1,953,178 3 where the fluid will flow through the duct or@ passage 72 @into the reservoir 26. If the operator finds that too much restrictiori is being bffered@by the orifice provided by valve .5 105' lever 109 can be operated to screw valve 105 outwardly so as to increase the size of this orifice and thus reduce its restriction. If,@ on the other hand, the action of the shock absorber is too free, then the operator rotates lever 109 10 so that valve 105 is screwed into the recess 62 whereby the orifice between the tapered portion 106 of the valve and the seat 107 in the recess 62 will be reduced to increase fluid restriction by this orifice and thus increase shock absorber 15 resistance. The upward thrust of springs 22 upon compression, will tend to move the b6dy 20 upwardly and@ as the springs tend to return to, normal load position and the wheels are on the roadbed, 20 the thrust of the springs will tend to lift the vehicle bbdy, carrying frame 20 upwardly at an accelerated rate which, when reaching a proper velocity, will cause a relative movement between the inertia mass control member 100 and the 25 casing 25 of the shock absorber. This relative movement is similar to a downward movement of the weight 100 relative to the casing and thus sleeve 84 will be moved within the sleeve 80 so that the @openings 91 in said sleeve valve are 30 moved withili the confines of the tubular bearing 85 within sleeve 80 covering said openings 91 and thus preventing any discharge of tlie fluid under pressure from the chamber 38 through duct or passage 60 and through opening 82 in the 35 chamber 87, this chamber now being cut off from com.i-nunication with the interior chamber 90 of the sleeve valve 84. Under these circumstances any fluid pressure release from chamber 38 must ocei-ir through the pressure release valve 152 which 40 i,, movable relatively to the intake'valve 146 in a manner similar as has been described in connection with' the intake and pressure release valves 46 and 52 respectively of the piston head portion 37. 45 From the aforegoing it *ill be seen that the fluid flow from rebound chamber 38 is controlled primarily by the orifice provided by valve.105 and the static pressure release valve 69, however, in response to i)redeter mined..accelerations in the 5o shock absorber movements upwardly, the inertia mass controlled valve 84 will become effective to render the other two fluid flow control devices inoperative or to render them ineffective; thus bringing into effect the pres@ure release valve 55 152 as sole fluid flow control device for the fluid being discharged from the chamber 38. Under these circumstances the highest degree of shock absorber resistance is offered inasmuch as valve 152 is provided with a'comparatively heavy spring 6q which urges it toward closed position. In this invention applicant provides an hydraulic shock absorber which is not only capable of adjusting itself automatically in accordance with the nature of the roadbed over which the 65 vehicle is being operated, but means is also provided whereby 'the operator may adjust the shock absorber as he desires. As presented, the automatic device will step in to adjust the shock absorber independently bf the adjustment of the @O hand device, that is, if the hand device is operated to provide a soft ride or little resisting shock absorber, the aut0matic device may, if the roadbed requires, automatically adjust the shock absorber so as to provide a maximum amount 75 of resistance. However, if the hand device is bperated to provid@ a maximum amount of resistance, the shock absbrber cannot be adjusted automatically to provide a; soft ride the automatic feature being operable only :to provide a high degree of riesistance if the nature of the 80 -roadbed necessitates such shock absorber control. While the form of embod'ment as herein disclo8ed constitutes a preferred form, it is.to'be understood thbt other forms m-ight be adopted, all. coming within the scope of the claims which 85 follow@ What is claimed is as follows, 1. An hydraulic sliock absorber having a fluid displacement chamber and a passage leading therefrom,- a valve in said passage adapted to con- 90 trol'the flomr bf fluid therethrough in reqponse to accelerations in '-he movements of the shock absorber; and a meinber extending into said passage and providing A constant fluid flow orifice therein. 