Abstract: A vehicle braking apparatus that can exert high braking performance during vehicle braking is implemented by a control mode that can be realized in a braking apparatus (10) of usual hardware. In controlling the braking apparatus (10) of a vehicle, a climb rate of a wheel cylinder braking oil pressure (Pw) is decreased smaller than a climb rate corresponding to a climb rate of a master cylinder oil pressure (Pm) from a time point at which the wheel cylinder braking oil pressure (Pw) reaches a predetermined threshold value. The time point at which the wheel cylinder braking oil pressure (Pw) reaches the predetermined threshold value (P3) is estimated based on the climb process of the master cylinder oil pressure (Pm) or directly detected.

Abstract: A twin-tube shock absorber comprising an outer tube which houses an inner tube. The inner tube forms an annulus area between the outer tube and the inner tube, and includes a check valve for allowing a fluid to flow unidirectionally from the annulus area to the interior volume of the inner tube. The shock absorber includes a piston which is slidably disposed within the inner tube. The piston includes a check valve allowing the fluid to flow unidirectionally from a cap side chamber to a rod side chamber. An adaptive flow regulator is disposed about the inner tube for allowing the unidirectional flow of fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area, wherein the flow regulator provides a resistance against the flow of the fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area by varying the fluid pressure supplied to the flow regulator.

Abstract: A damping force generator for a hydraulic shock absorber featuring an increased deflection (bending) characteristic of a damping valve to widen the adjustable range of a damping force. In a damping force generator (70) for a hydraulic shock absorber, the damping valve (80) undergoes deflections with boundaries (71C) between secured portions (71A) and recessed portions (71B) of the valve seat (71) as supporting points K, and inner and outer peripheries of the damping valve (80) are disposed on an outside of line segments L each connecting two circumferentially adjacent supporting points K, K of the valve seat (71).

Abstract: A fluid pressure shock absorber in which valve opening of the main valve is controlled by an inner pressure of a backpressure chamber. A first piston (3) and a second piston (4) coupled to a piston rod (10) are fitted in a cylinder (2) such that a piston chamber (2C) is defined between the first and second pistons. An extension-side main valve (18) and a compression-side main valve (23) are provided in the piston chamber (2C). Valve opening of the main valves is controlled by an extension-side backpressure chamber (19) and a compression-side backpressure chamber (24). A compression-side check valve (13) and an extension-side check valve (16) are provided at the first piston (3) and the second piston (4). During an extension stroke of the piston rod (10), the compression-side check valve (13) is closed, whereby action of a pressure of a cylinder upper chamber (2A) on the compression-side main valve (23) is prevented.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a primary damper and a secondary damper. The secondary damper is coupled to the primary damper and includes a housing and an annular piston. The housing includes a sidewall that partially surrounds the primary damper, and the volume between the sidewall and the primary damper defines a damping chamber. The sidewall defines a plurality of apertures. The annular piston is positioned within the damping chamber and slidably coupled to the sidewall. The primary damper provides a base damping force and the secondary damper provides a supplemental damping force that varies based on the position of the annular piston along the housing.

Abstract: An elastic connection element with variable rigidity for coupling together components that are spaced from each other. The connection element is a tubular component with coupling points which fix the components to the element. The rigidity of the element, in the state of maximum rigidity, is determined substantially by the coupling points. These are formed by a receiving eyelet and an elastomeric bush bearing press-fit therein. The region located between the coupling points forms a piston/cylinder unit, the interior of which comprises at least two chambers that are separated by the piston and which receive a hydraulic or a pneumatic medium. The chambers are interconnected with one another by a connection line containing a controllable valve. By at least partially opening the valve, the rigidity of the connection element can be reduced in relation to the state of maximum rigidity.

Abstract: A twin-tube shock absorber comprising an outer tube which houses an inner tube. The inner tube forms an annulus area between the outer tube and the inner tube, and includes a check valve for allowing a fluid to flow unidirectionally from the annulus area to the interior volume of the inner tube. The shock absorber includes a piston which is slidably disposed within the inner tube and divides the interior volume into a rod side chamber and a cap side chamber. The piston includes a check valve allowing the fluid to flow unidirectionally from the cap side chamber to the rod side chamber. A flow regulator is disposed about the inner tube for allowing the unidirectional flow of fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area, wherein the flow regulator provides a resistance against the flow of the fluid from the rod side chamber to the annulus area.

