Abstract: A damper assembly for a suspension system of an associated vehicle. The damper assembly comprises a cylindrical tube extending along an axis and defining a chamber. A piston is located in the chamber and is moveable along the axis in a compression direction and a rebound direction. The piston includes a piston rod extending from a first end to a piston head. A rebound stop is located on the piston rod between the first end and the piston head. A hydraulic rebound stop (“HRS”) piston is located in a HRS chamber. A rebound spring biasing the HRS piston towards the adaptor plate in the HRS chamber. The piston rod is slideably received within the HRS piston in the rebound direction until the rebound stop contacts the rebound head and causes the rebound spring to compress.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a suspension system of an associated vehicle. The damper assembly comprises a cylindrical tube extending along an axis and defining a chamber. A piston is located in the chamber and is moveable along the axis in a compression direction and a rebound direction. The piston includes a piston rod extending from a first end to a piston head. A rebound stop is located on the piston rod between the first end and the piston head. A hydraulic rebound stop (“HRS”) piston is located in a HRS chamber. A rebound spring biasing the HRS piston towards the adaptor plate in the HRS chamber. The piston rod is slideably received within the HRS piston in the rebound direction until the rebound stop contacts the rebound head and causes the rebound spring to compress.

Abstract: A damper assembly comprises a main tube defining a fluid chamber. The main tube includes a first section, a second section, and an intermediate portion. A sleeve is disposed about the main tube. An external tube is disposed about the main tube and the sleeve. The external tube defines a compensation chamber between the sleeve and the external tube. A main piston divides the fluid chamber into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber. A piston rod couples to the main piston for moving the main piston between a compression stroke and a rebound stroke. The sleeve is in an abutment relationship with the second section of the main tube, radially spaced apart from the first section of the main tube, defining a compartment extending between the sleeve and the first section of the main tube. A housing for the damper assembly is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A magneto rheological damper includes a housing extending between a first opened end and a second opened end and defining a fluid chamber extending therebetween. An end cap is located at the first opened end and coupled to the housing. A piston is disposed in the fluid chamber dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod extends along the center axis and attaches to the piston for movement with the piston between a compression and a rebound stroke. A magnetic field generator is located in the compression chamber and in an abutment relationship with the end cap. An extension portion protrudes radially outwardly from the housing and defining a compensation chamber and a channel. The channel is in fluid communication with the compression chamber and the compensation chamber for allowing the working fluid to flow from the compression chamber to the compensation chamber.

Abstract: A rotary damper assembly comprises a housing extending along a center axis. The housing includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion defines a fluid chamber. The upper portion defines a compartment in communication with the fluid chamber. The magnetic field generator includes a magnetic core located between the upper portion and the lower portion. The magnetic core extends along the center axis between the upper portion and the lower portion. At least one coil extends about the magnetic core. A shaft extends along the center axis through the upper portion and the magnetic core and into the fluid chamber to facilitate magnetorheological fluid flow from the compartment to the fluid chamber. The magnetic field generator includes an insert, containing a permanent magnetic material, for generating a permanent magnetic field to change viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid.

Abstract: A bracket comprises a body extending along a center axis between a first end and a second end. The body defines a first groove and a second groove. The first groove, located at the first end and flaring radially outwardly, presents a first slanted surface. The second groove, located at the second end and flaring radially outwardly, presents a second slanted surface. A pair of coupling members including a first and a second coupling member are respectively located in the first and second grooves for engagement with a housing of a hydraulic damper assembly. The first end includes at least one first deformation for retaining the first coupling member. The second end includes at least one second deformation for retaining the second coupling member. A hydraulic damper assembly including the bracket and a method of joining the bracket and the hydraulic damper assembly are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A damper assembly comprises a main tube defining a fluid chamber. The main tube includes a first section, a second section, and an intermediate portion. A sleeve is disposed about the main tube. An external tube is disposed about the main tube and the sleeve. The external tube defines a compensation chamber between the sleeve and the external tube. A main piston divides the fluid chamber into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber. A piston rod couples to the main piston for moving the main piston between a compression stroke and a rebound stroke. The sleeve is in an abutment relationship with the second section of the main tube, radially spaced apart from the first section of the main tube, defining a compartment extending between the sleeve and the first section of the main tube. A housing for the damper assembly is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A rotary damper assembly comprises a housing extending along a center axis. The housing includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion defines a fluid chamber. The upper portion defines a compartment in communication with the fluid chamber. The magnetic field generator includes a magnetic core located between the upper portion and the lower portion. The magnetic core extends along the center axis between the upper portion and the lower portion. At least one coil extends about the magnetic core. A shaft extends along the center axis through the upper portion and the magnetic core and into the fluid chamber to facilitate magnetorheological fluid flow from the compartment to the fluid chamber. The magnetic field generator includes an insert, containing a permanent magnetic material, for generating a permanent magnetic field to change viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid.

