DESC:Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a suspension system of an automobile, and more particularly relates to a damper cap for preventing damage to a damper of a shock absorber.

Background of the invention

Referring to figures 1 to 3, shock absorbers such as hydraulic twin tube, mono tube, canister type shock absorber includes a piston rod (10) at bottom portion thereof and a damper cap (20) made up of a sheet metal part covering a spinning end (30) of the damper. When riding over mud and dusty road conditions, tire splashes mud and dust directly over the piston rod (10). On continuous stroking, mud and dust particles accumulate around the piston rod (10) and a bump stop (40) region above a surface of the damper cap (20).

During shock absorber compression to full stroke, the bump stop (40) compresses against the damper cap (20) and pushes the mud and dust particles deposited on the surface of the damper cap (20) into a small gap between the piston rod (10) and an inner diameter of the damper cap (20). Due to this small gap, the bump stop (40) deforms its shape in the inner wall when a bump or heavy load is applied thereon. Because of this deformation, the clearance between the piston rod (10) and the bump stop (40) is reduced. Because of less clearance, the materials stuck/accumulated in the bump stop (40) rub onto the piston rod (10) creating scratches and scoring marks on an outer diameter of the piston rod (10) and thus damaging the piston rod (10) as well as the damper cap (20) that in turn cuts the oil seal resulting in oil leakage.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an improved damper cap that prevents damage to a damper of a vehicle shock absorber and overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Objects of the invention

An object of the present invention is to prevent entry and /or accumulation of mud and dust in a shock absorber, specifically at a piston rod.

Another object of the present invention is to prevent damage of the piston rod on an outer diameter thereof due to dust accumulation.

Yet another of the present invention is to avoid oil leakage.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a damper cap of a shock absorber of a vehicle. The damper cap is a hollow circular disc made up of low carbon steel. The damper cap comprises a top plate and a lateral wall. The top plate includes a top opening. The top opening is made wide to increase a gap between an outer diameter of a piston rod and an inner diameter of the top plate for avoiding bulging of a bump stop of the shock absorber thereon.

The lateral wall extends downward from either sides of the top plate for fitting on a spinning end of the piston rod of the shock absorber to form a sealed structure. The lateral wall includes a bottom end adaptably configured to engage with the spinning end for forming the sealed structure. The lateral wall includes a slightly curved top end adaptably configured on the top plate.

Brief description of the drawings

The objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in accordance with the accompanying drawings wherein,
Figure 1 shows a cross sectional view of a bumper stop engagement with a damper cap, in accordance with a prior art;

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the damper cap, in accordance with prior art of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of the damper cap in a shock absorber of a vehicle, in accordance with prior art;

Figure 4 shows a cross sectional view of an improved damper cap in a shock absorber of a vehicle, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 5 shows various components of the improved damper cap, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The foregoing objects of the 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 damper cap of a shock absorber of a vehicle. The damper cap of the present invention prevents accumulation of mud and dust particles that would otherwise damage the piston rod on an outer diameter thereof.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.

Referring to figures 4 and 5, a damper cap (60) of a shock absorber (not numbered) of a vehicle (not shown) in accordance with the present invention is shown. The damper cap (60) is used to cover a spinning end (70) of a damper (not numbered) of the shock absorber. The damper is a tube part adaptably configured to operate with a piston rod (80) of the shock absorber. The piston rod (80) includes a bump stop (not shown) that operably engages with the damper cap (60) in an event of movement of the piston rod (80). The purpose of the damper cap (60) is to close the spinning area of the damper.

In an embodiment, the damper cap (60) is a hollow circular disc made up of a strong material like low carbon steel. However, it is understood that the damper cap (60) can be made from any other suitable material to have any type of shape as per various alternate embodiments of the present invention. The damper cap (60) comprises a top plate (not numbered) and a lateral wall (55).

The top plate includes a top opening (50) configured thereon. The top opening (50) is wide as compared to that present on the prior art damper cap. The wider top opening (50) of the damper cap (60) increases a gap (not numbered) between an outer diameter of the piston rod (80) and an inner diameter of the top plate for avoiding bulging of the bump stop of the shock absorber thereon thereby reducing the chances of mud getting pushed by the bump stop and thus preventing the entry of mud and dust in the shock absorber.

The lateral wall (55) extends downward from either sides of the top plate for fitting on the spinning end (70) of the piston rod (80) of the shock absorber forming a sealed structure. The lateral wall (55) includes a bottom end (52) and a top end (54). Specifically, the bottom end (52) of the lateral wall (55) is adaptably configured to engage with the spinning end (70) of the damper for forming the sealed structure. The top end (54) is slightly curved to adaptably configure on the top plate in a specific manner.

Advantages of the invention

1. The damper cap (60) reduces the chances of mud getting pushed by the bump stop and thus prevents entry of mud and dust in the shock absorber.
2. The damper cap (60) prevents oil leakage.
3. The damper cap (60) is cost effective and is easy to manufacture.
4. By increasing the gap size in the bump stop as shown in figure 5, the possibility of the bump stop getting deformed is eliminated.

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 damper cap (60) of a shock absorber of a vehicle, the damper cap (60) comprising:
• a top plate having a top opening (50) being made wide to increase a gap
between an outer diameter of a piston rod (80) and an inner diameter of the top plate
for avoiding bulging of a bump stop of the shock absorber thereon; and
• a lateral wall (55) extending downward from either sides of the top
plate for fitting on a spinning end (70) of the piston rod (80) of the shock absorber forming a sealed structure, the lateral wall (55) having a top end (54) being slightly curved to adaptably configure on the top plate.

2. The damper cap (60) as claimed in claim 1 is a hollow circular disc.

3. The damper cap (60) as claimed in claim 1 is made up of low carbon steel.

4. The damper cap (60) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lateral wall (55)
includes a bottom end (52) adaptably configured to engage with the spinning end (70) for forming the sealed structure.