Abstract: A bicycle shock absorber and methods for differentiating between rider-induced forces and terrain-induced forces includes a first fluid chamber having fluid contained therein, a piston for compressing the fluid within the fluid chamber, a second fluid chamber coupled to the first fluid chamber by a fluid communication hose, and an inertial valve disposed within the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve opens in response to terrain-induced forces and provides communication of fluid compressed by the piston from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve does not open in response to rider-induced forces.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper for providing a variable damping rate. The vehicle suspension damper comprises a first damping mechanism having a variable first threshold pressure, a second damping mechanism having a second threshold pressure, and a compressible chamber in communication with a damping fluid chamber, wherein the second damping mechanism is responsive to a compression of said compressible chamber.

Abstract: Vibration damper with a damping medium-filled cylinder, in which a piston rod is installed with freedom of axial movement, and a pressure container, which is connected to the vibration damper by an adapter piece. The adapter piece comprises a connecting part, which is connected to the pressure container, and an upper part, which is connected permanently to the vibration damper. A filling channel inside the adapter piece is open at both ends when the pressure container is full, and a filling channel on the vibration damper side, which is connected to the filling channel of the adapter piece, has a closing element.

Abstract: A damper includes a piston with an orifice communicating in an axial direction and dividing a cylinder into two portions in the axial direction, and provides a braking force by resistance of a viscous fluid passing through the orifice when the piston moves inside the cylinder. The piston includes an inner member and an outer member movable in the inner member in the axial direction, which are loosely fitted with a gap for passing the viscous fluid. The inner and outer members are elastically urged with a spring in a direction wherein the inner and outer members are spaced. As the inner member moves to the outer member faster, the gap becomes narrower.

Abstract: A suspension damper includes a housing bounding a main chamber. A hydraulic fluid is disposed within the main chamber. A piston rod is selectively movable between an advanced position wherein a portion of the piston rod is advanced into the main chamber and a retracted position wherein the portion of the piston rod is retracted from the main chamber, wherein as the piston rod is moved a fluid pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the main chamber progressively increases and a portion of the hydraulic fluid passes through a passage within the housing. A control valve is at least partially disposed within the main chamber, the control valve being moved by the fluid pressure of the hydraulic fluid so as to progressively restrict the flow of the hydraulic fluid through the passage as the fluid pressure of the hydraulic fluid within the main chamber progressively increases.

Abstract: A bicycle shock absorber and methods for differentiating between rider-induced forces and terrain-induced forces includes a first fluid chamber having fluid contained therein, a piston for compressing the fluid within the fluid chamber, a second fluid chamber coupled to the first fluid chamber by a fluid communication hose, and an inertial valve disposed within the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve opens in response to terrain-induced forces and provides communication of fluid compressed by the piston from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve does not open in response to rider-induced forces and prevents communication of the fluid compressed by the piston from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a rebound valve assembly which performs the flexing disc function normally required for allowing the passage of fluid from one side of a piston assembly to the opposite side during the stroke of the shock absorber. The rebound valve assembly also incorporates a blow off function which increases the fluid flow through the piston when the fluid pressure being exerted upon the rebound valve assembly exceeds a specified level. The blow off feature utilizes a coil spring to protect both the shock absorber as well as the suspension system into which the shock absorber is assembled.

Abstract: A frequency-dependent damper incorporates a compensated piston assembly to reduce the amount of static push-out force. The piston rod is a hollow rod with a compensator being disposed within the hollow portion of the piston rod. The piston rod is a hollow rod with a compensator being disposed within the hollow portion of the piston rod. The compensator is attached to the pressure tube of the damper such that the compensator slides within the piston rod during stroking of the shock absorber. The compensated piston assembly reduces the difference in cross-sectional area between the upper and lower surfaces of the piston.

