Lord Corporation

Charles B Tidwell

Paul T Wolfe

Leonard J Schwemmer

Donald R Prindle

A controllable shock absorber of the externally actuated type with greatly decreased valve response time. The shock absorber assembly utilizes valve rotation stops on the rotary valve for limiting the rotational motion of the valve. The valve is attached to a bendingly flexible control rod which is supported by a sealing and support assembly located down inside the piston rod, thus allowing easy assembly of the rotational motor by way of a bendingly alignable self-locating feature. The use of the one seal and support assembly further reduces the rotational forces needed to allow faster actuation of the valve. The valve actuation torque requirements have been further decreased by reducing the viscous drag on the valve body and reducing the inertia of the rotational valve assembly by hollowing out the valve. Performance robbing, side loading on the valve is minimized by using a at least two preferably symmetrical ports. Further reductions in friction are accomplished by using pressure-equalizing grooves on the valve body to reduce hydrodynamic axial loading on the valve body.

Growing community of inventors

Durham, NC, United States of America

Charles B Tidwell