Abstract: Provided is a damping force variable shock absorber in which an additional valve is installed in a rod guide so as to implement performance that could not be implemented by a main valve. The damping force variable shock absorber includes: a base shell in which a damping force variable valve assembly is attached to an outside thereof; an inner tube which is installed inside the base shell and in which a piston rod is installed to be movable in a length direction; a piston valve which is connected to one end of the piston rod to partition an internal space of the inner tube into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber; a separator tube which is installed to partition a space between the base shell and the inner tube into a low-pressure chamber and a high-pressure chamber.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing device includes a first cylinder with a first room defined therein and a room is defined in an end of the first cylinder. A second cylinder extends into the first cylinder and has a first piston so as to define a third room and a third room. Hydraulic liquid is filled in the second and third rooms. A first tube and a second tube extending through the first tube are located in the first room. A first path and a second path communicate with the recess. The first and second tubes extend into the second cylinder and are connected to the first piston. When the first and second cylinders are relative moved, the hydraulic liquid is controlled to flow or not flow between the first and second paths so as to absorb different levels of shocks, and the speed that the shock-absorbing device returns can be adjusted.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube that defines a fluid chamber. A piston disposed within the fluid chamber divides the fluid chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. The piston defines a compression passage and a rebound passage which extend through the piston between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber. A valve disc assembly engages the piston and controls the flow of fluid between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber. The valve disc assembly includes a bleed disc that defines an orifice with a substantially non-linear contour. The orifice extends to an outer diameter of the bleed disc, and forms a bleed channel between the upper working chamber and the lower working chamber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for an actively variable shock absorbing system for actively controlling the load response characteristics of a shock absorbing strut. In one embodiment the shock absorbing system comprises a controllable valve adapted for actively varying a load response characteristic of the shock absorbing strut. The shock absorbing system further comprises an electronic control system comprising an input for receiving a signal from a sensor, an algorithm adapted to determine an optimal position for the controllable valve in view of the sensor signal, and an output for sending a control signal to the controllable valve to place the valve in the optimal position.

Abstract: A shock absorber for use in lowering heavy structures to the sea floor comprises a cylinder with a piston having a heavy piston rod. A plurality of channels extend from the bottom side of the piston to its top side, where the channels are closable by means of a valve body, which permits fluid movement up through the piston to a cylinder chamber above the piston, but not in the opposite direction. The cylinder chamber is provided with a plurality of exit nozzles having decreasing diameter in the direction towards the bottom of the chamber. When the piston rod impacts against its substructure on the sea floor, it will force the piston upwards in the chamber. The valve body will close the channels so that the water in the chamber has to escape mainly through the nozzles, thus giving the shock absorber the desired resisting force.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a valve assembly having a valve that is biased away from a valve body. A controlled restriction is defined between the valve and the valve body. During stroking of the piston of the shock absorber, the valve moves toward the valve body to close the restriction. The valve assembly can be used in the piston assembly, the base valve assembly or both.

Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber, upper and lower pistons forming upper and lower two stages are fixed to a leading end portion of a piston rod. An intermediate oil chamber is provided between the upper and lower pistons. An intermediate air chamber is provided in such a manner as to compensate an oil amount change in an oil chamber by coming into contact with the intermediate oil chamber and expanding and compressing on the basis of the oil amount change of the oil chamber caused by an extension and compression stroke of the piston rod, and an air compression rate of an upper portion air chamber of the oil reservoir chamber is set to be equal to or more than an air compression rate of the intermediate air chamber, with respect to the extension and compression stroke of the piston rod.

Abstract: A co-axial adjustable damping assembly includes a cylinder unit having an outer case with a cap, and an inner case having a piston unit which movably contacts inside of the outer case. A valve unit extends through the piston unit and is inserted into the inner case. A piston is connected to the valve unit and defines a first oil chamber and a second oil chamber in the inner case. A path communicates between the first and second oil chambers. A piston rod extends through the inner case, the outer case, the piston unit and the piston. A switching device is connected to the cap and has a first tube which has a cam part contacting the piston rod. A damping device has a driving rod inserted into the first tube. The driving rod is rotated to move the piston rod linearly to adjust the path.

