# US 10,479,160 B2 · Damper with printed circuit board carrier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,160 B2 - Document ID: US10479160B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/103,068 - Filed: 2018-08-14 - Published: 2018-12-27 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-06 - Assignees: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc. - Applicants: Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc. - Inventors: Matthew Roessle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479160B2 ## CPC - B60G 17/08: Characteristics of fluid dampers (adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53) - B60G 13/001: {Arrangements for attachment of dampers (mounting arrangements of combined spring and damper units B60G15/00; mountings of fluid dampers in general F16F9/54)} - B60G 13/08: hydraulic - F16F 9/3242: {of cylinder ends, e.g. caps} - F16F 9/3292: {Sensor arrangements} - B60G 2202/24: Fluid damper - B60G 2204/112: on dampers, e.g. fluid dampers - B60G 2400/7162: Fluid damper - B60G 2500/10: Damping action or damper - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract An electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber includes a tube defining a fluid chamber and a piston assembly positioned within the tube. The piston assembly divides the fluid chamber into a first working chamber and a second working chamber. A piston rod is attached to the piston assembly and projects out of the tube. Further, a rod guide guides the piston rod and an electronically-controlled valve is positioned within the rod guide for controlling a damping state of the shock absorber. A circuit board is positioned around the piston rod for actuating the electronically-controlled valve. A carrier housing receives the circuit board and engages with the rod guide. The carrier housing includes an inner column and an outer column. A bumper cap is mounted on the carrier housing and is engaged with the inner and outer columns. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bumper cap assembly for an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber having a rod guide, a piston rod guided by the rod guide, and an electronically-controlled valve positioned within the rod guide for controlling a damping state of the shock absorber, the bumper cap assembly comprising: a circuit board positioned around the piston rod, the circuit board adapted to actuate the electronically-controlled valve; a carrier housing receiving the circuit board and engaged with the rod guide, the carrier housing including at least one column; and a bumper cap mounted on the carrier housing and engaged with the at least one column; wherein the at least one column is adapted to transfer compressive axial loads from the bumper cap to the rod guide during an operation of the shock absorber. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bumper cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the carrier housing further includes a receiving portion for receiving at least one terminal pin therethrough, wherein the at least one terminal pin connects the circuit board with the electronically-controlled valve, and wherein the at least one terminal pin is directly connected to the circuit board. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bumper cap assembly of claim 2, wherein the receiving portion further includes a support section that engages with the at least one terminal pin for supporting and aligning the at least one terminal pin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The bumper cap assembly of claim 2, wherein the receiving portion further defines an opening that surrounds a length of the at least one terminal pin, wherein the opening is filled with a thermally conductive and compliant material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The bumper cap assembly of claim 2, wherein the receiving portion is radially disposed between the inner column and the outer column. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The bumper cap assembly of claim 3, further comprising a sealing member disposed between the support section and the rod guide. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bumper cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the carrier housing includes a thermally conductive and compliant material encapsulating the circuit board. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The bumper cap assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one column comprises an inner column and an outer column located radially outwards with respect to the inner column. ### Claim 9 An electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber, comprising: a tube defining a fluid chamber; a piston assembly positioned within the tube and dividing the fluid chamber into a first working chamber and a second working chamber; a piston rod attached to the piston assembly and projecting out of the tube; a rod guide for guiding the piston rod; an electronically-controlled valve positioned within the rod guide for controlling a damping state of the shock absorber; a circuit board positioned around the piston rod, the circuit board adapted to actuate the electronically-controlled valve; a carrier housing receiving the circuit board and engaged with the rod guide, the carrier housing including at least one column; and a bumper cap mounted on the carrier housing and engaged with the at least one column; wherein the at least one column is adapted to transfer compressive axial loads from the bumper cap to the rod guide during an operation of the shock absorber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The shock absorber of claim 9, further comprising at least one terminal pin for connecting the circuit board with the electronically-controlled valve, the at least one terminal pin being directly connected to the circuit board, wherein the carrier housing further includes a receiving portion for receiving the at least one terminal pin therethrough. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The shock absorber of claim 10, wherein the receiving portion further includes a support section that engages with the at least one terminal pin for supporting and aligning the at least one terminal pin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The shock absorber of claim 10, wherein the receiving portion further defines an opening that surrounds a length of the at least one terminal pin, wherein the opening is filled with a thermally conductive and compliant material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The shock absorber of claim 10, wherein the receiving portion is radially disposed between the inner column and the outer column. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The shock absorber of claim 11, further comprising a sealing member disposed between the support section and the rod guide. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The shock absorber of claim 9, wherein the carrier housing includes a thermally conductive and compliant material encapsulating the circuit board. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The shock absorber of claim 9, wherein the rod guide further defines a counterbore located above the electronically-controlled valve, wherein the counterbore of the rod guide is filled with a thermally conductive and compliant material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The bumper cap assembly of claim 9 wherein the at least one column comprises an inner column and an outer column located radially outwards with respect to the inner column. ### Claim 18 An electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber, comprising: a tube defining a fluid chamber; a piston assembly positioned within the tube and dividing the fluid chamber into a first working chamber and a second working chamber; a piston rod attached to the piston assembly and projecting out of the tube; a rod guide for guiding the piston rod; an electronically-controlled valve positioned within the rod guide for controlling a damping state of the shock absorber; a circuit board positioned around the piston rod, the circuit board adapted to actuate the electronically-controlled valve; at least one terminal pin connecting the circuit board with the electronically-controlled valve, the at least one terminal pin being directly connected with the circuit board; a carrier housing receiving the circuit board and engaged with the rod guide, the carrier housing including at least one column, and a receiving portion for receiving the at least one terminal pin therethrough; and a bumper cap mounted on the carrier housing and engaged with the at least one column; wherein the at least one column is adapted to transfer compressive axial loads from the bumper cap to the rod guide during an operation of the shock absorber. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The shock absorber of claim 18, wherein the receiving portion further includes a support section that engages with the at least one terminal pin for supporting and aligning the at least one terminal pin. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The shock absorber of claim 18, wherein the receiving portion further defines an opening that surrounds a length of the at least one terminal pin, wherein the opening is filled with a thermally conductive and compliant material. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The shock absorber of claim 18, wherein the carrier housing includes a thermally conductive and compliant material encapsulating the circuit board. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The shock absorber of claim 18, wherein the rod guide further defines a counterbore located above the electronically-controlled valve, wherein the counterbore of the rod guide is filled with a thermally conductive and compliant material. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The bumper cap assembly of claim 18 wherein the at least one column comprises an inner column and an outer column located radially outwards with respect to the inner column.