Abstract: A hydraulic suspension damper includes a fluid-filled cylinder divided into first and second fluid chambers by a reciprocating piston. A bypass valve assembly includes a first pressure responsive valve assembly in fluid connection with one of the fluid chambers and a second pressure responsive valve assembly in fluid connection with the other fluid chamber. The pressure responsive valve assemblies direct fluid to an unidirectional electromechanical valve assembly. Operation of the bypass valve assembly permits independent control of fluid during compression and rebound strokes of the damper.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper includes an internal accumulator for storing and dissipating energy resulting from a fluid pressure spike inside the damper. A housing is mounted on a piston rod above a reciprocable piston. A compressible medium is stored in the housing. A valve assembly controls the flow of fluid into and out of the accumulator. When a sudden fluid pressure rise occurs, the medium compresses to store the energy. When the pressure rise dissipates, fluid exits the accumulator as the medium expands.

Abstract: Rolling lobe air suspension strut having a specialized compliant cover plate assembly that forms the upper end of the air spring and which provides for absorption of jounce energy. This cover plate assembly provides optimization of isolation characteristics through split paths carried into the body through the isolation cushion in the mount assembly and the isolator portion of the compliant cover plate provided by the elastomer jounce bumper.

Abstract: An oil pressurized telescoping actuator for active ride vehicle suspension having a folded dual piston design with an inner piston stroking within the rod of an outer piston to foreshorten overall length. A special universal joint provided for a larger tolerance so that three bearing surfaces encounter will not encounter binding. The upper mount accommodates the upper end of the actuator with extends therethrough to further foreshorten the unit. The entire unit is jacketed to provide a reservoir connected to a drain line so that leakage oil can be pressurized by a pump into the system for pressurized feed into the actuator for powered expansion and contraction of the actuator for level ride for all vehicle maneuvers.

Abstract: Suspension damper with double drum variable valving within the confines of the piston which strokes within the damper that is rotatable to predetermined stations in one revolution to provide a wide range of jounce and rebound damping characteristics and rotatable in an opposite direction from any station for maximized valve restriction producing optimized vehicle lift and dive control.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper for adjusting the damping force which incorporates a piston operatively for stroking movement within a cylinder and partitioning the cylinder into separate chambers with first fluid flow control valving interconnecting said chambers for determining said damping force of said unit and fluid bypass passage extending through said neck portion of said piston for controlling the effective passage area of the bypass passage and generating a family of curves for controlling and selecting the damping force of the damper.

Abstract: A family of two-stage rebound damping performance curves is provided by rotating a selector plate within the damper piston to a number of selected positions to control orifice selection to a centralized blow off passage to thereby control the rate of oil flow through the piston during rebound.

Abstract: Rebound damping action of this hydraulic damper is set by rotating a selector plate within the shock absorber piston to a number of positions to control orifice selection degree of disk plate pack deflection and the rate of oil flow through the piston during rebound.

Abstract: Rebound and compression damping action of this hydraulic damper is set by rotating a selector plate within the damper piston to a number of positions to control orifice selection in parallel to flow through the disk plate pack and thereby control the rate of oil flow through the piston during rebound.

Abstract: A rotational actuator for the interior of an adjustable vehicle suspension damper device comprises a cylindrical permanent magnet stator and a cylindrical armature. The armature includes a shaftless winding on a non-magnetic armature frame, the armature frame extending axially beyond the winding at each end with output engaging means at one end and an opening between that end and the winding projecting radially inward across the axis of the armature. A first shaft coaxial with the armature is anchored in the one axial end of the armature frame and rotatably supported in a first axial support. A second axial support in the stator projects into the opening of the armature frame across the armature axis and supports a second shaft coaxial with the armature and extending across the opening of the second axial end of the armature frame, whereby the armature is supported at each axial end close to the winding and core while the radial size of the actuator is minimized.

Abstract: Variable damping apparatus of the fluid pumping type includes an adjustable valve. The valve comprises a stationary plate having a bleed orifice and one or more additional orifices opening axially therethrough, each said additional orifice including a blowoff valve, and a rotatable plate having a bleed orifice and an additional orifice opening axially therethrough, the rotatable plate being disposed adjacent the stationary plate to vary orifice communication with rotation. As the rotatable plate is rotated in opposite directions with respect to the stationary plate away from a position of full communication between the bleed orifices of said plates, the communication of the additional orifices of the plates is varied in a different manner in each rotational direction for equal degrees of communication between the bleed orifices.