2. Aii hydraulic shock absorber having a fluid 95 displacement. chamber and a passage leading therefrom @ a. valve in said passage adapted @to @control the flow of fluid therethrough in response to accelerations in the movements of the shock absorber; and a manually adjustable member, ac- 100 cessible from outside the shock absorber,@ extend@ing into the passage, and providing a constant fluid flow orifice therein. 3. An hydraulic shock absorber having a fluid displacement chamber and a passage leading 105 therefrom; a valve in said passage adapted,to discontinue the flow of fluid through said passage in response to accelerations in the upward movements of the shock absorber; and means in said passage providing a constant flow 110 orifice. 4. An hydraulic shock ab8Orber having a fl uid displacement char@iber and a passage leading therefrom; a valve in said passage @ad@apted to discontinue the flow of fluid through said pas- @l@5 sage in response to accelerations in the upward 'movem ents of the shock absorber-, and adjustable means in said passage, having a portion accessible from outside the shock absorber@ providing a cdnstant fluid flow orifice witl--iin said passage. 120 5. An hydraulic shock absbrber having a fluid displace ment chamber and :a passage leading therefro m" valves in said passage for co'n'trolling the flow of fluid therethrough, one adapted @to be operated in response to fluid preqs,,ire, the other in 125 response to accelerations in the movements of the shock absorber; and a manueilly adjustable valve in said passage bet-ween the aforementioned valves, providing a substantially constant fluid flow orifice. 130 6. An hydraulic sliock absorber having a fluid displace ment chamber and a passage leading therefro m; valves in said passage for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, one normally closing said passage but adapted, in -respoiise tO 235 fluid pressure, to establish a restricted fluid flow therethrough, the other normally open, but adapted, in response to accelerations in the vertical movement of the shock absorber, substantially, completely to shi-it off the fiow through @40 said passage; and a valve accessible from outside the shock absbrber for adjustment purposes, extending into said passage and providing a constant fluid flow orifice with@in said passage. 7. An hydraulic shock absorber having a fluid 145 displace ment chamber provided with two separate outlet passages; a pressure release valve for each passage, one valve requiring a greater fluid pressure to open it than the other; an inertia mass c6ntrolled valve in the passage with the 150

4 li-953,178 lower pressure operating release valve, adapted to restrict fluid flow in said passage in response to -predetermined accelerations in the upward -movement of the shock absorber; and a manj u'ally adjustable member extending into said inertia controlled passage, providing a Gonstant fluid flow orifice witlun said passage. 8, An hydraulic shock absorber having a fluid displacement chamberand a fluid passage leadl@_i ir* therefrom.; two automatic fluid flow control devices for said passage, one of said devices operating to control fluid flow in response to acceleratio'ns iii the movements of the shock absorber in -one direct4.0n; and a fluid flow control device wdapted to be operated manually and accessible from outside the shock absorber, for regulating the flow of fluid ihrough said passage. 9. An hydraulic shock absorber having a fluid displ,acement @chamber and a fluid passage leading therefrom; three separate means in said ,passage for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough, one of said rheans operating in respgnse t,@o accelerations in the velocity of shock absorber movemei,it in one direction, another operat4@ng in 25 -response to flliid pressure, and the third extending outside the shock absorber and being mov,able manually variably to restrict the flow of fluid through the passage. 