Abstract: A piston having a piston rod connected thereto is slidably fitted in a cylinder in which a hydraulic fluid is sealably contained. Extension-stroke and compression-stroke pilot type damping force control mechanisms are provided in the piston. Check valves are provided at inlet openings of back-pressure chambers (pilot chambers). Relief valves provided in the pilot chambers include orifice passages. When the direction of stroke of the piston rod is reversed, the pressures in the back-pressure chambers are maintained due to the check valves, and the back-pressure chambers are pressurized to a satisfactory level through the orifice passages.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to shock absorbers with damping adjusters which vary the damping provided during compression and rebound strokes. The shock absorber includes a cylinder within which a piston is movably mounted for movement within the cylinder. Bypass openings open into the cylinder interior at axially spaced-apart positions. The bypass openings are coupled by a bypass channel. A pressurized gas container is fluidly coupled to the cylinder interior with a movable barrier separating the pressurized gas container and the cylinder interior. Compression and rebound damping adjusters may be used.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber for motor vehicles produces additional damping, starting at a certain immersion depth of the piston rod. This takes place by an auxiliary cylinder positioned axially inside the cylinder which, when the piston rod is immersed, is closed by an auxiliary piston that moves at the same time. The associated pressure increase inside the hydraulic shock absorber causes a correspondingly designed valve to open inside the auxiliary cylinder. The fluid exchange that causes damping takes place between two working chambers of the cylinder through a connection of the two working chambers that runs through the auxiliary piston and reduces their opening cross section to the working chamber associated with the auxiliary piston by pushing the auxiliary piston into the auxiliary cylinder.

Abstract: A hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder (10) for use on a vehicle (100) to improve the handling of the vehicle in a turn or curve. The cylinder repositions the rear wheel (108) of the vehicle in response to a change in the speed of the vehicle. When the vehicle enters a turn and decelerates, the piston of the cylinder moves to the extended position. When the vehicle exits the turn and accelerates, the piston of the cylinder moves to the compressed position.

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 load limiting device is used with a vehicle seat belt during a crash to allow a limited and controlled forward motion of a vehicle occupant after the retractor has locked. The load limiting device decreases the forces exerted by the seat belt on the vehicle occupant's torso. The load limiting device has a container which defines a flow path for a fluid, with a restriction in the flow path. An actuator is located within the container and is movable within the container under the action of a load transmitted to the seat belt webbing from the vehicle occupant under extreme acceleration conditions, to move the fluid through the restriction in the flow path to dissipate a predetermined portion of the load on the webbing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an industrial shock absorber requiring very few component parts, which can be cost-effectively produced while expensive milling operations are avoided, wherein different damping curves can be realized relatively simply. The shock absorber has good temperature stability in the cold and warm states, wherein the largest possible piston diameter can be achieved because of the special construction in accordance with the invention, which further contributes to stability and safety.

Abstract: A hydraulic strut having a damping rate that is variable includes a bypass valve which is operated to open and close by a gas spring supported within the piston of the strut. A main orifice plate divides an oil-filled cavity within the strut into first and second oil chambers, the orifice plate defining a primary orifice for passage of oil between the chambers. The gas spring includes an inner cylinder member affixed to the end wall of the piston, and a diaphragm slidably mounted within the cylinder member, the cylinder member and diaphragm defining a pressurized gas-filled cavity. The diaphragm supports a valve pin which is slidable within a passage in a tubular valve body, the valve body being fixed with respect to the piston, and the passage extending between the first and second oil chambers. Secondary orifices in the valve body communicate with oil in the first oil chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder control unit for gait control of a prosthetic limb which features two cylindrical tubes that are eccentric with respect to each other. The inner tube houses hydraulic fluid and the gap between the two tubes serves as a displacement chamber as a piston, mounted on a piston rod, moves through the fluid in the inner tube. When the outer tube is rotated about the inner tube, the gap between the tubes changes which either increases or decreases the flow allowed between the tubes. This changes the resistance which controls the rate of swing of an artificial limb. The resistance is easily adjustable by a simple rotation of the outer cylindrical tube. A floating sealed piston is additionally provided at the bottom of the inner tube. The sealed piston moves upwards or downwards depending on the balance of forces between the fluid force above the piston and the stored energy force below the sealed piston.

Abstract: A rail car buffer includes a standard capsule body and a high pressure hydraulic buffer spring only in the body. The hydraulic spring has a high compression ratio and is charged with very high pressure gas and hydraulic oil.

