Shock absorber

Claim 1

A shock absorber piston construction comprising, a piston body having means thereon connected to one end of an associated piston rod, said piston body being formed with first and second sets of axially extending, circumferentially spaced flow ports, said sets of flow ports being concentrically oriented, with said first set being spaced radially inwardly from said second set, a first annular axially extending valve seat on one end of said body adjacent said first set of flow ports, a first valve member engageable with said first valve seat to block fluid flow through said first set of flow ports, second and third annular axially extending valve seats on the opposite end of said piston body and located radially inwardly and outwardly from said second set of flow ports, a second valve member in the form of a flat annular valve disc extending radially of said body directly adjacent said second and third valve seats and engageable therewith to block fluid flow through said second set of flow ports, said second valve member having a first fluid flow passage formed therein communicating with said first set of flow ports, an annular compression plate disposed on the axially opposite side of said valve disc from said piston body, the side of said compression plate confronting said valve disc having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending recesses formed therein providing a second flow passage that is serially communicable with said first flow passage, said side of said compression plate being tapered radially outwardly and axially away from said valve disc, whereby to permit the outer peripheral portion of said valve disc to flex away from one of said second and third valve seats and thereby allow said first magnitude of fluid flow through said second set of flow ports, said plate having a central annular opening through which said one end of said piston rod extends, a valve guide member located coaxially of said piston body and at least partially within said annular opening of said compression plate, said guide member having a non-circular outer peripheral edge which defines with the inner periphery of said annular opening a plurality of circumferentially spaced guide points for guiding said compression plate for axial movement relative to said piston body between a first position maintaining said valve disc adjacent and engaged with said second and third valve seats but permitting said first magnitude of fluid flow through said second set of flow ports, and a second position wherein said second valve member is axially displaced predeterminately from said piston body to permit a greater magnitude of fluid flow through said second set of flow ports and between said valve disc and said piston body, and at least one spring disc disposed on the axially opposite side of said compression plate from said valve disc yieldably resisting axial movement of said plate and said valve disc away from said piston body, said spring disc extending radially of said piston rod and having an outer peripheral portion thereof bearing upon the adjacent side of said compression plate and an inner peripheral portion clampingly engaged with the adjacent side of said guide member.