Abstract: A damper assembly with a bypass for a vehicle comprises a pressure cylinder with a piston and piston rod for limiting the flow rate of damping fluid as it passes from a first to a second side of said piston. A bypass provides fluid pathway between the first and second sides of the piston separately from the flow rate limitation. In one aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable from a passenger compartment of the vehicle. In another aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable based upon one or more variable parameters associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper includes at least one valve assembly (9, 19) provided with rebound (11, 21) and compression (12, 22) valves and at least one resilient deflective disk covering flow channels (13, 23) of the valve assembly and preloaded by a spring (16, 26). The hydraulic damper includes means for clamping together the components of the at least one valve assembly and for preloading the spring. In order to increase the repeatability coefficient among dampers of the same production batch and render it independent on the geometrical tolerances of the valve assembly components, the means have a form of an adjustable nut assembly (17a, 27a) comprising a clamp nut (171, 271) and a shoulder sleeve (172, 272) fixed on the perimeter of the clamp nut. The clamp nut clamps together the components of the valve assembly and the shoulder sleeve preloads the spring with a predetermined force. method of assembling such a damper.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shock absorber having improved performance and durability. A damping force generation mechanism 30a includes a spring member 106a. The spring member 106a includes radially extending spring portions 117 having high spring constants and circumferentially extending spring portions 118 having low spring constants. The respective radially extending spring portions 117 and the respective circumferentially extending spring portions 118 are integrally configured so that respective biasing forces thereof act dynamically linearly. Further, an annular stepped portion 74, which limits strokes of the respective circumferentially extending spring portions 118, is provided on an opposite end side cylindrical wall portion 71 of a pilot body 49.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a housing with a piston rod assembly disposed therein. A first rod guide member is secured within a first portion of the housing so as to be concentrically disposed about at least a portion of the piston rod assembly. A second rod guide member is secured within the housing adjacent the first rod guide member so as to be concentrically disposed about at least another portion of the piston rod assembly. An electronically controlled valve assembly is disposed within the second rod guide member and is in communication with the first rod guide member.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for lubricating suspension seals by pumping fluid to the seals using a compression or rebound action of a suspension component.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a damper and a valve block coupled to the damper. The damper includes a tubular sidewall having an inner surface that defines an inner damper volume and a plunger separating the inner damper volume into a compression chamber and an extension chamber. The valve block includes a housing having a spring pilot and defining a flow path between an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port is in fluid communication with at least one of the compression chamber and the extension chamber. The damper assembly further includes a flow controller coupled to the housing and positioned along the flow path and a piston having a pilot end coupled to the spring pilot and an interface end that engages the flow controller with a pilot force that varies based on a pressure at the spring pilot.

Abstract: A damper assembly is disclosed that includes a tubular member, a rod, a primary piston, a secondary piston, and a seal. The tubular member includes a sidewall and a cap positioned at an end of the sidewall. The sidewall and the cap defining an inner volume. The rod extends within the inner volume of the tubular member. The primary piston defines a contact surface and is positioned within the inner volume and coupled to an end of the rod. The secondary piston defines a central aperture and a channel. Engagement of the primary piston and the secondary piston forms a flow conduit between the channel and the contact surface. The seal is disposed between an outer surface of the secondary piston and the sidewall such that a flow path is formed through the central aperture and the flow conduit.

Abstract: A damper system for a vehicle comprises an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber and a printed circuit board assembly. The printed circuit board assembly includes power drive electronics, and is electrically coupled to the shock absorber. The printed circuit board assembly is disposed with the shock absorber.

