Patent ID: 8162112

Claim:
A hydraulic shock absorber for damping compression of a vehicle suspension, comprising: a first piston coupled to a rod and slidably received within a first cylinder, said first piston and said first cylinder defining a first variable hydraulic volume that reduces in size during compression of the suspension; and a second piston slidably received and captured within a second cylinder, said second piston and said second cylinder defining a second variable hydraulic volume that reduces in size during compression of the suspension with fluid exiting the second variable volume flowing along a second flowpath; and an externally adjustable member for varying the flow characteristics of fluid exiting the second variable volume; wherein said first piston has a maximum stroke length within said first cylinder from full rebound to full compression, and fluid exits the second variable volume only during the portion of stroke proximate to full compression; wherein said second piston is attached to said rod; wherein said second piston includes a one-way valve which permits flow into said second volume but restricts flow out of said second volume; wherein said rod includes an internal passage which provides fluid communication between said one-way valve and a third variable fluid volume defined by said first piston and said first cylinder that reduces in size during rebound of the suspension.