US 12,264,656 B2
Integrated energy generating damper
Clive Tucker, Charlestown, MA (US); Ross J. Wendell, Medford, MA (US); Zackary Martin Anderson, Cambridge, MA (US); Evan Moen, Davisburg, MI (US); Johannes Schneider, Cambridge, MA (US); Zachary J. Jackowski, Somerville, MA (US); and Sean C. Morton, Somerville, MA (US)
Assigned to ClearMotion, Inc., Billerica, MA (US)
Filed by ClearMotion, Inc., Billerica, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/964,295.
Application 17/964,295 is a continuation of application No. 16/850,122, filed on Apr. 16, 2020, granted, now 11,499,535.
Application 16/850,122 is a continuation of application No. 16/458,845, filed on Jul. 1, 2019, granted, now 10,655,612.
Application 16/458,845 is a continuation of application No. 15/620,032, filed on Jun. 12, 2017, granted, now 10,495,073.
Application 15/620,032 is a continuation of application No. 14/681,630, filed on Apr. 8, 2015, granted, now 9,689,382.
Application 14/681,630 is a continuation of application No. 13/704,138, granted, now 9,035,477, previously published as PCT/US2011/040654, filed on Jun. 16, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/467,161, filed on Mar. 24, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/355,186, filed on Jun. 16, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2023/0250811 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
Int. Cl. F03G 7/08 (2006.01); B60G 11/26 (2006.01); B60G 13/14 (2006.01); B60G 17/08 (2006.01); F01C 1/10 (2006.01); F01C 9/00 (2006.01); F01C 13/00 (2006.01); F03C 1/26 (2006.01)
CPC F03G 7/08 (2013.01) [B60G 11/265 (2013.01); B60G 13/14 (2013.01); F01C 1/103 (2013.01); F01C 9/002 (2013.01); F01C 13/00 (2013.01); F03C 1/26 (2013.01); B60G 17/08 (2013.01); B60G 2400/252 (2013.01)] 33 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An active suspension actuator, comprising:
a damper that includes an inner tube that slidably receives a piston, an outer tube, wherein the outer tube surrounds the inner tube to form an annular volume between the inner tube and the outer tube, and an accumulator located in the annular volume, wherein the piston separates an inner volume in the inner tube into a compression volume and an extension volume, and wherein the piston is attached to a piston rod;
a hydraulic unit with a first port and a second port, wherein the hydraulic unit is configured to operate as a hydraulic pump in at least a first operating condition, wherein the first port is in fluid communication with the compression volume and the second port is in fluid communication with the extension volume, wherein the hydraulic unit is reversible;
a first controlled valve positioned along a first hydraulic fluid flow path between the annular volume and the compression volume;
a first check valve positioned along a second hydraulic fluid flow path between the annular volume and the compression volume, wherein the first check valve is configured to permit flow from the annular volume to the compression volume; and
an electric motor operatively coupled to the hydraulic unit,
wherein the actuator is configured to be actively extended or retracted by supplying power to the electric motor.