Abstract: A damper includes an inner tube elongated along an axis, a piston slidably disposed in the inner tube, and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube. The inner tube and outer tube define a fluid chamber therebetween. The damper includes and intake assembly in the fluid chamber. The intake assembly includes a unitary support ring and pair of fulcrum spacers, a support post fixed to and extending along the axis away from the unitary support ring and pair of fulcrum spacers, and a valve ring supported by the support post. The valve ring defines an orifice. A valve disc is supported by the support post between the valve ring and the unitary support ring and pair of fulcrum spacers. The valve disc covers the orifice of the valve ring.

Abstract: A dirt shield for shock absorbers having a piston assembly and a cylinder member with a metal dirt shield cap connected to a rod of the piston assembly. A plastic dirt shield bracket is adapted to be fixed to the metal dirt shield cap and includes a first portion and a second portion hingedly connected to one another. A dirt shield tube is connected to the plastic dirt shield bracket.

Abstract: A system for grading filling of a suspension system includes: a pump control module configured to, during first and second periods, operate an electric pump of the suspension system in first and second directions and decreasing and increasing hydraulic fluid pressure within the suspension system, respectively; a monitoring module configured to: store a first pressure of hydraulic fluid within the suspension system measured using a pressure sensor when the first pressure is less than or equal a first predetermined pressure while the pump is operated in the first direction; and store a second pressure measured using the pressure sensor when the second pressure is greater than or equal a second predetermined pressure while the pump is operated in the second direction; and a grade module configured to determine a grade value for the filling of the suspension system based on the first and second pressures.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes an inner tube and an outer tube enclosing respective first and second chambers and defining respective first and second side openings. The assembly includes a housing supported by the outer tube and having an open bottom with a lip extending radially inward. The assembly includes a unitary connector engaged with the first side opening and axially extending away from the inner tube through the second side opening and the open bottom. The unitary connector is radially spaced from the outer tube at the second side opening and from the housing above the inner surface. The unitary connector abuts an inner surface of the lip of the housing and defines passages open to the first chamber and to the second chamber. The unitary connector includes a valve seat surrounding one of passages.

Abstract: A suspension control system including a suspension control unit, an unsprung mass accelerometer positioned at each wheel of the vehicle, and a global positioning system. The suspension control unit determines if a road irregularity, such as a bump or pothole, is approaching based on vehicle location data, provides pre-emptive road event classification information for the approaching road irregularity, and sets both a threshold based suspension pre-setting and a threshold based pre-trigger based on the pre-emptive road event classification information. The suspension control unit monitors the unsprung mass acceleration data, calculates a slope value for the unsprung mass acceleration data, and activates a suspension control action if the unsprung mass acceleration data exceeds the threshold based pre-trigger and the slope value exceeds a maximum slope value.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a suspension system of a vehicle includes an intermediate tube on an inner tube defining an intermediate chamber between the inner tube and the intermediate tube. The shock absorber includes an outer tube and the inner tube and the intermediate tube are in the outer tube. The outer tube defines a reserve chamber between the outer tube and the intermediate tube. A valve fluidly connects the intermediate chamber and the reserve chamber. An elongated slot is in the outer tube between the valve and the reserve chamber.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a suspension system of a vehicle includes a transfer ring fluidly connecting an intermediate chamber and the valve. The transfer ring includes a body and a seal unit. The seal unit includes a first seal, a second seal, and a connector. The first seal is between the transfer ring and the intermediate tube. The second seal is between the transfer ring and the valve. The connector is connected to the first seal and the second seal. The connector extends through the body from the first seal to the second seal.

Abstract: A state module selectively sets a present state to a first state in a predetermined order of states; a valve control module determines first target open and closed states for valves of a suspension system based on the present state and opens and closes the valves according to the first target open and closed states, respectively; a pump control module configured to, when the valves are in the first target open and closed states, respectively, selectively operate an electric pump of the suspension system in a first direction and pump hydraulic fluid toward the suspension system; and a diagnosis module configured to: record first and second values of pressures within the suspension system measured using pressure sensors, respectively, before and after the operation of the electric pump in the first direction, respectively; and selectively diagnose faults in a first subset of the valves based on whether pressure increases occurred.

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 damper includes an outer tube elongated along an axis, a cylinder elongated along the axis within the outer tube, a piston disposed in the cylinder and movable along the axis, an intermediate tube attached concentrically around the cylinder, a ring press-fitted around an outer diameter of the intermediate tube, and a valve attached to the outer tube. The intermediate tube and the cylinder define an intermediate chamber radially between the cylinder and the intermediate tube. The valve is in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber. The intermediate tube includes an intermediate-tube opening extending radially through the intermediate tube. The ring includes a ring opening extending radially through the ring. The ring opening is aligned with the intermediate-tube opening. The valve is in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber through the ring opening and the intermediate-tube opening.

Abstract: A system includes: a state module configured to selectively set a present state to a first state; a valve control module configured to determine first target open and closed states for valves of a suspension system based on the present state and to open and close the valves according to the first target open and closed states, respectively; a pump control module configured to, when the valves are in the first target open and closed states, respectively, selectively operate an electric pump in a first direction to increase hydraulic fluid pressure in a first portion of the suspension system; and a leak module configured to selectively diagnose a leak in a first one of the valves associated with the first state based on a first pressure in the first portion of the suspension system while the valves are open and closed according to the first target open and closed states.

Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a memory storing a stored driver distribution profile of a driver input parameter and a stored suspension setting corresponding to the stored driver distribution profile. The system further includes a sensor to detect a current value of the driver input parameter. The system further includes a processor communicably coupled to the memory and the sensor. The processor is configured to determine a current driver distribution profile of the driver input parameter based on the current value of the driver input parameter. The processor is configured to determine a current suspension setting based on the current driver distribution profile. The processor is configured to adjust the stored suspension setting to generate a stored adjusted suspension setting corresponding to the current suspension setting.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube containing a hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber further includes a piston rod extending within the pressure tube along a longitudinal axis, and including a piston end disposed within the pressure tube. The piston rod includes a rod chamber defined within the piston rod and extending along the longitudinal axis from an upper chamber end distal to the piston end to a lower chamber end proximal to the piston end. The piston rod further includes at least one first opening disposed proximal to the lower chamber end. The shock absorber further includes a first piston assembly, an auxiliary housing, and a damper assembly including a sleeve received within the rod chamber.

Abstract: A damper including inner and outer tubes is provided. A piston is slidably disposed within the inner tube. An intermediate tube is positioned radially between the inner and outer tubes. The intermediate tube extends between first and second intermediate tube ends. An intermediate channel is disposed radially between the intermediate and inner tubes. A slanted elliptical seal is positioned inside the intermediate channel and divides the intermediate channel into first and second intermediate channel portions. A first control valve is in fluid communication with the second intermediate channel portion via a first intermediate tube opening. A second control valve is in fluid communication with the first intermediate channel portion via a second intermediate tube opening. The slanted elliptical seal abuts the intermediate tube between the first intermediate tube opening and the first intermediate tube end and between the second intermediate tube opening and the second intermediate tube end.

Abstract: A shock for a vehicle includes a tube elongated along an axis. A piston is disposed in the tube and is moveable relative to the tube along the axis. A rod is connected to the piston. A floating piston is spaced from the piston along the axis and is moveable relative to the tube along the axis. The tube defines a working chamber between the piston and the floating piston. The tube defines a gas chamber. The floating piston separates the gas chamber from the working chamber. The floating piston has a housing slideably engaged with the tube and a membrane fluidly separating the working chamber from the gas chamber. The membrane is flexible relative to the housing.

Abstract: A suspension system and associated control methods for improving the effectiveness of driver assistance systems is disclosed where the driver assistance systems can generate and send requests to a suspension control unit (SCU) of the suspension system to actuate (e.g., close) one or more comfort valves in the suspension system to increase the roll stiffness and/or pitch stiffness of the suspension system when the driver assistance systems are taking corrective action. As part of a two-way communication between the suspension control unit (SCU) and the driver assistance systems, the suspension control unit (SCU) communicates target stiffnesses and/or calculated effective stiffnesses to the driver assistance systems, which is used to update the vehicle stability models used by the driver assistance systems.

Abstract: A system includes a first hitch provided on a first vehicle and configured to connect to a second hitch provided on a second vehicle. The system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that are executable by the processor. The instructions include determining whether the first hitch is connected to the second hitch. The instructions include performing a charging control operation based on the determination of whether the first hitch is connected to the second hitch.

Abstract: A ring circumscribing a moveable rod of a hydraulic damper, the moveable rod defining a central axis, the ring comprising a first circumferential surface, a second circumferential surface, a first finger, a second finger, a first flange, and a second flange. The first finger and the first flange defining a first end of the ring. The second finger and the second flange defining a second end of the ring.

Abstract: A suspension system including four dampers where each damper includes compression and rebound chambers. The suspension system has four hydraulic circuits, each including a cross-over hydraulic line that extends between dampers located at opposite corners of the vehicle (i.e., between the front left and back right dampers or between the front right and back left dampers). The suspension system further includes four electromechanical comfort valves that open and close four bridge hydraulic lines that extend between the cross-over hydraulic lines at each corner of the vehicle. Each cross-over hydraulic line is connected to a manifold assembly by a corresponding manifold hydraulic line. The manifold assembly includes four manifold valves that are connected to a pump assembly and two manifold comfort valves. All six comfort valves are electromechanical valves that can be actuated to control the roll and pitch of the vehicle during cornering, braking, and acceleration.

Abstract: A suspension system and associated control methods that reduce temperature related fluctuations in the internal pressures and stiffness of the suspension system. A manifold assembly is connected in fluid communication with a plurality of dampers via hydraulic circuits and a pump assembly via a pump hydraulic line. Onboard sensors generate real-time data regarding the vehicle. A suspension control unit, arranged in electronic communication with the aforementioned components, monitors the real-time data, sets a target stiffness and a target pressure, calculates an effective stiffness based on the real-time data, determines if the effective stiffness is above or below the target stiffness and sets a new target pressure accordingly by making stepwise decreases or increases until the new target pressure is reached.