US 12,459,327 B2
Variable rate liquid spring suspension system exhibiting low variance in suspension frequency
Dean F. Bartolone, Lafayette, IN (US); David L. Nagreski, Lafayette, IN (US); Carl D. Harr, McAlpin, FL (US); and Aaron Gebhardt, Logansport, IN (US)
Assigned to LIQUIDSPRING TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Santa Fe Springs, CA (US)
Filed by LIQUIDSPRING TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Santa Fe Springs, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 24, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/036,808.
Application 19/036,808 is a continuation of application No. 18/334,878, filed on Jun. 14, 2023.
Application 18/334,878 is a continuation of application No. 17/936,087, filed on Sep. 28, 2022, granted, now 11,738,619, issued on Aug. 29, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0170867 A1, May 29, 2025
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60G 17/04 (2006.01); B60G 17/056 (2006.01)
CPC B60G 17/0424 (2013.01) [B60G 17/056 (2013.01); B60G 2202/154 (2013.01); B60G 2400/60 (2013.01); B60G 2500/2042 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A suspension system configured to exhibit low variance in ride frequency over a range of load conditions, the suspension system comprising:
a strut comprising:
a cylinder; and
a piston configured to reciprocate in the cylinder;
a vessel coupled to the strut, the vessel defining an interior chamber;
a rate valve in the interior chamber of the vessel, the rate valve dividing the interior chamber into a first liquid volume and a second liquid volume;
a hydraulic accumulator comprising a volume and a liquid volume;
a compressible liquid in the cylinder, the first liquid volume in the vessel, and the second liquid volume in the vessel; and
a spring element in the volume of the hydraulic accumulator,
wherein the rate valve is selected to move between an open configuration in which the compressible liquid in the first liquid volume is in fluid communication with the compressible liquid in the second liquid volume, and a closed configuration in which the compressible liquid in the first liquid volume is isolated from the compressible liquid in the second liquid volume.