Multi-stage telescopic shock absorber

A multi-stage telescopic suspension element comprising:

• a plurality of tubular shock bodies serially interconnected to provide telescopic movement relative to one another;
• wherein the shock bodies include a piston arrangement slidably mounted therein to define a number of chambers each containing at least one of damping and spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the suspension element;
• a first tubular shock body having one end which is closed by a first end cap and an opposite end which is open;
• a second tubular shock body having one end provided with a first piston and an opposite end which is open;
• a third tubular shock body having one end provided with a second piston and an opposite end closed by a second end cap;
• the one end of the second shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the first shock body and the one end of the third shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the second shock body;
• at least a first chamber being defined by the first shock body, the first end cap and the one end of the second shock body;
• at least a second chamber being defined by the second shock body, the one end of the second shock body and the one end of the third shock body;
• and
• at least a third chamber being defined by the third shock body, the one end of the third shock body and the second end cap;
• wherein the one end of the second shock body includes a separator plate located adjacent the first piston on the second shock body for preventing communication between the first and second chambers.

A multi-stage telescopic suspension element comprising:

• a plurality of tubular shock bodies serially interconnected, to provide telescopic movement relative to one another;
• wherein the shock bodies include a piston arrangement slidably mounted therein to define a number of chambers each containing at least one of damping and spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the suspension element;
• a first tubular shock body having one end which is closed by a first end cap and an opposite end which is open;
• a second tubular shock body having one end provided with a first piston and an opposite end which is open;
• a third tubular shock body having one end provided with a second piston and an opposite end closed by a second end cap;
• the one end of the second shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the first shock body and the one end of the third shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the second shock body;
• at least a first chamber being defined by the first shock body, the first, end cap and the one end of the second shock body;
• at least a second chamber being defined by the second shock body, the one end of the second shock body and the one end of the third shock body;
• and
• at least a third chamber being defined by the third shock body, the one end of the third shock body and the second end cap;
• wherein the first, second and third chambers each contain a first fluid, a second fluid and a third fluid, respectively, and wherein the first and second pistons are provided with valve arrangements for permitting fluid flow therethrough;
• wherein a circumferential passage is defined by the one end of the third shock body, the opposite end of the second shock body, an inner surface of the second shock body and an outer surface of the third shock body;
• and
• wherein the outer surface of the third shock body is formed with openings therethrough that are in communication with the valve arrangement of the second piston and the circumferential passage so that fluid is transferable between the second chamber and the circumferential passage.

A multi-stage telescopic suspension element comprising:

• a plurality of tubular shock bodies serially interconnected to provide telescopic movement relative to one another;
• wherein the shock bodies include a piston arrangement slidably mounted therein to define a number of chambers each containing at least one of damping and spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the suspension element;
• a first tubular shock body having one end which is closed by a first end cap and an opposite end winch is open;
• a second tubular shock body having one end provided with a first piston and an opposite end which is open;
• a third tubular shock body having one end provided with a second piston and an opposite end dosed by a second end cap;
• the one end of the second shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the first shock body and the one end of the third shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the second shock body;
• at least a first chamber being defined by the first shock body, the first end cap and the one end of the second shock body;
• at least a second chamber being defined by the second shock body, the one end of the second shock body and the one end of the third shock body;
• and
• at least a third chamber being defined by the third shock body, the one end of the third shock body and the second end cap;
• wherein the first, second and third chambers each contain a first fluid, a second fluid and a third fluid, respectively, and wherein the first and second pistons are provided with valve arrangements for permitting fluid flow therethrough;
• wherein the valve arrangement of the second piston permits communication of fluid between the second and third chambers;
• and
• wherein the first piston and the second piston are maintained in continuous spaced apart relationship by separation structure to prevent contact therebetween and to prevent communication between the first and second chambers.

A multi-stage telescopic, suspension element comprising:

• a plurality of tubular shock bodies serially interconnected to provide telescopic movement relative to one another;
• wherein the shock bodies include a piston arrangement slidably mounted therein to define a number of chambers each containing at least one of damping and spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the suspension element;
• a first tubular shock body having one end which is closed by a first end cap and an opposite end which is open;
• a second tubular shock body having one end provided with a first piston and an opposite end which open;
• a third tubular shock body having one end provided with a second piston and an opposite end closed by a second end cap;
• the one end of the second shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the first shock body and the one end of the third shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the second shock body;
• at least a first chamber being defined by the first shock body, the first end cap and the one end of the second shock body;
• at least a second chamber being defined by the second shock body, the one end of the second shock body and the one end of the third shock body;
• at least a third chamber being defined by the third shock body, the one end of the third shock body and the second end cap;
• wherein a firm internal floating piston is slidably mounted within the first chamber of the first shock body between the first end cap and the one end of the second shock body;
• and
• wherein the first piston and the second piston are maintained in continuous spaced apart relationship by separation structure to prevent contact therebetween and to prevent communication between the first and second chambers.

