Damper with compression damping force range increase

A damper, comprising:

• an inner tube that extends longitudinally between a first inner tube end and a second inner tube end;
• a piston assembly including a piston slidably disposed within said inner tube defining a first working chamber and a second working chamber;
• an outer tube disposed annularly around said inner tube;
• an intermediate member assembly disposed annularly about said inner tube and positioned radially between said inner tube and said outer tube;
• a reservoir chamber disposed radially between said intermediate member assembly and said outer tube;
• an intermediate channel disposed radially between said intermediate member assembly and said inner tube;
• said intermediate channel has a first intermediate channel portion, a second intermediate channel portion, and a third intermediate channel portion;
• an external control valve including a control valve inlet positioned in fluid communication with said second intermediate channel portion and a control valve outlet positioned in fluid communication with said reservoir chamber;
• a first unidirectional blocking valve disposed annularly about said inner tube that forms a first partition between said first intermediate channel portion and said second intermediate channel portion and a second unidirectional blocking valve disposed annularly about said inner tube that forms a second partition between said second intermediate channel portion and said third intermediate channel portion;
• said first and second unidirectional blocking valves are one-way valves that permit fluid flow in only one direction such that said first unidirectional blocking valve permits fluid flow in a first direction moving from said first intermediate channel portion to said second intermediate channel portion when a first break pressure of said first unidirectional blocking valve is reached to place said first unidirectional blocking valve in an open position and said second unidirectional blocking valve permits fluid flow in a second direction moving from said third intermediate channel portion to said second intermediate channel portion when a second break pressure of said second unidirectional blocking valve is reached to place said second unidirectional blocking valve in an open position;
• and
• each of said first and second unidirectional blocking valves include an annular sealing surface that extends circumferentially about said inner tube and that is configured to move into and out of contact with an annular seat such that an annular opening that extends annularly within said intermediate channel is defined between said annular sealing surface and said annular seat when each of said first and second unidirectional blocking valve is in said open position.

A damper, comprising:

• an inner tube that extends longitudinally between a first inner tube end and a second inner tube end;
• a piston assembly including a piston slidably disposed within said inner tube defining a first working chamber and a second working chamber, a first piston valve, and a second piston valve;
• an outer tube disposed annularly around said inner tube;
• an intermediate member assembly disposed annularly about said inner tube and positioned radially between said inner tube and said outer tube;
• a reservoir chamber disposed radially between said intermediate member assembly and said outer tube;
• an intermediate channel disposed radially between said intermediate member assembly and said inner tube, extending longitudinally between a first intermediate channel end and a second intermediate channel end;
• said intermediate channel has a first intermediate channel portion, a second intermediate channel portion, and a third intermediate channel portion;
• said first intermediate channel portion is arranged in fluid communication with said first working chamber via at least one inner tube opening that extends through said inner tube between said first working chamber and said first intermediate channel portion;
• said third intermediate channel portion is arranged in fluid communication with said second working chamber via at least one intermediate channel opening positioned at said second intermediate channel end;
• an external control valve including a control valve inlet positioned in fluid communication with said second intermediate channel portion and a control valve outlet positioned in fluid communication with said reservoir chamber;
• a base valve assembly including a base valve body, a first base valve, and a second base valve, said base valve body defining a fluid transport chamber positioned between said second outer tube end and said base valve body;
• at least one reservoir chamber passage positioned in fluid communication with and extending between said reservoir chamber and said fluid transport chamber;
• a first unidirectional blocking valve disposed annularly about said inner tube that forms a first partition between said first intermediate channel portion and said second intermediate channel portion and a second unidirectional blocking valve disposed annularly about said inner tube that forms a second partition between said second intermediate channel portion and said third intermediate channel portion;
• said first and second unidirectional blocking valves are one-way valves that permit fluid flow in only one direction such that said first unidirectional blocking valve permits fluid flow in a first direction moving from said first intermediate channel portion to said second intermediate channel portion when a first break pressure of said first unidirectional blocking valve is reached and said second unidirectional blocking valve permits fluid flow in a second direction moving from said third intermediate channel portion to said second intermediate channel portion when a second break pressure of said second unidirectional blocking valve is reached;
• and
• each of said first and second unidirectional blocking valves including an annular sealing surface that extends circumferentially about said inner tube and that is configured to move into and out of contact with an annular seat that also extends circumferentially about said inner tube such that an annular opening that extends annularly within said intermediate channel is defined between said annular sealing surface and said annular seat when said first and second unidirectional blocking valves are open.