Abstract: A piston connected to a piston rod is fitted in a cylinder having a hydraulic oil sealed therein. Flows of hydraulic oil induced in extension and compression passages and by sliding movement of the piston are controlled by extension and compression damping force generating mechanisms, respectively, to generate damping force. In the extension and compression damping force generating mechanisms, the hydraulic oil is introduced into back pressure chambers through back pressure introducing passages, respectively, and the opening of relief valves is controlled by the pressures in the back pressure chambers, respectively. The inner peripheral portions of the relief valves are supported from their rear sides by support members to provide gaps on the front sides of the relief valves, respectively. When the relief valves open, their inner peripheral edge portions move within the gaps pivotally about the support members as fulcrums, respectively.

Abstract: In a front fork which is capable of adjusting a spring force of a suspension spring housed in a fork main body by driving a jack mechanism housed in the fork main body to raise and lower an upper end position of the suspension spring, the jack mechanism defines a pressure chamber by means of a cap member that closes an upper end opening of a vehicle body side tube and a piston member. By supplying and discharging a pressure oil to and from the pressure chamber, the piston member ascends and descends, thereby raising and lowering the upper end position of the suspension spring.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a combining structure of a shock absorber including a stopper assembly adapted to surround opposite ends of a bypass passage formed in a piston rod of the shock absorber, with at least one gateway provided to promote smooth flow of a working fluid, and to keep a piston valve firmly pressed against the piston rod and fixed. The combining structure may ensure that the overall length of the shock absorber does not unnecessarily increase, while generating normal damping force without interference with flow of the working fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shock-absorber for aircraft landing gear, the shock-absorber having two elements mounted to slide telescopically one in the other and defining an internal volume that is filled with hydraulic fluid and with gas, the internal volume being separated into at least two chambers by a separation including at least one throttling orifice through which the hydraulic fluid passes from one chamber to the other while the shock-absorber is being compressed. According to the invention, the separation includes at least one degassing orifice to enable gas to be transferred from one chamber to the other when the landing gear is in the deployed position, the degassing orifice being offset vertically relative to the throttling orifice so as to be located above it when the landing gear is in the deployed position.

Abstract: A fluid pressure shock absorber comprises a cylinder 3 disposed in a tube 2 and having a base supported by the tube 2 and a head member 31 fitted onto a tip of the cylinder 3. A hole 2b is formed in the tube 2 facing the head member 31. A ring-shaped stopper member 101 is screwed onto an outer circumference of the head member 31. A pin member 102 held by the head member 31 and biased in a radial direction by a snap ring 103 penetrates the hole 2b, thereby making connection of the tube 2 and the cylinder 3 easy.

Abstract: A damper device is provided with a cylinder body and a piston body, and provides braking for movement or relative movement of an object to be braked by attaching at least either the cylinder body or the piston body to the object to be braked. The piston body is provided with a seal ring for sealing between the piston body and the cylinder body. When a pressure difference between an inner space, located between the piston body and a deep inner section of the cylinder body, and the outside becomes a predetermined volume or above due to the movement or the relative movement of the piston body, one part of the seal ring is deflected and deformed so as to open a path for interconnecting the inner space and the outside.

Abstract: Damper is provided with damper main body including cylinder, piston being slidably inserted into cylinder to partition interior of cylinder into extension and compression chambers, and piston rod being inserted into cylinder to be coupled to piston, and damping force adjustment mechanism including flow path permitting passage of fluid only during either extension or contraction, valve seat being provided at intermediate position of flow path, valve body being movable back and forth relative to valve seat, and motor driving and moving valve body back and forth relative to valve seat to adjust flow path area of flow path. Damper energizes motor to move valve body distance, which is two-fold or more of distance from separated position where valve body is separated from valve seat to seated position where valve body is seated on valve seat, when flow path is blocked by moving valve body from separated position to seated position.

Abstract: A piston (10) comprises a first pair of passive flow-control valves (18, 20) [namely, a first compensation valve (18) and a first rebound valve (20)], a second pair of passive flow-control valves (22, 24) [namely, a second compensation valve (22) and a second rebound valve (24)], and a flow-dividing solenoid valve (14) shiftable between a first operating position [in which it allows flow of a damping fluid between an upper chamber and a lower chamber of a shock absorber through the first pair of passive flow-control valves (18, 20) and second pair of passive flow-control valves (22, 24)] and a second operating position [in which it allows the flow of the damping fluid between the upper chamber and lower chamber through only the second pair of passive flow-control valves (22, 24)]. The solenoid valve (14) is normally open (i.e., it is normally kept in the first operating position).

