Protection plugs with bidirectional pressurizing functionality for shock absorber
AssigneeAdvanced Suspension Technology LLC
InventorsFrederik Baldoni, Tom Vandersmissen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydraulic port protection plug for insertion into a hydraulic port in a shock absorber assembly, where the hydraulic port protection plug comprises a cap portion with a disc-shaped end wall and a tubular body that extends from the cap portion to define an open-ended cavity. The open-ended cavity extends within the tubular body of the hydraulic port protection plug and is bounded at one end by the cap portion. A self-closing pressure relief opening extends through the cap portion and is arranged in fluid communication with the open-ended cavity. At least a portion of the cap portion is made of an elastic material that permits the self-closing pressure relief opening to open and close in response to pressure changes.
Claims20
A pre-installation shock absorber assembly, comprising:
- a shock absorber with a sliding piston that divides the shock absorber into first and second working chambers, a piston rod mounted to the sliding piston, and a lower housing opposite the piston rod;
- at least one hydraulic port provided in the lower housing of the shock absorber;
- a hydraulic port protection plug having a cap portion and a tubular body that extends from the cap portion and has a geometric configuration that is configured to be insertable into the at least one hydraulic port in the lower housing;
- and
- a self-closing pressure relief opening that extends through the cap portion of the hydraulic port protection plug and is configured to open and close in response to pressure changes.
A hydraulic port protection plug for insertion into a hydraulic port in a shock absorber assembly, the hydraulic port protection plug comprising:
- a cap portion having a disc-shaped end wall;
- a tubular body extending from the cap portion to define an open-ended cavity within the tubular body that is bounded at one end by the disc-shaped end wall of the cap portion;
- and
- a self-closing pressure relief opening that extends through the disc-shaped end wall in the cap portion and is arranged in fluid communication with the open-ended cavity defined by the tubular body,
- wherein at least a portion of the disc-shaped end wall is made of an elastic material that permits the self-closing pressure relief opening to open and close in response to pressure changes.
A method of assembling a shock absorber assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- installing a piston and a piston rod inside a shock absorber housing;
- inserting at least one hydraulic port protection plug into at least one hydraulic port in the shock absorber housing;
- charging the at least one hydraulic port with pressurized air or gas to bias the piston and the piston rod to an intermediate travel position by passing the pressurized air or gas through a self-closing pressure relief opening in the at least one hydraulic port protection plug after the at least one hydraulic port protection plug is inserted into the at least one hydraulic port;
- and
- continuing assembly of the shock absorber assembly with the piston and the piston rod in the intermediate travel position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.