Abstract: A front fork includes a body side tube, an axle side tube, a damper, a reservoir, a damping force adjusting flow passage, and a solenoid valve including a spool housing portion provided at an intermediate position of the damping force adjusting flow passage, a spool valve inserted into the spool housing portion movably in an axial direction, and a solenoid that drives the spool valve in an axial direction, and configured to adjust a flow passage area of the damping force adjusting flow passage. Pressure receiving areas on opposite axial sides of the spool valve on which a pressure in an upstream side of the damping force adjusting flow passage acts are made equal. An upper arrangement passage which is arranged at least higher than the upper end of the spool housing portion is provided in a downstream side of the damping force adjusting flow passage.

Abstract: A hydropneumatic suspension unit for a vehicle that includes an outer sleeve which defines a first chamber, and a damping piston which is arranged for sliding displacement in the first chamber. The first chamber contains gas mainly for providing spring action and liquid mainly for providing damping action. The gas is in direct contact with the liquid.

Abstract: A shock absorber is provided. A first piston, a pilot valve, a second piston, and a rebound retainer are sequentially connected to a piston rod reciprocating within a cylinder. An upper portion of the second piston is provided inside the first piston. Due to a first compression chamber formed in the first piston, a second compression chamber formed in the second piston, a third compression chamber formed between the first piston and the second piston, and a fourth compression chamber formed in the rebound retainer, it is possible to improve a ride comfort by reducing a damping force over periods from an ultra-low-speed period to a high-speed period and it is possible to achieve the compact configuration and the cost reduction by reducing the overall length of the processing portion.

Abstract: A wheel suspension unit is disclosed. The wheel suspension unit includes a stabilizer having a first end and a second end, a wheel suspension element, and a piston-cylinder unit. The piston-cylinder unit connects an end of the stabilizer to the wheel suspension element. The piston-cylinder unit is a roll damper. The roll damper includes a plurality of roll damping valves arranged in a piston of the roll damper. Each of the plurality of roll damping valves has a non-return valve and an adjustable throttle valve. The non-return valve is arranged in series with the adjustable throttle valve.

Abstract: A damper assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes a primary damper and a secondary damper. The secondary damper is coupled to the primary damper and includes a housing and an annular piston. The housing includes a sidewall that partially surrounds the primary damper, and the volume between the sidewall and the primary damper defines a damping chamber. The sidewall defines a plurality of apertures. The annular piston is positioned within the damping chamber and slidably coupled to the sidewall. The primary damper provides a base damping force and the secondary damper provides a supplemental damping force that varies based on the position of the annular piston along the housing.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper assembly includes a main body, a shaft assembly and a main piston operatively configured to define an upper portion and a lower portion within the main body. A hydraulic damper spool valve is adapted to provide a single path, variable hydraulic flow restriction between the upper portion and lower portion of the main body. The hydraulic damper spool valve is configured with an array of precisely shaped flow apertures that are proportionally opened and closed by a pair of valve spools in response to the pressure differential across the main piston. The damper's pressure-flow operating characteristic is simply and predictably dictated by the geometric configuration of the shaped flow apertures. The precisely defined open area of the shaped flow apertures provides a mathematically predictable hydraulic flow restriction that operates predominately in a turbulent regime resulting in insensitivity to hydraulic fluid viscosity and consequently temperature change.

Abstract: A spring for a suspension is described. The spring includes: a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, and a fluid flow path coupled with and between the primary portion and the secondary portion. The fluid flow path includes a bypass mechanism, wherein the bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within the fluid flow path in response to a compressed condition of the suspension.

Abstract: [Problem] Provided is a damper for railway vehicles that uses disk valves as damping valves while ensuring reliability and durability. [Means for Solving] A piston 13 connected to a piston rod 14 is inserted into a cylinder 12 having a hydraulic oil sealed therein. Extension and compression passages 22 and 23 are provided with extension and compression damping valves 25 and 26 having disk valves, respectively, and a fail-safe passage 24 is provided with a poppet-type fail-safe valve 27, The flow paths of hydraulic oil are switched over from one to another by a fail-safe switching valve 28 and a fail-safe on-off valve 29. Normally, the fail-safe switching valve 28 and the fail-safe on-off valve 29 are energized, and damping force is generated by the extension and compression damping valves 25 and 26 having disk valves, which are excellent in responsiveness. The damping force is adjusted with a control electric current.

Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber 10, a piston holder 41 has an axial side surface 41e formed with an opening of an inclined hole 48b exposed to a rod-side oil chamber 43B. A block ring 71 capable of closing the opening of the inclined hole 48b is provided around a piston rod body 22 at a position between the axial side surface 41e of the piston holder 41 and the upper end of a rebound spring 32.

Abstract: Provided is a solenoid-type variable damping force damper that improves the strength of the piston and prevents wire break in the electromagnetic coil. A piston includes a piston main body, an expansion-side valve plate, a contraction-side valve plate, an electromagnetic coil, and a bolt. The piston main body is an integrally formed component made of a ferromagnetic material, and includes a hollow cylindrical outer yoke that is in slidable contact with an inner peripheral surface of a cylinder, a columnar inner yoke having an outer peripheral surface opposing an inner peripheral surface of the outer yoke via first and second gaps, and a connection member connecting the outer yoke and the inner yoke with each other at an axially middle position of the piston and separating the first and second gaps from each other. The electromagnetic coil is fitted in the second gap of the piston main body.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder portion, a piston rod portion arranged as a single member, a pair of protruding members protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the piston rod portion, and a piston valve assembly having the piston rod portion passing therethrough. The piston valve assembly includes a piston portion, a valve element, and a threaded portion arranged to extend or contract in an axial direction as a result of rotation of a female thread portion relative to a male thread portion. The piston valve assembly is arranged such that the piston portion and the valve element are retained to the piston rod portion so as not to move with respect to the axial direction of the piston rod portion by a stretching force generated between the pair of protruding members due to extension of the threaded portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydro-pneumatic piston accumulator (1), particularly for vehicle suspension systems, consisting of an accumulator housing (2) and a separating piston (6), which is disposed free-floating inside the accumulator housing in a displaceable manner in the direction of the movement axis (4). The separating piston separates an accumulator area (8) for a hydraulic medium from a pressure area (10) that is filled or is to be filled with a compressible medium, and is guided with an interior guide opening (30) on an elongated guide element (32), which is axially fixed within the accumulator housing (2).

Abstract: A shock absorber has an inclined surface that is inclined to a moving direction of the free piston in at least one of a free piston contact surface of a free surface with which an elastic body is in contact and a housing contact surface of a housing with which the elastic body is in contact. A shortest distance between the free piston contact surface and the housing contact surface is changed by movement of the free piston.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a shock absorber includes a valve body defining a fluid passage. A valve disc engages the valve body to close the fluid passage. A fulcrum disc engages the valve disc at a first position and a second position radially outward from the first position. The fulcrum disc is designed such that the second position is closer to the valve body. In one embodiment, the fulcrum disc is concave with respect to the valve body.

Abstract: A variable damping force member is used in a vehicle suspension device and the damping force of which can be changed. The variable damping force member is equipped with a piston which is slidably housed in a cylinder filled with a fluid and which divides the cylinder into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, and has fluid passages connecting the first and second fluid passages. A valve member is provided in the piston for blocking the fluid passages, and for opening the fluid passages when the piston slides. A piezoelectric body is connected to the valve member, and pushes the valve member towards the fluid passages when voltage is applied. A bellows is arranged on the valve member so as to seal the piezoelectric body from the fluid, and the bellows biases the piston in the direction in which the piezoelectric body is constricted.

Abstract: A bicycle fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs. The damping assembly includes lock-out and blow-off compression circuits. These compression circuits are externally adjustable without tools. Furthermore, these two compression circuits may be adjusted independently of each other.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper comprises a cylinder and a piston assembly including a damping piston along with working fluid within the cylinder. A bypass permits fluid to avoid dampening resistance of the damping piston. A fluid path through the bypass is controlled by a valve that is shifted by a piston surface when the contents of at least one predetermined volume is injected against the piston surface which acts upon the valve. In one embodiment, the bypass is remotely operable.

