Shock absorber
A shock absorber includes a first oil flow path and a second oil flow path connected to a damper case and allowing oil to pass therethrough, a compression resistance unit including a resistance unit oil chamber, which is connected to the first oil flow path and allows the oil to flow thereinto when a rod is displaced in a compression direction, and a receiving member having one end facing the resistance unit oil chamber and the other end receiving an urging force of a spring, a reservoir tank connected to the second oil flow path and allowing the oil to flow thereinto, and a flow rate control unit provided on the second oil flow path and capable of controlling a flow rate of the oil flowing into the reservoir tank.
1 . A shock absorber comprising:
a rod;
a piston fixed to the rod;
a damper case having a tubular shape and surrounding a part of the rod and the piston such that the rod and the piston are movable in an axial direction, in which oil is filled inside the damper case;
a spring urging the rod and the damper case in an extension direction that is a direction in which the rod and the damper case are separated from each other;
a first oil flow path connected to the damper case and allowing the oil to pass therethrough;
a compression resistance unit including a resistance unit oil chamber and a receiving member, the resistance unit oil chamber being connected to the first oil flow path and allowing the oil to flow thereinto when the rod is displaced in a compression direction opposite to the extension direction, and the receiving member having one end facing the resistance unit oil chamber and an other end receiving an urging force of the spring;
a second oil flow path separate from the first oil flow path and allowing the oil discharged from the damper case to pass therethrough;
a reservoir tank connected to the second oil flow path and allowing the oil to flow thereinto; and
a flow rate control unit provided on the second oil flow path and configured to control a flow rate of the oil flowing to the reservoir tank.
2 . The shock absorber according to claim 1 ,
wherein the flow rate control unit is implemented by an orifice valve or a variable orifice valve.
3 . The shock absorber according to claim 1 ,
wherein the flow rate of the oil controlled by the flow rate control unit is available to be changed manually by an operator or electrically.
4 . The shock absorber according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a vehicle height adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a vehicle height.
5 . The shock absorber according to claim 4 ,
wherein the compression resistance unit and the vehicle height adjustment mechanism are disposed in series.
6 . The shock absorber according to claim 5 ,
wherein the vehicle height adjustment mechanism is disposed between the spring and the compression resistance unit.
7 . The shock absorber according to claim 4 ,
wherein the vehicle height adjustment mechanism includes a pump configured to feed a fluid for adjusting the vehicle height.
8 . The shock absorber according to claim 7 , comprising:
a control unit configured to control the flow rate control unit and the pump.
9 . The shock absorber according to claim 8 ,
wherein the flow rate control unit and the pump are independently controllable.