Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic damper, comprising a tube, a piston assembly comprising compression and rebound valve assemblies, and a controllable solenoid valve. The piston assembly further comprises a housing; first, second and third partition members; first, second, third and fourth check valves; and one or more radial channels; wherein said first partition member has a first axial opening and the solenoid valve has a valve member provided with at least one inlet in fluid communication with said first axial opening, and one or more outlets in fluid communication with said first internal chamber, wherein said second partition member has a second axial opening; wherein said first axial opening and said second axial opening allow the working liquid to flow from said third internal chamber to said at least one inlet of the solenoid valve bypassing said second internal chamber.

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 hydraulic shock absorber includes: a cylinder that has an opening portion in a side wall surface on an axle side thereof; a reservoir that stores oil; a control unit that generates a damping force; and a movement prevention member at least a part of which is disposed outside the cylinder and on a vehicle body side of the opening portion, and that obstructs the oil from moving from the axle side to the vehicle body side.

Abstract: A mounting eye (21) is fastened to a rod by pushing, partially or over an entire periphery, an outer periphery of a joint portion of a mounting eye into an annular groove of the rod. Accordingly, an axial length of a fastening portion can be set shorter than that of a related-art structure (screw fastening), thereby being capable of securing a stroke of the rod of a shock absorber in which the mounting eye is fastened to the rod.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes: a cylinder; a piston slidably inserted into the cylinder; a piston rod connected to the piston and extending outside the cylinder; a main valve that generates a damping force; a pilot chamber that applies pressure to the main valve; an introduction passage that introduces the fluid into the pilot chamber; a pilot passage that communicates the pilot chamber and a downstream side of the main valve with each other; and a control valve provided in the pilot passage. In an upstream side of the pilot passage from the control valve, the pilot passage is provided with a first orifice, a first passage provided in parallel with the first orifice, a first check valve that is opened at a predetermined differential pressure and allows a flow toward the control valve through the first passage, and a second orifice.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a hard-side damping element that gives resistance to a flow of liquid from an extension side chamber toward a compression side chamber, an electromagnetic valve capable of changing an opening area of an extension side bypass passage that bypasses the hard-side damping element and communicates the extension side chamber and the compression side chamber, and a soft-side damping element provided in the extension side bypass passage in series with the electromagnetic valve, in which the hard-side damping element includes an orifice and a leaf valve provided in parallel with the orifice, and in which the soft-side damping element includes an orifice having an opening area larger than an opening area of the orifice.

Abstract: A roll vibration damping control system includes an electronic control unit configured to: compute a sum of a product of a roll moment of inertia and a roll angular acceleration of a vehicle body, a product of a roll damping coefficient and a first-order integral of the roll angular acceleration, and a product of an equivalent roll stiffness of the vehicle and a second-order integral of the roll angular acceleration, as a controlled roll moment to be applied to the vehicle body; compute a roll moment around a center of gravity of a sprung mass as a correction roll moment, the roll moment being generated by lateral force on wheels due to roll motion; and compute a target roll moment based on a value obtained by correcting the controlled roll moment with the correction roll moment.

Abstract: An automated damping system including a damping device arranged and disposed to provide variable resistance to a load. The variable resistance provides resistance values corresponding to a displacement position of the damping device. The system includes a damping profile generator that calculates a damping profile and a sensor is arranged and disposed to measure one or more damping affecting properties. The sensor provides the one or more damping affecting properties to the damping profile generator. The damping profile provides the variable resistance based upon the one or more damping affecting properties of the load.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube containing a hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber further includes a piston rod extending within the pressure tube along a longitudinal axis, and including a piston end disposed within the pressure tube. The piston rod includes a rod chamber defined within the piston rod and extending along the longitudinal axis from an upper chamber end distal to the piston end to a lower chamber end proximal to the piston end. The piston rod further includes at least one first opening disposed proximal to the lower chamber end. The shock absorber further includes a first piston assembly, an auxiliary housing, and a damper assembly including a sleeve received within the rod chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber includes a piston, a damper tube, a suspension spring, a plunger, a jack chamber, a pump case, a pump piston, a screw shaft, and a drive unit. Both end surfaces of the pump piston in a reciprocating direction are a first end surface demarcating the pump chamber, and a second end surface demarcating the gas chamber, the second end surface having a screw hole into which the screw shaft is screwed. The pump piston includes a space portion between a bottom plate defining the first end surface and the screw hole. The screw shaft has a through-hole connecting the gas chamber with the space portion.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes an outer tube and an inner tube disposed in the outer tube defining a fluid space therebetween. The inner tube defines an inner volume. A piston is slidably disposed in the inner tube and divides the inner volume into a rebound working chamber and a compression working chamber. An active rebound valve is fluidly connected to the rebound working chamber and the fluid chamber, and an active compression valve is fluidly connected to the reserve chamber and the compression working chamber. An intake assembly is positioned in the fluid chamber to control the fluid flow through the active rebound valve and into the compression working chamber during a rebound stroke and to control fluid flow from the compression working chamber through the active compression valve and into the rebound working chamber during a compression stroke.

