Valve structure for damper

A hydraulic damper, comprising:

• a cylinder;
• a piston rod axially movable in said cylinder;
• a dividing member mounted on an end of the piston rod and dividing an interior space of the cylinder into first and second fluid chambers, one on each side of the dividing member, the dividing member having passages to permit the passage of fluid between the first and second chambers and a valve seat;
• an annular, resilient valve assembly having inner and outer circumferential edges, one of the circumferential edges being fixed with respect to the dividing member, the other of the circumferential edges being free and seatable on said valve seat;
• the valve assembly comprising an annular auxiliary resilient valve, and an annular resilient main valve, said annular auxiliary resilient valve, and said annular resilient main valve being stacked in the order named from said valve seat;
• the free circumferential edge of the annular resilient main valve being interrupted by at least one recess which opens from the free circumferential edge;
• the annular auxiliary resilient valve and the annular resilient main valve having identical overall inside and outside circumferential edge diameters except at the recess;
• whereby said annular resilient valve assembly can flex away from the valve seat depending on a differential pressure between the first and second chambers to produce a damping oil path for applying a damping force against axial movement of said piston rod with respect to said cylinder, the recess in the free circumferential edge of the annular resilient main valve allowing a portion of the annular auxiliary resilient valve to flex away from the valve seat to produce a damping oil path independently of the remainder of the valve assembly.

A valve assembly for use in a hydraulic damper which comprises a cylinder, a piston rod axially movable in said cylinder, and a dividing member mounted on an end of the piston rod and dividing an interior space of the cylinder into first and second fluid chambers, one on each side of the dividing member, the dividing member having passages to permit the passage of fluid between the first and second chambers and a valve seat, the valve assembly being annular and resilient and comprising:

• inner and outer circumferential edges, one of the circumferential edges to be fixed with respect to the dividing member, the other of the circumferential edges to be free and seatable on said valve seat;
• the valve assembly further comprising an annular auxiliary resilient valve, an annular intermediate resilient sheet and an annular resilient main valve, said annular auxiliary resilient valve, said annular intermediate resilient sheet and said annular resilient main valve to be stacked in the order named from said valve seat;
• the free circumferential edge of the annular intermediate resilient sheet being interrupted by at least one recess which opens from the free circumferential edge;
• the annular auxiliary resilient valve, the annular intermediate resilient sheet and the annular resilient main valve having identical overall inside and outside circumferential edge diameters except at the recess;
• whereby said annular resilient valve assembly can flex away from the valve seat depending on a differential pressure between the first and second chambers to produce a damping oil path for applying a damping force against axial movement of said piston rod with respect to said cylinder, the recess in the free circumferential edge of the annular intermediate resilient sheet allowing a portion of the annular auxiliary resilient valve to flex away from the valve seat to produce a damping oil path independently of the remainder of the valve assembly.

A valve assembly for use in a hydraulic damper which comprises a cylinder, a piston rod axially movable in said cylinder, and a dividing member mounted on an end of the piston rod and dividing an interior space of the cylinder into first and second fluid chambers, one on each side of the dividing member, the dividing member having passages to permit the passage of fluid between the first and second chambers and a valve seat, the valve assembly being annular and resilient and comprising:

• inner and outer circumferential edges, one of the circumferential edges to be fixed with respect to the dividing member, the other of the circumferential edges to be free and seatable on said valve seat;
• the valve assembly further comprising an annular auxiliary resilient valve, and an annular resilient main valve, said annular auxiliary resilient valve, and said annular resilient main valve to be stacked in the order named from said valve seat;
• the free circumferential edge of the annular resilient main valve being interrupted by at least one recess which opens from the free circumferential edge;
• the annular auxiliary resilient valve and the annular resilient main valve having identical overall inside and outside circumferential edge diameters except at the recess;
• whereby said annular resilient valve assembly can flex away from the valve seat depending on a differential pressure between the first and second chambers to produce a damping oil path for applying a damping force against axial movement of said piston rod with respect to said cylinder, the recess in the free circumferential edge of the annular resilient main valve allowing a portion of the annular auxiliary resilient valve to flex away from the valve seat to produce a damping oil path independently of the remainder of the valve assembly.