Abstract: A method for controlling the pressure in a compressed-air accumulator of a level-control system of a motor vehicle utilizing a pressure-control apparatus constructed and arranged to adjust the accumulator pressure according to a predetermined index pressure value. The index pressure value is automatically determined by a computing device based on the relative level and/or the load of the vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus including a first gas chamber, a second gas chamber, and a coupler. The first gas chamber can include a sleeve including a first mounting point and a cylinder including a second mounting point. In a first mode, the coupler can isolate the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber during a first translation range of the cylinder into the sleeve, and fluidly couple the first gas chamber to the second gas chamber during a second translation range of the cylinder into the sleeve. In a second mode, the coupler can fluidly couple the first gas chamber to the second gas chamber during at least the first translation range and the second translation range of the cylinder into the sleeve.

Abstract: A suspension component achieves progressive resistance via a secondary bleed valve, which functions as a support for the primary compression valve at higher displacements, in conjunction with a secondary nonlinear spring element configured to alter the force on the piston at high displacements.

Abstract: A suspension damper device comprising a housing adapted to be affixed, on which a suspension means may be supported which may be tensed in a direction of suspension via a damper body of a damping means adapted to be connected to a component to be dampened, wherein in the damper body a damper piston fixedly connected to the housing is guided which physically separates two damper spaces in the damper body, characterized in that three valves are provided whereby a volume flow of a fluid between the damping spaces may be controlled in particular during tensing of the suspension means in the direction of suspension.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for absorbing the displacement, under the influence of an external force, of at least one plunger (10,20) in a linear electrodynamic motor comprising a least an induction coil (11, 21) magnetically coupled with the plunger. Said method comprises the steps of: detecting in said induction coil a current induced (I?ind) amplified relative to the induced current. The invention can be applied to cryogenic machines on board space ships.

Abstract: A suspension system for use with a motorcycle includes a single body having two pneumatic cylinders in axial alignment therein. The suspension system may be sold in a kit, and may be installed in an existing front wheel fork.

Abstract: A magneto-rheological fluid brake includes a housing, a non-magnetically permeable separating ring, a plurality of magnetically permeable blocks, a plurality of magnetically permeable bars, an axle, an upper magnetically permeable block, a lower magnetically permeable block, and a magneto-rheological fluid. The magneto-rheological fluid is surrounded by a plurality of coils and a plurality of pole coils for increasing the area of magnetic permeability of the magneto-rheological fluid subjected to an applied magnetic field. Accordingly, the magneto-rheological fluid brake demonstrates an enhanced braking force and is free from a complete failure of the braking force.

Abstract: A floating-disk type brake system that includes floating disk assemblies placed respectively in spaces between a rotating member, such as a wheel of a transportation machine or a rotating shaft of a machine tool, and a stationary member to reduce differences in the rotating speed of adjacent sliding surfaces of the floating disk assemblies in frictional sliding engagement. The floating-disk type brake system includes a first floating disk assembly and a first disk assembly that are arranged between the ring gear and the planet carrier of a planetary gear built in a transmission or the like, and the first floating disk assembly and the first disk assembly are pressed together into frictional engagement to brake a rotating shaft.

Abstract: Yaw damper for damping yaw motions between two vehicle parts. This includes in the customary manner a piston part and a cylinder part, wherein that piston part is provided with a piston which divides that cylinder part into two chambers. Between these two chambers, connecting lines are present. The embodiment of these connecting lines determines the damping characteristic which governs the motion between the piston and the cylinder part. Especially for vehicle parts which move at higher speeds and/or high frequencies, such as train sets, it is desirable to provide a damper which is as stiff as possible. For this purpose, the present invention proposes the installation of pumping elements which, as far as possible, increase the pressure in the chambers which are formed by the piston in the cylinder part. Preferably, this construction is realized such that this pressure automatically decreases at lower speeds and/or low frequencies.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a valve assembly which includes a valve disc engaging an inner and outer valve land defined by a valve body. The inner valve land is a non-circular valve land such that a radial dimension between the inner and outer valve land varies based upon a circumferential position of the radial dimension. The varying radial dimension provides a progressive valve opening for the valve assembly.