10. Aii hy&aulic shock absorber havj'.ng a fluid '36 displacement chamber and a fluid passage leading therefrom; a check valve normally closing tlie pa;ssage, but adapted, in response to fluid pressure, to es@tab'@lish a restricted flow of fluid therethrough; a normally open, inertia mass controlled valve adapted, in response to accelerations in the shock absorber movement in one direction, to completely shut said fi-Liid passage and thus ren'der the check valve ineffective; and a manually ,operated valve, accessible from outside the shock 40 absorber, adapted to provide an adjustable:orifice in the passage. I'l. An hydraulic shock absorber having a fluid -displacement chamber and a fluid passage leading ther6fr,oir-; a spring loaded pressure release valve @4@, normally closing said passage; -a slide-valve in the passage, normally maintaining its por@uion of the passa,ge open, but adapted egmpletely to close it; a,,i inertia weight attached to said slide-valve; @a ,pring yieldably holding said weight in suspended -@io. position to maintain the slide valve open; and a valv,e extending from;outside the shock absorber into:the passage, gaid valve being manually,operable to @provide an adjustable fluid flow resurieting 7orifice in said passage. 12. An hydraulic shock absorber comprising a Leasing providing a cylinder in which a@piston forms -a,compression chamber; tnvo.ports leading froi'.l said chamber; a, pressure release valve for each -poit 'adapted, in response to. fluid pressure, to e@tablish flows of fluid from said - chamber; an inertia mass controlled valve adapted to discontinue the flow established by the one pressure reIease valve, in reqponse to accelerations in the :shock absorber movement in one direction only; and a valve between the pressure release valve 80 ,and inertia mass controlled valve, accessible from <)utside the shock absorber, and adapted to be operated nianually to provide a variable orifice between said t,@vo valves. 13. An hydraulic shock absorber con-iprising a S5 casing providing a cylinder in which a piston forms a compression chamber; ducts in the piston and casing proiiding separate outlets for said -cliamber; a pressure release valve for each outlet, one operating at a comparatively lovrer pressure @o than the other to establish i'LS flow; an inertia mass control@led valve adp-pted, in respoiise to accelerations in the shock absorber r,,iovements in one direction, to discontinue tne 'Llow established by the lower pressure release valve; and a valve, '05 accessible from outside the shock a@nsorber, and adapted to b,-, operated to provide a variable fluid fiow orifice in t-he passage between the low pressure release va.ve and inertio, mass controlled valve. 100 14. An hydraulic shock absorber comprisi-ng a ea-sing providing a cylinder in which a piston forrrs a compression chamber; dudts in the piston ard casing prowding separate outlets for said chamber; a pressure release valve for each outlet, 1,05 the valve in the casing outlet operatin.- at a lowe'r pressure to e@@tablish a fluid flo,,v, than the valve iii the p-iston Gutlet; a norma@lly op--n slide-valve ii-i the passage leading to the lower pressure valve; an inertia weight attached to the slide valve; 110 a spring yieldingly suppo,-ting said weight; and a valve in the casing passage, between the slidevalve 0-,nd lower pressure valve, said vallie being accessible fror@i outside the. shock absorber and manually operable to provide a variable or4.fice I 1.@5 in said casing passage. 15. An hydraulic shock absorber having a fluid displacerient chamber and a passage leading therefrom; a valve adapted to control the i9-ow of fluid through said passage in resnonse to ac- i celerations -I-,i the ,nover-n-ent of tiicsbock absorber; a-iid a r@,iahually adjusfable val@,e for regiila-ting t-he flow of fl@aid through ---aid passage. 16. An hydraulic shock absorber havin@a fluid displace ent chamber and a passage leadiiig therefrom; a pluralit@ of valves for regulating the 'Llow of fluid through said passage; an ineitia T-qass for adjusting one of said valves in res_Donse to accelerelions in thp-, i-novement of the shock abmonuaily operable meang for adjust- rai sorber; and ing. the other valve to vary its control of the fiwd flow. CARL H. KINDL. EDWIN F. ROSSMAN. RALPH I. BATES. IA5 140 145 150

