Importance

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Abstract

A viscous spring damper including inner and outer members connected by an elastomeric shear spring and having a main fluid chamber defined therebetween for communication with a second fluid chamber in the inner member through a restricted orifice. The members are relatively movable for stressing the shear spring and varying the volumes of the chambers while fluid is transferred therebetween through the restricted orifice. An elastomeric bladder within the second fluid chamber is selectively chargeable with gas pressure for calibrating the damping characteristics, varying the initial spring rate or leveling a vehicle on which the damper is installed. Axially-spaced circumferential wear rings on the bladder minimize bladder abrasion against the inner wall of the inner member. An elastomeric ring attached to the inner member within the main fluid chamber engages the outer member when the damper bottoms out and this seals the restricted orifice against flow of fluid therethrough from the main fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber. The restricted orifice includes an elastomeric restrictor having a yieldable flap covering a passage for blocking flow therethrough in one direction while providing flow in a reverse direction. A load transfer member attached to the inner member opposite from the outer member by another elastomeric shear spring provides two different stages for the damper.

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First Claim