Space saving pressure relief valves for suspension dampers

A damper comprising:

• a pressure tube extending co-axially about a longitudinal axis and longitudinally between a first pressure tube end and a second pressure tube end;
• a piston slidably disposed within the pressure tube defining a rebound chamber and a compression chamber, the piston extending longitudinally between a first piston end that faces the rebound chamber and a second piston end that faces the compression chamber;
• a piston rod extending co-axially about the longitudinal axis and longitudinally between a first piston rod end and a second piston rod end, the second piston rod end being fixedly coupled to the piston;
• and
• a rebound chamber pressure relief valve comprising at least one rebound chamber pressure relief passageway that extends through the piston from the first piston end to the second piston end, a plunger bore that extends longitudinally within the second piston rod end, a plunger extending longitudinally between a first plunger end that is slidably received in the plunger bore and a second plunger end that extends out from the plunger bore into the compression chamber, a valve head that is fixedly coupled to the second plunger end, and a spring positioned in the plunger bore that biases the plunger towards the first piston rod end such that the plunger pulls the valve head against the second piston end to obstruct fluid flow through the at least one rebound chamber pressure relief passageway in a rebound chamber pressure relief valve closed position.

A damper comprising:

• a pressure tube extending co-axially about the longitudinal axis and longitudinally between a first pressure tube end and a second pressure tube end;
• a piston slidably disposed within the pressure tube defining a rebound chamber and a compression chamber;
• an outer tube disposed around the pressure tube to define a fluid transport chamber between the pressure tube and the outer tube, the outer tube extending longitudinally between a first outer tube end and a second outer tube end;
• an intake valve assembly positioned within the outer tube and extending longitudinally between a first intake valve assembly end and a second intake valve assembly end, the intake valve assembly including at least one intermediate chamber disposed in fluid communication with the compression chamber via an intermediate passageway extending within the intake valve assembly;
• an accumulation chamber positioned longitudinally between the intake valve assembly and the second outer tube end;
• and
• a compression chamber pressure relief valve comprising at least one compression chamber pressure relief passageway that extends through the intake valve assembly between the intermediate passageway and the accumulation chamber, a plunger cavity that extends longitudinally within the intake valve assembly, a plunger extending longitudinally between a first plunger end that is slidably received in the plunger cavity and a second plunger end that extends out from the plunger cavity into the accumulation chamber, a valve head that is fixedly coupled to the second plunger end, and a spring positioned in the plunger cavity that biases the plunger away from the second outer tube end such that the plunger pulls the valve head against the second intake valve assembly end to obstruct fluid flow through the at least one compression chamber pressure relief passageway in a compression chamber pressure relief valve closed position.