Abstract: A vehicle shock absorber has a body extending between a first end and a second end. Translation of a primary shaft within an interior cavity of the body communicates a first volume of fluid within the interior cavity to a secondary reservoir where it increases pressure in a gas cavity therein. The primary shaft has an annular member engaged thereon which contacts a bump shaft slidably located in an opening at the first end of the body. The contact of the annular member translates the bump shaft within the interior cavity to cause communication of a secondary volume of the fluid to the secondary reservoir.

Abstract: Provided a suspension control apparatus including a vehicle behavior detection unit (acceleration sensors), an electrorheological damper provided between a vehicle body (1) and each wheel (2), and a controller configured to execute control so that a damping force of each electrorheological damper is adjusted based on a detection result obtained by the vehicle behavior detection unit. The controller includes a target voltage value setting unit (damping force command calculation unit) configured to obtain a target voltage value to be applied to an electrode tube based on the detection result obtained by the vehicle behavior detection unit, a temperature estimation unit configured to detect or estimate temperature of ERF, and a target voltage value correction unit (output limiting unit) configured to change the target voltage value so that a piston speed (V) is adjusted based on a value obtained by the temperature estimation unit.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes: a pressure tube defining a working chamber; a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube, the piston assembly dividing the working chamber into a first and second chambers; a piston rod including a first end that is attached to the piston assembly and that includes a second end that is configured to be attached to one of a sprung mass and an unsprung mass of a vehicle; an electronic valve that is positioned within the piston rod, the electronic valve including a spool moveable between first and second positions, where: when the spool of the electronic valve is in the first position, the spool allows fluid flow between the first and second chambers through the electronic valve and the piston rod; and when the spool of the electronic valve is in the second position, the spool restricts fluid flow between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A suspension apparatus includes: a damping device; an operating section; and a determination section. The determination section uses a base damping force determined based on a change velocity and an extension occasion adjustment value, or the base damping force, the extension occasion adjustment value and a zero occasion adjustment value to determine a target value of an extension occasion damping force. The determination section uses the base damping force, a compression occasion adjustment value and the zero occasion adjustment value, or the base damping force and the compression occasion adjustment value to determine a target value of an compression occasion damping force. The determination section uses the base damping force and the zero occasion adjustment value to determine a target value of a zero occasion damping force.

Abstract: An SMA-STF based viscous damper includes a first connector, a piston rod, a piston which is sheathed on the piston rod; a damping cylinder; first and second end covers which are respectively provided at two sides of the damping cylinder; a second connector which is fixedly connected to the second end cover; and first and second SMA springs which are respectively sheathed on the piston rod. The damping cylinder has first and second damping cavities between which the piston is arranged. One end of the piston rod passes through the first end cover and is connected to the first connector, and the other end passes through the second connector. The first and second SMA springs are respectively held in the first and second damping cavities in an elastic state. The first and second damping cavities are respectively filled with the STF.

