight seal thereacross with said elongated damping passage remaining in fluid communication between said first housing side and said second housing side of said valve housing; and,
a second position in which said first housing side and said second housing side of said valve housing are disposed in fluid communication with one another through said at least one flow channel with said elongated damping passage remaining in fluid communication between said first housing side and said second housing side of said valve housing; and,

a biasing element operatively engaging at least said valve body and generating a biasing force operative to urge said valve body in a first axial direction toward said first position.

10. An inertia-actuated valve assembly according to claim 9 , wherein said valve housing wall portion has a maximum cross-sectional dimension and said elongated damping passage has a passage length greater than said maximum cross-sectional dimension of said valve housing.

11. An inertia-actuated valve assembly according to claim 9 , wherein said elongated damping passage has a spiral configuration with a first passage end disposed along said first housing side of said valve housing wall portion and a second passage end disposed along said second housing side of said valve housing wall portion.

12. An inertia-actuated valve assembly according to claim 9 , wherein said at least one flow channel includes a plurality of flow channels disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis.

13. An inertia-actu

Assignees

• Firestone Ind Products Co Llc

Inventors

• Leonard Joshua R

Classifications

• B60G11/27 Primary

  wherein the fluid is a gas · CPC title

• B60G2500/20

  Spring action or springs · CPC title

• F16F9/0418

  having a particular shape, e.g. annular, spherical, tube-like (F16F9/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16F9/504

  Inertia {, i.e. acceleration,}-sensitive means · CPC title

• F16F9/057

  characterised by the piston · CPC title