Shock absorber having a hydraulic stop
View Patent ↗A shock absorber includes a hydraulic stop. The hydraulic stop includes two housings connected together by a spring. At the end of the stroke of the shock absorber, the piston causes the two housings to approach each other thereby causing fluid disposed between the housings to flow through a bleed passage. The size or total area of the bleed passage will determine the amount of hydraulic damping provided by the hydraulic stop.
1. A shock absorber comprising:
a pressure tube defining a working chamber;
a piston disposed within said working chamber, said piston dividing said working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber;
a piston rod attached to said piston, said piston rod extending from said piston to a position outside said pressure tube;
an end cap attached to one end of said pressure tube;
a first retainer disposed within said pressure tube adjacent said end cap, said first retainer slidingly engaging said piston rod;
a second retainer disposed within and sealingly engaging said pressure tube to prohibit fluid flow between an outer circumference of said second retainer and said pressure tube, said second retainer slidingly engaging said piston rod;
a spring disposed between said first and second retainers; wherein:
said first and second retainers define a damping chamber disposed within said working chamber; and
said second retainer defines a bleed passage in communication with said damping chamber and said working chamber.
2. The shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein said spring is press fit within said pressure tube.
3. The shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein said first retainer is press fit within said pressure tube.
4. The shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein said bleed passage is defined by a slot in said second retainer.
5. The shock absorber according to claim 4 further comprising a collar, disposed on said piston rod, said collar engaging said second retainer during movement of said piston with respect to said pressure tube.
6. The shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein said bleed passage is defined by a hole in said second retainer.
7. The shock absorber according to claim 1 wherein said second retainer defines a fluid chamber, said fluid chamber being in communication with said damping chamber.
8. The shock absorber according to claim 7 further comprising a valve disc slidingly received on said piston rod, said valve disc closing said fluid chamber when said valve disc is disposed adjacent said second retainer.
9. The shock absorber according to claim 8 further comprising a fulcrum disc disposed adjacent said valve disc, said valve disc bending at said fulcrum disc when fluid pressure within said fluid chamber exceeds a specified fluid pressure.
10. The shock absorber according to claim 1 further comprising a reservoir tube surrounding said pressure tube, said reservoir tube and said pressure tube defining a reservoir chamber.
11. A shock absorber comprising:
a pressure tube defining a working chamber;
a piston disposed within said working chamber, said piston dividing said working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber;
a piston rod attached to said piston, said piston rod extending from said piston to a position outside said pressure tube;
an end cap attached to one end of said pressure tube;
a first retainer disposed within said pressure tube adjacent said end cap, said first retainer slidingly engaging said piston rod;
a second retainer disposed within said pressure tube, said second retainer slidingly engaging said piston rod;
a spring press fit against inside diameter of said pressure tube, said spring engaging said first retainer to maintain said first retainer adjacent said end cap, said spring being press fit to said second retainer; wherein:
said first and second retainers define a damping chamber disposed within said working chamber; and
said second retainer defines a bleed passage in communication with said damping chamber and said working chamber.
12. The shock absorber according to claim 11 wherein said bleed passage is defined by a slot in said second retainer.
13. The shock absorber according to claim 12 further comprising a collar, disposed on said piston rod, said collar engaging said second retainer during movement of said piston with respect to said pressure tube.
14. The shock absorber according to claim 11 wherein said bleed passage is defined by a hole in said second retainer.
15. The shock absorber according to claim 11 wherein said second retainer defines a fluid chamber, said fluid chamber being in communication with said damping chamber.
16. The shock absorber according to claim 15 further comprising a valve disc slidingly received on said piston rod, said valve disc closing said fluid chamber when said valve disc is disposed adjacent said second retainer.
17. The shock absorber according to claim 16 further comprising a fulcrum disc disposed adjacent said valve disc, said valve disc bending at said fulcrum disc when fluid pressure within said fluid chamber exceeds a specified fluid pressure.
18. The shock absorber according to claim 11 further comprising a reservoir tube surrounding said pressure tube, said reservoir tube and said pressure tube defining a reservoir chamber.