Abstract: [Problem] The present invention provides a damping force adjustable shock absorber capable of reducing manufacturing cost. [Means for Solving] A shock absorber 1 is configured in such a manner that a main valve 32 is disposed below a piston valve 5, and a sub valve 68 for variably adjusting a set load of the main valve 32 is provided in a piston case 21 above the piston valve 5, with a first valve body 53 of the sub valve 68 slidably sealed to a case member 60 by a metal seal at only one portion. Due to the configuration, the shock absorber 1 can ease precision of components of the sub valve 68, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost.

Abstract: Valve arrangement for a shock absorber is described, comprising a valve housing (2) having a first (7) and a second port (8), a pilot chamber (3) being in fluid communication with the first (7) and/or second port (8), wherein a pilot pressure (Pp) is defined by a hydraulic pressure in the pilot chamber (3). The arrangement further comprises a main valve member (4) being axially movably arranged in the valve housing (2) and being arranged to interact with a main valve seat member (9) in order to restrict a main fluid flow between the first (7) and second ports (8) in response to the pilot pressure (Pp) acting on the main valve member (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to design of all-terrain vehicles. The vehicle comprises a gas line which is connected to all of the wheel tires simultaneously and is coupled to a system for inflating the tires. A suspension comprises a wheel springing system connected to the wheel tires, a pneumatic drive and a system for inflating the tires, wherein the wheel springing system is configured in the form of an gas line formed from the cavities of the pipes from which a frame is welded, or is configured outside the frame, forming a closed loop that is connected to each of the tires by means of pipes with closure members, and wherein the pneumatic drive and the system for inflating the tires are constituted by an engine exhaust system which is provided with a baffle and is coupled to the air line by means of a pipe with a closure member.

Abstract: A method for a vehicle comprising at least one wheel suspension with at least one damper, wherein the at least one damper is such that it can adjust its damping resistance between a first damping mode and at least a second damping mode, wherein the second damping mode presents a larger damping resistance than a damping resistance of the first damping mode. The method comprises the steps: S1) identifying if the vehicle is in a first situation during driving of said vehicle which may lead to a subsequent impact force (F) on the at least one wheel suspension which is of a magnitude such that the at least one damper, when in its first damping mode, will reach a position where no further damping can be performed; and, if this is the case, S2) adjusting the damping resistance from the first damping mode to the at least second damping mode.

Abstract: An air bleed system for a suspension fork or shock absorber includes: a fluid passage between an interior of the suspension and an exterior of the suspension; and a manually operable valve having a first position substantially closing the fluid passage and a second position allowing fluid flow between the interior and the exterior.

Abstract: A controllable vibration damper may include a cylinder tube with hydraulic fluid, a piston movable axially within the cylinder tube along an axis and that divides the cylinder tube into two working spaces, a piston rod parallel to the cylinder tube axis and connected at one end to the piston, fluid passages from one working space into another working space, a first valve subassembly on a first fluid passage for damping piston movement in a first direction, and a second valve subassembly on a second fluid passage for damping piston movement in a second direction. Each valve subassembly may include a valve disk seated on a valve seat in a closed position and spaced apart from the valve seat in an open position, as well as a pilot chamber containing an adjustable pressure that pushes the valve disk into the closed position.

Abstract: A damping force control type shock absorber capable of achieving both air bleeding performance and damping force responsiveness at reduced cost. When a pilot valve (47) is closed during the extension stroke of a piston rod (6), a cylinder upper chamber (2A) is communicated with a back-pressure chamber (46) through a passage (73) including an orifice (76), a communicating passage (70), a pilot chamber (33), and a communicating passage (50). At this time, the cylinder upper chamber (2A) is not communicated with a cylinder lower chamber (2B); therefore, damping force responsiveness is ensured. Further, because there is no need to provide a check valve in the passage, it is possible to suppress an increase in manufacturing cost. Further, air entering the pilot chamber (33) moves upward through the communicating passage (70). Therefore, the air can be discharged into the cylinder upper chamber (2A) through the passage (73).

Abstract: A prosthetic or exoskeleton component for a prosthesis or exoskeleton includes a shock-absorbing unit. The shock-absorbing unit contains a damping device that can be controlled by way of a control device. A detection device has a sensor unit for receiving a signal. The detection device is configured to detect uneven ground depending on the acquired signal and to control the damping device in response to the detected uneven ground such that a damping property of the damping device can be adjusted on the basis of a signal of the detection device.