Patented Apr. 3, 1934 199539178 UNITED STATES 1-3ATENT OFFICE 1,953j78 SHOCK ABSORBER Carl H. Kindl, 1Fdwin F. Rossman, Pn-d RFIjph 1. Bates, Dayton, OWo, a@-signars t,,) T'@qe Delco Pro,,Iucts Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaivare@ Application May 29, 1933, Seri-.tl No. 673,398 16 Claims. (Cl. 138-.88) This invention relates to improvemeiit@- in hydraulic shook absorbers adapte,-l to coritrol the relative movements of the frame and axles of a vehicle. ,5 It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an hydrauli-c shock absbrber capable of adjusting itself autbmatically in accordance with the nature of 'uhe ropdw,,iy over -,vhlch the vehicle is being operated. 10 A furt-her object of the itiveiition is to . provi de an automatically adjusted shock absorber with a manual control dev@@ce whereby the operator may adjust the shock absorber to provide various degrees of resistance in acc6rda@-icewith his own 15 des@ ires. r,urther objects aiid advantages of t-he present invention will be ap-oarent from the fblloiving description, referenc@ being had to the @lecompanyin,,- draivinas, wh--rein a PI-eferred embodi20 ment of one for-m of t'@ie present inventio-ri is clearly shown. Tn the drawings: F]'.g. I is a fragmentgry side view of - vehicle chassis, a shock absorbei, equipped with the pres26 ent ini7ention being shovin applied to the frame of the chasgis and connected ivith the axle. The road wheels have been omitted for the sake of clear.tiess. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary qectioral view taken 30 from the side of the sbock obsorber@ showing certainfluid:H-ow control device,, thereof. Fig. 3 is a loT.1gitudinal sectional view taken through the cyliiider of t]-ie - ,hock absorber. Fig. 4 is @@ -fra,gmenta.ry secti-onal view tal@en 3@ gubstanti.@tlly along the line 4-4 of 1,-ig. 2. Ref6rring to the drawings, the nu.-meral 20 designates the frai-qe of '@he vehicle which is sllr)ported upon the vehicle 9,.xle 21 by a sprinr, 22 hingedly --ttached to the frame at p6ints 23 and ,46 24 respectively. The @qhock absorber c6mprises a cosing 25 Drb'di servoir 26 and a cyl' der 27. vi n-g a fluid re in The open ends of the cylinder 27 ar(,- closed by cylinder end caps 28 having suitable gaskets to 45 prevent leaks. Journalled transversely of the casing 25 is a rocker shqft 29@ o,@ne end of 7,,,hich extends outside the shock absorber casing and hgs the shock absorber operatiiig arm 30 provided thereon. The free end of this arm- 30 is swivelly 50 attached to oiie end of a link 31, the opp6site end of said link being swivelly secured to a mernber 32 anchored to the ayle 21 by the clampin.a member 33. "Nithin the shock absorber casing 25 shaft 29 has a rocker lever 34 attached thereto 55 so that said lever will rotate ivith said shaft. Within the cylinder a piston 35 is reciprocably car,.ied ' said piston coripri-sing he-.Ld @ortions 36 and 37 @,,,Iiich forin spring rebound and spring comliression coiitrol. chambers 38 and 39 re'speetively. T-lie free end of lever 34 extends into a recess provided in the piston 35 bet een piston w head po--Ptlo-,is 3ri and ;,7, said arm engaging wear pieces 40 cgrried in 9,diacent, inner eL.ids of the respre'tive pi.stoii head portions. 11"20@In t-be aforegoing it may be seen that - as the rocker lever 34 is oscillaied back and forth by the 'rotation iii one direction or 11-ie other of shaft 29, piston 35 will be reciprocated within the cyli,@ide,-r 27. Each piston head po t' as. r ion 36 and 37. has a p sage 42 tberethrough providing for the transfer of fltild fro,.n oiie side of the piston to the other, or more specil-ically between the reservoir and the -oesppetive coiitrol chanlbers 38 E),nd 39. Each piston bead passage 42 -has a fliiid flov,, control T5 device, and ilir,,smuch as both devices for both pistoii head D6rtions are alike; only 6ne will be doeri-bed detailedly. Refer ring to the piston head porti6n 37, it will be seen that an annular ridge 45 surrounds the 80 opening of possage 42 -niore adjacent tl-ie chamb@--r 39, t-Iiis @-Tinular ridge ovi a valve seat for the intake valve 46 ivbjch is urged upon this seat by spring 47 interposed between the valve and an cbutmeiit ring 48 seated -within a groove 85 49 provided in the piston head. The tubular body 50, of intake vvlve 46, ,@lidably carries the tubular body portibn, 51 of tlie pressure relief valve 52, which is urged @'@nto @@eatir@g enga.