Abstract: An air-spring assembly includes a flexible bellows extending from a top end to a bottom end and enclosing an air-spring chamber between the top end and the bottom end, a first panel partially defining the air-spring chamber and movable in response to a pressure of the air-spring chamber, an enclosure partially defining a working chamber fluidly isolated from the air-spring chamber, a second panel partially defining the working chamber and movable relative to the enclosure, and a linkage member fixed relative to the first panel and to the second panel and defining a fixed distance between the first panel and the second panel. The top and bottom ends are fixable to a frame and a wheel of a vehicle, respectively. A volume of the air-spring chamber varies with movement of the bottom end relative to the top end. Movement of the second panel changes a volume of the working chamber.

Abstract: A suspension system including four dampers is disclosed where each damper includes a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. First and second hydraulic circuits interconnect the compression and rebound chambers of the front left and back right dampers, while third and fourth hydraulic circuits interconnect the compression and rebound chambers of the front right and back left dampers. A first bi-directional pump is connected between the first and second hydraulic circuits and a second bi-directional pump is connected between the third and fourth hydraulic circuits. The first and second bi-directional pumps can either pump in the same direction or in opposite directions. The level of pitch and roll stiffness can be adjusted by running the first and second bi-directional pumps to change the pressure in select hydraulic circuits of the system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a component for a tubing clip having a body having a first end and a second end, a first tube channel, and a first arcuate arm and a second arcuate arm spaced along the body. The first arcuate arm defines the first tube channel and has a first connecting structure and the second arcuate arm has a second connecting structure for adjustably connecting to a second component.

Abstract: A quick connector assembly coupling a fluid tube to a receptacle body includes a socket portion and a wall bordering a socket opening. A pair of latch openings extend through the wall into the socket opening. A bracket installed on the wall includes a pair of spring latches that reach through a respective one of the pair of latch openings into the socket opening. A fluid tube having a raised upset is placed through the socket opening causing the upset to be captured by each spring latch. A verifier having fixing fingers and a pair of verifier arms is installed through respective recesses in the wall and into the socket opening that causes each verifier arm to travel along the upset to rest below a respective spring latch and the fixing fingers to capture the upset.

Abstract: A damper with a pressure tube and an outer tube, a piston rod extending between first and second piston rod ends, and a piston mounted to the second piston rod end. The piston is disposed within the pressure tube to define rebound and compression chambers. A reservoir chamber is positioned between the pressure tube and the outer tube and an intake valve assembly, abutting one end of the pressure tube inside the outer tube, defines at least one intermediate chamber that is arranged in fluid communication with at least one externally mounted, electro-mechanical control valve. A rebound chamber pressure relief valve, in the form of a poppet positioned inside the piston and piston rod end, releases excess fluid pressure in the rebound chamber. A compression chamber pressure relief valve, in the form of a poppet positioned inside the intake valve assembly, releases excess fluid pressure in the compression chamber.

Abstract: A suspension system including hydraulic circuits that extend between dampers located at opposite corners of the vehicle and at least one load distribution unit that is connected in fluid communication with at least two hydraulic circuits. The load distribution unit includes a manifold block with a cylinder bore, a pair of pressure tubes, a piston rod assembly, and a pair of reserve tubes. The pressure tubes are partially received in the cylinder bore to define a pair of opposed cylinders. The piston rod assembly includes a piston rod and a pair of opposed pistons that are slidingly received within the opposed cylinders. The reserve tubes are at least partially received in the cylinder bore and are arranged annularly about the pressure tubes to define a first pair of reservoir chambers between the pressure tubes and the reserve tubes.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for cooling a heat generating component of a vehicle comprises a first pump operated to pump a coolant to at least a first beat absorbing device when the heat generating component is operating. A second pump is operated to pump the coolant to at least the first heat absorbing device when the heat generating component is caused to stop operating.