Abstract: A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.

Abstract: A damping valve includes a valve body with a stepped opening for receiving a preloading spring which acts on a tension rod at which is arranged a valve disk which at least partially closes a flow-out orifice of a flow channel which connects two opposite valve body sides to one another, and, in addition to the preloading spring force, a damping force which counteracts a swiveling movement of the valve disk acts on the tension rod. The additional damping force is formed by a displacer on the tension rod side. The display together with a portion of the stepped opening, forms a restrictor chamber.

Abstract: A device and a method of estimating damper force and damper velocity in an active suspension system. First and second pressure sensors sense pressures of a rebound chamber and a compression chamber of a damper in the active suspension system. A controller calculates damper force using the pressures and effective hydraulic pressure areas of the rebound chamber and the compression chamber and calculating damper velocity using pressure-fluid rate characteristics of first to third valve sets and the pressures of the rebound chamber and the compression chamber such that a sum of fluid rates is zero in a node connected between any one of the first to third valve sets and the rebound chamber or the compression chamber, the first to third valve sets being connected between the rebound chamber and an accumulator, between the rebound chamber and the compression chamber, or between the compression chamber and the accumulator.

Abstract: A valve arrangement controls a flow of damping medium in a shock absorber. Pressurized damping fluid acts around a whole circumference of the slidable valve member and the impact of flow forces on the slidable valve member is minimized, which vastly decrease the disturbing axial forces and thereby achieves a more dependable valve arrangement with a reliable operation.

Abstract: An oil channel that connects a right damper and a left damper includes a switching valve arranged between a right oil channel ER and a left oil channel EL. The switching valve includes a valve main body in which a first switching channel is formed for connecting the right oil channel ER and the left oil channel EL. The valve main body is rotatable to a first position where the first switching channel connects the right oil channel ER and the left oil channel EL to each other and to a second position different from the first position. According to this damping system, it is possible to adjust oil flow in the oil channel by performing a simple operation for the switching valve.

Abstract: A flow path control device according to one embodiment includes a first valve, a unit main body and a control valve. The unit main body has an accommodation portion, a first radial communication hole and a side recess portion. The accommodation portion is recessed from a chamber accommodating the oil to cause the first valve to close the first radial communication hole. The side recess portion is recessed from the chamber so as to be continuous to the accommodation portion and not to be continuous to the first radial communication hole. The control valve is movable in the accommodation portion of the unit main body between a position at which a groove of the control valve communicates with the side recess portion and the first radial communication hole and a position at which the groove does not communicate with them.

Abstract: An air bleed system for a suspension fork or shock absorber includes: a fluid passage between an interior of the suspension and an exterior of the suspension; and a manually operable valve having a first position substantially closing the fluid passage and a second position allowing fluid flow between the interior and the exterior.

Abstract: A suspension device includes an actuator device provided with an extensible/contractible actuator body interposed between a sprung member and an unsprung member of a vehicle, a pump that supplies fluid to the actuator body to extend or contract the actuator body, and a controller that controls a rotation number of the pump. The controller has a road surface state index obtainment unit that obtains a road surface state index and a target rotation number determination unit that determines a target rotation number of the pump on the basis of the road surface state index.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body, a road wheel, and a suspension corner connecting the road wheel to the vehicle body. The suspension corner includes a suspension arm connected to the road wheel and to the vehicle body, and also includes a suspension force decoupling system disposed on an axis extending between the suspension arm and the vehicle body. The suspension force decoupling system includes an actuator having an actuator mass arranged on the axis that is configured to output an actuator force in opposite directions along the axis in response to an actuator control signal. The system also includes a compliant element connected along the axis to the actuator mass and one of the body and the suspension arm, and providing a predetermined level of mechanical compliance. A controller determines and generates the actuator force in response to a threshold acceleration of the vehicle body.

Abstract: An adjustable damping valve device for a vibration damper, includes a main stage valve which is controlled by a pre-stage valve which is functionally connected in series with the emergency operation valve. A pressure relief valve having the constructional form of a seat valve is arranged inside the emergency operation valve and is functionally connected in parallel with the emergency operation valve. A valve body of the pressure relief valve is formed by at least one annular valve disk.