A multi-stage telescopic suspension element comprising:

• a plurality of tubular shock bodies serially interconnected to provide telescopic movement relative to one another;
• wherein the shock bodies include a piston arrangement slidably mounted therein to define a number of chambers each containing at least one of damping and spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the suspension element;
• a first tubular shock body having one end which is closed by a first end cap and an opposite end which is open;
• a second tubular shock body having one end provided with a first piston and an opposite end which is open;
• a third tubular shock body having one end provided with a second piston and an opposite end closed by a second end cap;
• the one end of the second shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the first shock body and the one end of the third shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the second shock body;
• at least a first chamber being defined by the first shock body, the first end cap and the one end of the second shock body;
• at least a second chamber being defined by the second shock body, the one end of the second shock body and the one end of the third shock body;
• at least a third chamber being defined by the third shock body, the one end of the third shock body and the second end cap;
• wherein an internal floating piston is slidably mounted in the third chamber of the third shock body between the end of the third shock body and the second end cap;
• and
• wherein the first piston and the second piston are maintained in continuous spaced apart relationship by separation structure to prevent contact therebetween and to prevent communication between the first and second chambers.

A multi-stage telescopic suspension element comprising:

• a plurality of tubular shock bodies serially interconnected to provide telescopic movement relative to one another;
• wherein the shock bodies include a piston arrangement slidably mounted therein to define a number of chambers each containing at least one of damping and spring elements for enabling damping of shock forces applied to the suspension element;
• a first tubular shock body having one end which is closed by a first end cap and an opposite end which is open;
• a second tubular shock body having one end provided with a first piston and an opposite end which is open;
• a third tubular shock body having one end provided with a second piston and an opposite end closed by a second end cap;
• the one end of the second shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the first shock body and the one end of the third shock body being slidably mounted with respect to the second shock body;
• at least a first chamber being defined by the first shock body, the first end cap and the one end of the second shock body;
• at least a second chamber being defined by the second shock body, the one end of the second shock body and the one end of the third shock body;
• and
• at least a third chamber being defined by the third shock body, the one end of the third shock body and the second end cap;
• wherein the first, second and third chambers each contain a first fluid, a second fluid and a third fluid, respectively, and wherein the first and second pistons are provided with valve arrangements for permitting fluid flow therethrough;
• wherein at least one valve arrangement includes a fastener formed with a hole therethrough which permits communication of fluid between a pair of the chambers;
• and
• wherein the first piston and the second piston are maintained in continuous spaced apart relationship by separation structure to prevent contact therebetween and to prevent communication between the first and second chambers.

A multi-stage suspension element comprising:

• a first tubular shock body having one end which is closed by a first end cap and an opposite end which is open;
• a second tubular shock body having one end provided with a first piston having a valve arrangement for permitting fluid flow through the first piston, and an opposite end which is open;
• a third tubular shock body having one end provided with a second piston having a valve arrangement for permitting fluid flow through the second piston, and an opposite end closed by a second end cap;
• the one end of the second shock body being slidably mounted within the first shock body and the one end of the third shock body being slidably mounted within the second shock body;
• a first internal floating piston slidably mounted within the first shock body between the first end cap and the one end of the second shock body;
• a second internal floating piston slidably mounted within the third shock body between the one end of the third shock body and the second end cap;
• a first damping chamber containing a first damping fluid being defined by the first shock body, the first internal floating piston and the one end of the second shock body;
• a second damping chamber containing a second damping fluid being defined by the third shock body, the second internal floating piston and the one end of the third shock body;
• a third damping chamber containing a third damping fluid being defined by the second shock body, the one end of the second shock body and the one end of the third shock body;
• a first spring chamber containing a gas spring being defined by the first shock body, the first end cap and the first internal floating piston;
• a second spring chamber eon taming a gas spring being defined by the third shock body, the second end cap and the second internal floating piston;
• and
• wherein the first piston and the second piston are maintained in continuous spaced apart relationship by separation structure to prevent contact therebetween and to prevent communication between the first and third damping chambers.