Non metallic gas valve assembly for a shock absorber
View Patent ↗A gas valve assembly for a shock absorber includes a first portion of a first material and a second portion of second material which is less rigid than the first material. The first portion defines a rigid valve assembly body having a threaded portion to mount the valve to the shock body. The second portion is resilient and defines an integral plug and annular seal interconnected by a connecting member. The annular seal is molded adjacent a step engagement surface to seal the gas valve assembly to the shock body. A head having a tool engagement surface compresses the annular seal when the gas valve assembly is threaded in place.
1. A shock absorber assembly comprising:
a shock absorber body comprising a gas chamber and a threaded opening;
a first portion mounted within said threaded opening, said first portion formed of
a first non-metallic material, said first portion defining an axis; and
a second portion formed of a second non-metallic material less rigid than said first non-metallic material, said second portion comprising a plug and a seal interconnected by a connecting member.
2. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said plug is located along said axis and at least partially within a bore formed within said first portion.
3. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 2 , wherein said bore defines a plurality of bore lands and bore grooves.
4. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 3 , wherein said plug defines a plurality of plug lands and plug grooves corresponding with said bore lands and bore grooves.
5. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 4 , wherein said plug lands and said plug grooves form a dove tail relationship with said bore lands and said bore grooves formed within said first portion.
6. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said seal comprises an annular member defined about said axis.
7. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first portion comprises a head portion and a threaded section.
8. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 7 , wherein said head portion comprises a tool engagement surface.
9. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 8 , wherein said seal comprises an annular member defined about said axis adjacent said head portion.
10. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said first portion comprises a transverse passage between an outer surface and a bore.
11. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said seal comprises an annular member defined about an outer perimeter of said first portion.
12. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said plug defines a plurality of plug lands and plug grooves defined generally parallel to said axis.
13. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein said connecting member passes through a transverse passage defined through said first portion.
14. A shock absorber assembly comprising:
a shock absorber body;
a first portion mounted within said shock absorber body, said first portion formed of a first non-metallic material; and
a second portion formed of a second non-metallic material less rigid than said first non-metallic material, said second portion comprising a plug and a seal interconnected by a connecting member which passes through a transverse passage defined by said first portion.
15. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein said transverse passage is generally transverse to an axis defined along said first portion.
16. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 14 , wherein said plug defines a plurality of plug lands and plug grooves defined generally parallel to an axis defined along said first portion.
17. A shock absorber assembly comprising:
a shock absorber body;
a first portion mounted within said shock absorber body, said first portion formed of a first non-metallic material; and
a second portion formed of a second non-metallic material less rigid than said first non-metallic material, said second portion comprising a plug and a seal interconnected by a connecting member which passes through a transverse passage defined through said first portion, said seal defined about an outer perimeter of said first portion.
18. The shock absorber assembly as recited in claim 17 , wherein said transverse passage is located adjacent a head portion and a threaded section.