Abstract: Various embodiments related to hydraulic actuators and active suspension systems as well as their methods of use are described.

Abstract: The damper assembly includes a tubular member, a rod, a primary piston, a secondary piston, and a resilient member. The tubular member includes a sidewall and a cap positioned at an end of the sidewall. The sidewall and the cap define an inner volume. The rod extends within the inner volume. The primary piston is positioned within the inner volume and coupled to the rod. The primary piston defines a first contact surface. The secondary piston includes a body member having a second contact surface, an opposing second surface, and an inner cylindrical face defining a central aperture that receives the rod. The secondary piston defines a channel extending from the inner cylindrical face to an outer periphery of the body member. The first contact surface and the channel are configured to cooperatively define a flow conduit upon engagement between the primary piston and the secondary piston.

Abstract: A hydraulic damping device includes a cylinder 11, a cylinder 12, a piston 30 that partitions a space in the cylinder 11, a piston rod 20 that is connected to the piston 30, a bottom valve 40 that separates the interior of the cylinder 11 from a reservoir chamber R and has a communication passage of a liquid between the interior of the cylinder 11 and the reservoir chamber R, and a check valve mechanism 50 that is disposed in a radial direction of an area where movement of the piston 30 in the cylinder 11 is restricted or an area extended axially on an outer side of the cylinder 11, and permits a flow in one direction between the interior of the cylinder 11 and the reservoir chamber R caused by the movement of the piston 30 and restricts the flow in the other direction.

Abstract: Forces in a vehicle interface between the suspension and a body are identified. Rather than using many or all strain gauges, some more easily and rapidly installed acceleration sensors are instead used to measure local deformation. To remove or reduce the effects of rigid-body motion captured by accelerometers, an inertial measurement unit is also used. The forces are estimated from a behavior model accounting for both rigid and flexible motions.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for a space-saving suspension system. In various embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a fine suspension device, a coarse suspension device, and a mechanical assembly. In various embodiments, the fine suspension device is arranged at an angle greater than zero degrees from the z-axis. In various embodiments, the mechanical assembly is coupled to the fine suspension device and a payload, such that when a force is exerted on the mechanical assembly by the payload, an applied force is transmitted to the fine suspension device.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston movable within the cylinder along a cylinder wall, the piston dividing the cylinder in a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber, which are filled with fluid. The shock absorber also includes cylinder and piston attachments for attachment to parts of a vehicle, the piston attachment and cylinder attachment moving towards one another in an inward movement and away from one another in an outward movement. Primary and auxiliary flow and valve arrangements allow fluid flow in between the first and second cylinder chambers to provide primary and auxiliary damping behavior of the shock absorber, respectively. The auxiliary flow and valve arrangement includes a first auxiliary flow and valve arrangement providing on outward movement a damping behavior showing a frequency dependency, and a second auxiliary flow and valve arrangement providing on inward movement a damping behavior showing a linear dependency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shock absorber with a housing, and an inner pipe arranged in the housing, a piston rod, a piston, and which piston divides the interior of the inner pipe into a lower chamber and an upper chamber, a first valve arrangement which is arranged on the piston, a second valve arrangement which is arranged at the upper end of the inner pipe, and a third valve arrangement which is arranged at the lower end of the inner pipe. The shock absorber is distinguished by the fact that at least one proportional flow-control valve is arranged between a first connecting element of the lower chamber of the inner pipe and a second connection element at the upper chamber of the inner pipe.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system includes a shock absorber having a cylinder in which a fluid is sealed, a piston slidably fitted into the cylinder, a piston rod connected to the piston and extending to an outside of the cylinder and a damping force generating apparatus controlling a flow of the fluid generated by a sliding motion of the piston inside the cylinder, a suspension spring, a detector detecting a stroke position of the piston rod with respect to the cylinder and a controller controlling the damping force generating apparatus so that one of an extension side damping force and a compression side damping force is increased and other of them is reduced in proportion to the stroke position detected by the detector.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise a method and apparatus for a space-saving suspension system. In various embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a fine suspension device, a coarse suspension device, and a mechanical assembly. In various embodiments, the fine suspension device is arranged at an angle greater than zero degrees from the z-axis. In various embodiments, the mechanical assembly is coupled to the fine suspension device and a payload, such that when a force is exerted on the mechanical assembly by the payload, an applied force is transmitted to the fine suspension device.