Abstract: A gas shock absorber has a pressure tube which defines a working chamber. A piston divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. A flow path extends through the piston to provide fluid communication between the upper and lower working chambers. A valve body is attached to the pressure tube. The valve body defines a flow path between the working chamber and a fluid chamber. The fluid chamber is in communication with either the upper working chamber or the lower working chamber. The fluid chamber can be defined within the pressure tube, between the pressure tube and a chamber tube or it can be defined by an air spring assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a front fork damper installed in a bicycle front fork formed of a fork pipe, a bottom case coupled and axially movable relative to the bottom case, and a hydraulic fluid filled in between the bottom case and the fork pipe. The front fork damper is joined to the bottom end of the fork pipe to buffer movement of the bottom case relative to the fork pipe in such a manner that the hydraulic fluid passes upwards through the front fork damper rapidly at a high flow rate, and passes downwards through the front fork damper slowly at a low flow rate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for adjusting the pressure in the chambers of a hydraulic jack comprising a hollow valve seat extending substantially longitudinally between two end sections, the body of the valve seat being connected to a source of pressurised fluid, each of the end sections of the valve seat being linked to a chamber of the hydraulic jack and adapted to receive a valve allowing to control the refilling with hydraulic fluid of said chamber of the jack, characterised in that a valve return spring is placed inside said valve seat and in that each of the ends of said valve return spring is attached to one of said valves.

Abstract: A bicycle shock absorber for differentiating between rider-induced forces and terrain-induced forces includes a first fluid chamber having fluid contained therein, a piston for compressing the fluid within the fluid chamber, a second fluid chamber coupled to the first fluid chamber by a fluid communication hose, and an inertial valve disposed within the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve opens in response to terrain-induced forces and provides communication of fluid compressed by the piston from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber. The inertial valve does not open in response to rider-induced forces and prevents communication of the fluid compressed by the piston from the first fluid chamber to the second fluid chamber.

Abstract: A suspension damper includes a housing bounding a main chamber. A piston rod is slideably disposed within the main chamber of the housing. A main piston is mounted on the first end of the piston rod within the main chamber of the housing so as to slideably engage against the housing in sealed engagement, the main piston having a first side and an opposing second side with a compression port extending therebetween. A control valve assembly is disposed within the main chamber and bounds a sealed valve compartment. The control valve assembly is movable between a first position wherein the valve compartment is compressed to a first volume and a second position wherein the valve compartment is expanded to an enlarged second volume, the control valve assembly being movable under pressure so as to provide variable compression damping properties.

Abstract: A blow-off valve for a hydraulic dashpot comprising a fluid charged cylinder (1) and a piston (3) that travels back and forth therein on the end of a piston rod. The piston partitions the cylinder into two compartments (6 & 7) and is provided with breaches (4) and shock-absorbing valves. The piston rod (2) or an extension (8) thereof is hollow and accommodates operating components (13). The object is a valve that can be accommodated along with the hydraulic lines that serve it outside the piston rod or an extension thereof. The outer surface of the piston rod is accordingly provided with at least one axial inwardly undulating groove (14) at least as long as the piston, including its fastenings and operating components, is high. Alternatively, the bore that extends through the piston rod or its extension and its fastenings and operating components is provided with a similar radially outward groove that can be closed off at the compression end by a spring-loaded valve.

Abstract: A piston rod is guided in an axially movable manner within a cylinder filled with a damping medium, and a piston is arranged on the piston rod, which piston divides the cylinder into a working space on the piston-rod side and a working space remote from the piston rod. The two working spaces are connected to each other by at least one flow passage which is activated as a function of the axial position of a valve body, which is prestressed in the opening direction by a spring, the valve body being movable onto a valve seat surface into the closed position as a function of dynamic pressure and at least reducing the passage cross section of the at least one flow passage. The piston has a valve seat surface on which the valve body comes to bear with a conical closing surface in the maximally closed position.

