FLUID SUSPENSION SPRING AND DAMPENER FOR A VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM

摘要

-37-ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREA vibration isolating and damping suspension strut forvehicle undercarriages comprising an elongated cylinder andpiston structure wherein the cylinder is divided into opposedchambers which are in communication with each other by passagesformed in the piston and in a flow restricting shuttle valvemounted on the piston rod. When the strut undergoes aretraction stroke of the piston to absorb loads silicone fluid iscompressed in the opposed chambers and transferred from thechamber opposite the piston rod to the rod side chamber throughpassages in the piston only. When the strut rebounds or extendsits piston rod fluid is forced to flow through passages in theshuttle valve member and the piston flow passages at a morerestricted rate. The piston flow passages and the shuttle valveare arranged to direct fluid flow toward the outer cylinderborewall to improve heat transfer to the exterior of the strutand minimize heating of the fluid contained in the cylinderchambers. Alternate embodiments of the suspension strut havespiral fluid transfer grooves formed on the periphery of thepiston or on a cylinder sleeve insert member.