Multi-Stage Telescopic Shock Absorber

Abstract

A multi-stage shock absorber with closed ends has a plurality of tubular shock bodies telescopically interconnected together, and includes a piston arrangement slidably mounted within certain of the shock bodies to define a number of chambers variously containing damping and/or spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the shock absorber.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A multi-stage telescopic suspension element comprising:
 first and second tubular shock bodies serially interconnected together to provide telescopic movement relative to one another;   wherein the first and second shock bodies include a piston arrangement slidably mounted therein to define a number of chambers each containing at least one of damping and spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the suspension element;   wherein one of the first and second shock bodies has an end provided with a piston which is slidably mounted with respect to the other of the first and second shock bodies, and wherein an internal floating piston is slidably mounted with respect to the one of the first and second shock bodies;   wherein a circumferential damping passage is defined by an outer surface of the one of the first and second shock bodies, an inner surface of the other of the first and second shock bodies, the end provided with the piston and an end of the other of the first and second shock bodies; and   wherein a valve arrangement for the piston including openings formed in an outer surface of the one of the first and second shock bodies is in communication with the circumferential damping passage for enabling fluid transfer among the chambers in the first and second shock bodies, and the circumferential damping passage; and   wherein a bypass hole extends longitudinally of the first and second shock bodies from one side of the piston facing one of the chambers to an opposite side of the piston facing another of the chambers, and is unobstructed permitting continuous fluid communication between the chambers which are external to and on opposite sides of the piston.   
     
     
         39 . The multi-stage telescopic suspension element of  claim 38 , wherein:
 the first tubular shock body has one end which is closed by a first end cap and an opposite end which is open;   the second tubular shock body has one end provided with the piston which is slidably mounted within the first tubular shock body, and an opposite end closed by a second end cap, the internal floating piston being slidably mounted within the second tubular shock body between the piston and the second end cap;   a first fluid chamber being defined by the first tubular shock body, the first end cap, the one end of the second tubular shock body and the piston;   a second fluid chamber being defined by the second tubular shock holy, the one end of the second tubular shock body and the internal floating piston; and   a spring chamber being defined by the second tubular shock body, the internal floating piston and the second end cap.   
     
     
         40 . The multi-stage telescopic suspension element of  claim 39 , wherein the second end cap includes an adapter and an end connector which is adjustably mounted relative to the adapter, 
     
     
         41 . The multi-stage telescopic suspension element of  claim 39 , wherein the piston is slidably mounted within the first fluid chamber. 
     
     
         42 . The multi-stage telescopic suspension element of  claim 39 , wherein the internal floating piston is slidably mounted within the second fluid chamber. 
     
     
         43 . The multi-stage telescopic suspension element of  claim 39 , wherein the first fluid chamber defines a first damping chamber containing a viscous fluid. 
     
     
         44 . The multi-stage telescopic suspension element of  claim 39 , wherein the second fluid chamber defines a second damping chamber containing a viscous fluid. 
     
     
         45 . The multi-stage telescopic suspension element of  claim 39 , wherein the spring chamber is charged with a compressible medium in the form of a gas. 
     
     
         46 . The multi-stage telescopic suspension element of  claim 45 , wherein the second end cap is provided with a fill valve for charging the spring chamber with the compressible medium. 
     
     
         47 . The multi-stage telescopic suspension element of  claim 38 , wherein opposite sides of the piston are provided with flexible washers and disks.