Abstract: A multilayer tube is provided for use in with transmission oil or heating and cooling fluid applications in motor vehicles. The multilayer tube has an outer layer comprising an aliphatic or an aromatic polyamide to provide protection from the outside environment; a middle layer of a lower cost material that comprises from 20-90% of the thickness of the tube materials; and an inner layer that has excellent resistance to transmission oil or glycol coolant and temperature.

Abstract: An integrated apparatus and method is disclosed for controlling a fluid pump and a valve connected to a coolant loop. The fluid pump for circulating fluid through the coolant loop and the valve positionable between a first and a second position. A controller generates control signals that are transmitted to the fluid pump and to the valve for regulating the speed of the fluid pump and the flow of the fluid circulating through the coolant loop and to position the valve into either the first or the second position.

Abstract: A single axle suspension system including right and left dampers, first and second hydraulic circuits, and a first pressurizing mechanism connected in fluid communication with the first and second hydraulic circuits. The first pressurizing mechanism includes a dual chamber ball/screw mechanism to adjust the volumetric capacity of a pair of first and second variable volume chambers that are arranged in fluid communication with the first and second hydraulic circuits. Thus, the first pressurizing mechanism provides roll control by generating a pressure differential between the first and second hydraulic circuits, which causes an increase in the fluid pressure inside either the first working chamber of the right damper and the second working chamber of the left damper or inside the first working chamber of the left damper and the second working chambers of the right damper to provide roll stiffness that counters vehicle roll during cornering.

Abstract: An assembly and process for draining fluid leaks from a pump housing is disclosed. The pump housing includes an internal mounting cavity, a valve installed in the mounting cavity and at least one housing passage extending to an exterior surface of the pump housing. A valve passage is formed through a wall of the valve. An interior fluid seal is installed on an interior surface of the valve forming a seal between the valve interior surface and a first surface of the mounting cavity. An exterior fluid seal is installed on an exterior surface of the valve that forms a seal between the valve exterior surface and a second surface of the mounting cavity. An inner leak path is created through the interior fluid seal to the valve passage. The valve passage collects fluid leaking in the inner leak path. An outer leak path is created through the exterior fluid seal. The outer leak path in fluid communication with the valve passage and with the housing passage.

Abstract: An assembly and process for draining fluid leaks from a pump housing is disclosed. The pump housing includes an internal mounting cavity, a valve installed in the mounting cavity and at least one housing passage extending to an exterior surface of the pump housing. A valve passage is formed through a wall of the valve. An interior fluid seal is installed on an interior surface of the valve forming a seal between the valve interior surface and a first surface of the mounting cavity. An exterior fluid seal is installed on an exterior surface of the valve that forms a seal between the valve exterior surface and a second surface of the mounting cavity. An inner leak path is created through the interior fluid seal to the valve passage. The valve passage collects fluid leaking in the inner leak path. An outer leak path is created through the exterior fluid seal. The outer leak path in fluid communication with the valve passage and with the housing passage.

Abstract: An accumulator for a vehicle suspension damper, which includes an outer shell with an open end that connects to an accumulator port on the damper and a distal end, opposite the open end, which includes an end wall that extends radially inward to a gas charging port. A bellows assembly, which includes an annular bellows wall extending between proximal and distal plates, is positioned inside the outer shell to define a pressurized gas chamber inside the accumulator that is arranged in fluid communication with the gas charging port. The gas charging port includes a stem that extends inwardly from the end wall of the outer shell and the distal plate of the bellows assembly has an inner diameter that is received on the stem. The inner diameter of the distal plate is coupled to the stem of the gas charging port by a fixation component.

Abstract: A suspension system including hydraulic circuits that extend between dampers located at opposite corners of the vehicle and at least one load distribution unit that is connected in fluid communication with at least two hydraulic circuits. The load distribution unit includes a manifold block with a cylinder bore, a pair of pressure tubes, a piston rod assembly, and an integral rod guide and pressure tube coupler. The pressure tubes are partially received in the cylinder bore to define a pair of opposed cylinders and mate with the integral rod guide and pressure tube coupler. The piston rod assembly includes a piston rod and a pair of opposed pistons that are slidingly received within the opposed cylinders. In addition to retaining the pressure tubes, the integral rod guide and pressure tube coupler supports and permits the piston rod to slide longitudinally relative to the manifold block.

