Abstract: A hydraulic damper assembly including a housing that extends about and along an axis and defines an interior wall and a chamber for holding a fluid. A piston assembly is disposed in the chamber and axially moveable therein. The piston assembly includes a core. A wear band is disposed about the core and has an inside surface and an outside surface. The inside surface of the wear band defines at least one groove in fluid communication with the chamber for allowing the fluid to bias the wear band toward the interior wall of the housing during the passage of the fluid though the at least one groove during movement of the piston assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper assembly including a housing that extends about and along an axis and defines an interior wall and a chamber for holding a fluid. A piston assembly is disposed in the chamber and axially moveable therein. The piston assembly includes a core. A wear band is disposed about the core and has an inside surface and an outside surface. The inside surface of the wear band defines at least one groove in fluid communication with the chamber for allowing the fluid to bias the wear band toward the interior wall of the housing during the passage of the fluid though the at least one groove during movement of the piston assembly.

Abstract: A magneto-rheological damping assembly including a piston (28) defining a core (38). A pair of spaced electromagnets (46) are disposed about the core (38) and are connected to a controller (48) for selectively generating a magnetic flux. A pair of permanent magnets (52) are disposed about the electromagnets (46) and a pole segment (54;154;56;156) is disposed therebetween. A main gap (74) extends through the piston (28) through which magneto-rheological fluid (26) is conveyed. Flux generated by the magnets controls the viscosity of the fluid in the main gap (74) to control the damping force of the assembly. The controller (48) defines an off operating state for cancelling the flux from the permanent magnets (52) across the main gap (74).

Abstract: A magneto-rheological damping assembly including a piston (28) defining a core (38). A pair of spaced electromagnets (46) are disposed about the core (38) and are connected to a controller (48) for selectively generating a magnetic flux. A pair of permanent magnets (52) are disposed about the electromagnets (46) and a pole segment (54;154;56;156) is disposed therebetween. A main gap (74) extends through the piston (28) through which magneto-rheological fluid (26) is conveyed. Flux generated by the magnets controls the viscosity of the fluid in the main gap (74) to control the damping force of the assembly. The controller (48) defines an off operating state for cancelling the flux from the permanent magnets (52) across the main gap (74).