-ement itjith the iiitlke valve 45 by spring 53 interposed 90 betv,7ee n the intv-,ke valve and an abutment collar 54 secured to the outer end of the tubular body portion 51 of pressu@-e relief valve 52. An openiiip., 55, - in the tubular body portion 51 of the pressu@e r,- Iease valve, D-ormally lies within the con- 95 t-ine,- of the iyitake valve 46, as shown in Fig. 31 howe,7er to establi@,h a fluid flow through the pressure relea@@e valve it must -rnove relative to the inteke val,,7e 16 so tl-iat the side opening 55 is uncovered. Details of t,ae oi3eration.of this valve 100 will be described later. FroirL the aforegoing it -nioy be seen that comrilnicatio n b--tween the reservoir 26 and the res-o.-etive el-iar-nb-rs 38 and 39 may be obtained t of 105 t'lrough the pis'uor). ppssage@, 42 dependen course upon theriiovey--n-e!nt of the piston. Other commuiii cation@ between the coinpression charp-- ber 38 and the reservoir 26 a7i@e obtained thrbugh ducts or ppsfao;es provided in the casing 25. Referring niore particularly to Figs. 2 and 41 110 160

1,953,178 chainber 38 has a duct or passage 60 leading therefrom -into the recess 61 provided in the shock absorber casing. This recess 61 receives and houses the automatic fluid fiow control device o-f the shock absoroer. Another recess 62 in the shock absorber casing and substantiauy parallel to recess 61 is in communic2@tion w-ith said r@cess 61 through a crb@@s passage 63. Another cross passage 64 leads from recess 62 into a valve chamber 10 65, the outer end of which opens to the outside of the shock al,)sorb-,r and is interiorly threaded to receive the screw plug 66. The difierence in diameter between the valve chainber 65 and the cross passage 64 fornis a shoulder 67 which pro16 vides a seat fo,.- the flange 68 of the check valve 69, this f-lange being urged upoil its seat by spring 70 interposed between the flange 68 of the valve 69 and an abutment collar 71 cartied by the Valvf, and engaging the screw plug 66 wlien the valve i-s 20 properly vsser@ibled in the shock abso@ber , casing. The valve chamber 65 in turn is in communication v7ith the reservoir 26 o , i the shock --bsorber t-hrough a passage 72 shown in dotted lines in the Fig. 4. Passage 72 discharges into the reser26 voir 26 at a point which at no time will be covered by any portion of the -i.)iston so as to prevent communication bet-@veen the reservoir and the valve chamber 65. The automatic fluid flbw control device of the 30 shock absorber or more specifically the fluid flow con'urol device which is 6perated in accordance With accelerations in t , he shock absorber movemeiits in ci3e dire6tion is coritaired within the recess 61 as has been mentioned heretofore. in 85 recess 61 there is first placed a sleeve 80 so as to be immovable therein, sleeve 80 havi-ng side openings 81 v@hich comiwanicate with the cross T)assage 63 and also an opening 82 providing comrr-unication between the interior of slee,,7e 80 ,ind 40 the duct or possage 60 leading from the s-oring r@bound control chamber 38. Within @be sleeve 80 there is provided an inwardly e,-tending annula@, flange 33 which forms a bearing for the slide va-lve 84. A tube 85 Nvifhin sleeve 80 pro45 vides an6ther bearing for the slidp- valve 84 at one end of sleeve 80 and a simila;,- tube 86 provid,-,s a similar bearing at the appbsite end of sleeve 80 for the slide valve. It will be seen thot tubular bearings 85 and 86 are spaced from the r)O flange o3 in the sleeve 86 so as to @rovide chambers 87 alid 88 respeetively between the slidevalve 84 and Lhe sleeve 80. Chaniber 87 is - in conimunication ivith the openiiig 82 in sj'.eeve 80 and chardber 88 is in communidation with the 55 sideopenings8linsaid-,sleeve8O. Theslidevalve 84 has an interior ch-amber 90, closed at both -nds, one end of N,@h-ich is in cominuiiica;tion ,vith the cha,mber 87 through openings 91 in the viall of the hollow sleeve-valve 84, other openings 92 p,-,o60 -Viding con-imunication bbil-@,Teen tne iiiner charr..ber 90 of the sle6ve-i7alve and the chamber 88 in the sle@,ve 80. T-he sleeve--valve 84 extends from the sleeve 80 irito an eialarged -Ihan-iber or re I cess 94 @in the caging, wnich @ecess or chamber 65 contains the inertia mass or weight ',-00. The sleeve-valve 84 is seciired to 'uhis weight 10 0 in any suitable mant@ier, in thb proseiit i--Qstap-ce tb-e threaded 6hd 95 of sleeve-val,@e 84 threadedly engages an - interior-ly t-lareaded c6llar 96 Nvhich is 7( secured to the weight 100 in bny suitable manner. A lo--k nut 91 inaintaiiis the sleeve-valve to the collar 96 iii properly adjusted po@ition. A spri-.ig 98 resting upon the bottoin surfacb of the recess 94 Y"@eldably holds the v7eight 100 in suspension. 