Abstract: A suspension system with a shock absorber having a manually adjustable lock-out valve and a blow-off valve for controlling damping characteristics suitable for a wide variety of large, medium, and small bumps, and rider induced suspension action, while selectively providing a stiff suspension for increased drive line efficiency. The shock absorber includes a damper containing a non-compressible fluid. A piston dividing the chamber into two portions has a primary channel and a secondary channel. A lock-out valve is coupled to the primary channel and is manually movable from an open position to a closed position. In the closed position, the hydraulic fluid is blocked from flowing through the primary channel to provide stiffened damping characteristics of the damper. In the open position, the hydraulic fluid can flow through the primary channel to provide softened damping characteristics.

Abstract: A dampener for a shock absorber of a vehicle, such as a bicycle, is mounted within a telescoping front fork including a stanchion tube and a coaxial slide tube. The dampener includes an internally received hydraulic fluid sleeve that defines a hydraulic chamber in which a piston assembly is disposed. Movement of the piston assembly through hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic chamber is selectively adjusted by metering the flow of bypass hydraulic fluid to the back side of the piston assembly by adjusting a fluid bypass assembly disposed longitudinally within the stanchion tube. The responsive valve assembly includes outlet and inlet ports, and biased bypass valves that move between open and closed positions. In response to sensed velocity and/or displacement of the piston assembly, thereby adjusting the damping of the shock absorber.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a fluid-filled cylinder having a closed end, a shaft extending partially into the cylinder, a valve attached to the first end of the shaft, and a power supply. The valve includes a valve piston and a bender. The valve piston includes at least one orifice extending therethrough. The bender is seated adjacent the orifice in the piston. The bender includes a piezoelectric material embedded therein. The piezoelectric material includes sides with conductive material disposed thereon. The power supply is attached to the conductive material across the piezoelectric material in the bender to apply a voltage across the piezoelectric material to change the stiffness of the bender. A sensor is also included for monitoring the displacement and velocity of the piston within the fluid-filled cylinder. The biasing force on the bender is changed on sensor readings according to predetermined logic sequence.

Abstract: A dampener (628) for a shock absorber of a vehicle, such as a bicycle, is mounted within a telescoping front fork including a stanchion tube (116) and a coaxial slide tube (618). The dampener includes an internally received hydraulic fluid sleeve (640) that defines a hydraulic chamber (648) in which a piston assembly (732) is disposed. Movement of the piston assembly through hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic chamber is selectively adjusted by metering the flow of bypass hydraulic fluid to the back side of the piston assembly by adjusting a responsive valve assembly (670) disposed longitudinally within the stanchion tube. The responsive valve assembly includes a piezoelectric bender (702) that is controlled by circuitry (712) to change its biasing relative to a valve member (694) in response to sensed velocity and/or displacement of the piston assembly.