Abstract: A bracket comprises a body extending along a center axis between a first end and a second end. The body defines a first groove and a second groove. The first groove, located at the first end and flaring radially outwardly, presents a first slanted surface. The second groove, located at the second end and flaring radially outwardly, presents a second slanted surface. A pair of coupling members including a first and a second coupling member are respectively located in the first and second grooves for engagement with a housing of a hydraulic damper assembly. The first end includes at least one first deformation for retaining the first coupling member. The second end includes at least one second deformation for retaining the second coupling member. A hydraulic damper assembly including the bracket and a method of joining the bracket and the hydraulic damper assembly are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A magneto rheological damper includes a housing extending between a first opened end and a second opened end and defining a fluid chamber extending therebetween. An end cap is located at the first opened end and coupled to the housing. A piston is disposed in the fluid chamber dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod extends along the center axis and attaches to the piston for movement with the piston between a compression and a rebound stroke. A magnetic field generator is located in the compression chamber and in an abutment relationship with the end cap. An extension portion protrudes radially outwardly from the housing and defining a compensation chamber and a channel. The channel is in fluid communication with the compression chamber and the compensation chamber for allowing the working fluid to flow from the compression chamber to the compensation chamber.

Abstract: A gas cup (36) is slidably disposed in the main chamber (34) of a housing (20) and a piston (50) is disposed spaced apart from the gas cup (36). The gas cup (36) includes a volume reducing device (110) for forcing a lubricant from a closed lubricant chamber (112) through a lubricant passage (108) to a lubricant reservoir (106) in response to a sliding movement of the piston (50). A flexible diaphragm (116) flexes into the closed lubricant chamber (112) in response to the sliding movement of the piston (50). A seal cap (118) sandwiches the flexible diaphragm (116) between the seal cap (118) and an annular projection (114) and the seal cap (118) includes a plurality of seal ports (120) for forcing the lubricant to flow from the closed lubricant chamber (112) through the lubricant passage (108) to the lubricant reservoir (106). The seal cap (118) includes a skirt (122) retained on the annular projection (114).

Abstract: The present invention provides a damping device and a method for assembling the damping device. The damping device includes an outer tube and an inner tube disposed concentrically along a center axis defining a chamber, with a diaphragm located between the inner tube and outer tube dividing the chamber. A gas charge seal is secured over the chamber between the outer tube and inner tube. An inner clamp is in a sealing engagement with the inner tube and holds the diaphragm in place. A waist defines a sealing surface adjacent to outer tube. The diaphragm extends from under the inner clamp and through a “U” shaped turn back towards the waist. An upper clamp axially aligns with the waist and holds the diaphragm into the waist of the outer tube, sealing the diaphragm to the outer tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a damping device and a method for assembling the damping device. The damping device includes an outer tube and an inner tube disposed concentrically along a center axis defining a chamber, with a diaphragm located between the inner tube and outer tube dividing the chamber. A gas charge seal is secured over the chamber between the outer tube and inner tube. An inner clamp is in a sealing engagement with the inner tube and holds the diaphragm in place. A waist defines a sealing surface adjacent to outer tube. The diaphragm extends from under the inner clamp and through a “U” shaped turn back towards the waist. An upper clamp axially aligns with the waist and holds the diaphragm into the waist of the outer tube, sealing the diaphragm to the outer tube.

Abstract: A gas cup (36) is slidably disposed in the main chamber (34) of a housing (20) and a piston (50) is disposed spaced apart from the gas cup (36). The gas cup (36) includes a volume reducing device (110) for forcing a lubricant from a closed lubricant chamber (112) through a lubricant passage (108) to a lubricant reservoir (106) in response to a sliding movement of the piston (50). A flexible diaphragm (116) flexes into the closed lubricant chamber (112) in response to the sliding movement of the piston (50). A seal cap (118) sandwiches the flexible diaphragm (116) between the seal cap (118) and an annular projection (114) and the seal cap (118) includes a plurality of seal ports (120) for forcing the lubricant to flow from the closed lubricant chamber (112) through the lubricant passage (108) to the lubricant reservoir (106). The seal cap (118) includes a skirt (122) retained on the annular projection (114).

