Damper assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11466746-B2
Application number	US-202016994117-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 14, 2020
Priority date	Aug 14, 2020
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

A damper includes a pressure tube extending about a longitudinal axis and defining an inner volume. The damper includes a piston attached to a piston rod and slidably disposed within the pressure tube. The piston divides the inner volume of the pressure tube into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. The damper includes a fluid connector having a first wall and a second wall, each elongated along the longitudinal axis and sealed to the pressure tube. The fluid connector has a third wall elongated along the longitudinal axis and extending from the first wall to the second wall. The pressure tube defines an opening at the first working chamber, and the third wall of the fluid connector defines an opening spaced from the opening of the pressure tube. The first wall, the second wall, and the third wall define a passage extending from the opening of the pressure tube to the opening of the third wall.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A damper, comprising:
a pressure tube extending about a longitudinal axis and defining an inner volume;
a piston attached to a piston rod and slidably disposed within the pressure tube, the piston dividing the inner volume of the pressure tube into a first working chamber and a second working chamber; and
a fluid connector having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall and the second wall each elongated along the longitudinal axis and fixed to the pressure tube along the longitudinal axis, the fluid connector having a third wall elongated along the longitudinal axis and extending from the first wall to the second wall;
wherein the pressure tube defines an opening at the first working chamber, and the third wall of the fluid connector defines an opening spaced from the opening of the pressure tube; and
wherein the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall define a passage extending from the opening of the pressure tube to the opening of the third wall.

2. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the fluid connector defines a perimeter extending along the first wall and the second wall along the longitudinal axis and from the first wall to the second wall at opposing ends of the fluid connector, and wherein the perimeter is fixed to the pressure tube along the first wall and the second wall along the longitudinal axis and from the first wall to the second wall at opposing ends of the fluid connector.

3. The damper of claim 2 , wherein the perimeter is arcuate between the first wall and the second wall.

4. The damper of claim 2 , wherein the perimeter is linear along the first wall and the second wall along the longitudinal axis.

5. The damper of claim 2 , wherein the perimeter conforms to the pressure tube.

6. The damper of claim 2 , wherein the fluid connector is fixed to the pressure tube at the perimeter extending along the first wall and the second wall along the longitudinal axis and from the first wall to the second wall at the opposing ends of the fluid connector.

7. The damper of claim 2 , further comprising a weld fixing the fluid connector to the pressure tube, the weld extending completely about the perimeter.

8. The damper of claim 1 , further comprising a valve that controls fluid flow from the passage.

9. The damper of claim 8 , wherein the valve interfaces with the third wall at the opening of the third wall.

10. The damper of claim 8 , further comprising a reserve tube extending about the fluid pressure tube such that a reserve chamber is defined between the pressure tube and the reserve tube, and wherein the valve controls flow from the passage to the reserve chamber.

11. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the third wall is spaced from the opening of the pressure tube toward the second working chamber.

12. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the third wall is planar.

13. The damper of claim 1 , further comprising a valve that controls fluid flow through the opening of the third wall.

14. The damper of claim 1 , wherein each of the first wall and the second wall extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

15. The damper of claim 1 , wherein the opening of the fluid connector is spaced from the opening of the third wall along the longitudinal axis.

16. A damper, comprising:
a pressure tube extending about a longitudinal axis and defining an inner volume;
a piston attached to a piston rod and slidably disposed within the pressure tube, the piston dividing the inner volume of the pressure tube into a first working chamber and a second working chamber;
a fluid connector having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall and the second wall each elongated along the longitudinal, the fluid connector having a third wall elongated along the longitudinal axis and extending from the first wall to the second wall; and
a gasket between the fluid connector and the pressure tube, the gasket extending along the first wall the second wall along the longitudinal axis;
wherein the pressure tube defines an opening at the first working chamber, and the third wall of the fluid connector defines an opening spaced from the opening of the pressure tube; and
wherein the first wall, the second wall, and the third wall define a passage extending from the opening of the pressure tube to the opening of the third wall.

17. The damper of claim 16 , wherein the fluid connector defines a perimeter extending along the first wall and the second wall along the longitudinal axis and from the first wall to the second wall at opposing ends of the fluid connector, and wherein the gasket extends completely about the perimeter.

18. The damper of claim 17 , wherein the perimeter is linear along the first wall and the second wall along the longitudinal axis.

19. The damper of claim 16 , further comprising a valve that controls fluid flow through the opening of the third wall.

20. The damper of claim 16 , further comprising a fastener fixed to an outer surface of the pressure tube, and wherein the fastener extends through the fluid connector.

Assignees

• Driv Automotive Inc

Inventors

• Schel Jacobus

Classifications

• F16F9/19 Primary

  with a single cylinder {and of single-tube type} · CPC title

• B60G2206/70

  Materials used in suspensions · CPC title

• F16F2226/048

  Welding · CPC title

• B60G2206/8201

  by welding · CPC title

• F16F9/50

  Special means providing automatic damping adjustment, {i.e. self-adjustment of damping by particular sliding movements of a valve element, other than flexions or displacement of valve discs}(F16F9/53 takes precedence); {Special means providing self-adjustment of spring characteristics} · CPC title