Abstract: A rail car buffer has a capsule body and a spring assembly with an elastomer spring and a gas filled hydraulic spring in the body. Expansion of the buffer after collapse is snubbed by the gas filled hydraulic spring to convert energy stored in the elastomer spring to heat.

Abstract: A pressure relief valving system for a rail car cushion device including several preload valves mounted in the cylinder wall of the cushion device each having both spring biasing and hydraulic biasing applied to retain a valve piston against a seat until a preload pressure is reached, and each preload valve capable of transitioning from a closed mode to an open mode at a preset preload pressure.

Abstract: An oleopneumatic shock absorbing device including a hydraulic fluid-filled cylinder (1) combined with a movable assembly moved by outside forces for circulating the hydraulic fluid. The movable assembly consists of a hollow mobile piston (3) on the end of a push rod (2) with an internal longitudinal space (13) forming a reservoir for the hydraulic fluid. When the piston (3) and the push rod (2) are moved, the fluid flows through a variable flow-rate transfer channel (11) providing variable, e.g. gradual shock absorption throughout both the outward stroke and the return stroke.

Abstract: A valving system for a rail car cushion device including several pressure control relief sequence valves (PCRS) mounted in the cylinder wall of the cushion device each having hydraulic biasing applied to retain a valve piston against a seat until a preload pressure is reached, with one or more optional spike control (SC) valves mounted in a cushion device piston head.

Abstract: Snubbers are useful in dampening inertia loads at the end of stroke movement of hydraulic cylinders. The known snubbers have one part attached to a piston rod assembly and another part on the cylinder assembly thereby any misalignment between the piston rod and cylinder assembly will produce inconsistent snubbing action. The subject snubber mechanism of the invention is attached to the cylinder assembly and includes a sleeve position around a stem, the sleeve is moved from a first position to a second operative position by contact with the piston rod assembly. The stem defines a variable rate flow path continuously communicating an actuating chamber with a pressure source as controlled by movement of the sleeve relative to the stem.

Abstract: A railcar shock absorber has neutral position in which the piston is spaced between buff and draft ends of the cylinder. An external spring is mounted to the shock absorber. A slider rod has one end mounted to the coupling to move relative to the frame of the railcar. The spring has retainers on each end, and the slider rod passes through the retainers. One of the retainers is stationary relative to the frame. The other retainer floats relative to the frame and will abut a neutral stop of the frame when the spring is in the maximum length position. An engagement member on the slider rod will further compress the spring if a draft shock occurs from the neutral position. If a buff shock occurs from the neutral position, the engagement member moves away from the floating retainer.

Abstract: An adjustable energy absorption device includes an outer cylinder and a shock tube that is rotatably secured within the outer cylinder. The shock tube includes a series of groups of holes passing from the interior to the exterior surface of the tube. The device is also provided with a piston slidably retained within the shock tube for engaging contact with a body in motion. An accumulator for collecting fluid from the interior of the shock tube is provided within the sealed outer cylinder. A spiral groove is formed on the interior wall of the outer cylinder and extends from adjacent the distal end of the cylinder to the accumulator. The spiral groove forms a corresponding land segment between consecutive turns of the groove so that rotation between the shock tube and the outer cylinder moves each group of holes relative to the groove and land to adjustably vary the orifice area between the shock tube and the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A nonadjustable shock absorber that can accommodate for variations in weight, and propelling force, and to provide a specific deceleration or reaction force. The shock absorber provides dual function metering that combines soft contact dampening with the self compensating ability to decelerate a wide range of weights. The shock absorber includes a low pressure zone, a hydraulic cylinder having a high pressure zone chamber, a piston in said cylinder for movement under a shock load through a predetermined stroke length, a fluid pathway metering control means, having four fluid metering pathways of which the first three fluid metering pathways are approximately linear spaced apart, for controlling high pressure fluid escaping from the high pressure zone chamber into the lower pressure zone, ahead of the piston as the piston moves from an initial position in response to a shock load through a total stroke to a final position, to create five control zones during the compression of the shock absorber.

Abstract: An end-of-car coupler includes a hydro-pneumatic cushioning device. The latter has a ported tube separating the hydraulic cylinder chamber from an outer annular chamber containing gas. Each port is fitted with a valve, the obturating member of each valve being a differential area piston. The valves are all closed until subjected to a certain threshold force by movement of the plunger in the cylinder when all those valves between the plunger and the end of the cylinder chamber open to allow liquid flow between the two chambers.

