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: This shock absorber includes a friction generating member which is provided at a position on a side defined by a seal member of a cylinder and comes into sliding contact with a piston rod. The friction generating member has an annular elastic rubber portion which comes into sliding contact with the piston rod and a base portion to which the elastic rubber portion is fixedly attached. The elastic rubber portion is formed such that an upstream side and a downstream side are able to communicate with each other when a differential pressure between a one side chamber of the cylinder and a reservoir chamber reaches a predetermined pressure.

Abstract: A valve mechanism includes: a cylindrical body; a plurality of valve bodies; and a drive valve. The drive valve includes a shaft portion having a flow path penetrating in the axial direction, and a first step portion extending from an outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion to a radial outside of the shaft portion. The shaft portion has a protrusion portion protruding further toward the cylindrical body side than the first step portion and a base portion extending to a side opposite to the protrusion portion with respect to the first step portion. A gap between the valve bodies is changed by elastically deforming an inner peripheral portion of the valve body, which comes into contact with the drive valve moved in a direction approaching the valve body, in a direction approaching the cylindrical body with respect to an outer peripheral portion of the valve body.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a bearing unit having a bearing and a bearing holding member, and a seal unit having a seal member and a seal holding member. The seal holding member includes a seal accommodating portion being configured to accommodate the seal member, and an insertion hole through which a piston rod is inserted. The seal member is pressed against an outer circumferential surface of the piston rod and the seal accommodating portion by working-fluid pressure in the extension-side chamber. And the bearing is provided such that a first end surface of the bearing facing the seal member matches an aperture plane of a through hole of the bearing holding member or such that the first end surface of the bearing projects out from the aperture plane of the through hole.

Abstract: A valve arrangement and a method for controlling a pilot pressure in the valve arrangement for a shock absorber, wherein the valve arrangement comprises a control valve member movable in an axial direction relative a main valve member, a pilot chamber being in fluid communication with a first port and/or a second port. The arrangement and method comprise, during an active control mode, pressure relieving (AM S1) the control valve member and applying an actuating force (AM S2) for controlling the pilot pressure (Pp). Further, during a failsafe control mode, controlling (FM S1) the control valve member by means of the pilot pressure (PP). And finally, during both the active control mode and the failsafe control mode restricting (S3) the pilot fluid flow (PFC, PFR) by at least one common valve seat (R2).

Abstract: A method for monitoring a dual-stage shock strut may include measuring a first primary chamber pressure when the dual-stage shock strut is in a first state, measuring a first secondary chamber pressure when the dual-stage shock strut is in the first state, measuring a shock strut stroke when the dual-stage shock strut is in the first state, measuring a first temperature, measuring a second temperature, measuring a second primary chamber pressure when the dual-stage shock strut is in a second state, measuring a second secondary chamber pressure when the dual-stage shock strut is in the second state, and determining a servicing condition of the shock strut based upon at least the first primary chamber pressure, the first secondary chamber pressure, the shock strut stroke, the first temperature, the second temperature, the second primary chamber pressure, and the second secondary chamber pressure.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly comprises a main tube disposed on a center axis between a first and a second end and defining a fluid chamber extending therebetween. A first piston is slidably disposed in the fluid chamber dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod attaches to the first piston for moving the first piston between a compression stroke and a rebound stroke. A hydraulic compression stop includes a second piston located in the compression chamber and attached to the piston rod. A tenon couples to the piston rod, located between the first piston and the second piston. The tenon includes a frequency dependent damping valve coupled to the first piston and an enclosure extending about the frequency dependent damping valve, coupled to the frequency dependent valve and the second piston, in fluid communication with the compression chamber.

Abstract: A frequency dependent piston assembly (1) for a shock absorber comprising: a piston (10) slidably disposed within a portion of cylinder (20), dividing volume defined within said portion of cylinder (20) into a first chamber (21) and a second chamber (22), said piston (10) comprising a flow channel (11) connecting said first chamber (21) and said second chamber (22); characterized in that said piston assembly (1) further comprises: a valve assembly (100) controlling fluid flow (150) between said first chamber (21) and said second chamber (22), configured for its preload to be changed by movement of said piston (10); a pressure chamber (300) comprising a chamber wall (301), configured to be moved by said piston (10) to change volume of said pressure chamber (300).

Abstract: The present embodiments relates to a reducer of an electric power steering device. An embodiment of the present embodiments provides a reducer of an electric power steering device, including: a worm shaft having a first worm shaft bearing and a second worm shaft bearing coupled to one end portion, which is connected to a motor shaft, and to the other end portion, which is opposite thereto, respectively; a gear housing that contains the first worm shaft bearing, the second worm shaft bearing, and the worm shaft; and a support member coupled to the inner peripheral surface of the hear housing so as to support the outer race of the second worm shaft toward the worm wheel and filled with a viscoelastic fluid.

