Abstract: A hydraulic mount apparatus includes a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion disposed on a center axis and defining a housing chamber. A partition member is disposed in the housing chamber dividing the housing chamber into a pumping chamber and a receiving chamber. The pumping chamber extends between the upper portion and the partition member. The receiving chamber extends between the lower portion and the partition member. A decoupler is attached to the partition member separating the pumping chamber and the receiving chamber. A moving member is disposed in the pumping chamber and attached to the decoupler. The moving member is made from a non-elastomeric polymer sheet secured to the decoupler for providing the additional damping force.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount apparatus includes a housing having an upper and a lower portion disposed on a center axis and defining a housing chamber. A partition member is disposed in the housing chamber dividing the housing chamber into a pumping chamber and a receiving chamber. The pumping chamber extends between the upper portion and the partition member. The receiving chamber extends between the lower portion and the partition member. A decoupler attaches to the partition member separating the pumping and the receiving chambers. A moving member of elastomeric material, disposed in the pumping chamber, attaches to the decoupler. The moving member is molded from a first elastomeric material having a first hardness level and a second elastomeric material having a second hardness level with the first hardness level and the second hardness level being different from one another. The second hardness level is less than the first hardness level.

Abstract: A rotating latch assembly includes a lift housing extending between a first opened end and a second opened end and defining a chamber extending therebetween. A support tube is slidably disposed in the chamber and extends between a first end and a second end. The lift housing is movable along the support tube between an extended position and a lowered position in response to a movement provided by an actuator wherein the extended position is the lift housing being adjacent to the first end and the lowered position is the lowered position being adjacent to the second end. A retaining member is disposed between the lift housing and the support tube and attached to the support tube and the lift housing for maintaining the lift housing in the extended position as the lift housing moving from the lowered position to the extended position.

Abstract: An air management system including at least one air spring and a compressor. The compressor defines a compartment having an inlet and an outlet. A reservoir is fluidly connected to the air spring and the compressor. A piston is moveable in the compartment and is reciprocally moveable in a compression stroke and an extension stroke in response to actuation of the motor in order to build-up air pressure at the outlet. The piston defines at least one passage extending between the extension chamber and the compression chamber, and at least one check valve positioned in the at least one passage such that air pressure in the compression chamber biases the piston toward the extension chamber to reduce a torque load on the motor during movement of the piston.

Abstract: A latching assembly includes a lift housing extending along a center axis between a first and a second opened ends and defining a chamber extending therebetween. A support tube is disposed in the chamber and extends between a first and a second end. A moving member is disposed between the support tube and the lift housing for moving the lift housing between an extended position and a lowered position. The moving member includes an inner ring and an outer ring. The inner ring extends about the support tube. The outer ring is attached to the lift housing for translating an axial movement of the support tube into a rotational movement. A plurality of engagement members located between the inner ring and the outer ring for moving the inner ring and said outer ring axially along the center axis from the extended position to the lowered position.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper for a vehicle including a main tube. A first piston assembly is slideably disposed in the main tube and axially divides the main tube into a rebound chamber and a primary compression chamber. A hydraulic compression stop assembly is disposed in the primary compression chamber and includes a narrowed section extending between an open end and a closed end. A second piston assembly is slideably disposed in the narrowed section and is coupled with the first piston assembly. The second piston assembly has a piston tube that extends between an opened end and a shut end. A displaceable partition is slideably disposed in the piston tube. A first auxiliary compression chamber is defined between the partition and the closed end of the narrowed section. A second auxiliary compression chamber is defined between the partition and the shut end of the piston tube.

Abstract: A concurrent leveling system includes a pressurized air source. A manifold block, having a body defining an air feed inlet, is disposed between air springs and the pressurized air source. The body includes front and rear suspension valves. Each of the suspension valves defines a suspension valve orifice having a first predetermined diameter. The body includes at least one restrictor valve parallel to and in fluid communication with the front suspension valves. The at least one restrictor valve includes a first check valve and a first blocker valve orifice defining a first orifice diameter. The first check valve and the first blocker valve orifice are disposed parallel to one another and in series with the front suspension valves and in fluid communication with the air feed inlet and the front suspension valves for reducing fluid back flow to allow the vehicle to be lowered in nominal loading conditions.

