Pressure regulator for hydraulic shock absorbers

Claim 1

An improved hydraulic shock absorber adapted to contain a quantity of hydraulic fluid therein, comprising: a longitudinal cylinder having sealed end walls, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder, said piston having a piston face defining upon opposite sides thereof a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber, each of said chambers adapted to contain said hydraulic fluid, said piston face having an aperture therein communicating between said chambers; a pressure control chamber mounted upon said piston in said low pressure chamber, said control chamber having a closed end, an open end and a cylindrical side wall, said open end being coupled to said piston adjacent the aperture therein and defining a valve seat, a plurality of outlet apertures formed in said side wall, valve means situated in said control chamber, said valve means comprising a poppet head slidably moveable with respect to said valve seat, a valve stem connected to said poppet head and extending through the closed end of said chamber, spring means mounted in said chamber and bearing upon said valve means for biasing said poppet head toward said valve seat, and a collapsible air chamber separate from said spring means situated in freely floating relationship within said control chamber.