Abstract: A shock absorber for use with a sliding center sill rail car utilizes an internal gas type spring. The shock absorber has a housing and a cylinder located in the housing that moves with the center sill. An annular outer chamber surrounds the cylinder within the housing. Two pistons are slidably carried in the cylinder for independent movement relative to each other. Each has a shaft that extends in opposite directions. The shafts engage stationary stops mounted stationarily to the frame of the rail car. Ports are located in the side wall of the cylinder for the outflow and inflow of a gas and liquid fluid combination. The ports are symmetrical measured either from the rearward end or the forward end.

Abstract: A device for elastic coupling between two parts, especially the principal transmission box and the fuselage of an aircraft with rotating wings, such as a helicopter, includes first and second inner and outer tubular bodies, and an elastic connection, housed in the annular space existing between the first and second bodies and coupling the first and second bodies in a leaktight fashion. The annular space is separated by the elastic connection into first and second chambers filled with a liquid, the first and second chambers being in communication with the inside of the first body. On the inside of said first body, there is a liquid distributor provided with an elastic damping connection and including two pistons, which are coupled by a piston rod and separated from each other by the distance separating orifices in the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes an extruded reservoir housing and a sleeve with position valving therein. The shock absorber coordinates the position valving and valving in the piston assembly in a manner such that the position of the piston assembly relative to the position valving becomes a factor in determining changes in valving.

Abstract: A shock absorber of the linear deceleration type in which the housing includes a forward reduced diameter threaded portion and a fixed flange at the rear end of the housing. This arrangement combines the advantages of the primary type of shock absorber and the fixed flange type of shock absorber and allows the invention shock absorber to be mounted in a wide variety of work situations with the mounting in each situation providing a positive position of the shock absorber relative to the mounting structure so that the shock absorber may be exchanged without fear of losing the precise positioning of the shock absorber relative to the object to be decelerated and with the mounting in each situation allowing the ready provision of a stop member to accurately position the component being stopped and to assure that the shock absorber will not bottom out internally.

Abstract: A hydraulic cushioning unit includes a high pressure cylinder having a piston therein and a piston rod extended through the rod end of the cylinder. The cylinder is contained within an outer housing. A head casting closes the head ends of the cylinder and housing and an end cap closes the rod ends thereof. The end cap includes a ball stop sleeve protruding interiorly of the cylinder for cooperating with a ball valve port through the cylinder adjacent the rod end thereof to accomplish returned valving of fluid into the high pressure cylinder behind the piston. The same ball stop sleeve supports a resilient bumper for limiting the extent of movement of the cylinder in response to draft forces.

Abstract: A rotary damper is disclosed having a hollow casing and a power receiving shaft extending exteriorly of the casing. The power receiving shaft turns a movable vane within the casing to pressurize a working fluid. A stationary partition member including a dividing wall and a dividing vane is positioned within the casing and journals the movable vane for rotation within the casing. The movable vane is provided with a through hole equipped with a one-way valve and the dividing wall is provided with a plurality of arcuately spaced orifices. The orifices are positioned to be serially covered by the movable vane as it is rotated to thereby provide increased resistance to fluid flow as the movable vane is further rotated.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing device (10) includes an inner cylinder (22) surournded by an outer tube (12) whose ends are enclosed by end caps (14, 128). A piston (42) within the cylinder (22) forces hydraulic fluid through holes (106-116). A metering sleeve (130) slidable over the cylinder (22) includes cross-cut openings (132-142) therein defining rectangularly-shaped metering orifices which selectively close off the openings (106-116) in the cylinder (22) to adjust the flow of hydraulic fluid, and thereby alter the shock-absorbing characteristics of the device. The cross-cut openings (132-142) may be formed by passing a cutting element along a straight stroke through a side of the metering sleeve (130) at a depth sufficient to create an orifice in the inner wall of the sleeve (130).

Abstract: According to an illustrative example of the invention, a gas spring comprises a cylinder, a piston rod extending through one end of the cylinder and a piston connected with the piston rod within the cylinder. A pressurized gas is contained within the cylinder. A container surrounds the cylinder. An annular space is defined between the cylinder and the container. The cylinder is subdivided by the piston rod into two working chambers. The annular space is subdivided by a separating ring into two axially adjacent sections. Radial bores through the cylinder extend between the working chambers and the two sections of the annular space.

