DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a shock absorber, more particularly it relates to a hollow piston rod of the shock absorber with no damping requirement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fork suspensions normally have damping effect while expansion and compression, depending on the vehicle capacities. Damping force or in other terms, oil flow is controlled through the number of holes and their size on a piston. In case of twin shock absorber mounting applications, where suspension is not very critical and having low cost offerings, one of the shock absorbers will act as a dummy action shock absorber which gives only support to the vehicle. This dummy shock absorber only provides structural support to the suspension system and does not have any damping force requirements. In the dummy shock absorber, tube formed as piston rod is a connecting member between the damper and bottom mounting. In dummy shock absorber, hollow piston rod acts only as a sliding part and does not have any oil flow requirement. Thus, in dummy shock absorbers the piston rod does not go through a tedious manufacturing process which reduces the overall damper assembly time and manufacturing cost significantly.
Accordingly, there exists a need to simplify the design of piston head and the piston rod so as to reduce the time required for damper assembly, the process cost and the weight of the piston rod.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to reduce the damper assembly time.
Another object of the present invention is to modify the piston head and piston rod design so as to eliminate the insignificant parts without affecting the functions thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a hollow piston rod for a dummy shock absorber. The dummy shock absorber comprises a dust cover, a monotube slidable in the dust cover, and a spring. The hollow piston rod includes a first end modified to act as a sliding member and a second end modified to act as a connecting member for extending through the closure of the monotube.

The first and second ends are top and bottom ends of the hollow piston rod being modified to replace piston rod along with a piston head without eliminating sliding and connection functions thereof thus reducing weight of the piston rod as well as the assembly time and process costs of the dummy shock absorber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in accordance with the accompanying drawing wherein,
Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a hollow piston rod for a dummy shock absorber, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.

The present invention provides a hollow piston rod for a dummy shock absorber. The design of the piston rod is modified to reduce the damper assembly time as well as to eliminate insignificant parts without affecting the functions thereof.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein numbers indicated in the bracket represent the components of the invention throughout the description.

Referring now to figure 1, a hollow piston rod (40) for a dummy shock absorber (100) in accordance with the present invention is shown. Specifically, the dummy shock absorber (100) is used in twin shock absorber mounting applications. The dummy shock absorber (100) comprises a dust cover (10), a monotube (20) slidable in the dust cover (10), a spring (30) and the hollow piston rod (40) configured therein.

The hollow piston rod (40) includes a first end (50A) and a second end (50B). The first end (50A) is modified to act as a sliding member/ sliding guide. The second end (50B) of the hollow piston rod (40) is modified to act as a connecting member / connecting rod for extending through the closure of the monotube (20). Specifically, the first end (50A) is a top end of the hollow piston rod (40) modified to provide sliding requirement and the second end (50B) is a bottom end of the hollow piston rod (40) modified to provide connection requirement between the damper and bottom mounting.

Thus, the piston rod along with the piston head from the prior art design of the dummy shock absorber is replaced by the hollow piston rod (40) which acts as the connecting member and also as the sliding member during damper actuation. In other words, the functions of the piston head and the piston rod as the sliding member and the connecting member respectively, are retained in the modified hollow piston rod design while reducing the damper assembly time, process costs and weight of the hollow piston rod (40).

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

1. The piston head and the fastening operation of the piston rod assembly are eliminated.
2. Damper assembly time and cost involving several parts for assembly is reduced.
3. Provides a low cost solution for manufacturing the dummy shock absorber (100).
4. The built in assembly process is same as that of the regular shock absorber so there is no need of torquing.

The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiment. Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein; however, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or matter. The embodiments of the invention as described above and the methods disclosed herein will suggest further modification and alterations to those skilled in the art. Such further modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. ,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:

1. A hollow piston rod (40) for a dummy shock absorber (100), the dummy shock absorber (100) comprising a dust cover (10), a monotube (20) slidable in the dust cover (10), and a spring (30), the hollow piston rod (40) having a first end (50A) modified to act as a sliding member and a second end (50B) modified to act as a connecting member for extending through the closure of the monotube (20).

2. The hollow piston rod (40) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second ends (50A, 50B) are top and bottom ends modified to replace piston rod along with a piston head without eliminating sliding and connection functions thereof thus reducing weight of the piston rod as well as the assembly time and process costs of the dummy shock absorber (100).

Dated this 24th day of August 2017

Priya Pandey
(Agent for applicant)
IN/PA-2018