The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 20, 1998
Filed:
Nov. 12, 1996
Simon Anne de Molina, Merchtem, BE;
Tenneco Automotive Inc., Lake Forest, IL (US);
Abstract
A two-stage shock absorber having a pressure tube within which a valve assembly is slidably disposed. A piston rod is attached to the valve assembly and extends out of the pressure tube. In a first embodiment, a ring which is slidably disposed within the pressure tube engages the valve assembly after a specified amount of movement of the valve assembly with respect to the pressure tube In both an extension and compression movement of the shock absorber. The engagement of the ring with the valve assembly reduces the fluid flow through the valve assembly to switch the shock absorber from soft damping to firm damping. In a second embodiment, the ring switches the shock absorber from soft damping to firm damping only during an extension movement.