Adjustable damper with control valve, mounted in an external collar

A shock absorber comprising:

• a reserve tube defining a reserve chamber;
• an intermediate tube defining an intermediate chamber and disposed within said reserve tube;
• a pressure tube arranged within said intermediate tube and having a working chamber therein;
• a piston disposed within said pressure tube, said piston dividing said working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber, said intermediate chamber being in direct communication with both said upper and lower working chambers, said upper and lower working chambers being in direct communication with each other through said intermediate chamber;
• a collar attached to said intermediate tube;
• and
• an external control valve attached to said reserve tube and received within said collar in an installed position.

A method of making a shock absorber comprising:

• providing a reserve tube defining a reserve chamber, an intermediate tube defining an intermediate chamber and having a passage incorporated on an outer wall thereof, said intermediate tube disposed within said reserve tube and a pressure tube arranged within said intermediate tube and having a working chamber therein;
• providing a piston disposed within said pressure tube to divide said working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber, said intermediate chamber being in direct communication with both said upper and lower working chambers, said upper and lower working chambers being in direct communication with each other through said intermediate chamber;
• attaching a collar to said intermediate tube, said collar extending generally perpendicularly to said intermediate tube;
• slidably inserting a valve seat of an external control valve into said collar;
• and
• attaching said external control valve to said reserve tube.