Abstract: A pneumatic energy absorbing arrangement, for use between the bumper and the frame of an automobile, includes a piston and cylinder combination which provides for an increasing amount of force or energy absorbed in relation to an increasing amount of travel between the piston and cylinder combination and, therefore, of the automobile itself. Exhaustion of the air within the piston cylinder combination is accomplished by a decreasing area of vent holes as the travel of the piston and cylinder increases. A specific or variable rate spring is provided to bias the piston and cylinder arrangement in an extended before-impact condition and absorb energy. The energy absorption device provided by this invention is reusable in that it is not destroyed during an impact.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a rebound stop assembly. The rebound stop assembly is mounted to the piston rod and includes an outer housing assembly slidably disposed within the working cylinder of the shock absorber and an inner housing member secured to the piston rod and slidably disposed in the outer housing member. The housing members define a damping chamber therebetween for receiving damping fluid therein. The rebound stop assembly also includes a damping device associated with the inner and outer housing members for creating a damping force in the shock absorber after a predetermined amount of rebound stroke of the piston within the working cylinder. A restrictive passage controls the flow of fluid from the damping chamber and this restrictive fluid flow provides additional damping at the end of the rebound stroke.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock-absorber and vibration damper comprising a cylinder (1), a damping piston (2) disposed so as to be axially movable inside the cylinder (1) and dividing off two working chambers (9, 10) filled with a hydraulic damping medium and connected by at least one throttle means (62), a piston rod (3) connected to the damping piston (2) and guided in sealing-tight manner out of the cylinder (1), and a compensating chamber (11) connected to one (9) of the working chambers (9, 10) for receiving a volume of damping medium displaced by the piston rod (3). A damping valve (26) driven by an electromagnet (24) and acted upon by a closing force is disposed at the transition between the working chamber (9) and the compensating chamber (11). The damping valve (26) is disposed in series with the throttle means (62), so that all the damping medium flowing between the working chamber (9) and the compensating chamber (11) flows through the damping valve (26).

Abstract: An hydraulic buffer or brake is provided on an escalator to stop movement of the steps in case power is interrupted, or if a safety device is activated. The braking action occurs in parallel to the inclination of the step chain. The braking action occurs in several stages so that a maximum time delay between initiation of the device and stopping of the steps can be achieved. In the first stage, the braking force is more solely applied, so that the first stage can affect a stopping of an empty escalator when completed. In the second stage the braking force is more quickly applied, so that the first and second stages can affect a stopping of a heavily loaded escalator in concert in the same maximum deceleration as the first stage can, when completed stop the lightly loaded escalator.

Abstract: A telescopic hydraulic damper includes an outer tube filled with working oil, a pipe member mounted on the bottom of the outer tube, and an inner tube slidably disposed in the outer tube. A valve structure disposed in an inner end of the inner tube comprises a valve body lossely fitted over the pipe member, and a plurality of valve seats mounted in the inner end of the inner tube and spaced from each other across the valve body. The valve seats include an oil locking seat for shutting off working oil between the oil locking seat and the valve body upon engagement with each other, and a rebound seat for allowing working oil to flow between the rebound seat and the valve body upon engagement with each other. The oil locking seat having a surface for engaging the valve body, the surface being inclined at an acute angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the damper.

Abstract: A railway car hydraulic cushioning unit prevents the mixing of gas and hydraulic fluid in chambers interiorly and exteriorly of a high pressure cylinder unit by strategic placing of metering ports through the cylinder wall at positions below the level of gas in the exterior chamber. The invention is furthermore directed to a method for converting hydraulic cushioning units adapted for connection to an external spring operated restoring mechanism to a self-contained gas return unit.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a piston slidably mounted in a fluid cylinder for decelerating the motion of an object acting on the shock absorber. A metering mechanism adjusts the rate at which fluid escapes from the cylinder upon displacement of the piston caused by impact of the object. A proximity sensor disposed in the end of the cylinder provides an indication of when the piston reaches a displacement position corresponding to a stroke length in which maximum energy is transferred from the object to the fluid. The proximity sensor includes an electrical probe extending through the end wall of the cylinder and possesses an electrical property whose magnitude varies in accordance with the distance between the piston and the probe.

