IP Library Granted Patent US 12,320,404
Granted Patent B2
US 12,320,404 · App. 17/935,349 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Damper assembly

Inventors: Franky Montagna (Bilzen, BE); Werner Bosmans (Beringen, BE); Frederik Baldoni (Borgloon, BE); Simon Anne de Molina (Namur, BE); Ruben Evens (Hasselt, BE); Ronny Vanbrabant (Heusden-Zolder, BE); Rahul Popatrao Ekatpure (Sint-Truiden, BE)
Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
F16F9/3235F16F9/19F16F9/3484F16F9/3488F16F9/50B60G13/08B60G17/08B60G2202/24B60G2204/62B60G2206/41B60G2500/112B60G2800/162F16F2222/12F16F2228/066F16F2230/183F16F2232/08F16F2234/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,320,404
App. No.
17/935,349
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A damper assembly includes a rod elongated along an axis. The damper assembly includes a body supported by the rod, the body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The body and the rod define a passage between the body and the rod, the passage extending from the first surface of the body to the second surface of the body.

Claims (37)

1. A damper assembly, comprising:

a rod elongated along an axis;

a piston supported by the rod, the piston having a compression surface and a rebound surface opposite the compression surface;

a first passage extending between the piston and the rod from the compression surface to the rebound surface of the piston;

a check disc supported by the rod, the check disc movable from an unflexed position to a flexed position to increase resistance to fluid flow through the first passage;

a housing supported by the rod, the housing defining a chamber in fluid communication with the first passage, the check disc being in the chamber; and an orifice disc in the chamber.

2. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piston defines a second passage extending from the compression surface to the rebound surface, and further comprising a blow off disc supported by the rod and selectively permitting fluid flow out of the second passage of the piston, the first passage extending between the rod and the blow off disc.

3. The damper assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a spring disc supported by the rod and urging the blow off disc toward the piston, the first passage extending between the rod and the spring disc.

4. The damper assembly of claim 3 , wherein the piston, the blow off disc, and the spring disc each include a notch, the first passage extending through the notches.

5. The damper assembly of claim 4 , wherein the piston, the blow off disc, and the spring disc each include a second notch, and the rod includes a rib disposed in the second notches.

6. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rod includes an axially elongated flat defining the first passage.

7. The damper assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a flow disc supported by the rod, the flow disc defining a radial passage in fluid communication with the first passage.

8. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the check disc is movable from the unflexed position to a second flexed position, the check disc restricting fluid flow through the first passage in a first direction in the flexed position and restricting fluid flow through the first passage in a second direction opposite the first direction in the second flexed position.

9. The damper assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second check disc supported by the rod, the check disc restricting fluid flow through the first passage in a first direction in the flexed position, and the second check disc selectively restricting fluid flow through the first passage in a second direction opposite the first direction.

10. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the check disc is movable from the unflexed position toward the housing to the flexed position.

11. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a rib extending toward the check disk.

12. The damper assembly of claim 11 , wherein the rib includes a channel.

13. The damper assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second orifice disc in the chamber, the check disc between the orifice disc and the second orifice disc.

14. The damper assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a top disc further defining the chamber, the top disc having an opening in fluid communication with the chamber.

15. The damper assembly of claim 14 , wherein the top disc includes a rib that extends toward the housing.

16. The damper assembly of claim 15 , wherein the rib defines a channel.

17. The damper assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second check disc in the chamber, the check disc restricting fluid flow through the first passage in a first direction in the flexed position, and the second check disc selectively restricting fluid flow through the first passage in a second direction opposite the first direction.

18. A damper assembly, comprising:

a rod elongated along an axis;

a piston supported by the rod, the piston having a compression surface and a rebound surface opposite the compression surface;

a first passage between the piston and the rod, the first passage extending from the compression surface of the piston to the rebound surface of the piston;

a second passage extending from the compression surface to the rebound surface;

a blow off disc supported by the rod and selectively permitting fluid flow out of the second passage of the piston, the first passage extending between the rod and the blow off disc;

a spring disc supported by the rod and urging the blow off disc toward the piston, the first

passage extending between the rod and the spring disc; and

the piston, the blow off disc, and the spring disc each including a notch, the first passage extending between the rod and the spring disc.

19. A damper assembly, comprising:

a rod elongated along an axis; and

a piston supported by the rod, the piston having a compression surface and a rebound surface opposite the compression surface;

a passage between the piston and the rod, the passage extending from the compression surface of the piston to the rebound surface of the piston;

a check disc supported by the rod, the check disc selectively restricting fluid flow through the passage;

a housing supported by the rod, the housing defining a chamber in fluid communication with the passage, the check disc being positioned within the housing and in the chamber, the housing including a rib extending toward the check disk.

Assignments (5)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: ADVANCED SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 072553/0175 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 1, 2025
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: ADVANCED SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 071790/0787 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 7, 2023
From: TENNECO INC.; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063268/0506 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061989/0689 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 26, 2022
From: MONTAGNA, FRANKY; BOSMANS, WERNER; BALDONI, FREDERIK; ANNE DE MOLINA, SIMON; EVENS, RUBEN; EKATPURE, RAHUL POPATRAO; VANBRABANT, RONNY
To: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061215/0695 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation PCTUS2021024469 · Mar 26, 2021
Provisional Application 63001013 · Mar 27, 2020
Provisional Application 63090475 · Oct 12, 2020
Provisional Application 63090510 · Oct 12, 2020
Related Publication 20230019332A1 · Jan 19, 2023
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