Abstract: Yaw damper for damping yaw motions between two vehicle parts. This includes in the customary manner a piston part and a cylinder part, wherein that piston part is provided with a piston which divides that cylinder part into two chambers. Between these two chambers, connecting lines are present. The embodiment of these connecting lines determines the damping characteristic which governs the motion between the piston and the cylinder part. Especially for vehicle parts which move at higher speeds and/or high frequencies, such as train sets, it is desirable to provide a damper which is as stiff as possible. For this purpose, the present invention proposes the installation of pumping elements which, as far as possible, increase the pressure in the chambers which are formed by the piston in the cylinder part. Preferably, this construction is realized such that this pressure automatically decreases at lower speeds and/or low frequencies.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a valve assembly which includes a valve disc engaging an inner and outer valve land defined by a valve body. The inner valve land is a non-circular valve land such that a radial dimension between the inner and outer valve land varies based upon a circumferential position of the radial dimension. The varying radial dimension provides a progressive valve opening for the valve assembly.

Abstract: A check valve, a retainer and a washer are secured to a valve body by inserting a pin therethrough and staking a distal end portion of the pin to form a staked portion. A restraining member is interposed between the washer and the staked portion. The fit clearance between the restraining member and the shank of the pin is set smaller than the fit clearance between the check valve, the retainer and the washer on the one hand and the shank of the pin on the other. Thus, when the distal end portion of the pin is staked, the deformation of the shank of the pin is restrained by the restraining member that defines a small clearance between the same and the pin. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the enlargement in diameter of a portion of the pin where the check valve is fitted and hence possible to prevent deformation of the check valve. Thus, stable valve characteristics can be obtained.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydraulic damper including a valve housing (78) having a valve housing bore (88) disposed in abutting relationship with a bypass insert (68) of a base valve assembly (56) for isolating a bypass passage (70) from a reservoir (36). The valve housing (78) defines a valve housing orifice (128) extending therethrough to define an orifice plane (P). A valve (106) is rotatably disposed within the valve housing bore (88) and defines at least one valve orifice (130) extending therethrough along the plane (P). The valve (106) is rotatable between a closed position and an open position to align the valve orifice (130) and the valve housing orifice (128). A working fluid flows serially through the bypass passage (70), the valve orifice (130), and the open valve housing orifice (128).

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve sliding in a valve holder and a base. The valve holder is held by the base by a resilient holding mechanism, the valve holder is mobile with respect to the base between a compression position and an expansion position. The valve holder includes a seat and a body extending beneath the seat and extending into the base. The holding mechanism is fixed on the one hand to the body of the valve holder and includes at least one portion extending beneath the lower face of the base, the portion resting against the lower face when the valve holder is in the expansion position. A damper is also provided.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a compression valve assembly which functions during a compression stroke, a rebound valve assembly which functions during a rebound stroke and a velocity sensitive valve which is in series with one or both of the compression valve assembly and the rebound valve assembly. The compression valve assembly, the rebound valve assembly and the velocity sensitive valve can be incorporated into a piston assembly, a base valve assembly or both.

Abstract: A shock absorber is attached coaxially with a reciprocating rod driven by a reciprocating unit to prevent a bending moment from being applied to the reciprocating rod in absorbing an impact force. The shock absorber has a hollow rod and an outer cylindrical body mounted axially movably relatively to and outside the hollow rod. An accommodating space is formed between the hollow rod and the outer cylindrical body. The hollow rod carries an annular piston, which partitions the accommodating space into two liquid chambers. A compression spring biases the outer cylindrical body toward one end of the hollow rod. When an impact forces the outer cylindrical body toward the other end of the hollow rod, liquid flows from one of the liquid chambers to the other through a gap, so that a resistance force is applied to the annular piston.

