Damper assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9765841-B2
Application number	US-201514846600-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 4, 2015
Priority date	Mar 14, 2011
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A damper assembly includes a tubular member, an outer cylinder positioned at least partially within the tubular member, an inner cylinder positioned at least partially within the outer cylinder, a cap coupled to the inner cylinder, a plunger received within the inner cylinder and coupled to an end of a rod extending at least partially within the inner cylinder, an annular piston fixed to the inner cylinder where the annular piston extends between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and a barrier extending between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. The rod has an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the inner cylinder. The plunger, the cap, and an interior of the inner cylinder at least partially define a first chamber. The barrier, the annular piston, an exterior surface of the inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder at least partially define a second chamber.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A damper assembly, comprising:
an outer cylinder
an inner cylinder positioned at least partially within the outer cylinder;
a cap coupled to the inner cylinder;
a plunger received within the inner cylinder and coupled to an end of a rod extending at least partially within the inner cylinder, the rod having an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the inner cylinder, wherein the plunger, the cap, and an interior of the inner cylinder at least partially define a first chamber;
an aperture extending through the rod, allowing fluid to pass into and out of the first chamber;
an annular piston fixed to the inner cylinder, wherein the annular piston extends between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;
a barrier extending between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, wherein the barrier, the annular piston, an exterior surface of the inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder at least partially define a second chamber;
an accumulator in fluid communication with at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber; and
a modular valve assembly comprising compression valving in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second chamber;
wherein the plunger is configured to move relative to the inner cylinder,
wherein the annular piston is configured to move relative to the outer cylinder,
wherein movement of the plunger relative to the inner cylinder changes the volume of the first chamber, and
wherein the plunger is fixed to the end of the rod.

2. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber is at least partially defined by a face of the plunger, and wherein the face of the plunger has a cross-sectional area that is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of a portion of the annular piston that at least partially defines the second chamber.

3. A suspension system, comprising:
a first damper comprising:
a first chamber having a first movable surface for changing the volume of the first chamber, wherein the first movable surface comprises a first plunger received within a first inner cylinder and coupled to an end of a first rod extending at least partially within the first inner cylinder, the first rod having an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the first inner cylinder, wherein the first chamber includes a first aperture, allowing fluid to pass into and out of the first chamber, and
a second chamber having a second movable surface for changing the volume of the second chamber, wherein the second movable surface comprises a first piston having an annular cross-section and positioned between the first inner cylinder and a first outer cylinder, wherein the second chamber includes a second aperture, allowing fluid to pass into and out of the second chamber;
wherein the first aperture is located proximate to the second aperture on the first damper;

a second damper comprising:
a third chamber having a third movable surface for changing the volume of the third chamber, wherein the third movable surface comprises a second plunger received within a second inner cylinder and coupled to an end of a second rod extending at least partially within the second inner cylinder, the second rod having an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the second inner cylinder, wherein the third chamber includes a third aperture, allowing fluid to pass into and out of the third chamber, and
a fourth chamber having a fourth movable surface for changing the volume of the fourth chamber, wherein the fourth movable surface comprises a second piston having an annular cross-section and positioned between the second inner cylinder and a second outer cylinder, wherein the fourth chamber includes a fourth aperture, allowing fluid to pass into and out of the fourth chamber;
wherein the third aperture is located proximate to the fourth aperture on the second damper;

a first conduit coupling the first chamber and one of the third chamber and the fourth chamber;
a second conduit coupling the second chamber and the other of the third chamber and the fourth chamber;
a first modular valve assembly in fluid communication with the first aperture and the second aperture for controlling fluid flow to and from the first chamber and the second chamber; and
a second modular valve assembly in fluid communication with the third aperture and the fourth aperture for controlling fluid flow to and from the third chamber and the fourth chamber;
wherein the cross-sectional areas of the first, second, third, and fourth movable surfaces are substantially equal to each other.

4. The suspension system of claim 3 , wherein the first plunger and the second plunger have a circular cross-section.

5. The suspension system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a first accumulator coupled to the first conduit, and
a second accumulator coupled to the second conduit,
wherein a response of the first damper and the second damper is at least partially controlled via operation of the first modular valve assembly and the second modular valve assembly in combination with the first accumulator and the second accumulator.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Defense Llc

Inventors

• Ellifson Erik
• Rosenboom Darin

Classifications

• B60G2200/14

  with lateral arms · CPC title

• B60G2206/41

  Dampers · CPC title

• B60G2204/45

  Stops limiting travel · CPC title

• B60G2206/124

  the arm having triangular or Y-shape, e.g. wishbone · CPC title

• B60G3/20

  all arms being rigid · CPC title