Abstract: A trailer sway control system for a vehicle includes: a front left active suspension actuator; a front right active suspension actuator; a rear left active suspension actuator; a rear right active suspension actuator; and an actuator control module configured to: based on (a) a first hitch force at a trailer hitch in a longitudinal direction, (b) a second hitch force at the trailer hitch in a lateral direction, and (c) a third hitch force at the trailer hitch in a vertical direction, determine target vertical forces for the front left active suspension actuator, the front right active suspension actuator, the rear left active suspension actuator, and the rear right active suspension actuator, respectively; and selectively adjust the front left active suspension actuator, the front right active suspension actuator, the rear left active suspension actuator, and the rear right active suspension actuator based on the target vertical forces, respectively.

Abstract: A pump assembly and method is disclosed comprising, a pump including a pump housing having a fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet extending from the pump housing. A magnetic body of a brushless DC motor is submerged in the fluid and drives an impeller that moves the fluid from the fluid inlet to the at least one fluid outlet. A valve rotatably mounted between the impeller and the at least one fluid outlet selectively directs the flow of fluid through the at least one fluid outlet.

Abstract: A method of charging a bellows accumulator for a vehicle suspension system comprises providing an outer shell with an accumulator port and a gas charging port, and inserting a bellows assembly within the outer shell. The bellows assembly includes an annular bellows wall at least partially defining a gas chamber of variable volume. The bellows assembly is axially extendable between a retracted position and a fully extended position. The gas chamber is arranged in fluid communication with the gas charging port. An accumulation chamber is provided between the outer shell and the bellows assembly and is in fluid communication with the accumulator port. The method further includes evacuating the accumulation chamber when the bellows assembly is not at the fully extended position to obtain a pressure within the accumulation chamber less than atmospheric pressure and supplying pressurized gas to the gas charging port.

Abstract: A method of assembling an accumulator for a suspension damper where the method includes the steps of forming an outer shell of an accumulator, assembling a bellows assembly by connecting distal and proximal plates to opposite ends of an annular bellows wall, and inserting the bellows assembly into the outer shell. The outer shell is formed such that it includes a distal end with an end wall and an open end opposite the distal end. The bellows assembly is inserted into the open end of the outer shell with the distal plate facing the end wall of the outer shell. The method proceeds with coupling the distal plate of the bellows assembly to a stem of a gas charging port on the end wall of the outer shell at a fixed axial position using a fixation component that engages the stem of the gas charging port.

Abstract: A wheel assembly bushing for in-wheel electric motors where the bushing includes a hydraulic chamber positioned within a resilient sleeve of the bushing and a helical fluid channel that extends helically about an inner bushing member between first and second fluid channel ends, which are arranged in fluid communication with the hydraulic chamber. An outer body extends annularly about the resilient sleeve, which permits relative movement between the inner bushing member and the outer body. The fluid channel is configured to produce inertance. This inertance, when combined with other damping and stiffness effects of the wheel assembly bushing, provides phase and magnitude shifts between force and velocity, which ultimately reduce magnetic gap deformation in the in-wheel electric motor.

Abstract: A suspension system including four dampers each having a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. First and second hydraulic circuits interconnect the compression and rebound chambers of the front dampers, while third and fourth hydraulic circuits interconnect the compression and rebound chambers of the back dampers. A first longitudinal hydraulic line extends between and connects the first and third hydraulic circuits and a second longitudinal hydraulic line extends between and connects the second and fourth hydraulic circuits. A first bi-directional pump is connected in-line with a fluid distribution line that extends between and connects the first and second longitudinal hydraulic lines a can pump fluid in opposite directions through the fluid distribution line to provide active roll stiffness.