Abstract: Before inner components of a hydraulic shock absorber, such as a cylinder, a piston and a piston rod, are placed, an outer shell is joined with a joint portion of an assembling apparatus so that a gas pressure chamber and the outer shell are in communication with each other. A low-pressure gas is supplied in the gas pressure chamber and the outer shell. Under a pressure of the low-pressure chamber, an oil tank subassembly is inserted in the outer shell and is fitted therein to form an oil tank. The oil tank is divided into an oil chamber and a gas chamber by a diaphragm. By this assembling method, it is possible to supply the low-pressure gas into the gas chamber without a need for a gas-supplying hole for supplying the gas into the gas chamber.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A modern suspension damper, for example, a shock absorber or a suspension fork, including an inertia valve and a pressure-relief feature is disclosed. The pressure-relief feature includes a rotatable adjustment knob that allows the pressure-relief threshold to be externally adjusted by the rider “on-the-fly” and without the use of tools.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A suspension spring and a double-rod damper are installed in the interior of a front fork which comprises a body-side tube and a wheel-side tube. The double-rod damper comprises a piston housed in a cylinder, and an upper rod and a lower rod connected to the piston. The upper rod is formed to have a smaller diameter than the lower rod. By providing an orifice which allows working oil in an upper oil chamber formed around the upper rod to flow into a reservoir while causing the pressure in the upper oil chamber to increase, expansion and contraction of air bubbles mixed into working oil in the cylinder is prevented, thereby improving the response of a damping force generated in the front fork.

Abstract: A damper unit includes: a cylinder, connected to a reservoir; a piston dividing an interior of the cylinder into two chambers; a piston rod which is connected to the piston at one end; an inner sleeve adapted to be accommodated within a hollow recess portion in the piston rod; a pump rod; a pump unit which performs pumping for generating a force with which the piston is pushed out of the cylinder or the piston is drawn into the cylinder; a hydraulic fluid releasing unit configured to release the a hydraulic fluid within the inner sleeve and the pump rod to the reservoir or the two chambers when the piston reaches a predetermined position relative to the cylinder within a sliding range thereof by pumping of the pump unit; and a control unit configured to control the predetermined position where the hydraulic fluid is released.

Abstract: A flow-control passive valve controls flow of fluid between an upstream space at high pressure and downstream space at low pressure. The valve comprises a valve body in fluid communication with the upstream and downstream spaces and within which are defined first and second spaces. A movable member is slidably received in a body chamber, and a force is applied to the member tending to keep it in a given “non-working” position. Metering discs meter the flow from the upstream to downstream space through the body and comprise first, second, and third fixed restrictors and first and second variable restrictors. Pressure in the first space is lower than that in the upstream space via a pressure drop through the first fixed restrictor while pressure in the second space is variable between the pressure in the first space and that in the downstream space depending on the position of the member.

Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber 10 in which a piston rod 14 is inserted into an oil chamber 27 of a cylinder 13 provided in a damper case 11, and a damping force generating device 40 is provided between a piston side oil chamber 27A and a rod side oil chamber 27B of the cylinder 13, an outer flow path 13C communicating the piston side oil chamber 27A and the rod side oil chamber 27B is provided around the oil chamber 27 of the cylinder 13 in the damper case 11, and an oil reservoir chamber 32 is provided around the oil chamber 27 of the cylinder 13 in the damper case 11 and the outer flow path 13C.

Abstract: An adjustable damping valve including an actuator, which exerts an actuating force on a valve body against the force of a spring to influence the throttle cross section which determines the damping force, where an emergency valve is connected in parallel with the throttle cross section with respect to the flow direction of the damping medium, where the two control surfaces of the valve body move in the axial direction and can thus can come to rest alternately on the two valve seating surfaces, and where the valve body is divided into two parts in the longitudinal direction, and each valve body assembly has its own control surface.

Abstract: Self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut includes a working cylinder divided into first and second working spaces by a working piston carried on a hollow piston rod; a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber partially filled with hydraulic damping medium, the high pressure chamber having a gas cushion and being connected to the second working space; and a piston pump including a pump rod extending into the hollow piston rod, the pump rod having a bore connected to the low pressure chamber, an end provided with a suction valve inside the hollow piston rod, and a deregulating opening, which is closable as a function of position of the working piston in the working cylinder. An adjustable damping valve located outside the external tube has a first flow connection connected to the first working space, and a second flow connection connected to the second working space and the high pressure chamber.

