Abstract: A damping unit, such as a shock absorber, includes a cylinder (2), a piston (4) dividing the cylinder into a compression chamber 6 and a rebound chamber (8), and a piston rod (10). The rod extends from the piston through at least the rebound chamber. The compression chamber reduces in volume and the rebound chamber increases in volume as the damping unit contracts generating a compression flow across the piston, and the rebound chamber reduces in volume and the compression chamber increases in volume as the damping unit extends, generating a rebound flow across the piston. The piston has a compression chamber piston face and an annular rebound chamber piston face. At least one rebound restriction is provided in or on the piston, such as one or more rebound ports (26)/passages/valving (28), and at least one compression restriction, such as one or more compression ports 14/passages/valving (20) is provided in or on the piston.

Abstract: A damping unit, such as a shock absorber, includes a cylinder (2), a piston (4) dividing the cylinder into a compression chamber 6 and a rebound chamber (8), and a piston rod (10). The rod extends from the piston through at least the rebound chamber. The compression chamber reduces in volume and the rebound chamber increases in volume as the damping unit contracts generating a compression flow across the piston, and the rebound chamber reduces in volume and the compression chamber increases in volume as the damping unit extends, generating a rebound flow across the piston. The piston has a compression chamber piston face and an annular rebound chamber piston face. At least one rebound restriction is provided in or on the piston, such as one or more rebound ports (26)/passages/valving (28), and at least one compression restriction, such as one or more compression ports 14/passages/valving (20) is provided in or on the piston.

Abstract: A motion damping device, such as a shock absorber, has a damper valve having a valve body (11) including a first face (20, 23) on a first side of the valve body and a second face (23, 20) on the opposing second side of the valve body. The damper valve also has at least first valving (25, 26, 27, 33, 34, 35) to provide a restriction to fluid flow across the damper valve in a first direction from the second side of the of the damper valve to the first side. The first valving has a first valving disc seat (24, 32) on the second face of the valve body. The first valving disc seat has an outer edge. At least one first valving port (21, 31) extends through the valve body from the first side to the second side and exits the valve body inside the outer edge of the first valving seat. The at least one first valving disc is seated on the first valving disc seat.

Abstract: A suspension unit (110) for a suspension system has an accumulator (112) for holding and maintaining a fluid such as a gas under pressure. The accumulator is associated with a motion damping unit (114) that is filled with a fluid, such as an oil, in operation. The accumulator includes a floating piston (122) that separates a first chamber (120) in which is stored the pressurized gas, and a second chamber (124) for storing the other fluid under pressure. A third chamber (128) in the motion damping unit (114) is in fluid flow communication with the second chamber (124) of said accumulator through valve means (126) controlling the flow of fluid between the chambers.

Abstract: A suspension unit (110) for a suspension system has an accumulator(112) for holding and maintaining a fluid such as a gas under pressure. The accumulator is associated with a motion damping unit (114) that is filled with a fluid, such as an oil, in operation. The accumulator includes a floating piston (122) that separates a first chamber (120) in which is stored the pressurized gas, and a second chamber (124) for storing the other fluid under pressure. A third chamber (128) in the motion damping unit (114) is in fluid flow communication with the second chamber (124) of said accumulator through valve means (126) controlling the flow of fluid between the chambers.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly includes a motion damping means that is filled with a fluid in operation and has a pair of relatively moveable parts (12, 14) and valve means (26) permitting flow of the fluid between the parts. The parts comprise a first part (12) and a second part (14) in which the first part is receivable whereby the parts are arranged for relative retracting and extending movement during which fluid is forced through the valve means (26) at respective predetermined controlled flow rates so as to dampen the movement. The relatively moveable parts contain respective primary chambers (24, 29) for the fluid. The first part is substantially smaller in cross-section than the second part to define an intermediate chamber (52) about the first part within the second part. Lateral port means (56) communicates the intermediate chamber (52) and the primary chamber (24) of first part (12).

Abstract: A suspension unit or suspension system includes an accumulator (112) for storing fluid under gas pressure and a motion damping unit (114) for storing fluid under pressure in fluid communication with each other. A valve arrangement (126) is located intermediate the accumulator (112) and the motion damping unit (114) to allow fluid under pressure to flow between the accumulator (112) and motion damping means (114). A piston (122) reactive to movement of the accumulator (112) and motion damping unit (114) with respect to each other is used to control the movement and fluid through the valve (126) so as to adjust the relative positions of the accumulator (112) and the motion damping unit (114). In one embodiment, the accumulator (112) is separate to the motion damping unit (114) and is connected thereto by a flexible hose or other conduit, whereas in another embodiment the accumulator (112) and motion damping unit (114) are a single unit in fluid communication with each other through the valve arrangement (126).

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly includes a motion damping means that is filled with a fluid in operation and has a pair of relatively moveable parts (12, 14) and valve means (26) permitting flow of the fluid between the parts. The parts comprise a first part (12) and a second part (14) in which the first part is receivable whereby the parts are arranged for relative retracting and extending movement during which fluid is forced through the valve means (26) at respective predetermined controlled flow rates so as to dampen the movement. The relatively moveable parts contain respective primary chambers (24, 29) for the fluid. The first part is substantially smaller in cross-section than the second part to define an intermediate chamber (52) about the first part within the second part. Lateral port means (56) communicates the intermediate chamber (52) and the primary chamber (24) of first part (12).