Shock absorbers having a composite base assembly with axial flexibility compensation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016146285-A1
Application number	US-201514952047-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 25, 2015
Priority date	Nov 26, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A shock absorber including an inner assembly and a composite base assembly is disclosed. The inner assembly includes a pressure tube extending between first and second ends, a rod guide disposed adjacent to the first end, a compression valve disposed adjacent to the second end, a piston assembly disposed in the pressure tube between the rod guide and the compression valve, and a rod operatively attached to the piston assembly and supported by the rod guide. The composite base assembly defines a chamber for at least partially accommodating the inner assembly that terminates at a floor. The composite base assembly has a lower element disposed adjacent to the floor for at least partially engaging the second end of the pressure tube. The lower element defines at least one gap for facilitating fluid communication between the pressure tube and the chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A shock absorber comprising:
an inner assembly including:
a pressure tube extending between first and second ends,
a rod guide disposed adjacent to said first end of said pressure tube,
a compression valve disposed adjacent to said second end of said pressure tube,
a piston assembly disposed in said pressure tube between said rod guide and said compression valve, and
a rod operatively attached to said piston assembly and supported by said rod guide so as to concentrically align said rod with said pressure tube; and
a composite base assembly defining a chamber for at least partially accommodating said inner assembly therein, said chamber terminating at a floor, said composite base assembly having a lower element integrally formed therein and disposed adjacent to said floor for at least partially engaging said second end of said pressure tube of said inner assembly to trap said second end and restrict lateral movement thereof, while permitting longitudinal movement, said lower element defining at least one gap for facilitating fluid communication between said pressure tube and said chamber.

2 . The shock absorber as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said lower element is further defined as a plurality of radially-spaced retainers, said retainers defining a plurality of corresponding radially-spaced gaps therebetween.

3 . The shock absorber as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said lower element extends from said floor of said composite base assembly to an upper end, with said second end of said pressure tube being disposed between said floor and said upper end.

4 . The shock absorber as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said lower element includes a curved inside edge for radially supporting said second end of said pressure tube.

5 . The shock absorber as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said lower element extends from said floor of said composite base assembly to an upper end, with said second end of said pressure tube being disposed between said floor and said upper end.

6 . The shock absorber as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said second end of said pressure tube and said floor of said composite base assembly define a first distance therebetween and said upper end of said lower element and said floor of said composite base assembly define a second distance therebetween, and wherein said second distance is larger than said first distance.

7 . The shock absorber as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said second distance is as least twice as large as said first distance.

8 . The shock absorber as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said compression valve further includes a seal extension extending between said second end of said pressure tube and said floor of said composite base assembly.

9 . The shock absorber as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said compression valve is press-fit into said pressure tube and includes a first portion having a first diameter the same as an inner diameter of said pressure tube and a second portion having a second diameter the same as an outer diameter of said pressure tube.

10 . The shock absorber as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said lower element includes a curved inside edge for radially supporting said second end of said pressure tube.

11 . A composite base assembly comprising:
a floor; at least one wall extending from said floor and defining a chamber for at least partially accommodating an inner assembly therein, said chamber having a first inner diameter; a lower element integrally formed and extending from said floor and defining at least one gap for facilitating fluid communication and having a second inner diameter less than said first inner diameter such that said lower element at least partially engages a second end of a pressure tube of the inner assembly to trap said second end and restrict lateral movement thereof, while permitting longitudinal movement; and wherein said composite base assembly is formed from a composite material and has an elastic modulus less than steel at 25° C.

12 . The composite base assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said lower element is further defined as a plurality of radially-spaced retainers, said retainers defining a plurality of corresponding radially-spaced gaps therebetween.

13 . The shock absorber as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said lower element includes a curved inside edge for radially supporting said second end of said pressure tube.

14 . The composite base assembly as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said composite base assembly has an elastic modulus of less than 75 GPa at 25° C.

15 . The composite base assembly as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said lower element extends to an upper end spaced from said floor, with the second end of the pressure tube being disposed between said floor and said upper end.

16 . The composite base assembly as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said upper end of said lower element and said floor of said composite base assembly define a second distance therebetween to receive the second end of the pressure tube.

17 . The composite base assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said composite material is a thermosetting fiber-filled polymer.

18 . The composite base assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said composite base assembly is formed as a single component.

Assignees

• Tenneco Automotive Operating

Inventors

• Wilkin Julien

Classifications

• F16F9/3242 Primary

  of cylinder ends, e.g. caps · CPC title

• F16F9/185 Primary

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

• F16F9/54

  Arrangements for attachment {(grommet-type rubber mounting springs per se F16F1/3732; construction of cylinder ends F16F9/3242; attachments to vehicles B60G13/001, B60G15/00)} · CPC title

• F16F9/3235 Primary

  of cylinders (F16F9/483 takes precedence) · CPC title