US 11,384,810 B2Granted

Damper with two-piece shell

AssigneeTenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.

InventorAmirahmad Mohammadi

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Abstract

A shock absorber pressure tube defining a working chamber is provided. A piston assembly coupled to a piston rod is slidably disposed in the pressure tube and divides the working chamber into upper and lower working chambers. A reserve tube surrounds the pressure tube to define a reserve chamber. A base valve assembly, position at one end of the pressure tube, controls fluid flow between the lower working chamber and the reserve chamber. The reserve tube comprises first and second open shells that are joined together at longitudinal seams to create a substantially cylindrical shape. The first and second open shells may be made from patchwork blanks, tailor welded blanks, tailor rolled blanks, or tailor heat treated blanks to give different portions of the first and second open shells different thicknesses, strengths, properties, or characteristics.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of manufacturing a damper for a vehicle, the method comprising:

obtaining a pressure tube;
slidably positioning a piston assembly within the pressure tube;
deforming a first metal sheet to define a first open shell with longitudinally spaced apart edges;
deforming a second metal sheet to define a second open shell with longitudinally spaced apart edges;
positioning the first open shell and the second open shell around the pressure tube;
aligning the first open shell with the second open shell;
welding the first open shell to the second open shell to sealingly join the first open shell to the second open shell and define a reserve tube, wherein the reserve tube includes a substantially cylindrically-shaped portion and a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is at least partially defined by one of the first metal sheet and the second metal sheet;
positioning a valve between the first open shell and the second open shell prior to welding the first open shell to the second open shell, wherein the protrusion at least partially retains the vavle;
and
coupling the reserve tube to the pressure tube.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.