Abstract: A self leveling shock absorber includes a base shell, an inner tube in the base shell, having a low pressure chamber between the shell and the inner tube, a piston rod in the inner tube and having a hollow portion with an upper portion closed, a piston valve coupled to the piston rod, dividing space in the inner tube into rebound and compression chambers. An outer tube installed to a lower portion of the inner tube having a high pressure chamber and a gas chamber between the shell and the outer tube. A diaphragm divides the high pressure chamber from the gas chamber. A body valve is installed to a lower end of the inner tube to control flow of fluid between the low pressure chamber and the high pressure chamber, and a pump rod is provided having a hollow portion and one end installed to the body valve and another end inserted into the hollow portion of the piston rod. A relief valve is positioned under the pump rod.

Abstract: A flow of hydraulic oil induced by sliding movement of a piston in a cylinder is controlled by a pilot-type main valve and a pilot valve, which is a pressure control valve, to generate a damping force. The pilot valve is adjusted in its valve-opening pressure with the thrust of a solenoid and adjusts the pressure in a back pressure chamber to control the valve-opening pressure of the main valve. A baffle plate is provided in a reservoir to isolate from each other the surface of hydraulic oil in the reservoir and an inlet port through which the hydraulic oil flows into the reservoir from a damping force generating mechanism, thereby suppressing the occurrence of aeration and cavitation. The baffle plate is secured by inserting a connecting port through a positioning opening and holding a separator tube with a pair of arm portions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic damper, in particular for the suspension system of a motor vehicle, comprising a tube filled with working fluid; a piston assembly slidably positioned inside the tube; a fluid compensation chamber located outside of the tube, and a base valve assembly at the end of the tube for controlling the flow of working fluid between the tube and the compensation chamber. A compression valve module added between the piston assembly and the base valve assembly allows the damping to increase during extremely fast compression strokes without modification of the other damper components, affecting neither tuning options nor performance in a normal operating range of piston velocities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a damper. The damper comprises a fluid chamber having a piston dividing the chamber into a compression and rebound sides, a reservoir in fluid communication with the compression side of the chamber, and an isolator disposed between the compression side and the reservoir, whereby the isolator obstructs fluid flow between the compression side and the reservoir. In one embodiment, a bypass provides a fluid path between the compression side and the isolator.

Abstract: A piston connected to a piston rod is fitted in a cylinder having a hydraulic oil sealed therein. Flows of hydraulic oil induced by sliding movement of the piston are controlled by extension and compression damping force generating mechanisms and to generate damping force. In the extension damping force generating mechanism, the valve-opening pressure of a disk valve is controlled by the pressure in a back pressure chamber. An elastic seal member fixed to the disk valve is brought into sliding contact with an inner peripheral surface of a cylindrical portion of a valve member to seal the back pressure chamber. The disk valve is self-aligned by fitting between the elastic seal member and the inner peripheral surface of the valve member and secured by being axially clamped at an inner peripheral portion thereof in a state where a clearance is formed between the inner peripheral portion of the disk valve and a shaft portion of the piston rod, thereby reducing the requirements for coaxiality.

Abstract: An oil-filled working cylinder is divided into first and second working spaces by a working piston, the first working space being connected to a high pressure chamber. A piston pump includes a pump rod received in a pump cylinder formed by the hollow piston rod, the pump rod having a bore connected to a low pressure chamber via a discharge valve, a distal end provided with a suction valve, and a down-regulating opening connecting the bore to the first working space as a function of the position of the working piston, the pump cylinder being connected to the first working space by an outlet valve. At least one of the valves is a check valve including a housing having a bore, a ball reciprocably guided in the bore by guide ribs, and a resilient retaining element capturing the ball in the bore and spring-loading the ball toward a valve seat.

Abstract: A shock absorber, in which external gas is sucked by movement of a piston rod to obtain compressed gas, which is used for inhibiting the “lag” phenomenon. A piston valve is connected to one end of a piston rod received in an inner shell and moved between rebound and compression strokes, an inner space of the inner shell being divided into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber by the piston valve. A reservoir chamber is provided in an outer shell outside of the inner shell to supply oil to the compression chamber in the rebound stroke and to recover oil in the compression stroke. The shock absorber has a high pressure tank with a high pressure chamber installed outside of the outer shell, and a self pumping unit for sucking gas and pumping it into the high pressure chamber using energy generated by movement of the piston rod.