Abstract: A shock absorber comprising a housing assembly including an elongated cavity for containing hydraulic fluid, an annular cavity surrounding the elongated cavity, a piston assembly including a head slidably received by the elongated cavity and a rod joined to the head for movement therewith, a compressible bladder containing gas under pressure positioned within the annular cavity, and a plurality of orifices defined within the housing assembly through which the elongated and annular cavities communicate with one another. The rod extends through the housing assembly and is movable with the piston head between extended and retracted conditions. The bladder is positioned within the annular cavity so as to extend along at least a portion of the annular cavity and leave uncovered a portion of the inner wall. The plurality of orifices are arranged in a pattern along the uncovered portion of the inner wall.

Abstract: A shock absorber for providing a linear decelerating force to a machine part by the use of a piston which forces fluid through a series of metering orifices formed by coaction of holes in the piston cylinder and internal annular grooves formed in a metering sleeve which fits over the cylinder. An infinite number of adjustments in the shock absorber characteristics are achieved by moving the grooves in the metering sleeve in orbital pattern relative to the holes in the cylinder. The annular grooves have a semicircular cross section to provide smooth flow through the metering passages and to concentrate the pressure drop in the shock absorber as turbulent flow occurring at the metering point defined by the overlap between the semicircular annular grooves and the associated holes in the cylinder.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly of the so-called primary type in which the outer cylinder includes a central main body smooth walled cylindrical portion and reduced diameter threaded portions are provided at each end of the main body portion for mounting purposes. The assembly of the invention includes a stop collar which is adapted to be threaded onto the front reduced diameter threaded portion of the shock absorber and which has a length which is precisely dimensioned relative to the effective length and stroke of the shock absorber such that the object hitting the impact pad of the shock absorber will encounter the front annular edge of the stop collar just prior to bottoming of the piston of the shock absorber against the end wall of the cylinder.

Abstract: A shock absorber including an inner tube closed at its rearward end and open at its forward end and having a plurality of ports formed at longitudinally spaced locations along its side wall, a piston rod and piston head assembly slidably received in the inner tube with the rearward end of the piston head spaced from the closed rearward end of the inner tube and the piston rod projecting forwardly out of the open forward end of the inner tube for impact by a moving object, an outer tube comprising the outer casing of the shock absorber and surrounding the inner tube, a plurality of longitudinally spaced interior grooves in the outer tube respectively registering with the ports in the inner tube and skewed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shock absorber, and an annular accumulator chamber defined forwardly of the inner tube between the inner periphery of the outer tube and the outer periphery of the piston rod.

Abstract: A railroad vehicle end-of-car center coupler includes a telescopic energy absorber comprising a hollow cylindrical plunger in a cylinder having one closed end. The plunger has an aperture in its inner end wall. A perforated metering tube is fixed in the closed end wall by a special fixing arrangement. It projects through the aperture and carries an annular piston head which slides in the bore of the plunger. A floating piston divides the interior of the plunger into a gas space and a liquid chamber. Four direct acting pressure relief valves are mounted in the piston head. Conduits through the tube connect their inlets to respective ones of four axially-spaced ports in the outer surface of the tube so that they all communicate with the annular chamber that surrounds the tube within the plunger when the absorber is compressed and so that they are progressively cut-off from such communication during the final stages of extension of the absorber.

Abstract: Tubular members (22, 24) define a pressure chamber (26) and a reserve chamber (28) between them. A first variable metered hydraulic orifice area is provided between chambers (26, 28) by openings (32) in a metering tube (30). A second metered hydraulic orifice area is provided by fixed orifice (94). In a first mode of operation, both such areas are open during an initial retraction of members (22, 24). Control tube (34) is coaxial with metering tube (30) and has openings (36). In the first mode, latch (62) locks tubes (30, 34) together with openings (32, 36) aligned. Relative extension of members (22, 24) following the initial retraction causes pressure in chamber (28) to rise above pressure in chamber (26) and latch (62) to release control tube (34). Spring (40) moves tube (34) into a closed position in which it blocks openings (32). Shock absorber (20) then operates in its second mode in which fixed orifice (94) remains open and openings (32) remain closed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic shock absorber with two-way action, in which two pistons (18, 19), one for each direction of motion, act in a housing (1). The pistons (18, 19) are movable relative to each other in, or with, a pressure tube (6). Equalizing elements (4, 5) are provided at the ends. The pistons (18, 19) are each provided with a piston rod. The piston rods are provided with seals (38, 39) which are nearly completely relieved of pressure.

