Patent ID: 8590679

Claim:
A shock absorber comprising: an outer tube having a first end and a second end; an inner tube housed within the outer tube, the inner tube having an interior surface, a first end, and a second end which define an interior volume, the inner tube forming an annulus area between the outer tube and the inner tube, the inner tube having a check valve which allows a fluid to flow unidirectionally from the annulus area to the interior volume of the inner tube; a piston slidably disposed within the inner tube, the piston having an outer surface dimensioned to form a barrier against the interior surface of the inner tube, the piston dividing the interior volume into a rod side chamber and a cap side chamber, the piston having a piston check valve which allows the fluid to flow unidirectionally from the cap side chamber to the rod side chamber; a piston rod secured to the piston and extending outwardly past the first end of the outer tube; a flow regulator secured to the inner tube which allows the unidirectional flow of the fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area and which provides a resistance against the flow of the fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area, the flow regulator includes a valve seat and a turbine, the valve seat including a central circular opening having the piston rod extending therethrough, the valve seat comprising a plurality of orifice holes extending through the valve seat and being disposed thereabout, the orifice holes being in fluid communication with the rod side chamber; and the turbine positioned atop the valve seat and having a rotatable armature, the armature including a plurality of angled passages which are driven by the flow of the fluid through the orifice holes.