Abstract: A suspension system that restricts side-to-side airflow between air springs on opposite sides of a vehicle or trailer. In one embodiment, active airflow discs in suspension ports of a valve operate in two modes; restrictive and non-restrictive. A disc attains a non-restrictive mode when air is exhausted from an air spring. A disc attains a restrictive mode when air is injected into the suspension port from the valve toward an air spring. Airflow discs in opposing suspension ports both attain a non-restrictive state to rapidly dump air from the springs and lower vehicle ride height. In another embodiment, a pneumatic circuit includes one-way check valves, in fluid communication with opposing air springs, aligned to restrict airflow between the opposing springs under uneven loading conditions. A pair of electronic solenoids acts in concert with the check valves to selectively inflate or deflate the air springs.

Abstract: A damper includes a piston that carries a relatively compact control valve for controlling fluid flow through the piston. The control valve provides a variable amount of damping by regulating damper fluid flow between the extension chamber and the compression chamber of the damper during extension and compression strokes. Pressure regulation across the piston is controlled through a flow path as determined by the control valve. The damping force of the damper varies depending upon the loading conditions of the vehicle. The control valve is air pressure actuated to adjust the damping force and control the flow of fluid in the flow path. The piston and rod assembly include unique features such as a seal plate design, and spring retainer that aid in the efficient and reliable assembly in a commercial production setting.

Abstract: A front suspension device includes an inner tube fixedly connected to the crown portion of the front fork and movably inserted in an outer tube. A valve member is received in the inner tube and connected to a sleeve which extends from the inner tube and an adjusting member is connected to the sleeve and the outer tube. An end cap is fixed to the first end of the inner tube and connected to a hollow tube which is mounted by a ring member engaged with an inner periphery of the inner tube. A spring is mounted to the hollow tube. A core is movably received in the hollow tube and has a first end connected to an adjusting switch. A head is connected to the second end of the core and movably seals paths defined through the ring member. The spring is not compressed when the paths are sealed by the head. When a large pressure is applied to the head, the ring member is moved upward to compress the spring to re-activate the suspension device.

Abstract: A fluid damper, in particular for moving furniture parts, includes a cylinder and a piston linearly displaceable within the cylinder. The piston has at least one opening for a damping fluid provided in the cylinder, and the fluid damper further includes at least one movable ring disk in the area of the opening(s). The at least one ring disk (8, 9, 10, 11) is arranged such that it at least partially covers the opening(s) (15) of the piston (3) during the damping stroke of the piston (3).

Abstract: A device for attenuating the amplitudes of impacts, especially against the wheel of a vehicle. At least one piston is accommodated in a housing and divides it into two attenuating spaces. The piston is attached to a piston rod and operates in conjunction with a component that handles smaller amplitudes. This component is either a diaphragm or a displaceable rigid disk that divides a space and communicates hydraulically with either the upper or with the lower attenuating space.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly includes a damping adjustment mechanism that can easily be incorporated into a twin cylinder design. The shock absorber includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder mounted within the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder is spaced apart from the outer cylinder to define a gap. A piston is mounted within a fluid filled chamber formed within the inner cylinder to dampen vibrations. Holes are drilled into the wall of the inner cylinder to provide fluid ports that can communicate with the gap to form a bi-directional fluid path as the piston moves back and forth within the chamber to dampen vibrations. To provide variable damping, the outer cylinder includes an eccentric inner diameter to outer diameter profile that allows damping adjustment between high and low damping forces. The damping force is adjusted by rotating the outer cylinder relative to the inner cylinder to vary the size of the gap with respect to the ports.

Abstract: A regulable hydraulic dashpot for motor vehicles and including a cylinder (1) filled with hydraulic fluid and a piston (2) that is attached to the end of a piston rod (7), travels back and forth inside the cylinder, and divides it into two chambers (3 & 4) that communicate through at least one bypass. The bypass's cross-section can be varied in size by a component that is, preferably continuously, controlled by a motor or magnet. To facilitate adjusting the dashpot, the cross-section varying component is a plate-shaped slide (23) provided with one or more breaches (25) and traveling from side to side, preferably in a slot (24), with its flat surface (27) subjected to fluid from each cylinder chamber alternately by way of channels (14, 15, & 16).

