Adjustable shock absorber

A shock absorber comprising:

• an inner cylinder which defines a longitudinal axis, said inner cylinder comprising a first pattern of ports circumferential displaced from a second pattern of ports, said first pattern of ports comprising a first set of ports longitudinally displaced a first distance from a second set of ports, said second pattern of ports comprising a third set of ports longitudinally displaced a second distance from a fourth set of ports, a third pattern of ports circumferential displaced from a fourth pattern of ports, said third pattern of ports comprising a fifth set of ports longitudinally displaced a third distance from a sixth set of ports, said fourth pattern of ports comprising a seventh set of ports longitudinally displaced an fourth distance from an eighth set of ports;
• a first outer cylinder comprising a first longitudinal slot within an inner surface of said first outer cylinder, said first outer cylinder rotatably mounted to said inner cylinder such that said longitudinal slot selectively provides fluid communication between either said first pattern of ports or said second pattern of ports when aligned therewith;
• a first one-way check valve located within said first longitudinal slot, said one-way check valve located longitudinally between said first set of ports and said second set of ports to control a fluid communication flow direction between said first set of ports and said second set of ports;
• a second outer cylinder longitudinally adjacent and independently rotatable relative said first outer cylinder, said second outer cylinder comprising a second longitudinal slot within an inner surface of said second outer cylinder within an inner surface of said second outer cylinder, said second outer cylinder rotatably mounted to said inner cylinder such that said second longitudinal slot selectively provides fluid communication between either said third pattern of ports or said fourth pattern of ports when aligned therewith;
• a second one-way check valve located within said second longitudinal slot said second one-way check valve located longitudinally between said fifth set of ports and said sixth set of ports to control a fluid communication flow direction between said fifth set of ports and said sixth set of ports.

A method for adjusting a damping force in a shock absorber comprising the steps of:

• (1) rotationally mounting a first cylinder comprising a plurality of ports within a second cylinder having a longitudinal passageway within an inner wall;
• (2) mounting a piston within the first cylinder for damping vibrations as the piston moves in a first direction and a second direction;
• and
• (3) rotating the second cylinder with respect to the first cylinder to selectively align the longitudinal passageway with at least two of said plurality of ports to selectively decrease the damping force at a predetermined longitudinal distance along a stroke of the piston from a peak damping force in response to the piston moving between the at least two of said plurality of ports, the predetermined longitudinal distance being at an intermediate location along the stroke of the piston and the decrease in damping force occurring only in the first direction.

A shock absorber comprising:

• an inner cylinder which defines a longitudinal axis, said inner cylinder comprising a first pattern of ports circumferential displaced from a second pattern of ports, said first pattern of ports comprising a first set of ports longitudinally displaced a first distance from a second set of ports, said second pattern of ports comprising a third set of ports longitudinally displaced a second distance from a fourth set of ports;
• an outer cylinder comprising a longitudinal slot within an inner surface of said outer cylinder, said outer cylinder rotatably mounted to said inner cylinder such that said longitudinal slot selectively provides fluid communication between either said first pattern of ports or said second pattern of ports;
• and
• an actuator to selectively rotate said outer cylinder relative to said inner cylinder to position said longitudinal slot between either said first pattern of ports or said second pattern of ports to selectively provide fluid communication between either said first pattern of ports or said second pattern of ports in response to a desired damping force.