Abstract: A shock absorber having a cylindrically shaped housing including a piston dividing the housing into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. The piston presents a plurality of apertures for allowing oil to flow between the compression and rebound chambers. A rebound resilient disc is disposed in the compression chamber for obstructing the flow of oil from the rebound chamber to the compression chamber. A two-spring adjustable valving system is disposed in the compression chamber for extorting a biasing force against the rebound resilient disc. A sleeve extends between the first and second springs to interconnect the first and second springs. An actuator is connected to the second spring through a spindle for selectively compressing or expanding the second spring to adjust the biasing force on the rebound resilient disc.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly including a fluid for absorbing forces between the body and the wheel of a motor vehicle. The shock absorber includes a valve having a resilient disc engaging a piston for impeding the passage of fluid through the aperture of the piston. A bi-stable solenoid is disposed in the housing and is interconnected with the resilient disc of the valve. The bi-stable solenoid's armature is moveable between a first stable position for applying a first biasing force against the resilient disc of the valve and a second stable position for applying a second biasing force being less than the first biasing force against the resilient disc of the valve. The adjustment of the biasing force on the valve also adjusts the damping force of the shock absorber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy absorber device (1) for damping the movements of a load support (2) relative to a stationary base (3), the load support being connected to the stationary base (3) via a hydromechanical connection. The device includes automatic and self-contained setting elements serving firstly to adapt under static conditions to the weight of the loads supported by the support (2), and secondly under dynamic conditions, e.g. in the event of a sudden movement of the crash type, to subject the subassembly including the support (2) and the loads to acceleration or deceleration values that are below a threshold value.

Abstract: A motion damping device, such as a shock absorber, has a damper valve having a valve body (11) including a first face (20, 23) on a first side of the valve body and a second face (23, 20) on the opposing second side of the valve body. The damper valve also has at least first valving (25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35) to provide a restriction to fluid flow across the damper valve in a first direction from the second side of the of the damper valve to the first side. The first valving has a first valving disc seat (24, 32) on the second face of the valve body. The first valving disc seat has an outer edge. At least one first valving port (21, 31) extends through the valve body from the first side to the second side and exits the valve body inside the outer edge of the first valving seat. The at least one first valving disc is seated on the first valving disc seat.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed that provide position sensitive suspension damping. A damping unit includes a piston mounted in a fluid-filled cylinder. A vented path in the piston may be fluidly coupled to a bore formed in one end of the piston rod, creating a flow path for fluid to flow from a first side of the piston to a second side of the piston during a compression stroke. The flow path may be blocked by a needle configured to engage the bore as the damping unit is substantially fully compressed, thereby causing the damping rate of the damping unit to increase. In one embodiment, the piston includes multiple bypass flow paths operable during the compression stroke or the rebound stroke of the damping unit. One or more of the bypass flow paths may be restricted by one or more shims mounted on the piston.

Abstract: A shock absorber, which is particularly applicable to bicycles, includes a mount body, a first cap portion, a second cap portion, and a fluid cylinder. The fluid cylinder cooperates with a valve assembly that is offset from the mount body. The first and second cap portions enclose a gas cavity or gas chamber. One of the first and second cap portions is interchangeable with other caps so as to alter the performance of the shock absorber by altering the size of the gas chamber. The replaceable cap cooperates with the mount body such that it can be replaced without removing the shock absorber from a bicycle.

Abstract: A damper for a bicycle having, in one arrangement, a primary unit and a remote unit. The primary unit includes a damper tube, a spring chamber, and a piston rod that supports a main piston. The main piston is movable within the damper chamber of the primary unit. The main piston and the damper tube at least partially define a compression chamber. The remote unit comprises a remote fluid chamber and an inertial valve within the remote unit. The inertial valve is preferably responsive to terrain-induced forces and preferably not responsive to rider-induced forces when the shock absorber is assembled to the bicycle. A fluid flow control arrangement within the remote unit utilizes compression fluid flow to delay closing of the inertial valve after acceleration forces acting on the inertial valve diminish. In some arrangements, the inertial valve and fluid flow control arrangement may reside in the primary unit.

Abstract: A steering damper varies damping based upon the input source: the steering device or the ground contact parts. The device comprises a housing fixed on an attaching part that couples the steering device and the ground contact parts. A main chamber is partitioned into a first and second damping chamber and flow is at least partially controlled by a main valve unit. The opening area of the main valve unit is determined by a relative motion between the attaching part and the steering device.

