Granted Patent B1

US 12,491,943 · App. 17/897,146 · Granted Dec 9, 2025

Inventors: David Calliari (Oshkosh, WI); Cody Bauer (Oshkosh, WI); Bjoern Gillstroem (Oshkosh, WI); Jonathan King (Oshkosh, WI); Mark Chapin (Oshkosh, WI); Brian Koppa (Oshkosh, WI); Aaron Rositch (Oshkosh, WI); Erik Ellifson (Oshkosh, WI); Patrick Dillman (Hartford, WI); Robert Sollenskog (Oshkosh, WI)

Assignee: OSHKOSH DEFENSE, LLC

B62D21/03B60D1/488B60K5/00B60K17/04B60K17/344B62D21/02B62D24/00B62D27/06B62D33/06B62D33/063B62D65/02

Abstract

Claims (38)

1 . A suspension element, comprising:

a main body having an internal volume;

a tubular element extending at least partially within the main body, wherein the main body and the tubular element each include a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a first piston assembly separating the internal volume of the main body into a first chamber and a second chamber, the second chamber defined by at least portions of the outer surface of the tubular element, the inner surface of the main body, and a surface of the first piston assembly; and

a second piston assembly including a side that is directly exposed to the first chamber,

wherein the sidewall of the main body defines an aperture therethrough that forms a portion of a flow path between the first chamber and the second chamber, and wherein the first piston assembly is configured to prevent direct fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber during at least one of an extension and a contraction of the tubular element.

2 . The suspension element of claim 1 , wherein the second piston assembly is slidably coupled to the tubular element.

3 . The suspension element of claim 1 , wherein the first piston assembly couples the tubular element to the main body.

4 . The suspension element of claim 1 , further comprising at least one flow control element disposed along the flow path between the first chamber and the second chamber.

5 . The suspension element of claim 4 , wherein the first piston assembly extends between the tubular element and the inner surface of the main body.

6 . The suspension element of claim 5 , further comprising a cap disposed over a first end of the main body.

7 . The suspension element of claim 6 , further comprising a barrier coupled to a second end of the main body, wherein the barrier is annular and includes an aperture configured to receive the sidewall of the tubular element therethrough.

8 . The suspension element of claim 7 , wherein the cap defines an aperture in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second chamber.

9 . The suspension element of claim 8 , wherein the at least one flow control element is integrated into the cap.

10 . The suspension element of claim 8 , wherein the at least one flow control element is coupled to the main body.

11 . The suspension element of claim 7 , further comprising a manifold defining a passage that couples the first chamber with the second chamber, wherein the manifold defines at least a portion of the flow path.

12 . The suspension element of claim 11 , wherein the manifold comprises a second tubular element, and wherein the sidewall of the main body is disposed at least partially within the second tubular element.

13 . The suspension element of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber comprise hydraulic chambers configured to contain a hydraulic fluid therein.

14 . A suspension assembly, comprising:

a wheel end assembly;

an upper support arm coupled to the wheel end assembly;

a lower support arm coupled to the wheel end assembly; and

a suspension element coupled to at least one of the upper support arm and the lower support arm, the suspension element comprising:

a main body having an internal volume;

a tubular element extending at least partially within the main body, wherein the tubular element has an internal volume, and wherein the main body and the tubular element each include a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a piston assembly separating the internal volume of the main body into a first chamber and a second chamber, the second chamber defined by at least portions of the outer surface of the tubular element, the inner surface of the main body, and a surface of the piston assembly, wherein the second chamber extends at least partially within the internal volume of the tubular element; and

at least one flow control element disposed along a flow path between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the sidewall of the main body defines an aperture therethrough that forms a portion of the flow path, and wherein the piston assembly is configured to prevent direct fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber during at least one of an extension and a contraction of the tubular element.

15 . The suspension assembly of claim 14 , wherein the piston assembly couples the tubular element to the main body.

16 . The suspension assembly of claim 14 , wherein the piston assembly extends between the tubular element and the inner surface of the main body.

17 . The suspension assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a cap disposed over a first end of the main body.

18 . The suspension assembly of claim 17 , wherein the at least one flow control element is integrated into the cap.

19 . The suspension assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first chamber and the second chamber comprise hydraulic chambers configured to contain a hydraulic fluid therein.

20 . A method of manufacturing a suspension element, the method comprising:

providing a main body having an internal volume;

extending a tubular element at least partially within the main body, wherein the tubular element has an internal volume that defines a first chamber, and wherein the main body and the tubular element each include a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface;

separating the internal volume of the main body into a second chamber and a third chamber with a first piston assembly, the third chamber defined by at least portions of the outer surface of the tubular element, the inner surface of the main body, and a surface of the first piston assembly;

separating the first chamber from the second chamber with a second piston assembly, wherein the second piston assembly includes a first side that is directly exposed to the first chamber and a second side that is directly exposed to the second chamber; and

disposing at least one flow control element along a flow path between the second chamber and the third chamber, wherein the sidewall of the main body defines an aperture therethrough that forms a portion of the flow path, and wherein the first piston assembly is configured to prevent direct fluid communication between the second chamber and the third chamber during at least one of an extension and a contraction of the tubular element.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (71)

References Cited (400)

Cited By (1)

US 12,715,256