Shock absorber for a hydropneumatic vehicle suspension element

Claim 1

Shock absorber (31) for a hydropneumatic suspension element (1, 12) of a vehicle, especially a heavy vehicle, comprising a disk (32) fastened in an outer casing (34) having ports (30, 38) for the passage of hydraulic fluid on either side of the disk, means (48, 49, 37a, 37b) allowing this passage in only one direction for some ports (30) and in the opposite direction for the other ports (38), and elements (53, 54, 55) for fastening said means to the disk, characterized in that the abovementioned means comprise, mounted on the two opposite faces of the disk (32), stacks (46, 47) of elastically flexible metal washers (46a-46c; 47a-47c) retained in rigid annular deflectors (48, 49) located opposite the hydraulic-fluid passage ports (30, 38); and in that each port (38, 30) is delimited by a tubular insert (37a, 37b) fastened in a bore (36) passing right through the disk (32), some (37a) of the inserts being equipped with end collars (39) projecting on one face of the disk, whilst the other inserts (37b) are equipped with end collars (41) projecting on the opposite face of the disk, and the dimensions of these projecting collars (39, 41) are such that the deflectors (48, 49) are held elastically up against said collars (41, 39), thereby shutting off the corresponding inserts (37b, 37a), as long as the hydraulic pressure is insufficient to move the deflectors away from the associated collars.