Abstract: A hydraulic mount apparatus comprises a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion and defining a housing chamber. A partition member disposed therein and divides the housing chamber into a pumping chamber and a receiving chamber. A decoupler including a magnetic actuator is attached to the partition member. A moving member is disposed in the pumping chamber and attached to the decoupler. The moving member includes at least two magnetic inserts disposed therein, spaced from one another, to move the moving member from a first position to a second position in response to a magnetic field. The first position is defined as the moving member being spaced from the decoupler. The second position is defined as the moving member being attached to the decoupler.

Abstract: A damper housing disposed on a center axis includes an extended mains section and a narrowed end section. The narrowed end section has a second predetermined wall thickness less than the first predetermined wall thickness of the extended main section. An intermediate conical section, connecting the narrowed end section and the extended main section, has an intermediate conical section wall thickness equal to the second predetermined wall thickness at an internal inclination angle relative to the center axis. A method for manufacturing the damper housing using a preformed tube, a first broaching die, a calibrating mandrel, and a swaging die is performed by compressing the preformed tube between the first broaching die and the narrowed head of the calibrating mandrel and compressing the preformed tube between the swaging die and the intermediary section of the calibrating mandrel to form the narrowed end section and the intermediate conical section, respectively.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly including a housing along an axis. A hydraulic stop mechanism includes a retainer extending about and fixed to a piston rod, and a ring guide that has a base portion axially adjacent to the retainer and a plurality of catchers each connected to and spaced axially from the base portion and each having a radially outer portion. Each of the catchers defines a channel. A piston ring is axially moveable along the ring guide between a blocked position wherein the piston ring axially abuts the retainer to close the channels, and an unblocked position wherein the piston ring is axially spaced from the retainer to open the channels. The piston ring further includes a plurality of stabilizer pins extending axially and each received by one of the channels of the catchers radially inward of the radially outer portions of the catchers.

Abstract: A valve assembly for an air spring includes a body having an opened end disposed in communication with a first tank and a closed end. The body defines a cavity separated by a divider into an upper and a lower portion. The body defines at least one upper orifice in communication with the cavity and a second tank; and at least one lower orifice in communication with the cavity and a third tank. An actuator is disposed in communication with the first, the second, and the third tank. The actuator is rotatable from a first position wherein the actuator is in communication with the first tank alone to a second position allowing communication between the first and the second tank, a third position allowing communication between the first and the third tank, and a fourth position allowing communication between the first, the second, and the third tank.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a main tube disposed on a center axis and extending between a first and a second end defining a fluid chamber for containing a working fluid. A main piston is slidably disposed in the fluid chamber dividing the fluid chamber into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber. A piston rod is attached to the main piston for moving the main piston between a compression and a rebound stroke. The piston rod includes a rod extender attached to the main piston defining a compartment. A compression stop including an additional piston is slidably disposed in the compartment and movable between a first position in response to the compression stroke and a second position in response to the rebound stroke. The first position is the additional piston being disposed adjacent the main piston. The second position is the additional piston being axially spaced from the main piston.

Abstract: A piston assembly for a damper includes a main piston disposed on a center axis. A piston rod is attached to the main piston. A regulator extends between the piston rod and the main piston defining a compartment. The regulator has at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture. A restrictor divides the compartment into a first and second portion. An actuator having a core is disposed in the first portion movable between an opened and a closed position. The restrictor includes a sleeve disposed in the compartment and attached to the regulator. The sleeve defines a hole in fluid communication with the first and second portions and flares outwardly in the first portion toward the regulator to define a slanted edge extending at an oblique angle relative to the center axis to allow the working fluid to flow smoothly thereby limiting noises generated.

Abstract: A shock absorber having a main tube extends between a first end and a second end defining a fluid chamber therebetween. A main piston is slidably disposed in the fluid chamber dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod is attached to the main piston. A hydraulic compression stop including an additional piston is attached to the piston rod for movement therewith. The additional piston includes a body extending from the piston rod and defining a conduit extending along the center axis. An actuator is disposed in the conduit and attached to the body movable from a closed position to an open position during the compression stroke with the open position allowing fluid flow through the actuator and the conduit and the closed position preventing fluid flow through the actuator. The actuator includes a spring and a blocking member disposed in the conduit.

