Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling inflation and deflation is provided. The valve assembly includes a rapid-inflate valve having an annular body configured to couple to a valve stem port of a wheel and selectively permit gas flow into a tire. The valve has a sealing surface in a chamber with a slidable sealing member biased toward the sealing surface. In a closed position, the sealing member can be positioned in contact with the sealing surface to prohibit gas flow through the valve, and in an open position, the sealing member can be positioned away from the sealing surface to permit gas flow through the valve. Wheel can include dual valve stem ports. In this configuration, the first port has the rapid-inflate valve assembly and the second port can have a rapid-deflate valve stem, a rapid-deflate valve stem cap, a rapid-deflate to pressure set valve stem, or a standard valve stem.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of assessing driver safety, includes: analyzing a motion that is associated with a vehicle and is detected by one or more first sensors to determine one or more instances of unsafe driving behavior; identifying one or more sound levels that are associated with an interior of the vehicle, as detected by one or more second sensors, and correspond to the one or more instances of unsafe driving behavior; identifying at least one of the one or more sound levels that exceeds a sound threshold; and generating an alert indicating the at least one of the one or more sound levels, as identified, exceeds the sound threshold. Other embodiments are described.

Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

Abstract: An apparatus and system are disclosed that provide position sensitive suspension damping. A damping unit includes a piston mounted in a fluid-filled cylinder. A vented path in the piston may be fluidly coupled to a bore formed in one end of the piston rod, creating a flow path for fluid to flow from a first side of the piston to a second side of the piston during a compression stroke. The flow path may be blocked by a needle configured to engage the bore as the damping unit is substantially fully compressed, thereby causing the damping rate of the damping unit to increase. In one embodiment, the piston includes multiple bypass flow paths operable during the compression stroke or the rebound stroke of the damping unit. One or more of the bypass flow paths may be restricted by one or more shims mounted on the piston.

Abstract: A valve stem for controlling inflation and deflation is provided. The valve stem includes a valve body having a central passage and a lateral port venting to the atmosphere. A valve core can be positioned within the central passage and configured to permit gas flow into the central passage. A collar is configured to surround an intermediate portion of the valve body, with the collar movable between a first position, where the collar occludes the lateral port to prohibit gas flow out of the lateral port, and a second position, where the collar opens the lateral port to permit gas flow from the central passage through the lateral port. A pressure set assembly can couple to the valve body and be set to a pressure at which the pressure set assembly closes to prohibit gas flow through the pressure set assembly and through the lateral port.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle having a damper and a first and second springs mounted coaxially around the damper and a preload adjuster for partially compressing at least one of the springs independently of the compression stroke. In one embodiment the preload adjuster is remotely controllable. In another embodiment the shock absorber includes an additional mechanism for preloading at least one of the springs.

Abstract: A turbine nozzle assembly for use in a turbine engine is provided. The assembly includes an inner barrel and a turbine nozzle support ring. The inner barrel has a forward end and an aft end. The turbine nozzle support ring includes an annular body that defines a forward end, an opposite aft end, an inner surface, and an opposite outer portion. The forward end of the annular body is coupled to the aft end of the inner barrel. The annular body includes a first arcuate segment and a second arcuate segment removably coupled to the first arcuate segment. The first arcuate segment has a first arcuate length and the second arcuate segment has a second arcuate length. The second arcuate length is shorter than the first arcuate length.

Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling inflation and deflation is provided. The valve assembly includes a rapid-deflate valve cover having a central passage extending through the annular body; an internally threaded portion positioned within the central passage configured to threadingly interface with an externally threaded portion of a valve stem; and a pressure relief formed in the internally threaded portion. The rapid-deflate valve cover can include a valve core positioned within the central passage near the proximal end and configured to selectively permit gas flow from the proximal end into the central passage past the valve core. When the rapid-deflate valve cover is in a closed position, the annular body contacts the valve stem to prohibit gas flow through the central passage. When the rapid-deflate valve cover is in the open position, the body is positioned away from the valve stem to permit gas flow into the central passage.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and techniques for assessing driver safety based on noise levels or sounds associated with the interior of a vehicle are provided. Noise levels or sounds associated with the interior of a vehicle over a first interval of time may be compared to indications of vehicle motion over the first interval of time to identify noise levels or sounds at times when the indications of vehicle motion indicate unsafe driving. The identified noise levels or sounds may be analyzed to determine noise levels, sources, and/or characteristics of sounds associated with unsafe driving. Noise levels or sounds associated with the interior of the vehicle over a second interval of time may be analyzed to determine instances in which the noise levels, sources, and/or characteristics of sounds associated with unsafe driving occur over the second interval of time. Alerts may be generated for vehicle operators based on the determined instances.

Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a suspension comprising a spring having a threaded member at a first end for providing axial movement to the spring as the spring is rotated and the threaded member moves relative to a second component. In one embodiment, the system includes a damper for metering fluid through a piston and a rotatable spring member coaxially disposed around the damper and rotatable relative to the damper.

Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling inflation and deflation is provided. The valve assembly includes a rapid-inflate valve having an annular body configured to couple to a valve stem port of a wheel and selectively permit gas flow into a tire. The valve has a sealing surface in a chamber with a slidable sealing member biased toward the sealing surface. In a closed position, the sealing member can be positioned in contact with the sealing surface to prohibit gas flow through the valve, and in an open position, the sealing member can be positioned away from the sealing surface to permit gas flow through the valve. Wheel can include dual valve stem ports. In this configuration, the first port has the rapid-inflate valve assembly and the second port can have a rapid-deflate valve stem, a rapid-deflate valve stem cap, a rapid-deflate to pressure set valve stem, or a standard valve stem.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper including: a cylinder; a piston assembly; and an adjuster, wherein the piston assembly compresses fluid as it moves within the cylinder and the adjuster obstructs fluid flow from a first side of a damping piston of the piston assembly to a second side of the damping piston.

Abstract: A damper is provided having a twin tube construction interconnected to a gas reservoir. The connection of each of the inner and outer volumes of the twin tube to the gas reservoir is independently valved, and each of these valves are independently settable to change the differential pressure thereacross at which they open. The damper provides flow passages directly from the inner and outer volumes to enable flow form the compression to rebound sides thereof, as well as through the valved connections to the gas reservoir and at least one valved opening in the damper piston.

Abstract: A dynamic anti-roll bar link for a vehicle suspension is provided. The link selectively transfers movement of the suspension system to the anti-roll bar, depending on a locked or unlocked state of the link. The anti-roll bar link includes an elongate link rod; a sliding assembly configured to translate axially along the elongate link; and a latch assembly configured to extend between the second retention member and the sliding assembly. In a locked state, the pawl portion can receive the pawl engaging member, and the retention member interface portion abuts the second retention member to prevent axial translation of the sliding assembly along the elongate link rod. In an unlocked state, the sliding assembly is permitted to translate axially along the elongate link rod. The primary and secondary latch bodies are pinned together in an over-center configuration in the locked state to prevent inadvertent unlocking.

Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling inflation and deflation is provided. The valve assembly includes a rapid-deflate valve cover having a central passage extending through the annular body; an internally threaded portion positioned within the central passage configured to threadingly interface with an externally threaded portion of a valve stem; and a pressure relief formed in the internally threaded portion. The rapid-deflate valve cover can include a valve core positioned within the central passage near the proximal end and configured to selectively permit gas flow from the proximal end into the central passage past the valve core. When the rapid-deflate valve cover is in a closed position, the annular body contacts the valve stem to prohibit gas flow through the central passage. When the rapid-deflate valve cover is in the open position, the body is positioned away from the valve stem to permit gas flow into the central passage.

Abstract: A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

Abstract: An anti-roll bar link for a vehicle suspension may be positioned between an anti-roll bar and an articulating arm. The link selectively transfers movement of the arm to the anti-roll bar, depending on a locked or unlocked state. The link includes a body interfacing a slidable shaft. A physical feature selectively locks or unlocks the slidable shaft with respect to the body. The physical feature may include a locking pin, interference with a locking ball, etc. In the locked state, translation of the slidable shaft is restricted, and movement of the arm is transferred through the link to the bar. In the unlocked state, translation of the slidable shaft is permitted, and movement of the arm causes the shaft to translate with respect to the body such that at least a portion of the movement is not transferred to the bar.