Abstract: A vehicle suspension device comprising a telescopic shock absorber including an elongated tubular housing, a piston reciprocable within the housing and connected to one end of a piston rod extending axially outwardly from one end of the housing, a tubular dirt shield supported on one end of the piston rod and extending coaxially of the rod and the housing, a helical coil spring extending coaxially of the housing and the dirt shield with the dirt shield being disposed entirely within the confines of the coil spring, and first and second spring supports located on the dirt shield and the exterior of the housing for operatively supporting the coil spring in its proper position around the shock absorber.

Abstract: A base valve assembly for an independent wheel suspension strut. The assembly includes a valve body having a central axially extending opening and first and second pluralities of radially spaced axially extending flow ports, a valve pin extending axially through the central opening of the valve body, and first and second valve discs for blocking fluid flow through the flow ports, a third valve disc engageable with a valve seat to block fluid flow from a valve chamber located on the lower side of the valve body and the fluid reservoir, and a spring for selectively urging the respective valves toward their positions blocking fluid flow through the flow ports.

Abstract: An oil filter is disclosed as having a filter enclosure provided with oil inlet and outlet ports adapted for communication with the oil circulating system of an associated oil lubricated engine. Disposed within the enclosure is a filter element fabricated of any suitable filtering media. In addition to the filter element, a body of an oil soluble, relatively solid polymer having oil additives compounded therein is disposed within the enclosure. The polymer body is located within the enclosure so as to be in an area where minimum oil flow occurs, i.e. in a relatively non-turbulent oil flow area, which results in the polymer dissolving at a relatively uniform or linear rate so as to prevent undesirable concentrations of the additives during the effective service life of the filter.

Abstract: An oil filter is disclosed as having a filter enclosure provided with oil inlet and outlet ports adapted for communication with the oil circulating system of an associated oil lubricated engine. Disposed within the enclosure is a filter element fabricated of any suitable filtering media. In addition to the filter element, a body of an oil soluble, relatively solid polymer having oil additives compounded therein is disposed within the enclosure. The polymer body is located within the enclosure so as to be in an area where minimum oil flow occurs, i.e. in a relatively non-turbulent oil flow area, which results in the polymer dissolving at a relatively uniform or linear rate so as to prevent undesirable concentrations of the additives during the effective service life of the filter.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension device comprising a telescopic shock absorber including an elongated tubular housing, a piston reciprocable within the housing and connected to one end of a piston rod extending axially outwardly from one end of the housing, a tubular dirt shield supported on one end of the piston rod and extending coaxially of the rod and the housing, a helical coil spring extending coaxially of the housing and the dirt shield with the dirt shield being disposed entirely within the confines of the coil spring, and first and second spring supports located on the dirt shield and the exterior of the housing for operatively supporting the coil spring in its proper position around the shock absorber.

Abstract: A vehicle leveling system comprising at least one leveling strut having a pressurizable chamber and a height sensing and controlling mechanism located directly on the strut, the height sensing and controlling mechanism being operable to control the internal pressure within the chamber without requiring any mechanical connection or engagement of the component parts thereof which are associated with the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention, the height sensing and controlling mechanism includes a light source and a light responsive device for controlling operation of an electrically energized compressor, while in another embodiment of the present invention, the height sensing and controlling mechanism includes a proximity switch arrangement.

Abstract: A vehicle leveling system adapted for varying the attitude between the sprung and unsprung portions of an automotive vehicle, the system including a pair of leveling struts interposed between the vehicle portions and operable in response to an increase in fluid pressure supplied thereto to elevate the sprung portion of the vehicle relative to the unsprung portion thereof, an operable in response to a decrease in fluid pressure supplied thereto to lower the sprung portion of the vehicle relative to the unsprung portion thereof, an electrically energized means for supplying pressurized fluid to the struts and fluid circuit means communicating a pressurized fluid to the struts, and a control device located within the interior of the associated vehicle and operable by the vehicle driver, with the control means including first and second control elements, the first control element including electric switch for opening and closing an electrical circuit communicating a source of electrical energy with the fluid pres

Abstract: A vehicular or similar type shock absorber of the type including a cylindrically shaped housing member defining a fluid chamber, a piston assembly, reciprocally disposed within the chamber and a piston rod arranged generally coaxially of the chamber, and means operatively connecting one end of the piston rod to the piston assembly and including one end of the piston rod projecting through an opening in the piston body and having a terminal end portion formed with an enlarged diameter head which is produced by engaging a tool moving along a generally cycloidal overlapping rosette pattern with the end portion of the piston rod for causing the material of the piston rod to flow generally outwardly into the shape of the enlarged diameter head without the molecular structure thereof being appreciably distorted or otherwise altered.

