SHOCK ABSORBER AND DIRT SHIELD THEREFOR

摘要

A shock absorber comprising an elongated cylindrical pressure cylinder having a piston reciprocally disposed therewithin and connected to a piston rod extending outwardly from one end thereof, the piston rod carrying a dirt shield which extends coaxially of the pressure cylinder and in partial surrounding relationship therewith. The pressure cylinder is adapted to be filled with preselected quantities of a hydraulic damping fluid and a pressurized gas for damping reciprocal movement of the piston therewithin. The piston is provided with a novel valve arrangement which controls the compression and rebound characteristics of the shock absorber, and one end of the pressure cylinder is provided with a novel rod guide assembly which is designed so as to provide for convenient charging of the cylinder with the aforesaid pressurized gas. The interior of the pressure cylinder is provided with a generally helically shaped baffle arrangement which is compressible axially within the cylinder in response to reciprocal movement of the piston therein and functions to prevent undesirable foaming or aeration of the hydraulic fluid during operation of the shock absorber.