Abstract: There is provided a hydraulic shock absorber including a spring receiver that is supported so as to be not rotatable with respect to the axle bracket. The spring receiver is divided into a spring receiver base portion that has an outer diameter smaller than an inner periphery of an axle-side tube, and a spring receiver cylindrical portion that is inserted into an inner periphery of the axle-side tube and a suspension spring is seated thereon. A lower end engagement portion provided at a lower end of the spring receiver cylindrical portion is seated on an upper end engagement portion provided at an upper end of the spring receiver base portion, so that the spring receiver cylindrical portion is concentrically set to the axle-side tube.

Abstract: A spring for a suspension is described. The spring includes: a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, and a fluid flow path coupled with and between the primary portion and the secondary portion. The fluid flow path includes a bypass mechanism, wherein the bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within the fluid flow path in response to a compressed condition of the suspension.

Abstract: A shock absorber comprises a tubular housing (10), a cover (14), and a piston (34) defining within the tubular housing (10) a working chamber (W) and an accumulator chamber (A). A first fluid pathway (34p, 42, 34g) and a second fluid pathway (46, T, 34f) arranged in parallel connect the working chamber (W) to the accumulator chamber (A). The first fluid pathway establishes a permanent fluid communication between the working chamber (W) and the accumulator chamber (A). A valve assembly comprises an obturating element (44) arranged around the piston (34) and slidable along an axial length of the piston (34). The second fluid pathway comprises a first pathway section (34f) formed through the piston and a second pathway section (46, T) formed between the piston (34) and the obturating element (44). The second fluid pathway is able to selectively assume an open configuration and a closed configuration, and it has a lower fluid resistance than the fluid resistance of the first fluid pathway.

Abstract: A vehicle damper of variable damping force including a cylinder, a piston and valves is disclosed. The valves have opening/closing parts and supporting parts. The opening/closing parts and the supporting parts are positioned separately so that a sufficient distance is obtained. Lengthening the distance from the supporting parts to the opening/closing parts makes it possible to reduce the opening and closing force of the opening/closing parts and to obtain highly responsive valves.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber includes: a dividing member dividing a closed space and having a communicating passage for communicating divided spaces; a valve covering an open end of the communicating passage; a bolt penetrating through the dividing member and the valve; and a nut fastening the dividing member and the valve together with the bolt. The bolt or the nut has a head fitted with an industrial tool, and a base end arranged on a valve side beyond the head to contact with the valve and including an extending part extending outside an outer shape of the head in a radial direction, a facing part of the base end facing the valve comes into contact with the valve at a position inside an outermost end of the extending part in the radial direction, and an outer region outside a contact part does not come into contact with the valve.

Abstract: A hydraulic valve includes a main body, a valve body, a piston, a valve sleeve, a spool and a resilient energy storage member. The valve body and the piston are disposed within the main body. The valve body defines a first chamber, a second chamber, and a cylindrical passage connecting the first chamber and the second chamber. The valve sleeve is moveably disposed in the cylindrical passage. The spool is moveably disposed within the bore of the valve sleeve. The resilient energy storage member may be disposed between the valve sleeve and valve spool. The resilient energy storage member is compressed as pressure is induced in one of the first chamber or the second chamber such that the valve sleeve and the spool move relative to one another so that at least a portion of the shaped aperture is exposed to the first chamber or second chamber to allow a proportional amount of hydraulic fluid to flow between the first chamber and the second chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is an energy-regenerating damper that ensures a compression stroke and has a simplified structure. A piston (16) is provided with: a housing (31) fitted inside a cylinder (12) so as to be able to slide against the inner surface of the cylinder; a stator (32) contained in/fixed to the inside of the housing (31); a rotor (33) supported so as to be able to rotate inside the stator (32); and damping valves (34, 35) provided at the top and bottom ends of the housing (31). The housing (31) comprises an upper half (31a) and a lower half (31b) fastened together by bolts (36), and a damper rod (13) is fixed to the top end of the upper half (31a). The upper half (31a) and the lower half (31b) each contain a bearing (39) for supporting the rotor (33).

Abstract: A shock absorber for a bicycle has a damper device with first and second damper chambers. The damper chambers are connected by way of a controllable throttle valve. A changeable electronic unit has a control device for controlling the electrically controllable throttle valve. The control device thereby influences the damper characteristics.

