Abstract: A magnetorheological piston includes a body having a substantially magnetically energizable passageway and a substantially magnetically non-energizable passageway. The substantially magnetically non-energizable passageway has a valveless passageway throat and has a flow cross-sectional area which has a minimum at the passageway throat and which is larger away from the passageway throat. A magnetorheological damper includes a cylinder and the above-described magnetorheological piston, wherein the piston is positioned in, and slideably engages, the cylinder.

Abstract: A rebound cut-off assembly for a motor vehicle suspension component comprises a rebound cut-off piston and a disc. The rebound cut-off piston is disposed around a piston rod of the suspension component. The disc is disposed around the piston rod and proximate the rebound cut-off piston. The disc has an outside diameter less than an inside diameter of a flask of the suspension component to create a fluid path therebetween.

Abstract: An air lift shock absorber for an automotive suspension system includes a damping piston slidable within a housing, a piston rod extending from the housing to a top mount assembly including a rigid top mount housing and a force absorbing member within the housing for transferring damping forces from the piston to the top mount housing. A jounce bumper absorbs impact forces from the housing. An air lift mechanism includes an inflatable sleeve and a pressure retainer connecting the inflatable sleeve with a flexible force receiving member that is bonded to the pressure retainer and to the top mount housing. The flexible force receiving member allows the pressure retainer to flex relative to the top mount during normal operation of the suspension system and also provides a force transmitting path for transferring forces from the air lift mechanism and the jounce bumper to the top mount housing independent of the resilient force absorbing member within the top mount housing that transfers damping forces.

Abstract: A compact hydraulic mount is provided for mounting a vehicle engine, transmission or the like to a vehicle frame. The mount includes a substantially cylindrical elastomeric hollow body defining a primary or core hydraulic chamber. An approximately 270.degree. portion of the cylindrical outer periphery of the hollow body is surrounded and supported by a retainer cylinder. The hollow body additionally includes an integral secondary hydraulic chamber molded within the elastomeric wall. A portion of the retainer is inwardly, radially offset and separates the primary chamber from the secondary or peripheral chamber. The outside wall of the elastomeric body at the secondary chamber forms a resilient diaphragm. An orifice track is provided within the body to allow damping fluid communication between the primary and secondary hydraulic chambers. This flow of damping fluid between the chambers provides the damping action of the mount.

Abstract: A hydraulic engine mounting system for a vehicle engine includes a pair of engine mount assemblies having elastomeric bodies including two longitudinally aligned integral engine mounts. The mounts are in fluid communication with one another via an integral orifice track molded as a groove at the interface between the elastomeric body and a mating base plate. The engine mount assembly is mounted on a vehicle frame such that the common axis of the hydraulic chambers is situated transversely to the torque axis of the engine. During operation, the engine pitches about this torque axis. The pitching action of the engine causes one end mount to compress forcing hydraulic fluid along the orifice track into the other mount. The other mount simultaneously expands and receives this excess fluid. Advantageously, the flow of fluid along the orifice track produces a damping effect of the motion and vibration to provide isolation from the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount has a pair of mounting members, an elastomeric body that connects the mounting members, an elastomeric diaphragm that is connected to one of the members and cooperates with the body to define a closed cavity, and a partition that divides the cavity into a chamber enclosed on one side by the partition and the elastomeric body and another chamber that is enclosed on one side by the partition and the diaphragm. A liquid fills the chambers and a damping orifice connects the chamber to provide damping by throttling liquid flow therethrough. The partition comprises a rigid singular imperforate body that is mounted at a cylindrical surface thereof for unrestrained reciprocal movement within prescribed limits in an interior cylindrical wall of one of the mounting members thereby to effect limited cyclic volume change in the chambers so that the liquid is not then forced through the damping orifice.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount is construded as a pair of mounting members, an elastomeric body that connects these members, an elastomeric diaphragm that is connected to one of the members and cooperates with the elastomeric body to define a closed cavity, and a partition that divides the cavity into a chamber enclosed by one side of the partition and the elastomeric body and another chamber enclosed by the other side of the partition and the diaphragm. A cylindrical sleeve interconnects the elastomeric body and one of the mounting members and sealingly peripherally clamps the diaphragm to the one mounting member independent of the partition which is mounted for unrestrained reciprocal movement and solely separates the chambers. A liquid fills the chambers and a damping orifice connects the chambers to provide damping. The damping orifice is provided by forming the partition with a spiral groove in an annular surface thereof that cooperates with an interior wall on the one mounting member to define the damping orifice.