Accumulator for a damper and method of manufacture thereof

A damper comprising:

• a tube defining a chamber therein, the chamber receiving a hydraulic fluid therein;
• and
• an accumulator comprising:
• a housing defining a longitudinal axis;
• a fluid connector at least partially received within the housing;
• and
• a bag comprising:
• a plurality of annular discs received within the housing and disposed adjacent to each other along the longitudinal axis of the housing, each annular disc comprising an inner diameter defining a through aperture and an outer diameter, the plurality of annular discs comprising a first end disc disposed adjacent to the fluid connector, a second end disc disposed distal to the fluid connector and one or more intermediate discs, each intermediate disc being disposed between two adjacent annular discs, wherein the inner diameter of the first end disc is connected to the fluid connector, wherein the inner diameter of each intermediate disc is connected to the inner diameter of one adjacent annular disc, wherein the outer diameter of each intermediate disc is connected to the outer diameter of the other adjacent annular disc;
• and
• a cover disc connected to the outer diameter of the second end disc, wherein the cover disc is a solid disc;
• wherein the plurality of discs and the cover disc define a first volume therebetween, wherein the connector fluidly communicates the first volume with the chamber of the damper such that the first volume receives the hydraulic fluid therein, wherein the housing defines a second volume surrounding the bag and receiving a gas therein, and wherein the first volume is configured to change based on a direction of flow of the hydraulic fluid between the chamber of the damper and the first volume.

A method of manufacturing an accumulator, the method comprising:

• providing a housing defining a longitudinal axis;
• receiving a fluid connector at least partially within the housing;
• receiving a plurality of annular discs within the housing and disposed adjacent to each other along the longitudinal axis of the housing, each annular disc comprising an inner diameter defining a through aperture and an outer diameter, the plurality of annular discs comprising a first end disc disposed adjacent to the fluid connector, a second end disc disposed distal to the fluid connector and one or more intermediate discs, each intermediate disc being disposed between two adjacent annular discs;
• connecting an inner diameter of the first end disc to the fluid connector;
• connecting the inner diameter of each intermediate disc to the inner diameter of one adjacent annular disc;
• connecting the outer diameter of each intermediate disc to the outer diameter of the other adjacent annular disc;
• and
• connecting the outer diameter of the second end disc to a cover disc, wherein the cover disc is a solid disc.