Patent ID: 7308976
Filing Date: 2007-12-18
Classification: B60G,F16F

Abstract:
1. A suspension damper comprising: a housing bounding a main chamber; hydraulic fluid disposed within the main chamber; a piston rod selectively movable between an advanced position wherein a portion of the piston rod is advanced into the main chamber and a retracted position wherein the portion of the piston rod is retracted from the main chamber, wherein as the piston rod is moved from the retracted position to the advanced position a fluid pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the main chamber progressively increases and a portion of the hydraulic fluid passes through a passage within the housing; and a control valve at least partially disposed within the main chamber, the control valve having a first surface in direct contact with a gas and a second surface in direct contact with the hydraulic fluid, the control valve being moved by a pressure differential between the gas and the hydraulic fluid so as to progressively restrict the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the passage as the fluid pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the main chamber progressively increases, the control valve being mechanically separated from the piston rod.