US 12,728,683 B2Granted

Damper bumper cap with collector

AssigneeAdvanced Suspension Technology LLC

InventorsTomasz Gorski, Koen Joseph R. Spaas, Mikel Arriaga

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Abstract

A damper includes a piston coupled to a piston rod slidably positioned in a damper tube. A piston rod seal is positioned radially between the piston rod and a first end of the damper tube. A cap is positioned over the first end of the damper tube and includes a side wall positioned in contact with and extending annularly about the first end of the damper tube. An end wall extends radially inwardly from the side wall. A collector radially outwardly extends from the side wall. The cap includes a vent. The side wall includes an end face at an opposite end of the cap as the end wall. The collector is positioned axially between the vent and the end face of the side wall. The collector includes surfaces on which oil passing by the piston rod seal will accumulate.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A damper for a vehicle, comprising:

a damper tube extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end;
a piston rod extending into the first end of the damper tube along a longitudinal axis;
a piston coupled to the piston rod and slidably positioned in the damper tube;
a piston rod seal positioned radially between the piston rod and the first end of the damper tube;
and
a cap positioned over the first end of the damper tube, the cap including a side wall positioned in contact with and extending annularly about the first end of the damper tube, an end wall extending radially inwardly from the side wall, and a collector radially outwardly extending from the side wall relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the end wall of the cap includes a rod aperture through which the piston rod extends, the cap including a vent, the side wall including an end face at an opposite end of the cap as the end wall,
wherein the collector is longitudinally positioned between the vent and the end face of the side wall such that oil passing by the piston rod seal and through the vent will accumulate on a surface of the collector, wherein the collector includes a first flange radially outwardly extending from the side wall, a second flange radially outwardly extending from the wide wall, and a third flange radially outwardly extending from the side wall, wherein the first, second and third flanges are longitudinally spaced apart from one another.

4 more elements

A damper for a vehicle, comprising:

a damper tube extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end;
a piston rod extending into the first end of the damper tube along a longitudinal axis;
a piston coupled to the piston rod and slidably positioned in the damper tube;
a piston rod seal positioned radially between the piston rod and the first end of the damper tube;
and
a cap positioned over the first end of the damper tube, the cap including a side wall including an inside surface that is cylindrical in shape, smooth, and arranged in an interference fit with the damper tube such that oil cannot travel between the damper tube and the inside surface of the side wall, the cap further including a vent, an end wall extending radially inwardly from the side wall, and a collector radially outwardly extending from the side wall relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the end wall of the cap includes a rod aperture through which the piston rod extends,
wherein the collector is positioned proximate the vent and extends radially outwardly from the side wall such that oil passing by the piston rod seal and passing through the vent will accumulate on a surface of the collector, wherein the collector includes a first flange radially outwardly extending from the side wall, a second flange radially outwardly extending from the wide wall, and a third flange radially outwardly extending from the side wall, wherein the first, second and third flanges are longitudinally spaced apart from one another.

4 more elements

A damper for a vehicle, comprising:

a damper tube extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end;
a piston rod extending into the first end of the damper tube along a longitudinal axis;
a piston coupled to the piston rod and slidably positioned in the damper tube;
a piston rod seal positioned radially between the piston rod and the first end of the damper tube;
and
a cap positioned over the first end of the damper tube, the cap including a side wall including an inside surface that is cylindrical in shape, smooth, and arranged in an interference fit with the damper tube such that oil cannot travel between the damper tube and the inside surface of the side wall, the cap further including a vent, an end wall extending radially inwardly from the side wall, and a collector radially outwardly extending from the side wall relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the end wall of the cap includes a rod aperture through which the piston rod extends,
wherein the collector is positioned proximate the vent and extends radially outwardly from the side wall such that oil passing by the piston rod seal and passing through the vent will accumulate on a surface of the collector, wherein the collector includes a first protrusion radially outwardly extending from the side wall and a second protrusion radially outwardly extending from the side wall, the first protrusion extending from the side wall a first distance, the second protrusion extending from the side wall a second distance, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance, wherein the first protrusion includes a first base extending substantially transversely to the longitudinal axis and a first wall at an end of the first base that extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.