The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 03, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 21, 1999
David A. Shirley, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);
James L. Kasprzak, West Bloomfield, MI (US);
Ricor Racing and Development, LP, Sutter Creek, CA (US);
Abstract
An acceleration sensitive shock absorber has a tubular housing and a piston assembly in the housing dividing the housing into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The piston is connected to the wheel of a vehicle and the housing is connected to the chassis of the vehicle. Fluid can pass between the upper and lower chambers with a restricted flow rate during either extension or compression of the shock absorber. There is a port for providing fluid flow from the lower chamber to the upper chamber during downward acceleration of the wheel. A movable inertial mass in the piston assembly opens the port during downward acceleration of the wheel of the vehicle for increasing flow between the chambers. A pocket beneath the inertial mass applies sufficient pressure to the inertial mass to retain it in a port-open position during fluid flow after acceleration has decreased. An enlarged diameter relief portion inside the inertial mass minimizes inconsistent performance in mass produced shock absorbers.