Monroe Auto Equipment Company

Tenneco Automotive Inc.

Charles E Tyrrell

Karl C Kazmirski

Ray A Sackett

David L Steed

Gary W Groves

David L Perry

Fahrey M Hammoud

David S Athanas

Dale Hoppert

Rich Huger

Wayne Johnson

Timothy E Bombrys

A shock absorber has a base valve assembly which includes a compression valve assembly and an acceleration valve assembly. The compression valve assembly controls a fluid path through the base assembly to provide a firm damping characteristic for the shock absorber during low acceleration movement. The acceleration valve assembly controls a second fluid path through the base assembly to provide a soft damping characteristic for the shock when the shock absorber experiences acceleration beyond a specified amount.

Acceleration sensitive damping for automotive dampers

A shock absorber comprises a piston and piston rod assembly mounted for reciprocation in a cylinder, the piston dividing the cylinder into upper and lower chambers, a floating disk valve slidably disposed in a fluid reserve chamber of the piston for movement between first and second positions to selectively open and close fluid passages associated with the assembly to vary the resistance to damping fluid moving through the assembly and between the chambers, and a solenoid-plunger for regulating the flow of damping fluid between the chambers. The disk valve movement is controlled by the solenoid-plunger and when the disk is in a first position augments flow between the upper and lower chambers to provide 'soft' compression and rebound strokes and when the disk is in a second position restricts flow between the upper and lower chambers to provide 'firm' compression and rebound strokes.

Adjustable shock absorber assembly

An apparatus for damping the movement of the body of an automobile. The apparatus includes a shock absorber having a pressure cylinder which forms a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid. The apparatus further includes a piston assembly disposed in the pressure cylinder and having a valve body forming first and second flow passage for providing fluid communication between the first and second portions of the working chamber. The valve body forming first and second annular recesses adjacent the first and second portions, respectively, of the working chamber. The apparatus further including a first unloader disposed within the first annular recess and which is operable for controlling the flow of damping fluid through the first flow passage from the second portion to the first portion of the working chamber during compression. The first unloader is adapted to regulate the flow of fluid through the first flow passage in response to pressure acting on a first valve member within the first recess. In addition, a second unloader is provided for controlling the flow of damping fluid thorugh the second flow passage from the first portion to the second portion of the working chamber during rebound. The second unloader is disposed in the second annular recess and is operable for regulating the flow of damping fluid through the second flow passage in response to pressure of the damping fluid acting on a second valve member within the second annular recess. A first flow path fluidly interconnects the first and second annular recesses. An electrically controlled solenoid is disposed within the first flow path and is operable for regulating the flow of damping fluid therein between the first and second annular recesses. The solenoid includes a plunger moveable between a first and second position for generating firm damping during compression and rebound by inhibiting the flow of fluid through the first flow path when the plunger is in the first position.

Apparatus for controlling the damping of a shock absorber

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Monroe, MI, United States of America

Charles E Tyrrell