| CPC F16F 9/5126 (2013.01) [F16F 9/062 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A damper assembly comprising:
a monotube damper and a twintube damper in a telescopic configuration;
the monotube damper including a first tube, a rod disposed at least partially within the first tube and coaxially therewith, and a first piston connected to the rod and slidably disposed within the first tube;
the twintube damper including a second tube and a third tube each disposed coaxially around the monotube damper, the second tube having an upper end and a closed lower end opposite from the upper end, and the third tube disposed within the second tube and defining an annular chamber therebetween;
the twintube damper including a second piston connected to an axial end of the first tube dividing an interior of the third tube into an upper twintube chamber and a lower twintube chamber, the second piston defining a twintube passage providing fluid communication between the upper twintube chamber and the lower twintube chamber;
the twintube damper including a base valve having a base member disposed adjacent to the closed lower end of the second tube and defining at least one base passage therethrough and providing fluid communication between the lower twintube chamber and the annular chamber; and
a seal configured to selectively block fluid flow through one of the twintube passage or the base passage based on an axial position of the first tube relative to the second tube.
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