Abstract: A shock absorber having a pair of valve assemblies which include an acceleration sensitive valve which couples the working chamber of the shock absorber to the shock absorber's reservoir chamber through a fluid path to provide a soft damping characteristic for the shock when the shock absorber experiences acceleration beyond a specific amount. A compression valve assembly and a rebound valve assembly are also provided which controls the fluid flow through the piston and the base assembly, respectively, to provide a firm damping characteristic for the shock absorber during low acceleration movement.

Abstract: A brake bleed tool includes a pliable plastic tube which sealingly engages a bleed fitting. A bleed wrench coaxially slides along the tool to engage the bleed fitting. The bleed wrench includes a socket end for engaging the bleed fitting at one end and a winged end at the opposite end which is used to loosen and tighten the bleed fitting.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a pressure tube with a piston slidably disposed therein. A separate valve includes a fluid circuit for fluid low in rebound and a fluid circuit for fluid flow in compression. Each fluid circuit includes a variable orifice which allows selection between a firm rebound with a soft compression, a soft rebound with a soft compression and a soft rebound with a firm compression. Each variable orifice is in communication with a blowoff valve in such a manner that they provide a variable blowoff feature to the blowoff valves.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a valve assembly with a low speed valving system and a high speed valving system. Both systems control fluid flow through the respective valve assembly for fluid flow in the same direction. The low speed valving system is independently tunable in order to provide low speed damping to improve both the vehicle control and handling. The independent tuning of the low speed valving system allows the optimization of the low speed valving system in relation to the high speed valving system as well as the independent tuning of the high speed valving system in relation to the low speed valving system. The independent tuning of the two systems allow the achievement of a smooth transition between the two systems. The dual valving systems can be incorporated into the piston for a compression stroke, be incorporated into the piston for an extension stroke, or two dual valving systems can be incorporated into the piston for compression and extension strokes.

Abstract: A strut includes a shock absorber and an air spring. The air spring is positioned around and concentric with the shock absorber. A sealing system is employed which seals the pressurized air chamber of the air spring. The sealing system utilizes an elastomeric seal located between the air spring and the shock absorber. The elastomeric seal can be a rectangular annular seal, an O-ring seal or an elastomeric seal bonded to a metal plate.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a valve assembly with a low speed oil flow circuit and a mid/high speed oil flow circuit. Both circuits control fluid flow through the valve assembly in the same direction. The low speed oil flow circuit is tunable in order to provide low speed damping to improve both the vehicle control and handling. The tuning of the low speed oil flow circuit is accomplished by sizing a restricted passage which is part of a circuit and controlling the pressure at which the low speed oil flow circuit opens. The valve assembly of the present invention can be located within either a base valve assembly or a piston valve assembly.

Abstract: A gas shock absorber has a pressure tube which defines a working chamber. A piston divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. A series of extension passages extend through the piston and are opened and closed by an extension valve assembly. A series of compression passages extend through the piston and are opened and closed by a compression valve assembly. An open flow path defined by the extension valve assembly extends through the piston between the upper and lower working chambers. A rod guide assembly is located between the pressure tube and a piston rod. The rod guide assembly includes an oil chamber for sealing and lubricating the piston rod.

Abstract: A gas shock absorber has a pressure tube which defines a working chamber. A piston divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. A series of extension passages extend through the piston and are opened and closed by an extension valve assembly. A first and a second series of compression passages extend through the piston and are opened and closed by a first and a second compression valve assembly, respectively. A rod guide assembly is located between the pressure tube and a piston rod. The rod guide assembly includes an oil chamber for sealing and lubricating the piston rod.

Abstract: A two-stage shock absorber has a pressure tube within which a valve assembly is slidably disposed. A piston rod is attached to the valve assembly and extends out of the pressure tube. A ring is slidably disposed within the pressure tube and engages the valve assembly. After a specified amount of movement of the valve assembly with respect to the pressure tube in an extension movement of the shock absorber, the sleeve engages a metered slot and reduces the fluid flow through the valve assembly to progressively switch the shock absorber from soft damping to firm damping.

Abstract: A single absorber includes a valve assembly with a low speed valving system and a high speed valving system. Both systems control fluid flow through the respective valve assembly for fluid flow in the same direction. The low speed valving system is independently tunable in order to provide low speed damping to improve both vehicle control and handling. The independent tuning of the low speed valving system allows the optimization of the low speed valving system in relation to the high speed valving system as well as independent tuning of the high speed valving system in relation to the low speed valving system. The independent tuning of the two systems allow the achievement of a smooth transition between the two systems. The two valving systems can be incorporated into a piston assembly for an extension stroke, a base valve assembly for a compression stroke or both.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a pressure tube, a reserve tube, a piston rod and a rod guide. The rod guide is located between the pressure tube, the reserve tube and the piston rod. A sealing system is located between the rod guide and the piston rod. The sealing system is held in place by the reserve tube. The sealing system includes a positioning ring, a damper seal and a dirt wiper. The positioning ring locates the sealing system with respect to the rod guide. The damper seal engages the positioning ring and has two sealing lips that engage the rod guide. The dirt wiper engages the damper seal and includes a lip which engages the piston rod.