Abstract: An anti-dive device for the telescopic front fork assembly of a motorcycle includes a contraction regulator mounted on the forward face of the bottom case. The bottom case carries the axle for the front wheel. Braking torque causes the movement of a member which movement is reflected through a bell crank assembly to close the valve in a passage connecting the two oil chambers in the front fork assembly. A bypass passage has an orifice member which may be moved to vary the size of a restriction in the bypass passage.

Abstract: A front wheel suspension system for a motorcycle including a telescopic hydraulic shock absorber mechanism which provides an anti-dive function upon braking of a front wheel of the motorcycle. In addition to a main oil passage which is intercepted upon braking of the front wheel, a bypass oil passage is provided between inner and outer tubular members comprising a fork pipe and a bottom case, respectively, disposed in a telescopically fitted relationship with each other. An adjustable orifice mechanism is provided in an intermediate position in the bypass oil passage. The suspension system provides an appropriate adjustment of the damping effect of the shock absorber mechanism in a direction of contraction of a front fork upon an anti-dive operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tilt cab suspension system comprising integral shock absorber and air spring assemblies located between the truck frame and the cab. The shock absorber assembly comprises a hydraulic circuit which provides for circulation of hydraulic fluid during an upstroke and/or downstroke of a piston within a cylinder. A selectively adjustable control valve is located in the hydraulic circuit and may be regulated by the vehicle operator to control the stiffness of the shock absorber sub-assembly and, consequently, the hardness of the ride.

Abstract: A shock absorber for providing a linear decelerating force to a machine part by means of a piston which forces fluid through a series of orifices formed by co-action of holes in the piston cylinder and holes formed in a sleeve forming a metering tube which fits over the cylinder. An infinite number of adjustments in the shock absorber characteristics is achieved by moving the holes in the metering tubes in orbital pattern relative to the holes in the cylinders.

Abstract: A rectangular metering member with transversal grooves is located with respect to specially formed apertures in a pressure tube of a hydraulic shock absorber to form orifices communicating between the shock absorber pressure tube and a reservoir. The orifices are adjusted in size automatically to account for hydraulic fluid viscosity changes as a function of temperature by a thermal expansion plug which moves the metering member to increase or decrease the size of the orifices. The metering member is also manually positionable to adjust the size of the orifices for loads of varying mass and velocity. The specially formed apertures in the pressure tube allow the automatic temperature compensation to operate independently of the initial manual adjustment of the metering member.

Abstract: A shock absorber and air spring assembly particularly adapted for use in a tilt cab suspension system. It provides the capability of remotely adjusting the amount of damping of the damper piston on the upstroke and, to a lesser extent, on the down stroke as well.

Abstract: Herein disclosed in a front fork for a two-wheeled vehicle, in which a fork tube carrying a piston at its lower end is slidably fitted in a bottom casing filled with working oil, in which a seat tube fixed to the bottom portion of the bottom casing has its upper portion inserted into the fork tube, in which a check valve operating so as to be closed upon contraction of the fork and opened upon extension of the fork is carried by the lower end of the fork tube, in which a check valve operating so as to be opened upon the contraction of the fork and closed upon the extension of the fork is slidably fitted on the fork tube above the piston, in which as orifice is formed in the fork pipe thereby to provide communication between the inside and outside thereof, and in which a plurality of orifices are formed in the seat tube and are arranged in the axial direction of the same.

Abstract: A front fork assembly for use in a motorcycle or the like, in which an inner cylinder is slidably fitted in an outer cylinder is described. Either the inner cylinder or an auxiliary cylinder having a predetermined length and fitted to the inner wall of the lower portion of the inner cylinder is slidably fitted in a sheet pipe which is anchored at the bottom portion of the outer cylinder and which is equipped with an auxiliary piston at the leading end thereof. The sheet pipe has its lower portion formed with an oil port at the side thereof, whereas the sheet pipe has its upper portion formed with an orifice at the side thereof. The inner cylinder also has its lower portion formed with an oil port at the side thereof and its upper portion formed in the axial direction with one or plural orifices. In an alternative, the aforementioned cylinder is formed with a plurality of orifices at a predetermined spacing from each other and with an oil port below those orifices.

Abstract: A conventional shock absorber is modified by adding a valve cage to the rod nd and providing an additional cylinder outside the shock absorber to form an annular reservoir outside the shock absorber. Temperature sensitive valves open when oil heats to a potentially destructive level, unloading the shock absorber. When the oil cools to a safe operating temperature, the temperature sensitive valves re-close and the shock absorber is again operative.