Abstract: A bicycle air shock absorber assembly that includes a hollow piston rod that is telescopically associated with a hollow compression rod. The piston rod and compression rod are positioned within the casing of the shock assembly. A piston is supported by the piston rod and divides the volume of the compression rod to form a negative air spring chamber and a positive air spring chamber that includes the volume of the piston rod. An optional coil spring is positioned within the casing and contributes in parallel with the positive air spring chamber to resist compression of the shock assembly.

Abstract: Dampers for vehicle suspensions include a housing comprising a tube attached to a wheel axle of a vehicle and a piston rod extending from a piston within the tube and attached to the vehicle body. The piston divides the tube into first and second chambers. In order to damp responses when minor smooth road imperfections impart low force excitations to the wheel of the vehicle, a fluid bypass passageway in the form of a sleeve is positioned around the tube and overlies the piston. This provides second stage quasi-ideal damping at low force excitations to the wheels and thus to the wheel axles of the vehicle. The sleeve communicates with the first and second chambers through metered orifices or valves. As low force excitations from smooth road imperfections displace fluid within the tube through the metered orifices or valves, the orifices damp responses to the low force excitations, thereby smoothing the ride of the vehicle.

Abstract: A shock absorber has an external valve that controls the damping loads for the shock absorber. The external valve extends generally parallel with the axis of the shock absorber and is attached to the reserve tube of the shock absorber. The inlet to the external valve is in communication with an intermediate chamber which is in communication with the working chamber of the shock absorber. The outlet of the valve is in communication with the reserve chamber of the shock absorber. The external valve controls the damping loads in both a compression and an extension stroke of the shock absorber.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A front fork comprises a telescopic tube (1, 32) in which a damper cylinder (3) generates a damping force. The damper cylinder (3) comprises a guide sleeve (4) and a free piston (6) having an inner circumference which slides on the outer circumference of the guide sleeve (4) and an outer circumference which slides on the inner circumference of the damper cylinder (3). A lateral through-hole (11) formed in the guide sleeve (4) connects an auxiliary reservoir (R3) formed outside the damper cylinder (3) and an oil reservoir (R2) via a flow path (12) formed in the guide sleeve (4) according to the displacement position of the free piston (6), thereby reducing the number of seal members required to be fitted on the outer circumference of the free piston (6) and enabling the free piston (6) to slide smoothly even when the telescopic tube (1, 32) suffers a bending force.

Abstract: A shock assembly includes a first tube having a cylindrical wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. A second tube is received within the first tube and includes a cylindrical wall having an inner surface and an outer surface. A piston assembly is received within the second tube and includes a piston rod and a piston that is selectively movable relative to the first tube and the second tube. A height-sensing device is disposed within the first tube between the inner surface of the first tube and the outer surface of the second tube.

Abstract: The damper includes a pressure tube divided, by a piston, into a compression chamber (CC) and a traction chamber (CT) which communicate with each other through the piston; a rod having an end retained to the piston and an opposite end external to the pressure tube; a reservoir tube external to the pressure tube and defining therewith a hydraulic fluid reservoir (R) in a controlled fluid communication with the compression chamber (CC); a fluid communication (F) between the traction chamber (CT) and the reservoir (R); and a control valve (V) mounted in the fluid communication (F), for releasing and blocking the latter as a function of the pressure level of the hydraulic fluid in the traction chamber (CT).

Abstract: A damper unit includes: a cylinder, connected to a reservoir; a piston dividing an interior of the cylinder into two chambers; a piston rod which is connected to the piston at one end; an inner sleeve adapted to be accommodated within a hollow recess portion in the piston rod; a pump rod; a pump unit which performs pumping for generating a force with which the piston is pushed out of the cylinder or the piston is drawn into the cylinder; a hydraulic fluid releasing unit configured to release the a hydraulic fluid within the inner sleeve and the pump rod to the reservoir or the two chambers when the piston reaches a predetermined position relative to the cylinder within a sliding range thereof by pumping of the pump unit; and a control unit configured to control the predetermined position where the hydraulic fluid is released.

Abstract: A front bicycle suspension assembly having an inertia valve is described. The front bicycle suspension assembly may include at least upper and lower telescoping tubes and include a damping tube containing an inertia valve. The inertia valve may include an inertia mass movable along the outer surface of a valve shaft as the inertia valve moves between first and second positions.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a welded piston rod assembly. The piston rod assembly comprises an upper piston rod portion welded to a lower piston rod portion and a dirt shield welded to both of the upper piston rod portion and the lower piston rod portion using a single weld.

