US Patent:
20020189914, Dec 19, 2002
Inventors:
Mark Naples - Dayton OH, US
Lisa Ott - Loveland OH, US
Randy Hofmann - Centerville OH, US
John Sarley - Mason OH, US
International Classification:
F16F009/34
Abstract:
A valve for use in a vehicle damper provides a predictable, repeatable clamping force without requiring close tolerancing of parts. The valve includes a valve body having a compression orifice and a rebound orifice extending therethrough. The valve assembly further includes a rebound disk located adjacent the first surface and covering the rebound orifice, and a compression disk located adjacent the second surface and covering the compression orifice. The valve includes a fastener having a head and a shaft extending through the valve assembly, the fastener holding the valve body, the rebound disk and the compression disk in close engagement such that when the valve assembly is immersed in fluid, fluid can be forced through the compression orifice when the pressure of the fluid urges the compression disk away from the compression orifice and fluid can be forced through the rebound orifice when the pressure of the fluid urges the rebound disk away from the rebound orifice. The valve further includes a spring washer located between the head of the fastener and the valve assembly. In one embodiment, the valve assembly is retained between a longitudinal stop and a riveted end of a damper piston rod.