Shock absorber including supplemental friction generating device

A shock absorber, comprising:

• a hydraulic fluid-filled cylinder having a cylinder wall;
• a piston moveably disposed within the cylinder and separating the cylinder into first and second chambers, the piston including a duct that extends through the piston to provide communication between the first chamber and the second chamber so that hydraulic fluid is free to pass through the piston as the piston moves within the cylinder, at least one piston ring, and a deflectable valve member that cooperates with the duct to regulate fluid flow between the first and second chambers as the piston moves within the cylinder;
• and
• a friction member including an O-ring secured to the piston and positioned to engage the cylinder wall, the friction member adapted to provide a select amount of friction damping.

A shock absorber, comprising:

• a hydraulic fluid-filled cylinder;
• a piston moveably disposed within the cylinder and separating the cylinder into first and second chambers, the piston including first and second ducts that pass through the piston and provide communication between the first chamber and the second chamber so that hydraulic fluid is free to pass through the piston as the piston moves within the cylinder, at least one piston ring, and a pair of deflectable valve members that cooperate with the first and second ducts to regulate fluid flow between the first and second chambers as piston moves within the cylinder;
• a piston rod attached to the piston;
• a rod guide positioned at an end of the cylinder that slidingly supports the piston rod;
• a piston rod seal positioned between the rod guide and the piston rod, the piston rod seal including an inner circumferential surface sealably engaged with a peripheral surface of the piston rod to inhibit leakage of hydraulic fluid from the cylinder and the ingression of contaminants into the cylinder;
• and
• an annular friction member secured to the piston and contacting the cylinder, the friction member adapted to provide a select amount of friction damping and spring rate to the shock absorber operation.