Abstract: A modern suspension damper, for example, a shock absorber or a suspension fork, including an inertia valve and a pressure-relief feature is disclosed. The pressure-relief feature includes a rotatable adjustment knob that allows the pressure-relief threshold to be externally adjusted by the rider “on-the-fly” and without the use of tools.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas spring which uses a compensating medium acting on a compensating piston in order to compensate the dependence on temperature of its characteristic. According to a first aspect of the invention, a compensating medium (16M) is selected whereof the critical temperature (TK) is between the lower limit temperature (Tlower) and a temperature exceeding the upper limit temperature (Tupper) Of the range of operating temperatures of the gas spring (50) by up to 100° C., and the gas spring (50) is designed such that, at an operating temperature (TB) of the gas spring (50) not exceeding the critical temperature (TK) of the compensating medium (16M), the point indicating the state of the compensating medium (16M) lies on or above the vapor pressure curve.

Abstract: A dampening mechanism is described having a pressure tube defining a working chamber between a rod guide proximate a first end and an end cap proximate a second end. A piston is disposed within the pressure tube and divides the working chamber into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. A piston rod is secured to the piston. A reservoir tube surrounds the pressure tube defining a reservoir chamber between the reservoir tube and the pressure tube. At least one passage is disposed through the pressure tube between the reservoir chamber and the working chamber and a bypass valve is disposed between the piston and the at least one passage.

Abstract: A double tube hydraulic shock absorber comprises: an outer tube; an inner tube; a base valve which is fitted and fixed to a base end of the inner tube; a lower cap provided so as to contact a leg portion of the base valve and seal a base end of the outer tube in an oil tight fashion; a piston rod inserted into the inner tube so as to be capable of an axial reciprocation; and a guide member attached to a top side of the outer tube and the inner tube so as to support the piston rod and apply an axial force on the inner tube. In this double tube hydraulic shock absorber, the leg portion of the base valve and the lower cap contact each other on a line of action of the axial force that is applied toward the base end of the inner tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a damping force control valve and a shock absorber using the same. An object of the present invention is to provide a damping force control valve, in which the damping force characteristic at a high speed is maintained in a low level, and a shock absorber using the same. According to the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a damping force control valve, which includes a high pressure region in communication with a tension chamber of a cylinder and a low pressure region in communication with a reservoir chamber, and controls a damping force by adjusting pressure of a pilot chamber by orifices, each of which has a channel controlled to open or close by a spool.

Abstract: A self leveling shock absorber includes a base shell, an inner tube in the base shell, having a low pressure chamber between the shell and the inner tube, a piston rod in the inner tube and having a hollow portion with an upper portion closed, a piston valve coupled to the piston rod, dividing space in the inner tube into rebound and compression chambers. An outer tube installed to a lower portion of the inner tube having a high pressure chamber and a gas chamber between the shell and the outer tube. A diaphragm divides the high pressure chamber from the gas chamber. A body valve is installed to a lower end of the inner tube to control flow of fluid between the low pressure chamber and the high pressure chamber, and a pump rod is provided having a hollow portion and one end installed to the body valve and another end inserted into the hollow portion of the piston rod. A relief valve is positioned under the pump rod.

Abstract: A both-side rod type damper (11) is arranged in a storage chamber (40) formed inside an inner tube (2) and an outer tube (3), rods (31) and (32) of the damper (11) are coupled so as to move by the same quantity in accordance with the extending or retracting operation of a front fork, a bearing (5) for slidably supporting the rod (32) is provided at a cylinder end, the bearing (5) is movable by a predetermined quantity in a radius direction and an axial direction of the rod relative to the cylinder, and the bearing (5) moves toward the inside of the cylinder to communicate the oil chamber R2 with the storage chamber (40) when the pressure of the storage chamber (40) is higher than the pressure of the oil chamber R2 in the damper (11), and the communication is shut down when the movement is made to the opposite side thereof.

Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber, an outer operating oil chamber within an inner tube is communicated with a piston rod side oil chamber within a cylinder, an annular oil chamber is compartmentalized between an inner periphery of an outer tube and an outer periphery of the inner tube, the annular oil chamber is communicated with the outer operating oil chamber within the inner tube via an oil hole provided in the inner tube, a cross sectional area of the annular oil chamber is formed larger than a cross sectional area of a piston rod, and the hydraulic shock absorber has a volume compensating flow path which circulates the oil in an inner operating oil chamber or the outer operating oil chamber to an oil reservoir chamber in an expansion aside stroke in which the piston rod outgoes from the inner operating oil chamber, and a check valve which prevents the oil flow from the inner operating oil chamber or the outer operating oil chamber to the oil reservoir chamber in the expansion side stroke.

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

Abstract: A position-sensitive shock absorber is disclosed. The position-sensitive shock absorber includes a choking member positioned within the housing at a specific point along the stroke of the working piston that cooperates with the working piston to increase the resistance to fluid flow when the working piston reaches the specific point along its stroke thereby defining a second damping characteristic of the position-sensitive shock absorber from the specific point along the stroke of the working piston onward.

Abstract: Vibration damper with a damping medium-filled cylinder, in which a piston rod is installed with freedom of axial movement, and a pressure container, which is connected to the vibration damper by an adapter piece. The adapter piece comprises a connecting part, which is connected to the pressure container, and an upper part, which is connected permanently to the vibration damper. A filling channel inside the adapter piece is open at both ends when the pressure container is full, and a filling channel on the vibration damper side, which is connected to the filling channel of the adapter piece, has a closing element.

Abstract: A dual-tube shock absorber comprising a working cylinder which is filled with a damping fluid and a container tube which concentrically encloses the working cylinder. A storage space which is filled with damping fluid and a gas is formed between the working cylinder and the container tube. The working cylinder is sealed relative to the storage space by means of a bottom plate. The working cylinder is dynamically connected to the storage space by way of at least one bottom valve which is provided in the bottom plate. The working cylinder is divided into two working chambers by way of a piston which has at least one piston valve. The piston rod of the piston is guided by way of a piston rod guide which is located on the piston rod outlet-side end of the dual-tube shock absorber.

Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber (1), a piston rod (5) protrudes from a cylinder (3) filled with hydraulic fluid. A rebound cushion (8) is fitted to an outer circumferential surface of the piston rod (5) in the cylinder (3). A stopper (6) fixed to the cylinder (3) contacts the rebound cushion (8) at an protrusion limiting position of the piston rod (5) to prevent further protrusion of the piston rod (5). An oil pool (8a, 9, 10, 15) formed in a sliding surface (8a, 14) of the rebound cushion (8) supplies oil to the sliding surface that slides on any of the inner circumferential surface of the cylinder (3) and the outer circumferential surface of the piston rod (5) to ensure smooth relative rotation of the piston rod (5) at the protrusion limiting position and the cylinder (3).

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a pressure tube with a piston slidably disposed therein. A separate valve includes a fluid circuit for fluid low in rebound and a fluid circuit for fluid flow in compression. Each fluid circuit includes a variable orifice which allows selection between a firm rebound with a soft compression, a soft rebound with a soft compression and a soft rebound with a firm compression. Each variable orifice is in communication with a blowoff valve in such a manner that they provide a variable blowoff feature to the blowoff valves.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes an external control valve which controls the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. The external control valve controls the flow of fluid between the lower working chamber of the shock absorber and the reservoir chamber and between the upper working chamber of the shock absorber. The damping characteristics are dependent on the amount of current being applied to a solenoid valve which controls a fluid valve assembly. A soft fluid valve assembly is disposed in series with the fluid valve assembly to allow for the tuning of the damping forces at low current levels provided to the solenoid valve.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly includes a damping adjustment mechanism that can easily be incorporated into a twin cylinder design. The shock absorber includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder mounted within the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder is spaced apart from the outer cylinder to define a gap. A piston is mounted within a fluid filled chamber formed within the inner cylinder to dampen vibrations. Holes are drilled into the wall of the inner cylinder to provide fluid ports that can communicate with the gap to form a bi-directional fluid path as the piston moves back and forth within the chamber to dampen vibrations. To provide variable damping, the outer cylinder includes an eccentric inner diameter to outer diameter profile that allows damping adjustment between high and low damping forces. The damping force is adjusted by rotating the outer cylinder relative to the inner cylinder to vary the size of the gap with respect to the ports.