Abstract: A vehicle-height adjusting system includes: vehicle-height adjusting actuators each for adjusting a vehicle height for a corresponding one of wheels; a pressure medium supplier for supplying a pressure medium from a tank to each of the vehicle-height adjusting actuators; and a vehicle height adjuster for adjusting the vehicle height for each wheel. The vehicle-height adjusting actuators include a left vehicle-height adjusting actuator and a right vehicle-height adjusting actuator. The vehicle height adjuster includes a supply amount controller configured to control the pressure medium supplier such that substantially the same amount of the pressure medium is to be supplied from the tank to the left vehicle-height adjusting actuator and the right vehicle-height adjusting actuator, when at least one of the wheels is in contact with an uneven road surface.

Abstract: A suspension system for a traveling vehicle body is disclosed. The system includes a suspension reference position varying mechanism (18) for varying a reference position of a suspension stroke of the suspension mechanism (100), and a controller (35) configured to calculate an intermediate value from a maximal value corresponding to the maximal position of the suspension stroke and a minimal value corresponding to the minimal position of the suspension stroke, and to control the suspension reference position varying mechanism such that, when the calculated intermediate values deviates from a set target range, the intermediate value is displaced toward the target range. The controller (35) increases a control execution frequency for the suspension reference position varying mechanism (18) when the traveling speed of the vehicle body is low, and reduces the control execution frequency for the suspension reference position varying mechanism (18) when the traveling speed of the vehicle body is high.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber includes: an expansion-side passage and a contraction-side passage that connect an expansion-side chamber with a contraction-side chamber; an expansion-side valve body configured to open or close the expansion-side passage; a contraction-side valve body configured to open or close the contraction-side passage; an expansion-side back-pressure chamber configured to bias the expansion-side valve body; a contraction-side back-pressure chamber configured to bias the contraction-side valve body; a communicating channel communicating with the expansion-side back-pressure chamber through an expansion-side resistance element, and with the contraction-side back-pressure chamber through a contraction-side resistance element; an expansion-side pressure introduction passage connecting the expansion-side chamber with the contraction-side back-pressure chamber; a contraction-side pressure introduction passage connecting the contraction-side chamber with the expansion-side back-pressure chamber; a

Abstract: An air bleed system for a suspension fork or shock absorber includes: a fluid passage between an interior of the suspension and an exterior of the suspension; and a manually operable valve having a first position substantially closing the fluid passage and a second position allowing fluid flow between the interior and the exterior.

Abstract: A shock absorber is disclosed which has a base valve assembly for controlling a flow of a working fluid between a reservoir chamber and a working chamber of the shock absorber. The base valve makes use of at least one digital valve assembly. The digital valve assembly communicates with an intermediate chamber formed between an intermediate tube and a pressure tube of the shock absorber. The digital valve assembly controls flow of the working fluid between the intermediate chamber and the reservoir chamber, to help control a damping action provided by the shock absorber.

Abstract: An electronically controlled internal damper is provided. Due to a structure in which a valve unit is mounted on a spool rod along which a driven spool reciprocates and a damping unit is provided in an outer peripheral surface of the driven spool and the spool rod, it is possible to improve ride comfort by reducing a low-speed damping force of a soft mode in the driven spool and the spool rod without increasing their sizes.

Abstract: A switchable locking torque strut assembly and associated method are provided. The strut assembly is interposed between an associated vehicle chassis and an associated vehicle powertrain to provide high elastomeric rate resistance during start-up and/or shutdown of an associated internal combustion engine (ICE) and low elastomeric rate resistance during idle and/or driving events. The strut assembly includes a housing and a shaft at least partially received in the housing and operatively mounted for selective relative movement relative to the housing. A locking assembly is interposed between the strut and the housing for selectively locking the strut relative to the housing in response to start-up and/or shutdown of the ICE.