Abstract: An air management system and method are provided. The system includes a pressurized air source. A manifold block is coupled to the pressurized air source and includes a plurality of suspension valves in fluid communication with the pressurized air source for controlling air flow to and from a plurality of air springs. An accumulator is coupled to the manifold block for storing air. An accumulator valve is in fluid communication with the plurality of suspension valves and the accumulator to allow exhausted air from the plurality of air springs into the accumulator. An electronic control unit is electrically coupled to the plurality of suspension valves and the accumulator valve for controlling a sequence of operating the accumulator valve and the plurality of suspension valves to provide enhanced exhaust flow from the plurality of air springs to maintain the vehicle in a level orientation while lowering the vehicle.

Abstract: An assembly for magnetically dynamic damping useful for isolating vibrational forces includes a housing wall bounding a main chamber therein. The assembly further includes a fixed magnetic source disposed in the main chamber. A diaphragm of elastic material is disposed in the assembly impermeably dividing the main chamber into sub-chambers. The diaphragm includes a magnetically actuated element adjacent to the fixed magnetic source. A source of electrical current energizes the magnetically actuated element, the fixed magnetic source, or both and either repels or pulls the magnetically actuated element with respect to the fixed magnetic source. A magnetic guide surrounds the fixed magnetic source and defines a gap exposing the fixed magnetic source to the magnetically actuated element. The magnetic guide routes the magnetic field towards the gap and prevents outward magnetic interference to the rest of the assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic comprising a compression stop assembly located in a compression chamber and the compression stop assembly comprises a body; an axial member disposed slidably within said body; a covering member fixed on said axial member and provided with at least one compression flow channel and at least one rebound flow channel; a disengaging spring preloaded between said body and said covering member. The compression stop assembly further comprises a rotating member disposed pivotally with respect to said body and capable of covering at least partially said at least one compression flow channel depending on the angular position of said rotating member with respect to said at least one compression flow channel; and at least one cam configured to cooperate with said rotating member in order to change its angular position with respect to its axial displacement.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper for a vehicle including a main tube. A first piston assembly is slideably disposed in the main tube and axially divides the main tube into a rebound chamber and a primary compression chamber. A hydraulic compression stop assembly is disposed in the primary compression chamber and includes a narrowed section extending between an open end and a closed end. A second piston assembly is slideably disposed in the narrowed section and is coupled with the first piston assembly. The second piston assembly has a piston tube that extends between an opened end and a shut end. A displaceable partition is slideably disposed in the piston tube. A first auxiliary compression chamber is defined between the partition and the closed end of the narrowed section. A second auxiliary compression chamber is defined between the partition and the shut end of the piston tube.

Abstract: A twin tube damper assembly includes a main tube defining a fluid chamber. An external tube extends about the main tube defining a compensation chamber therebetween. A piston, slidably disposed in the fluid chamber, divides the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A rod guide is disposed in the rebound chamber, attached to the main tube and the external tube, defining at least one channel in fluid communication with the rebound and compensation chambers. A piston rod extends through the rod guide and is attached to the piston. A pressure rate sensitive system, disposed in the rebound chamber, is attached to the rod guide in fluid communication with the at least one channel, the rebound chamber, and the compensation chamber for regulating the working fluid flow through the rod guide between the rebound and compensation chambers during compression and rebound strokes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatic solenoid poppet valve assembly having a dampening element. The valve assembly comprises a housing with a stator having a spring pocket being secured to the housing and an armature slidably located inside the housing. The armature has a spring pocket and an armature return spring located in the spring pockets of the stator and the armature, the spring biases the armature away from the stator thereby creating an air gap between them. A dampening element is located in the spring pocket of the stator surrounding the return spring and extending into the air gap. When the solenoid is energized the armature is moved across the air gap and contacts the dampening element prior to contacting the stator and the dampening element dampens movement of the stator across the air gap. A molded seat retainer locates upper and lower seals, provides a valve seat and flow passages.