Tenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.

Patrick Vanmechelen

David Holiviers

Gert Mangelschots

Sjaak Schel

M'Hand Nait Oukhedou

Gert Vanhees

Paul Martens

Stefan Deferme

Rudi Schurmans

Jean-Marie Tuts

Dirk DeGronckel

Jan Hermans

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 damper includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder is disposed inside the outer cylinder and contains a rod and valve to define an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. An adjustable valve portion fluidly communicates the upper working chamber with a reserve chamber. The adjustable valve portion is positioned inside the outer cylinder and coaxially aligned with the axis of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder. As a result, the adjustable valve portion does not extend radially from the damper to potentially obstruct other vehicle elements or cause damage to the adjustable valve portion.

Adjustable damper with valve mounted in-line

A dual tube shock absorber includes a baffle located in the reservoir chamber to define a non-linear flow path within the reservoir chamber. The baffle extends between the pressure tube and the reservoir tube such that the non-linear flow path is the only flow path between two portions of the reservoir chamber. One embodiment is a T-shaped baffle, and another embodiment has a base section and an upright section with a wire being embedded in the base section.

Adjacent baffle design for shock absorber

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.

Extra support area for valve disc

A rod guide assembly for a shock absorber includes a seal assembly which is biased towards a sealing surface on the rod guide by a biasing member which is located between the seal assembly and the bearing which is assembled to the rod guide housing. The biasing of the seal assembly prohibits movement of the seal assembly during operation of the shock absorber. In addition, a wire circlip which radially biases the seal assembly can be included.

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Sint-Truiden, Belgium

Patrick Vanmechelen