Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle is disclosed which has a pressure tube defining a fluid chamber, a piston rod, and a piston disposed within the fluid chamber, and carried on the piston rod, which divides the fluid chamber into upper and lower working chambers, and which has a plurality of passages extending between the upper and lower working chambers. A valve disc assembly controls a flow of fluid, and includes a spring disc. The spring disc has a non-symmetrical circumferential shape which enables a stiffness of the valve disc assembly to be tailored so that it begins to open at a first peripheral point, and continuously gradually opens about a non-symmetrical circumferential path until reaching a second peripheral point adjacent the first peripheral point.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube that defines a fluid chamber and a piston disposed within the fluid chamber. The piston divides the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber, and defines a compression passage and a rebound passage. A valve disc assembly of the shock absorber engages the piston and controls the flow of fluid between the upper and lower working chambers. The valve disc assembly includes a check disc and an orifice disc. The check disc is disposed between the piston and the orifice disc. The orifice disc defines an orifice, and the check disc prohibits the flow of fluid through the orifice as the fluid flows in a first direction and permits the flow of fluid through the orifice as the fluid flows in a second direction opposite of the first direction.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube that defines a fluid chamber and a piston disposed within the fluid chamber. The piston divides the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber, and defines a compression passage and a rebound passage. A valve disc assembly of the shock absorber engages the piston and controls the flow of fluid between the upper and lower working chambers. The valve disc assembly includes a check disc and an orifice disc. The check disc is disposed between the piston and the orifice disc. The orifice disc defines an orifice, and the check disc prohibits the flow of fluid through the orifice as the fluid flows in a first direction and permits the flow of fluid through the orifice as the fluid flows in a second direction opposite of the first direction.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle is disclosed which has a pressure tube defining a fluid chamber, a piston rod, and a piston disposed within the fluid chamber, and carried on the piston rod, which divides the fluid chamber into upper and lower working chambers, and which has a plurality of passages extending between the upper and lower working chambers. A valve disc assembly controls a flow of fluid, and includes a spring disc. The spring disc has a non-symmetrical circumferential shape which enables a stiffness of the valve disc assembly to be tailored so that it begins to open at a first peripheral point, and continuously gradually opens about a non-symmetrical circumferential path until reaching a second peripheral point adjacent the first peripheral point.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube that defines a fluid chamber and a piston disposed within the fluid chamber. The piston divides the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber, and defines a compression passage and a rebound passage. A valve disc assembly of the shock absorber engages the piston and controls the flow of fluid between the upper and lower working chambers. The valve disc assembly includes an orifice check disc and an orifice disc. The orifice disc defines a bleed passage between the upper and lower working chambers. The orifice check disc is disposed between the piston and the orifice disc. The orifice check disc closes the bleed passage as the fluid flows in a first direction and opens the bleed passage as the fluid flows in a second direction opposite of the first direction.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube that defines a fluid chamber. A piston disposed within the fluid chamber divides the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. The piston defines a compression passage and a rebound passage which extend through the piston between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber. A valve disc assembly engages the piston and controls the flow of fluid between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber. The valve disc assembly includes a bleed disc that defines an orifice with a substantially non-linear contour. The orifice extends to an outer diameter of the bleed disc, and forms a bleed channel between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube that defines a fluid chamber and a piston disposed within the fluid chamber. The piston divides the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber, and defines a compression passage and a rebound passage. A valve disc assembly of the shock absorber engages the piston and controls the flow of fluid between the upper and lower working chambers. The valve disc assembly includes an orifice check disc and an orifice disc. The orifice disc defines a bleed passage between the upper and lower working chambers. The orifice check disc is disposed between the piston and the orifice disc. The orifice check disc closes the bleed passage as the fluid flows in a first direction and opens the bleed passage as the fluid flows in a second direction opposite of the first direction.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube that defines a fluid chamber. A piston disposed within the fluid chamber divides the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. The piston defines a compression passage and a rebound passage which extend through the piston between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber. A valve disc assembly engages the piston and controls the flow of fluid between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber. The valve disc assembly includes a bleed disc that defines an orifice with a substantially non-linear contour. The orifice extends to an outer diameter of the bleed disc, and forms a bleed channel between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide a true bilateral connecting rod apparatus having a crankshaft defining an axis of rotation and a rod journal eccentrically mounted for circular rotation about the axis, and a pair of connecting rods attached to the rod journal for reciprocating motion in a common plane extending perpendicularly through the rod journal. One or more retaining rings engage the pair of connecting rods and secure the pair of connecting rods to the journal. A common bearing insert is disposed between the pair of connecting rods and the rod journal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide a true bilateral connecting rod apparatus having a crankshaft defining an axis of rotation and a rod journal eccentrically mounted for circular rotation about the axis, and a pair of connecting rods attached to the rod journal for reciprocating motion in a common plane extending perpendicularly through the rod journal. One or more retaining rings engage the pair of connecting rods and secure the pair of connecting rods to the journal. A common bearing insert is disposed between the pair of connecting rods and the rod journal.