Abstract: A vehicle load-bearing member includes an electro-active material, a lead wire for delivering an electric current to the electro-active material, and a controller in communication with a power supply for supplying electric current to the electro-active material for changing dynamic characteristics of the electro-active material, wherein changing dynamic characteristics of the electro-active material changes at least one of dampening and stiffness of the vehicle load-bearing member by changing the shape of the electro-active material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shock absorber includes inserting a floating piston into a tube, disposing oil into the tube, and inserting a piston-rod assembly into the tube. The piston-rod assembly has a piston coupled to a rod. The method includes inserting a rod guide assembly into the tube. The rod guide assembly includes a sintered metal rod guide having a seat and a seal disposed in the seat. The rod extends through the seal. The method also includes deforming a wall of the tube into engagement with the sintered metal rod guide to provide a piston-cylinder assembly and inhibit axial movement of the rod guide assembly relative to the tube. The method further includes pressurizing the piston-cylinder assembly and forming a flange portion of the tube over an upper surface of the sintered metal rod guide.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes a suspension arm connected to a vehicle frame or body. A wheel is supported by the suspension arm and a shock absorber is connected between the vehicle frame or body and the suspension arm. The shock absorber includes a first mounting fitting having a first connecting structure, a second mounting fitting having a second connecting structure and a monolithic elastomeric body molded around the first connecting structure and the second connecting structure.

Abstract: A rebound bumper for a shock absorber includes a first portion formed from a first material having a first spring rate and a second portion coupled to the first portion and formed from a second material having a second spring rate greater than the first spring rate. The first portion and the second portion are configured to fit on a piston rod between a piston and a rod guide assembly of the shock absorber. Also, the rebound bumper exhibits a displacement under load relationship with the first spring rate, the second spring rate, and a third spring rate greater than the first spring rate and less than the second spring rate.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a knuckle defining a bore therethrough. The suspension system includes a wheel hub rotatably mounted on the knuckle. Further, the suspension system includes an axle at least partially received within the bore of the knuckle and operatively coupled to the wheel hub. The suspension system includes a pump driven by the axle and configured to generate pressurized fluid. The suspension system includes an actuator receiving pressurized fluid from the pump.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an electric motor including a stator and a translator; a three-phase inverter electrically coupled to the electric motor; a power source electrically coupled to the three-phase inverter; and a controller communicatively coupled to the three-phase inverter. The controller is programmed to determine at least three measurements at different times of flux linkage from the electric motor, represent the measurements in Clarke coordinates, determine Clarke coordinates of a center of a circle defined by the Clarke coordinates of the measurements, and determine a position of the translator relative to the stator based on the Clarke coordinates of the center of the circle.

Abstract: An extension assembly for a damper includes an extension post having an upper end and a lower end opposite to the upper end. The extension post includes a coupling portion, a narrow portion defining a deformed section, and a wide portion disposed between the coupling portion and the narrow portion. A diameter of the wide portion is greater than a diameter of the narrow portion. The extension assembly includes a retaining member having a sleeve portion received on the narrow portion of the extension post and a plurality of support portions extending from the sleeve portion. Further, the deformed section of the narrow portion secures the retaining member to the narrow portion. The extension assembly further includes a sealing ring disposed around the retaining member. The sealing ring is disposed between the wide portion of the extension post and the plurality of support portions of the retaining member.

Abstract: A damper having a pressure tube, a piston, a hydraulic compression stop assembly, and a base valve assembly is provided. The piston is arranged in sliding engagement inside the pressure tube and divides the pressure tube into first and second working chambers. The hydraulic compression stop assembly is positioned in the second working chamber and includes a sleeve and a plunger. The sleeve extends from the base valve assembly to define a sleeve cavity. The plunger extends from the piston and/or piston rod and is designed to slide into the sleeve cavity when the piston approaches a fully compressed position of the damper. The base valve assembly includes intake passageways and an intake valve. The intake valve is constructed as a one-way valve that permits fluid to flow in one direction into the sleeve cavity through the intake passageways.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a pressure tube defining a chamber. The damper assembly includes a body supported by the pressure tube. The body has a first surface and a second surface opposite and spaced from the first surface along an axis. The body defines a passage extending from the first surface to the second surface. The damper assembly includes an orifice disc movable from an unflexed position to a first flexed position and movable from the first flexed position to a second flexed position. The orifice disc in the unflexed position is spaced from the first surface radially outward and radially inward of the passage. The orifice disc in the first flexed position is spaced from the first surface radially outward of the passage and abuts the first surface radially inward of the passage. The orifice disc in the second flexed position abuts the first surface radially outward and radially inward of the passage.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a cylinder defining a chamber. The damper assembly includes a body supported by the cylinder and having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The body defines a passage extending from the first surface to the second surface. One of the first surface or the second surface define a slope at the passage. The damper assembly includes a check disc at the slope, the check disc selectively restricting fluid flow through the passage.

