DAMPING CARTRIDGE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE SUSPENSION SYSTEMS

摘要

A damping system (10) having a lightweight, low-cost, thin-walled cartridge body (12) sealed on both ends by mechanically deforming the cartridge body wall into sealing elements (22, 24) that seal the ends of the cartridge body. Preferably, the cartridge body wall is roll crimped to compress the sealing elements and thereby create a seal between the wall and the sealing elements. The cartridge body is preferably also provided with a retaining ring (60) having an internally formed ridge (70) that engages the mechanically deformed portion of the cartridge body wall. The retaining ring is thereby axially fixed with respect to the cartridge body. Because the retaining ring is positioned about the cartridge body, the retaining ring forms a shoulder with respect thereto. The shoulder thereby formed may be inserted within the recess of a bicycle suspension fork strut to fix the damping cartridge therein against movement.