Suspension element lockout

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11325437-B2
Application number	US-202016836422-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2020
Priority date	Apr 27, 2017
Publication date	May 10, 2022
Grant date	May 10, 2022

Abstract

A suspension element includes a main body having an end cap defining an internal volume and a tubular element slidably engaged with the main body. The suspension element further includes a first piston and a flow control element. The flow control element is configured to prevent movement of the tubular element relative the main body in a direction. The suspension element may further include a locking member and a piston. The locking member may be configured to engage a barrier of the main body when the first piston traverses at least a predetermined distance towards the end cap. The locking member may be affixed to the tubular element and may fully surround the tubular element. Together the flow control element and the locking member are configured to prevent movement of the suspension element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension element comprising:
a main body having an internal volume, the main body including a barrier and an end cap, the barrier and the end cap disposed at opposite ends of the main body;
a tubular element inserted through the barrier and slidably engaged with the main body;
a main piston coupled to the tubular element, the main piston separating the internal volume of the main body into a first chamber and a second chamber;
a dividing piston slidably engaged with the tubular element, the dividing piston separating an inner volume of the tubular element into a first inner chamber and a second inner chamber, the first inner chamber open to the first chamber;
a flow controller disposed along a flow path between the first chamber and the second chamber; and
a locking member disposed proximal an external surface of the tubular element, the locking member configured to engage at least one of the barrier or a portion of the tubular element when the main piston traverses a predetermined distance towards the end cap, the flow controller and the locking member together are configured to prevent movement of the tubular element relative the main body.

2. The suspension element of claim 1 , wherein the tubular element is configured to translate relative the main body between an extended position where the main piston is proximate to the barrier and a compressed position where the main piston is proximate to the end cap, and wherein simultaneously the flow controller prevents further movement of the tubular element toward the extended position and the locking member prevents further movement of the tubular element toward the compressed position.

3. The suspension element of claim 1 , wherein the flow controller includes at least two flow states and is adjustable between the at least two flow states.

4. The suspension element of claim 1 , wherein the locking member is affixed to an outer surface of the tubular element.

5. The suspension element of claim 1 , wherein the locking member only extends around a portion of the outer circumference of the tubular element.

6. The suspension element of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber, the second chamber, and the first inner chamber are hydraulic chambers configured to contain a hydraulic fluid therein, and wherein the second inner chamber is a gas chamber configured to contain a gas.

7. The suspension element of claim 1 , wherein the locking member is affixed to an actuator, and wherein a control signal provided in response to the main piston traversing the predetermined distance causes the actuator to position the locking member adjacent to the tubular element.

8. The suspension element of claim 1 further comprising a passage disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the flow controller is disposed along the passage.

9. The suspension element of claim 8 , wherein the flow controller is disposed within the passage.

10. The suspension element of claim 8 , the main body further comprising:
a first opening fluidly connected to the first chamber; and
a second opening fluidly connected to the second chamber;
wherein:
the passage is at least partially disposed between the first opening and the second opening, and
the flow controller is configured to switch from an open state to a closed state when a pressure at the first opening is greater than a pressure at the second opening by more than a threshold amount.

11. The suspension element of claim 1 , wherein the locking member is a collar that extends around the entire circumference of the tubular element.

12. The suspension element of claim 11 , wherein an inner surface of the collar is approximately flush with an outer surface of the tubular element, and wherein the inner surface of the collar is affixed to the outer surface.

13. The suspension element of claim 11 , wherein an upper surface of the collar is approximately flush with a cap disposed on the tubular element.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Defense Llc

Inventors

• Rositch Aaron
• Ellifson Erik
• Dillman Patrick
• Schubart Kai

Classifications

• F16F9/3235

  of cylinders (F16F9/483 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16F9/063

  comprising a hollow piston rod · CPC title

• F16F9/062

  Bi-tubular units · CPC title

• B60G2202/30

  Spring/Damper and/or actuator Units · CPC title

• F16F9/068

  where the throttling of a gas flow provides damping action · CPC title