Damper with valve preload limiter

A damper system for a vehicle, comprising:

• a pressure tube;
• a piston assembly slidably fitted in the pressure tube that separates the pressure tube into a first working chamber and a second working chamber, the piston assembly including a piston body and a valve assembly that controls fluid flow between the first working chamber and the second working chamber;
• a frequency dependent damper assembly including a damper housing coupled to the piston assembly, a plunger sleeve that is longitudinally moveable relative to the damper housing between a rest position and an engaged position, and a plunger chamber disposed between the damper housing and the plunger sleeve that is fluidly connected to at least one of the first working chamber and the second working chamber;
• wherein an increase in pressure within the plunger chamber creates an adaptive force on the plunger sleeve that moves the plunger sleeve longitudinally towards the piston assembly to the engaged position, the plunger sleeve contacting the valve assembly in the engaged position to transmit the adaptive force to the valve assembly and increase resistance of the valve assembly to opening;
• and
• a plunger travel limiter positioned longitudinally between the damper housing and the valve assembly that contacts the plunger sleeve when the plunger sleeve is in the engaged position to restrict the longitudinal movement of the plunger sleeve towards the piston body and limit the adaptive force the plunger sleeve applies to the valve assembly.

A frequency dependent damper assembly for attachment to a piston rod of a vehicle shock absorber having first and second working chambers, the frequency dependent damper assembly comprising:

• a damper housing extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end;
• a plunger sleeve mounted on or in the damper housing that is longitudinally moveable relative to the damper housing between a rest position and an engaged position;
• a plunger chamber disposed between the damper housing and the plunger sleeve that is fluidly connected to at least one of the first working chamber and the second working chamber such that an increase in pressure within the plunger chamber creates an adaptive force on the plunger sleeve that moves the plunger sleeve longitudinally away from the second end of the damper housing to the engaged position;
• and
• a plunger travel limiter, abutting the first end of the damper housing, that contacts the plunger sleeve when the plunger sleeve is in the engaged position to restrict longitudinal movement of the plunger sleeve relative to the damper housing.