Abstract: A weight-sensitive support assembly for an adjustable dock board of the type including a ramp with front and rear edges, with the rear edge being hingedly connected to an associated support structure so that the ramp may be swung up and down between a relatively lowered position and a relatively elevated position, the assembly comprising an elongated hollow cylinder member containing a quantity of operating fluid, a piston reciprocally disposed within the cylinder member, a piston rod member connected to the piston, connecting means operatively connecting one of the members to the ramp and the other of the members to the associated support structure, and valve means for controlling movement of the piston within the cylinder member, the valve means being responsive to a first preselected load applied to the ramp to resist movement of the piston within the cylinder member and being further responsive to a second preselected load applied to the ramp to permit movement of the piston and piston rod relative to the

Abstract: A snow vehicle suspension system including a pair of suspension struts associated one with each of the two steerable skis of the vehicle; each of the struts including a first generally tubular shaped housing fixably secured to the underside of the vehicle above the associated of the skis, a second generally tubular housing telescopically disposed within the first housing and connected at the lower end thereof to the associated ski, shock absorbing means within the second housing and including a reciprocable piston mounted on one end of a piston rod extending axially outwardly from the upper end of the first housing, the upper end of the piston rod being secured to a portion of the vehicle above the strut and having a helical coil spring extending coaxially thereof between the upper end of the strut and the aforesaid vehicle portion, a steering arm having a first portion operatively connected to the vehicle steering mechanism and a second portion rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the strut, with a secon

Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling combination shock absorbers and leveling struts of the type comprising a telescopic direct acting shock absorber having a reciprocable piston and piston rod, with the piston rod carrying a cylindrical dirt shield which cooperates with a rolling or flexible diaphragm member extending between the body of the shock absorber and the dirt shield in defining a variable volume pressurizable chamber. The dirt shield is displaced relative to the shock absorber in response to the magnitude of pressure maintained in the chamber whereby to selectively control the attitude between sprung and unsprung portions of a vehicle.

Abstract: A hydraulic clutch system comprising a first piston and cylinder assembly including a piston rod for causing a first piston to move within a first enclosure in response to actuation of a vehicle clutch pedal or the like, a second piston cylinder assembly including a second piston movable within a second enclosure from a non-actuated position to an actuated position to operate a vehicle clutch mechanism, a fluid circuit including a hydraulic conduit communicating fluid from one end of the first enclosure to the second enclosure and operable to bias the second piston from the non-actuated position toward the actuated position, a fluid reservoir communicable with the fluid circuit, and a valve operative in response to preselected movement of one of the pistons within the associated of the enclosures for communicating the reservoir with the conduit.

Abstract: A shock absorber of the direct acting hydraulic type is disclosed as comprising a reciprocable piston having a piston body, the piston body being formed with first and second sets of spaced flow ports, the sets of flow ports being concentrically oriented with the first set being spaced radially inwardly from the second set; a first valve seat on one end of the piston body adjacent the first set of flow ports; a first valve member engageable with the first valve seat to block fluid flow through the first set of flow ports; second and third valve seats on the opposite end of the piston body and located radially inwardly and outwardly from the second set of flow ports; a second valve member in the form of a flat annular valve disc disposed adjacent the second and third valve seats and engageable therewith to block fluid flow through the second set of flow ports; an annular compression plate disposed on the axially opposite side of the valve disc from the piston body; the compression plate having axial movement r

Abstract: A suspension system for snow vehicles of the type comprising a pair of steerable skis which are attached to the forward end of the vehicle by means of leaf springs, the suspension system including a pair of direct acting, telescopic shock absorbers cooperable with the leaf spring assemblies and operatively connected thereto by pairs of adaptor or attachment bracket assemblies that permit the shock absorbers to be conveniently surmounted directly above the respective leaf spring assemblies without interfering with either the mounting means therefor or the steering shafts of the vehicle, whereby the shock absorbers may cooperate with the leaf spring assemblies in damping impact forces and providing for better steering and a more safe, stable and controlled ride as the vehicle traverses relatively irregular or rough terrain.