Abstract: A gas shock absorber has a pressure tube which defines a working chamber. A piston divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. A series of extension passages extend through the piston and are opened and closed by an extension valve assembly. A series of compression passages extend through the piston and are opened and closed by a compression valve assembly. An open flow path defined by the extension valve assembly extends through the piston between the upper and lower working chambers. A rod guide assembly is located between the pressure tube and a piston rod. The rod guide assembly includes an oil chamber for sealing and lubricating the piston rod.

Abstract: A piston valve assembly for regulating the flow of fluid through a mono-tube fluid vehicle damper is provided. The assembly includes a piston rod and a piston end having opposing first and second surfaces secured to the piston rod by a connector. A first outer annular seat is spaced radially from the piston rod and extends from the first surface. At least one first fluid passageway connects a first opening between the piston rod and the first outer annular seat and the second surface for providing fluid communication therebetween. A first blow-off valve has a hollow cylindrical portion with a first flange extending transversely from an end thereof with the first flange adjacent to the first outer annular seat when the first blow-off valve is in a closed position. The piston rod and connector secure the blow-off valve to the piston end. The first blow-off valve is movable to an open position away from the first surface.

Abstract: A continuously variable single-tube shock absorber operating according to the skyhook principle and having bidirectional control valves comprising a working cylinder, a piston with piston rod which is movable therein, openings cut out in the piston, spring-loaded shock absorber valves, fitted on either side of the piston, in order to shut off the openings until a certain fluid pressure has been reached, exciting chambers fitted on either side of the piston and each bounded by a stationary disc, a piston skirt which can be slid around such a disc, and a spring-loaded shock absorber valve. The exciting chambers are in communication with a bore in which the pressure is controlled by a control mechanism. Bores through which fluid can flow into the exciting chambers are provided in the stationary discs.

Abstract: A speed controlling hydraulic dampener comprises a tubular housing defining a closed cylindrical chamber for containing a hydraulic fluid. The chamber containing two separate pistons and piston rods that extend through sealed openings in the ends of the housing. The second piston is spring-biased. First and second orifices are provided in the wall of the housing which are connected by a tubular passageway. A special seal arrangement cooperates with the first piston rod and with the wall of the housing defining the cylindrical chamber. This seal includes a third orifice extending longitudinally therethrough and cooperating with this orifice is a flow-controlling needle valve that can be used to adjust the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid from a first portion of the chamber through the first orifice, the tubular passageway and the second orifice to a zone between the first and second pistons.

Abstract: A piston-type rail retarder includes a shock absorber having a cylinder defining a cavity between a pair of end walls. A piston rod extends axially through one of the end walls, and a piston is mounted on the piston rod between the end walls so as to divide the cavity into first and second working chambers containing a damping fluid. A first array of passages extends through the piston and communicates between the first and second chambers, and a sprung valve assembly is provided for obturating the first array of passages in the event of the velocity of the piston rod relative to the cylinder exceeding a predetermined value. The first valve mechanism includes a valve plate and a spring for biasing the valve plate into an open position. An array of restricted orifices extend through the valve plate and communicate directly with the corresponding array of first passages when the valve plate is closed.

Abstract: The invention relates to adjustable stop-wagon retarders with locking function for wagons at high speed and disposal methods thereof, which are suitable for railway marshaling yards or rail lines where it is required to prevent wagons from running away, which are hydraulic equipment of no external energy source to automatically regulate wagon's speed and disposal methods of such equipment. The stop-wagon retarder is characterized in that a uni-directional return unit comprising a sealing valve plate and adjustable throttle valve, and a locking control valve composing of switch valve and positioning unit are mounted in the piston assembly, which make the returning speed and the locking speed for wagon at high speed adjustable, thus the aim of setting the retarder with different control levels and thresholds according to the wagon speed is realized.