Hydraulic adjustable shock absorber for a motor vehicle

A method of manufacturing a shock absorber for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of:

• providing a cylinder having a longitudinal axis;
• providing a piston rod for sealingly projecting into said cylinder, and for being axially displaceable with respect to said cylinder;
• providing a piston for being attached to said piston rod, and for being slidably disposed within said cylinder to sealingly divide said chamber into first and second chambers;
• providing means for permitting fluid communication between said first and second chambers;
• said step of providing said means for permitting fluid communication further comprising providing valve means having first aperture means and second aperture means;
• said step of providing said valve means further comprising:
• providing a collar having a longitudinal axis, said collar having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• providing a connecting element having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• providing a valve for permitting flow of fluid in said collar;
• and
• providing means for connecting said connecting element to said collar;
• said method further comprising the steps of:
• configuring said cylinder to define a chamber therein, said chamber containing a damping fluid;
• disposing said piston rod to sealingly project into said cylinder, and disposing said piston rod to be axially displaceable with respect to said cylinder;
• attaching said piston to said piston rod;
• slidably disposing said piston within said cylinder to sealingly divide said chamber into first and second chambers;
• disposing said collar on said cylinder to project from said cylinder;
• disposing said longitudinal axis of said cylinder such that said longitudinal axis of said cylinder is substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis of said collar;
• forming said collar on said cylinder;
• disposing said outer surface of said connecting element within said inner surface of said collar;
• said connecting element comprising a first end and a second end, said second end being disposed away from said cylinder;
• sliding said connecting element into said collar until said second end of said connecting element is a predetermined distance from said longitudinal axis of said cylinder;
• welding said connecting element to said collar;
• connecting said valve to said collar by said connecting element;
• and
• disposing at least one of:
• said first aperture means and said second aperture means in contact with said collar for permitting flow of fluid between one of said first and second aperture means and said collar.

A shock absorber comprising:

• a cylinder;
• said cylinder having a longitudinal axis;
• said shock absorber comprising an outer surface;
• said cylinder comprising a substantial portion of the outer surface of said shock absorber;
• said cylinder defining a chamber therein, said chamber containing a damping fluid;
• a piston rod sealingly projecting into said cylinder and being axially displaceable with respect to said cylinder;
• a piston being attached to said piston rod, said piston being slidably disposed within said cylinder to sealingly divide said chamber into first and second chambers;
• means for permitting fluid communication between said first and second chambers;
• said means for permitting fluid communication comprising valve means, said valve means having first aperture means and second aperture means, said valve means being configured for permitting fluid flow between said first aperture means and said second aperture means;
• said valve means comprising:
• a valve;
• a collar;
• said collar having a longitudinal axis;
• said collar being disposed on, and projecting from, said cylinder;
• said longitudinal axis of said cylinder being disposed substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis of said collar;
• said collar having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• said collar having a first end and a second end;
• said first end of said collar being disposed adjacent said cylinder;
• each of said inner surface and said outer surface of said collar being substantially cylindrical;
• said inner surface of said collar being disposed at least partially within said outer surface of said collar;
• a connecting element;
• said connecting element having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• each of said inner surface and said outer surface of said connecting element being substantially cylindrical;
• a portion of said inner surface of said collar being disposed about said outer surface of said connecting element;
• said inner surface of said collar for receiving and supporting said connecting element;
• said outer surface of said connecting element being in contact with said inner surface of said collar;
• said valve being connected to said collar by said connecting element;
• at least one of said first aperture means and said second aperture means being disposed in contact with said collar for permitting flow of fluid between one of said first and second aperture means and said collar;
• said valve for controlling flow of fluid in said collar;
• a weld for connecting said connecting element to said collar;
• said weld being disposed at said second end of said collar;
• said outer surface of said connecting element comprising:
• a first portion extending from said weld in a direction substantially away from said cylinder;
• a second portion extending from said weld towards said cylinder;
• said first portion having a diameter, said diameter being defined substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said collar;
• said second portion having a diameter, said diameter being defined substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said collar;
• and
• said diameters of said first and second portions of said connecting elements being essentially equal.