Abstract: An automatic damper for an automobile automatic damper system which provides a compression valve operable to vary compressive damping characteristics of a damper, as well as a rebound valve operable to vary rebound damping characteristics of the damper. Use of the invention in cooperation with presently available electronic control modules and sensing algorithms provides a damper with either discrete valves or continuously variable valves for independently setting the rebound and compression damping characteristics of the damper.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a base valve assembly which includes a compression valve assembly and an acceleration valve assembly. The compression valve assembly controls a fluid path through the base assembly to provide a firm damping characteristic for the shock absorber during low acceleration movement. The acceleration valve assembly controls a second fluid path through the base assembly to provide a soft damping characteristic for the shock when the shock absorber experiences acceleration beyond a specified amount.

Abstract: An axle shaft spacer member for use with a suspension lift kit. The spacer member enables the wheel spindle of a vehicle to be moved laterally a desired distance, which in turn enables the upper control arms associated with the wheel spindle to be lowered when such would not otherwise be possible because of interference with the frame portion of the vehicle. The spacer is a disc-like member having a thickness equal to the desired lateral offset distance needed to enable the upper control arm to be lowered and re-mounted via a drop bracket, to the frame. The spacer member enables the original suspension geometry to be maintained, thus maintaining the ride and steering characteristics of the original suspension system while enabling vehicle ride height to be increased.

Abstract: A passive damping for a shock absorber is disclosed. The shock absorber includes a working chamber, and a piston disposed in the working chamber. The piston includes a primary bypass valve for defining an upper fluid portion and a lower fluid portion. A piston rod is connected to the piston and extends through the top portion of the working chamber. A variable bypass assembly is disposed between a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The variable bypass assembly includes at least one bypass aperture for providing communication of damping fluid between the first and second fluid chambers. The variable bypass assembly also includes a passive control member for varying the size of the bypass aperture, and biasing structure for normally retaining the passive control member in a position which maximizes the size of the bypass aperture.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a pressure tube with a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube and attached to a piston rod. The piston assembly divides the pressure tube into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. The piston assembly includes a compression and a rebound valve assembly. The piston assembly also includes a housing attached to the piston rod within which is slidably disposed a piston to define a closed chamber. The closed chamber is in communication with one of the working chambers through a passageway extending through the piston rod. The housing and piston provide two stage damping in rebound and compression with a smooth transition between soft and firm damping.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension apparatus operating between the sprung and unsprung masses of a vehicle includes a pendular anti-roll bar connected to the vehicle and a pair of links which connect the bar to the wheels. The anti-roll bar includes a pair of selectively activated anti-roll bar restrictors mechanically communicating with the central rod of the anti-roll bar. In response to the roll above a predetermined threshold, at least one of the restrictors is actuated in order to clamp the roll bar and prevent axial twist of the central rod beyond the actuated restrictor, thereby varying the torsional length of the roll bar central rod. The change in the torsional length of the central rod correspondingly changes the stiffness of the roll bar.

Abstract: The present invention provides a muffler which has an outlet tube with a funnel shaped element having a large diameter end positioned in an expansion chamber and conically tapering to a junction with a cylindrical neck element extending into an inlet end of an outlet tube. An inlet tube is supported by an outer shell which also supports the outlet tube. The inlet tube is attached to the outer shell by a first partition and a first end cap, forming a tuning chamber. The outlet tube is attached to the outer shell by the funnel shaped element and a second end cap, forming an outlet chamber. A space defined by the distance between the first partition and the second partition and the geometry of the outer shell forms an expansion chamber. The three different chambers serve to either tune or quiet the exhaust coming from an internal combustion engine, and the funnel shaped element serves to smooth the flow of exhaust from the inlet tube to the outlet tube.

Abstract: A gas shock absorber has a pressure tube which defines a working chamber. A piston divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. A series of extension passages extend through the piston and are always left open. A series of compression passages extend through the piston and are opened and closed by a compression valve assembly. A rod guide assembly is located between the pressure tube and a piston rod. The rod guide assembly includes an oil chamber for sealing and lubricating the piston rod.

Abstract: A truck design and load/unload configuration includes a tractor and an enclosed semi-trailer. The enclosed semi-trailer includes front and rear full size cargo doors or openings. The cargo loaded into the semi-trailer first is assured to be the cargo that is unloaded from the semi-trailer first.