7-1 in order to prevent upward movemexit of this weight away from iiormal position, bumper blocks 99 are provided in the weight which are adapled ilo.,:rnally to engage the cover plate 101 secured to the casing by screws 102. The r@ormal posi-ti-on of the vie-lght 100 mair-tains the 80 -,Ieeve-valve 84 in such a position that open 4 gS in 92 are iri co-mrn-Linication with chamber 88, and openi@ngs 91 @Niith chairber 87. The -recess 62 is interiorly Ihreaded to receive the thrcaded end 104 of the manua".Iy ad-ustable 85 valve 105. Th@s valve has a tipered portion 106 adapted throu,-,h ro'-,ation of the valve to be moved tovvard or av@ay froni the seat 107 whereby the oi@ifice presented between tiae @Llapered portion 106 a-@ad the valve seat 107 may be varied through the 96 rotation of the vaive 105. A proper gasket 108, of any suitable des,'@gn, p-.oovides a ppelf@ng -kn the ca@sing about the valve to prevent lealzs. An operat-,"ia.- lever 109 is attached to the maiiually operable valve 105 so that so.@d valve w-ay be rotated, 95 tli-cough a,.iy suitable coniaecbi-ons, by the onereuor of the vehicle at any ti.Tre desired, to adj'ust the orifice and Drovi-de shor.,k absorber resistance as he desires. T.-@e conne@-tions A7,Tith lever 109 may be made to ;,T-iy s,,iitable ol)erating lever on 100 the dash of the vehicle w@h4,ch would be within easy reach of the operator during operation of t-he vehicle. The devic,- funcl.-ions the folloATjiilg rpanner: The roadwheels of the vehicle, upon striking 105 an obstruct-ion or raise in '.he hig'-riviay, will be thrust upwa,rdly '@-oward the frame 20, thereby causing ,ipward r-,ioveriient of the ax',Ie 21 and compre,,;sio--i of surings 2@0. As th@-) a,@,rle 21 moves toward t,"ie fro,-.rie 20, the 1-ink cor-ince-@ion between 110 the axle and shock absorber piston 35 will cause said piston to be inoved to7,jol--d '@he right as regards the drowings, thereby exert.ing a pressure upoii the @.luid w4ithin the cha-mber 39 jihich pressure, when su-i9--icient, viill rpo@7e valve 52 so as 115 to brin,- -its side opeyiing 55 ou'l-side the confines of the intake valv@- 46 to e,-,'Llablish a rest@-icted flow of fluid from chamber 39 through the opening 55, dliet 42 into the reservoir 26, this restricti-or-, to the flow of fluid resisl@irg the movement 120 toward the right o'L piston 35 and consequently res,.sting the upward --rnovement of the axle 21. As the piston moves tow@@rd the right, the fluid from res&tvoi@@@ 26 Will move the intake valve 146 in the pistoii 36 froil-i its seat to establish a 125 substantipll@y free flow of fl-uid through the piston duct 42 iiito the spring rebound control chamber 38. The coir@pressed st)ring 22 will tlend to return toward the iiorrjaol lood position viitl.-i -a j,ebound- 130 iv-ig movetnert and as the spri@ng 22 -@noves frowfrar@ie 20, the link connection,-@ with the shock absorber pislo-on 35 will move the pi-stoi toword the left to exert a press,,i,@,e upon the '.Cluid within the chaw.-ber 38, fore-ng said fl-uid from - said 135 chamber through duc4- or passa,ge 60, opeiiiiig 82 in sleeve 80 into the'interior of said sleeve or mo.,e particul@-rly charqber 87, frorq whence the iluid will pass through slde openiiigs .91 in the 140 valve 84, .nto the interior ch,).mber 90 61' @@aid va Iv@ flowing f@om said inte-,@ior chamber 1-10 throu,@h open,"ngs 92 irto the chamber 83, thence through openings 81 in sleeve 80, through cross passage 63 into recess 62, then through the orifice 145 presented between the sp-at 107 and the tadered portion 106 of the adjustable valve 105, and from said recess 62 throu@h the cross passage 64, the I-luAd pressilre urgi@'9 valve 68 l'i:oi@D- its seat to establish a L-iow i-nto the valve chamber 65 - fiom 150