Abstract: A gas damper includes a gas pressurized working chamber and valving within the piston to control flow of the gas through the piston. A system is in communication with the working chamber to control the gas pressure within the working chamber in order to control the damping characteristics of the damper. An electronic control unit is utilized to control the opening and closing of the valving within the piston to also control the damping characteristics of the damper.

Abstract: A damper (400) including a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber (406a) to a second chamber (448). A piston (410) is supported for reciprocation to vary a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston (429) is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston tending to move the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force is greater than the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shock absorber for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle, comprising a) a damper tube (1) at least partially filled with a damping liquid, b) a piston rod (2) arranged so as to reciprocate in the damper tube (1), c) an element guided in the damper tube (1), which element divides the interior of the damper tube (1) into a piston rod-side working chamber (3) and a working chamber (4) remote from the piston rod, d) a housing (5) connected to the piston rod (2), e) a control valve (6) arranged in the housing (5) and movable back and forth between a closed and an open position. The piston rod-side working chamber (3) and the working chamber (4) remote from the piston rod are hydraulically interconnected via the housing (5) and a first damping valve (7) with soft damping characteristics through which the damping fluid can flow in both flow directions is provided in the housing (5).

Abstract: A damper includes a cylinder tube having a first end connected to one portion of a member of an object for damping, and a fixing rod guide arranged to close a second end of the cylinder tube; a movable rod guide fitted on the first end of the cylinder tube; a main piston rod extending from the piston side, the piston fitted in the cylinder tube and passing through the fixing rod guide; a sub-piston rod extending on the piston side and passing through the movable rod guide; and a spring normally biasing the movable rod guide toward the piston. A damping force generation oil passage is arranged to connect first and second oil chambers in a cylinder tube defined by the piston. The number of parts of a through-rod type damper is reduced to simplify a construction thereof and to make the damper compact.

Abstract: An adjustable damping valve including an actuator, which exerts an actuating force on a valve body against the force of a spring to influence the throttle cross section which determines the damping force, where an emergency valve is connected in parallel with the throttle cross section with respect to the flow direction of the damping medium, where the two control surfaces of the valve body move in the axial direction and can thus can come to rest alternately on the two valve seating surfaces, and where the valve body is divided into two parts in the longitudinal direction, and each valve body assembly has its own control surface.

Abstract: A floating-disk type brake system that includes floating disk assemblies placed in spaces between a rotating member, such as a wheel of a transportation machine or a rotating shaft of a machine tool, and a stationary member to reduce differences in the rotating speed of adjacent sliding surfaces of the floating disk assemblies in frictional sliding engagement. The floating-disk type brake system includes a first floating disk assembly and a first disk assembly that are arranged between the ring gear and the planet carrier of a planetary gear built in a transmission or the like, and the first floating disk assembly and the first disk assembly are pressed together into frictional engagement to brake a rotating shaft.

Abstract: A steering damper can generate a smaller damping force according to a first damping force characteristic or a larger damping force according to a second damping force characteristic by controlling a flow of hydraulic oil during a steering operation of a steering member. When the associated vehicle is running at a relatively low or medium speed and is not accelerating, and if an operational speed of the steering damper is lower than a predetermined value, damping force according to the first damping force characteristic can be generated in the steering damper. On the other hand, when the operational speed of the steering damper is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, damping force according to the second damping force characteristic can be generated in the steering damper.

Abstract: A shock absorber comprises a first passage (2a, 2b) and a second passage (15) connecting a first fluid chamber (41) and a second fluid chamber (42). A throttle (12, 14) narrows an inflow of fluid to the first passage (2a, 2b) according to an applied displacement pressure. The displacement pressure includes a fluid pressure in one of the two fluid chambers (41, 42) and a pressure that depends on a velocity of the fluid flow through the throttle (12, 14). A spring (25, 29) biases the throttle (12, 14) in the opposite direction to narrow the fluid flow. The second passage (15) comprises a pair of orifices (16a, 17a). By exerting a pressure between the pair of orifices (16a, 17a) on the throttle (12, 14) in the opposite direction to narrow the fluid flow, the spring load required of the spring (25, 29) is reduced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for accommodating vehicle suspensions that may bottom out. Some embodiments of the present invention include the secondary shock absorber placed within a primary shock absorber. Yet clear embodiments describe a shock absorber having multiple fluid flowpaths during compression, with one of the flowpaths being active near the bottoming-out condition.