Suspension damper

Abstract

A vehicle damper comprises a fluid filled cylinder, a piston for movement within the cylinder, at least two fluid ports formed in the piston and at least one shim at least partially blocking the ports. In one embodiment, a fluid collection area is formed between the ports and the shim, the collection area permitting communication between fluid in the ports. In another embodiment, the piston includes at least one aperture constructed and arranged to receive a threaded bleed valve.

What is claimed: 
     
         1  A vehicle damper comprising:
 a fluid filled cylinder; 
 a piston for movement within the cylinder, wherein said piston isolates a first 
 volume in said cylinder from a second volume in said cylinder;
 at least two compression ports formed in said piston; 
 
 at least two rebound ports formed in said piston;
 at least one compression shim at least partially blocking said at least two compression ports; 
 at least one rebound shim at least partially blocking said at least two rebound ports; and 
 a compression bleed valve disposed within said piston, said compression bleed valve defining a one-directional compression bleed valve flow path disposed within said piston and fluidically coupling said first volume in said cylinder to said second volume in said cylinder, said one-directional compression bleed valve flow path fluidically coupled to said second volume at a location upstream of said at least one compression shim, with respect to fluid flow during a compression movement of said piston, said one-directional compression bleed valve flow path is not encumbered by said at least one compression shim.