Variable radius spring disc for vehicle shock absorber

摘要

A shock absorber for a vehicle may include a piston and a valve disc assembly. The piston defines a plurality of passages extending through the piston between an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber of a fluid chamber. The valve disc assembly engages the piston and controls a flow of fluid between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber through the plurality of passages. The valve disc assembly includes a variable radius spring disc among a plurality of discs. The variable radius spring disc has a varying outer radius. The valve disc assembly has a stiffness that varies circumferentially based on the variable radius spring disc such that an actuation of the valve disc assembly with respect to the piston varies circumferentially.

主权项

1. A shock absorber for a vehicle comprising:
a pressure tube defining a fluid chamber; a piston disposed within the fluid chamber, the piston dividing the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber, the piston defining a plurality of passages extending through the piston between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber; and a valve disc assembly supported on the piston and controlling a flow of fluid between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber through the plurality of passages, the valve disc assembly including a variable radius spring disc among a plurality of discs, wherein the variable radius spring disc has an outer radius that increases continuously and circumferentially from a first circumferential point to a second circumferential point, along an outer perimeter of the variable radius spring disc, and then makes a convex turn followed by a transition from the second circumferential point via a concave turn back to the first circumferential point, and the valve disc assembly creates a stiffness that varies in relation to a circumference of the variable radius spring disc such that an actuation of the valve disc assembly with respect to the piston varies circumferentially.