Abstract: At least one of fluid paths of a shock absorber is a bypass path including: a one-side opening opened to a chamber in one side; the other-side opening opened to a chamber in the other side; a one-side shaft member fluid path that is connected to the one-side opening and passes through an inner side of the shaft member; the other-side shaft member fluid path that is connected to the other-side opening and passes through the inner side of the shaft member; and a support member fluid path formed inside the support member to connect the one-side shaft member fluid path and the other-side shaft member fluid path. The valves provided in the bypass path are housed in the support member.

Abstract: A shock absorber comprises a damping cylinder pressurized by a system pressure and divided by a piston into a compression chamber and a return chamber. A resilient device is disposed in the return chamber. The resilient device comprises a pressurizing member or pressurizing medium disposed in an inner volume that is delimited from the return chamber. The resilient device acts upon the damping medium volume in the return chamber such that the pressure initially during a compression stroke does not fall below a predetermined minimum pressure. As long as the pressure in the return chamber is less than the pressure created by the resilient device, the device is able to absorb energy. When the pressure in the return chamber is greater than the pressure created by the resilient device, the device becomes inflexible. The resilient device compensates for pressure reduction in the return chamber that occurs under rapid damping movements and that can cause cavitation during a compression stroke.

Abstract: A shock absorber comprises a first cylinder including an inside bore; a piston dividing the inside bore of the first cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber; a piston rod which extends within the first chamber; a second cylinder surrounding the first cylinder; a first connection passage arranged to connect the first chamber to a location outside of the shock absorber; a first tube member defining a second connection passage connected with the second chamber at the second end of the first cylinder; and a damping device comprising at least one valve element, the damping device being disposed between the second chamber and the second connection passage. The piston is configured to separate the first and second chambers so that the first and second chambers are not in fluid communication with each other through the piston.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes an annular outer seat protruding from a valve main body, an inner seat protruding inward of the outer seat of the valve main body, an intermediate seat disposed between the outer seat and the inner seat of the valve main body and protruding to surround an opening section of a passage, a first disk having a larger diameter than the outer seat and seated on the intermediate seat, a spring member configured to press the first disk toward the outer seat, a second disk stacked on the first disk, and a communication unit configured to bring the passage in communication with a space between the intermediate seat and the outer seat. The first disk starts to be pressed by the spring member to abut the outer seat while abutting the inner seat and the intermediate seat.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a piston disposed within a pressure tube. A valve assembly is attached to the piston. The valve assembly defines a first fluid flow through an always open fluid passage; a second fluid flow due to elastic deformation of a valve disc of the piston assembly; and a third fluid flow due to movement of the entire valve disc away from the piston. In one embodiment, the valve assembly is designed to be pre-assembled at an off-line and/or off-site location.

Abstract: A suspension unit, for example for a track-laying vehicle, comprises an oil-filled cylinder within which a piston, connected to a piston rod, is provided. The cylinder 4 is oil-filled, and communicates with an upper region of a spring chamber, the lower region 46 of which contains gas under pressure. The piston rod has a hollow interior filled with gas under pressure. The piston is connected by a connecting rod to a secondary piston which is slidable within the piston rod. On rebound the piston rod and the piston move relatively to each other between a retracted end position and an extended end position. During this movement and the return movement, oil is transferred, by way of apertures between damping chambers which serve to damp the relative movement of the piston and the piston rod so avoiding shock loading at the end positions of the movement.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system and a method of control. The system may include an air cylinder, an air spring piston, and an air spring. The air spring piston may be positioned with respect to the air spring with the air cylinder.