Abstract: A suspension unit operatively connected between sprung and unsprung portions of a vehicle includes a replacement air sleeve and special air sleeve fitting facilitating installation. The air sleeve fitting is installed over the reservoir tube of the suspension unit and cooperates with a dust tube to locate the air sleeve on the suspension unit.

Abstract: Suspension strut is detached from sprung portion of the vehicle and swung on lower control arm pivot to service position in which onboard repairs can be effected including change or addition of elastomer air sleeve using special inner clamping ring which is manually installed and which provides optimized clearance with respect to the dust tube allowing unrestricted reciprocating strut movements on vehicle operation subsequent to reattachment of the strut to the sprung portion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A suspension unit operatively connected between sprung and unsprung portions of a vehicle includes a replacement air sleeve and special air sleeve fitting facilitating installation. The air sleeve fitting is installed over the reservoir tube of the suspension unit and cooperates with a dust tube to locate the air sleeve on the suspension unit.

Abstract: This energy absorbing bumper mount comprises a spring bracket assembly which includes a pair of diverging spring arms that carry pins on the outer end thereof. A preloaded yieldable energy absorbing band of oriented plastic material is stretched across the arms by attachment to the pins. On impact of a bumper attached to the spring arms, the pins are laterally displaced from one another as the spring arms are deflected. Energy is absorbed by the stretching of the band and by deflection of the spring arms. Rebound is controlled with the slow recovery rate of the band acting as a buckling column to retard recovery of the spring arms to their normal undeflected position.

Abstract: The energy absorber housing is fixed to the vehicle frame and contains a cylindrical capsule of urethane or other resilient energy-absorbing material. An elongated stepped diameter cylindrical plunger extending inwardly from the bumper has its small diameter portion projecting through a central passage in the capsule. On impact of the bumper the capsule dissipates impact energy by radial deflection as the large diameter portion of the plunger moves into the capsule in response to impact induced movement of the bumper. On removal of the impact load, the capsule recovers to its original shape at a predetermined slow rate and with a force of recovery that acts on a conical wall surface between the two diameter portions of the plunger to return the plunger and the bumper assembly to their original positions.

Abstract: This energy absorber incorporates a mounting bracket secured to a vehicle which by track and follower mechanism slidably mounts a support bracket that is secured to a vehicle bumper. One bracket supports a laterally extending energy absorbing band of resilient material engaged by the follower carried by the other bracket. On impact, the brackets are telescoped inwardly and an intermediate portion of the band is displaced by the follower to effect band deflection and energy absorption. On rebound, the band gradually restores to its original configuration to return the brackets and bumper to its pre-impact position.

Abstract: Telescoping energy absorber unit for bumper support incorporating an internal helical extension spring normally disposed in a centralized location that yieldably maintains the unit extended to provide a bumper preload and that expands on collapsing telescopic movement of the unit to load a column of oil therein to exert a return force urging the unit and bumper toward their extended positions.

Abstract: An air control valve for directing the flow of air from an internal combustion engine driven pump and including differential pressure actuating means includes a pilot valve responsive to engine induction vacuum level to provide induction vacuum, atmospheric air or air from the pump to the actuating means. The pilot valve includes a chamber having openings communicating with the pump and the actuating means, a restricted orifice to atmosphere, a valve element capable of selectively closing either of the openings, a differential pressure motor actuated by induction vacuum and a tube projecting through the actuating means opening into the chamber, the tube being axially positionable by and in communication with the differential pressure motor to co-act with the valve member and openings to supply high pressure air, atmospheric air or induction vacuum to the actuating means according to the level of induction vacuum.

Abstract: The bumper assembly of a vehicle is supported by a pair of energy absorber units each of which incorporates a piston assembly which strokes in an inner cylinder to force gas from an inner chamber to a gas spring chamber through an expansible and contractable control chamber controlled by one-way valves and bleed orifices. On the return stroke, compressed gas in the control chamber exerts a force opposing the gas spring return force exerted on the piston assembly. Gas in the control chamber meters through the bleed orifices into the inner chamber so that the return rate of the piston assembly is effectively controlled and reduced.