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydraulic damper including a valve housing (78) having a valve housing bore (88) disposed in abutting relationship with a bypass insert (68) of a base valve assembly (56) for isolating a bypass passage (70) from a reservoir (36). The valve housing (78) defines a valve housing orifice (128) extending therethrough to define an orifice plane (P). A valve (106) is rotatably disposed within the valve housing bore (88) and defines at least one valve orifice (130) extending therethrough along the plane (P). The valve (106) is rotatable between a closed position and an open position to align the valve orifice (130) and the valve housing orifice (128). A working fluid flows serially through the bypass passage (70), the valve orifice (130), and the open valve housing orifice (128).

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydraulic damper including a valve housing (78) having a valve housing bore (88) disposed in abutting relationship with a bypass insert (68) of a base valve assembly (56) for isolating a bypass passage (70) from a reservoir (36). The valve housing (78) defines a valve housing orifice (128) extending therethrough to define an orifice plane (P). A valve (106) is rotatably disposed within the valve housing bore (88) and defines at least one valve orifice (130) extending therethrough along the plane (P). The valve (106) is rotatable between a closed position and an open position to align the valve orifice (130) and the valve housing orifice (128). A working fluid flows serially through the bypass passage (70), the valve orifice (130), and the open valve housing orifice (128).

Abstract: A magnetorheological (MR) piston assembly (10) includes an MR piston (12) and a rod (14). The MR piston (12) includes a central longitudinal axis (16), first and second longitudinal ends (18 and 20), an MR passageway (22), a main electric coil (24), and a valve (26). The MR passageway (22) extends from the first longitudinal end (18) to the second longitudinal end (20). The main electric coil (24) is disposed to magnetically energize the MR passageway (22). The valve (26) is operatively connected to the MR passageway (22). The valve (26) has a first state when electrically activated which is less restrictive of the MR passageway (22) and has a second state when not electrically activated which is more restrictive of the MR passageway (22). The rod (14) is attached to the MR piston (12). A more detailed MR piston (12) and an MR damper system (60) are also described.

Abstract: A magnetorheological (MR) piston includes an MR piston core, an MR piston end plate, a shim disc, and a flexible orifice disc. The end plate covers an end of the core to define a chamber and has a through passageway aligned with an MR-piston-core bypass passageway at the chamber. The shim disc and the orifice disc are positioned in the chamber. The orifice disc includes an orifice aligned with the bypass passageway at the chamber and includes an additional orifice. Under fluid pressure in a first direction the orifice disc lies substantially flat against one of the end and the MR piston end plate. Under fluid pressure in an opposite second direction the orifice disc is deflected by the presence of the shim disc to lift the additional orifice from the one of the end and the MR piston end plate.

Abstract: A dual seal rod guide assembly with low friction disc for use in a magneto-rheological (MR) strut is described. The dual seals separate the functions of abrasion resistance and temperature performance, with the primary seal formed of a material resistant to high temperatures and the buffer seal formed of a material resistant to the ferroelectric microparticles in the MR fluid. The porous rod guide, in conjunction with the buffer seal, allow only the MR carrier fluid to reach the bearing and primary seal. The MR carrier fluid provides internal lubrication of the bearing and primary seal. The retainer holds the assembly together and engages the rod guide flexible assembly to the housing with a low-friction disc therebetween. The disc reduces surface friction during radial movement of the rod guide.

Abstract: A magnetorheological (MR) piston assembly (10) includes an MR piston (12) and a rod (14). The MR piston (12) includes a central longitudinal axis (16), first and second longitudinal ends (18 and 20), an MR passageway (22), a main electric coil (24), and a valve (26). The MR passageway (22) extends from the first longitudinal end (18) to the second longitudinal end (20). The main electric coil (24) is disposed to magnetically energize the MR passageway (22). The valve (26) is operatively connected to the MR passageway (22). The valve (26) has a first state when electrically activated which is less restrictive of the MR passageway (22) and has a second state when not electrically activated which is more restrictive of the MR passageway (22). The rod (14) is attached to the MR piston (12). A more detailed MR piston (12) and an MR damper system (60) are also described.