Abstract: A damper assembly with a bypass for a vehicle comprises a pressure cylinder with a piston and piston rod for limiting the flow rate of damping fluid as passes from a first to a second side of said piston. A bypass provides fluid pathway between the first and second sides of the piston separately from the flow rare limitation. In one aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable from a passenger compartment of the vehicle. In another aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable based upon one or more variable parameters associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: A vibration damper includes a piston rod which is axially movable in a cylinder and at which is arranged a housing in which an auxiliary piston is axially movably supported, wherein the auxiliary piston is connected to a piston rod portion at which a main piston is arranged, wherein the auxiliary piston and the main piston are outfitted with damping valves which generate a damping force for both movement directions of the piston rod and piston rod portion, wherein the main piston divides the cylinder into a working chamber on the piston rod side and a working chamber remote of the piston rod, both of which working chambers are filled with damping medium, and the auxiliary piston divides the housing into two auxiliary chambers, wherein the auxiliary piston generates a damping force over its entire stroke path, which damping force is always greater than the damping force of the main piston at an identical stroke speed.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper comprises a cylinder and a piston assembly including a damping piston along with working fluid within the cylinder. A bypass permits fluid to avoid dampening resistance of the damping piston. A fluid path through the bypass is controlled by a valve that is shifted by a piston surface when the contents of at least one predetermined volume is injected against the piston surface which acts upon the valve. In one embodiment, the bypass is remotely operable.

Abstract: A damper assembly with a bypass for a vehicle comprises a pressure cylinder with a piston and piston rod for limiting the flow rate of damping fluid as it passes from a first to a second side of said piston. A bypass provides fluid pathway between the first and second sides of the piston separately from the flow rate limitation. In one aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable from a passenger compartment of the vehicle. In another aspect, the bypass is remotely controllable based upon one or more variable parameters associated with the vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for position sensitive dampening. In one aspect a fluid damper is provided comprising a damper chamber divided by a piston into a primary compression and a primary rebound chamber; a secondary compression chamber in fluid communication with the damper chamber; and an adjustable fluid meter controlling fluid flow out of the secondary compression chamber.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a first pressure tube and a second pressure tube. A first piston is disposed within the first pressure tube and a second piston is disposed within the second pressure tube. Movement of the first and second pistons within their respective pressure tubes control both damping characteristics for the shock absorber and stiffness for the shock absorber. Valving in the pistons and/or external valving associated with each pressure tube generates both the damping characteristics and the stiffness.

Abstract: A shock absorber apparatus for a vehicle may include a piston installed within a cylinder to be moved along a lengthwise direction of the cylinder and separating the cylinder into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a piston rod installed to pass through the cylinder and connected to the piston, wherein the piston rod has an oil flow space therein, and a valve mechanism installed on the piston rod and operated to be opened and closed to selectively connect the upper chamber of the cylinder and the oil flow space of the piston rod.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber includes: a cylinder which demarcates a piston oil chamber and a rod oil chamber; an outer cylinder body which demarcates between the cylinder and the outer cylinder body a reflux path that connects the piston oil chamber and the rod oil chamber with each other and which demarcates between a damper case and the outer cylinder body a reservoir chamber; and a valve structure mounted to the cylinder and the outer cylinder body. The valve structure has a valve for controlling an oil flow between the piston oil chamber and the reflux path and between the piston oil chamber and the reservoir chamber. The valve structure comprises a first valve structure mounted to an open end of the cylinder and a second valve structure mounted to an open end of the outer cylinder body. A cylinder assembly and an outer cylinder assembly are independently arranged.

Abstract: A damper unit which brakes the speed of movement of a moving body by using a piston damper provided with a cylinder and a piston rod which is connected to a piston inside the cylinder, is provided. The damper unit includes a case wherein the above-mentioned piston damper is disposed; a transmitting member slidably provided inside the case and transmitting an external force accompanied by the movement of the above-mentioned moving body; a link member whose one end side is attached to the above-mentioned case so as to become the rotational center, and also whose the other end side is pivotally supported by the above-mentioned transmitting member; and a connecting member connected between both ends of the link member and being in contact with or connected to either the piston rod or the cylinder.

Abstract: An active suspension system for a vehicle including at least one fluid operated ram having a cylinder and a main piston mounted therein for reciprocating movement, control means for controlling an equilibrium position of the piston in the ram in response to lateral acceleration of the vehicle in order to counter the effects of body roll of the vehicle, and wherein the ram includes shock absorbing means for permitting rapid movement of the piston from the equilibrium position when operating fluid in the ram is subjected to transient increases in pressure.