Base Valve With Open Bleed Tuning Capabilities

A shock absorber for a vehicle, the shock absorber comprising:

• a pressure tube;
• a reserve tube surrounding the pressure tube to define a fluid reservoir chamber between the pressure tube and the reserve tube;
• a piston body slidably fitted in the pressure tube and separating the pressure tube into a first working chamber and a second working chamber;
• and
• a base valve assembly, the base valve assembly configured to control the flow of fluid between the second working chamber and the fluid reservoir chamber, the base valve assembly comprising:
• a valve body, the valve body comprising:
• a first surface on a first side of the valve body;
• a second surface on a second side of the valve body;
• a bleed flow passage extending through the valve body;
• and
• a bleed flow guide cavity fluidly connected to the bleed flow passage, the bleed flow guide cavity extending into the valve body from the first surface of the valve body;
• and
• a bleed valve assembly having a first disc, at least a portion of the first disc configured to selectively cover at least a portion of the bleed flow passage and the bleed flow guide cavity.

A shock absorber for a vehicle, the shock absorber comprising:

• a pressure tube;
• a reserve tube surrounding the pressure tube to define a fluid reservoir chamber between the pressure tube and the reserve tube;
• a piston body slidably fitted in the pressure tube and separating the pressure tube into a first working chamber and a second working chamber;
• and
• a base valve assembly, the base valve assembly configured to control the flow of fluid between the second working chamber and the fluid reservoir chamber, the base valve assembly comprising:
• a valve body, the valve body comprising:
• a first surface on a first side of the valve body;
• a second surface on a second side of the valve body;
• a bleed flow passage extending through the valve body;
• and
• a compression flow passage extending through the valve body;
• and
• a bleed valve assembly on the first side of the valve body, the bleed valve assembly having an orifice disc, the orifice disc including:
• a ring having a center hole;
• a first finger extending radially outward from the ring, the first finger configured to cover the bleed flow passage, and the first finger having a first bleed orifice, wherein the first bleed orifice remains open regardless of position of the orifice disc;
• and
• a restriction lobe, the restriction lobe configured to cover the compression flow passage.