Bi-directional flow control device for damping head assembly

Abstract

A damping assembly for fluid filled sock absorber having a cylinder and a rod slidable therein for movement in opposite directions from a static position includes a damping head mounted on the rod and having a plurality of bi-directional flow control or relief valves in communication with fluid chambers on opposite sides of the damping head which permit fluid flow between the chambers under selectively controlled predetermined parameters. Each bi-directional relief valve includes a unitary valve element having first and second ports which are positioned on opposite sides of a fixed port on the damping head when the valve element is in a neutral position. The valve element may be moved in either direction from the neutral position in response to the differential pressure across the damping head under selected conditions of preload which may be different in each direction. Also, the flow characteristics in either direction may be independently selected by appropriately shaping the first and second ports. When the valve element is preloaded to several thousand psi sticking of the valve element is eliminated by providing a large number of closely spaced small openings as one of the first and second ports so that the Bernoulli reaction forces are minimized as the valve element is first cracked.