Damper hydraulic compression stop cup

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10876591-B2
Application number	US-201916274575-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 13, 2019
Priority date	Feb 13, 2019
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

A shock absorber includes a pressure tube, a rod, a rod guide, a first piston, a second piston, and a cup. The pressure tube has an inner surface that defines a fluid chamber. The rod extends into the pressure tube. The rod guide locates the rod relative to the pressure tube. The first piston is coupled to the rod and divides the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. The second piston is coupled to the rod and disposed within the lower working chamber. The cup has an open end configured to receive the second piston and a closed end opposite of the open end. The cup includes a sidewall and a bottom wall. The sidewall includes a cylindrical section and a flared section. The bottom wall forms the closed end of the cup, extends radially outward of the sidewall, and supports the pressure tube.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shock absorber comprising:
a pressure tube having an inner surface that defines a fluid chamber;
a rod extending into the pressure tube;
a rod guide disposed in the pressure tube, the rod guide radially locating the rod relative to the pressure tube;
a first piston coupled to the rod and disposed within the fluid chamber, the first piston dividing the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber;
a second piston coupled to the rod and disposed within the lower working chamber of the pressure tube; and
a cup disposed within the lower working chamber of the pressure tube, the cup having an open end configured to receive the second piston and a closed end opposite of the open end, the cup including a sidewall and a monolithic bottom wall, the sidewall including a cylindrical section and a flared section, the cylindrical section extending from the closed end of the cup to the flared section, the flared section extending from the cylindrical section to the open end of the cup, the flared section being configured to radially locate the cup relative to the pressure tube and to guide the second piston into the cylindrical section, the bottom wall forming the closed end of the cup, extending radially outward of the sidewall, and supporting the pressure tube;
wherein the bottom wall defines a ledge; and
wherein the pressure tube is seated in the ledge and attached to the ledge.

2. The shock absorber of claim 1 wherein:
the cup is made from metal;
the pressure tube has a first diameter;
the cylindrical section of the cup has a second diameter that is less than the first diameter; and
the flared section of the cup is tapered radially outward in an axial direction from the cylindrical section of the cup to the open end of the cup.

3. The shock absorber of claim 2 wherein:
the flared section has a third diameter at the open end of the cup; and
the third diameter is less than the first diameter and greater than the second diameter.

4. The shock absorber of claim 3 wherein a difference between the first and third diameters yields at least one of a clearance fit and a location fit between the open end of the cup and the pressure tube.

5. The shock absorber of claim 1 further comprising:
a reservoir tube surrounding the pressure tube; and
a base valve disposed in the reservoir tube near an end thereof and configured to regulate fluid flow from the lower working chamber of the pressure tube to a reservoir chamber defined between the pressure tube and the reservoir tube, wherein at least one of the sidewall and the bottom wall is attached to the pressure tube and the base valve.

6. The shock absorber of claim 5 wherein the bottom wall is press fit to an outer radial surface of the base valve.

7. The shock absorber of claim 1 wherein the cup has an inner surface defining an interior cavity and an outer surface cooperating with the pressure tube to define an intermediate chamber therebetween and wherein the flared section defines a plurality of ports disposed about the open end of the cup and forming fluid passageways for fluid flow from the lower working chamber to the intermediate chamber defined between the outer surface of the cup and the pressure tube.

8. The shock absorber of claim 7 wherein each of the plurality of ports is U-shaped and has an open end that is axially aligned with the open end of the cup.

9. The shock absorber of claim 1 wherein the open end of the cup contacts the inner surface of the pressure tube.

10. The shock absorber of claim 1 wherein the open end of the cup is spaced apart from the inner surface of the pressure tube by a gap.

11. The shock absorber of claim 1 wherein the bottom wall of the cup is welded to the sidewall of the cup.

12. A shock absorber comprising:
a pressure tube defining a fluid chamber;
a rod extending into the pressure tube;
a rod guide disposed in the pressure tube, the rod guide radially locating the rod relative to the pressure tube;
a first piston coupled to the rod and disposed within the fluid chamber, the first piston dividing the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber;
a second piston coupled to the rod and disposed within the lower working chamber of the pressure tube; and
a cup disposed within the lower working chamber of the pressure tube, the cup having an open end configured to receive the second piston and a closed end opposite of the open end, the cup including a monolithic sidewall and a bottom wall, the sidewall including a cylindrical section and a flared section, the cylindrical section extending in a first direction from the closed end of the cup to the flared section, the flared section extending in the first direction from the cylindrical section to the open end of the cup, the flared section being configured to radially locate the cup relative to the pressure tube, the bottom wall forming the closed end of the cup, the sidewall extending axially beyond the bottom wall in a second direction opposite of the first direction and supporting the pressure tube;
wherein the sidewall defines a ledge; and
the pressure tube is seated in the ledge and attached to the ledge.

13. The shock absorber of claim 12 wherein:
the cup has an inner surface defining an interior cavity and an outer surface that is tapered radially outward along the flared section;
the cup has a plurality of grooves on the inner surface thereof that extend from the open end of the cup to the cylindrical section; and
the plurality of grooves allow fluid flow out of the interior cavity of the cup past the second piston as the second piston enters the interior cavity of the cup.

14. The shock absorber of claim 13 wherein the flared section of the cup includes a plurality of tabs separated by a plurality of ports, the plurality of tabs projecting radially outward relative to the cylindrical section of the cup, each of the grooves being aligned with one of tabs, the plurality of ports extending to the open end of the cup.

15. The shock absorber of claim 14 wherein each of the grooves have a first width at the open end of the cup and a second width in the cylindrical section of the cup, the second width being less than the first width.

16. The shock absorber of claim 12 further comprising:
a reservoir tube surrounding the pressure tube; and
a base valve disposed in the reservoir tube near an end thereof and configured to regulate fluid flow from the lower working chamber of the pressure tube to a reservoir chamber defined between the pressure tube and the reservoir tube, wherein the sidewall is attached to the pressure tube and the base valve.

17. The shock absorber of claim 16 wherein the sidewall is press fit to an outer radial surface of the base valve.

Assignees

• Tenneco Automotive Operating Co Inc

Inventors

• Mallin Thomas P
• Groves Gary W

Classifications

• B60G13/08

  hydraulic · CPC title

• F16F9/185

  Bitubular units (where compression of gas leads to a clear spring action F16F9/062) · CPC title

• F16F15/04

  using elastic means (single elements or their attachment F16F1/00 - F16F13/00); {(F16F15/023, F16F15/03 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F16F15/023 Primary

  using fluid means · CPC title

• F16F9/5126

  Piston, or piston-like valve elements (F16F9/504 takes precedence) · CPC title