Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.

Gert Mangelschots

Patrick Vanmechelen

M'Hand Nait Oukhedou

David Holiviers

Sjaak Schel

Gert Vanhees

Stefan Deferme

Jean-Marie Tuts

Werner Bosmans

Ward Opdekamp

A damper including a pressure tube, a piston, and a reserve tube is provided. The piston is arranged inside the pressure tube and divides the pressure tube into first and second working chambers. The reserve tube extends about the pressure tube to define a reserve tube chamber between the pressure tube and the reserve tube. A first damper port is arranged in communication with the second working chamber and a second damper port is arranged in communication with the reserve tube chamber. A remote valve assembly is spaced from the damper. The remote valve assembly includes a first electromagnetic valve that is arranged in communication with the first damper port by a first hydraulic line and a second electromagnetic valve that is arranged in communication with the second damper port by a second hydraulic line. An accumulator is arranged in communication with the first and second electromagnetic valves.

Scalable damper

A shock absorber includes a piston disposed within a pressure tube. A valve assembly is attached to the piston. The valve assembly defines a first fluid flow through an always open fluid passage; a second fluid flow due to elastic deformation of a valve disc of the piston assembly; and a third fluid flow due to movement of the entire valve disc away from the piston. In one embodiment, the valve assembly is designed to be pre-assembled at an off-line and/or off-site location.

Multi-tuneable degressive valve

A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.

Shock absorber having a continuously variable valve with base line valving

A valve for controlling fluid flow through a passage defined by a valve body or a piston includes a valve disc which abuts the valve body or the piston. The valve body or the piston defines a first land for supporting the valve disc, a second land for supporting the valve disc located radially inward from the first land and a support surface for the valve disc located between the first and second lands. This valve disc abuts the first and second lands and a clearance is defined between the valve disc and the support surface.

Growing community of inventors

Heusden Zolder, Belgium

Gert Mangelschots