Abstract: An engine includes an engine block and a cylinder head mounted to the engine block. The engine block includes a bore elongated along an axis and a liner disposed in the bore and extending annularly about the axis. The liner includes a seal surface and a fire dam disposed radially inward from the seal surface. The fire dam extends along the axis from the seal surface towards the cylinder head. The engine further includes a head gasket disposed between the engine block and the cylinder head. The head gasket extends endlessly around the fire dam. The engine further includes a shim seated between the seal surface and the head gasket and abutting the seal surface and the head gasket. The shim is disposed radially outward from the fire dam and extending annularly about the axis.

Abstract: A method of forming a dirt shield on a shock absorber includes positioning a mold over a portion of the shock absorber, heat shrinking a sleeve onto the mold, and removing the mold from the portion of the shock absorber such that the sleeve after heat shrinking remains on the shock absorber and forms the dirt shield. The shock absorber includes a piston rod, a mount rigidly attached to the piston rod, and a bushing secured to the mount. Prior to heat shrinking the sleeve, the sleeve slides over the bushing, and after heat shrinking the sleeve the bushing has an outer dimension greater than an inner dimension of the dirt shield. Also, a plurality of sleeves having the same inner dimension is used to form a plurality of dirt shields having different inner dimensions.

Abstract: A damper includes a pressure tube, a piston assembly, a piston rod, a reserve tube, and a reserve chamber. The damper also includes a base valve assembly having a valve body and a compression disc assembly. The compression disc assembly engages a first end face of the valve body to restrict flow through at least one compression passage. The base valve assembly also includes a rebound disc assembly. The rebound disc assembly engages a second end face of the valve body to restrict flow through at least one rebound passage. The rebound disc assembly includes at least one rebound bending disc that directly engages the second end face to close the at least one rebound passage. The rebound bending disc bends in response to pressure within the at least one rebound passage to permit flow through the at least one rebound passage.

Abstract: A method for assembling a damper with a device includes inserting a floating piston into a cartridge, filling a region of the cartridge with oil, inserting a piston-rod assembly into the cartridge, inserting a rod guide into the cartridge, coupling a damper tube to the cartridge, supplying a gas into the damper tube via a first end of the damper tube, transferring the floating piston, the piston-rod assembly, the rod guide, and the oil from the cartridge to the damper tube through the first end of the damper tube, and securing the rod guide to the damper tube.

Abstract: A method of forming a dirt shield on a shock absorber includes positioning a mold over a portion of the shock absorber, heat shrinking a sleeve onto the mold, and removing the mold from the portion of the shock absorber such that the sleeve after heat shrinking remains on the shock absorber and forms the dirt shield. The shock absorber includes a piston rod, a mount rigidly attached to the piston rod, and a bushing secured to the mount. Prior to heat shrinking the sleeve, the sleeve slides over the bushing, and after heat shrinking the sleeve the bushing has an outer dimension greater than an inner dimension of the dirt shield. Also, a plurality of sleeves having the same inner dimension is used to form a plurality of dirt shields having different inner dimensions.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shock absorber includes inserting a floating piston into a tube, disposing oil into the tube, and inserting a piston-rod assembly into the tube. The piston-rod assembly has a piston coupled to a rod. The method includes inserting a rod guide assembly into the tube. The rod guide assembly includes a sintered metal rod guide having a seat and a seal disposed in the seat. The rod extends through the seal. The method also includes deforming a wall of the tube into engagement with the sintered metal rod guide to provide a piston-cylinder assembly and inhibit axial movement of the rod guide assembly relative to the tube. The method further includes pressurizing the piston-cylinder assembly and forming a flange portion of the tube over an upper surface of the sintered metal rod guide.

Abstract: A rod guide assembly for a shock absorber includes a sintered metal rod guide and a seal. The sintered metal rod guide has a seat. The seal is disposed in the seat and secured to the sintered metal rod guide with a plurality of stake holds.

Abstract: A method for implementing vehicle platooning includes: linking, by a handoff control module, a plurality of vehicles to form a platoon; selectively assigning, by the handoff control module, a first vehicle of the plurality of vehicles as a lead vehicle and remaining ones of the plurality of vehicles as lag vehicles, wherein at least one driving function of the lag vehicles is controlled in accordance with the lead vehicle; determining, by the handoff control module, a first lead vehicle interval for the first vehicle as the lead vehicle; and in response to the first lead vehicle interval expiring, selectively assigning, by the handoff control module, the first vehicle as a lag vehicle and a second vehicle of the plurality of vehicles as the lead vehicle for a second lead vehicle interval.

Abstract: A system includes a first hitch provided on a first vehicle and configured to connect to a second hitch provided on a second vehicle. The system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that are executable by the processor. The instructions include determining whether the first hitch is connected to the second hitch. The instructions include performing a charging control operation based on the determination of whether the first hitch is connected to the second hitch.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a first end fitting connected to a first telescoping member, a second end fitting connected to a second telescoping member, the first and second telescoping members being telescopically mounted relative to each other. An elastomeric spring/damper is disposed between the first telescoping member and the second telescoping member.