Abstract: A damping force adjustable shock absorber that smoothly transfers a magnetic flux while a solenoid is downsized. An electromagnetic damping force adjustment device of the damping force adjustable shock absorber includes a damping force adjustment valve for generating a damping force, and a solenoid for variably adjusting the generated damping force. The solenoid includes a coil configured to generate a magnetic force through supply of current, a cap member having a bottomed tubular shape disposed on an inner peripheral side of the coil, a movable iron core disposed on an inner peripheral side of the cap member, an anchor member configured to attract the movable iron core, a shaft part provided on an inner peripheral side of the movable iron core, and a back-pressure-chamber formation member having a bottomed tubular shape, which is positioned on another end side of the shaft part, and configured to form a back pressure chamber.

Abstract: A rod guide includes a housing portion and a depressed portion formed toward an outer periphery from a starting point located apart from a piston rod by ½ or more of a distance in an axial direction between a bottom surface of the housing portion and a flat portion of an oil seal in a radial direction closest to the piston rod, and a bush is disposed to be flush with the bottom surface or disposed to project.

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 suspension apparatus includes: a partition wall member that divides a space inside an inner tube into an upper space and a lower space; a cap that covers an upper opening portion of an outer tube; and a support member of which one end portion is retained by the cap, and of which the other end portion supports the other end portion of a piston rod, in which a through-hole is formed in a portion of the inner tube, an inner space of the piton rod is a space inside the piston rod and communicates with the lower space, the support member is a cylindrical member and forms an upper portion space, and the upper portion space communicates with the inner space of the piston rod, and at least one of the cap and the support member is provided with a communication path.

Abstract: A method of servicing a shock strut of a landing gear includes partially filling the shock strut with fresh oil and pressurizing the chamber with gas. The pressurizing is to a pressure level that compensates for expected gas pressure loss due to gas entrainment in the oil during operation of the shock strut. The method can be performed without weight on wheels, with weight on wheels and a constant strut stroke, or weight on wheels and a constant pressure.

Abstract: In a friction member (22), a base section (92) is constituted by a bottom section (101) and a tube section (102). The bottom section (101) has a bored disk shape, and the tube section (102) has a cylindrical shape extending from an outer circumferential side of the bottom section (101) in the axial direction. An elastic rubber section (91) has a minimum inner diameter section (137), diameter expanding sections (138), (139) which are disposed at each side in the axial direction of the minimum inner diameter section (137). A tube section adhering surface (126) is installed at outer circumferential side of a tube section (102). A cutout section (151) is at least partially formed at a bottom section adhering surface (128) fixed to the bottom section (101) and the tube section (102) side of an open surface at an opposite side in the axial direction, and a deepest section (155) of the cutout section (151) is shallower than a position in the axial direction of the minimum inner diameter section (137).

Abstract: Provided is a continuous damping control shock absorber of a dual solenoid valve structure. The continuous damping control shock absorber of the dual solenoid valve structure includes a rebound solenoid valve and a compression solenoid valve. In the continuous damping control shock absorber, a separator tube for interworking prevention is installed to form a connection chamber at a position where the rebound separator tube and the compression separator tube are connected, thereby preventing interworking of the rebound solenoid valve and the compression solenoid valve 40. A communication hole is formed in the compression separator tube to communicate with the connection chamber.

Abstract: For the extension and compression strokes of a piston rod, a damping force generating mechanism generates a damping force by controlling the flow of hydraulic oil caused by the sliding movement of a piston in a cylinder. The damping force generating mechanism has a pilot-type main valve, a pilot-type control valve, and a pilot valve. The main valve has a pilot chamber into which the oil is introduced to adjust the valve-opening pressure of the main valve by the pressure in the pilot chamber. The control valve has a pilot chamber into which the oil is introduced to adjust the valve-opening pressure of the control valve by the pressure in the pilot chamber. The pilot valve controls the pressure in the pilot chamber of the control valve. The control valve controls the pressure in the pilot chamber of the main valve.

Abstract: In a frictional engagement arrangement for a carriage supported on, and guided by, at least one guide track and provided with a friction engagement mechanism actuated by a slide wedge drive which includes a pressure member which is engageable with the guide track, the slide wedge drive includes an operating mechanism which is arranged in a multistep through bore extending in parallel with the longitudinal extent of the guide track with the pressure member and a slide wedge cage movably disposed in a bore extending normal to the multi-step through bore.

Abstract: The invention relates to a damping valve, in particular for shock absorbers of vehicles, with an adjustable damping force, in which differently sized outlet openings arranged between an inflow and an outflow can more or less be closed in order to obtain a desired damping effect. To this end, the differently sized outlet openings are more or less sealed off radially by means of a valve slide. In another embodiment, sudden pressure increases in the damping valve are automatically reduced by means of a differential area function. Due to said invention, said damping valve can be produced easily, has low leakage loss, a low tolerance chain and requires little effort for setting the desired damping.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes: a pilot valve assembly; a primary valve; and an adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and the adjuster moves the primary valve.

Abstract: A damper includes a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber to a second chamber. A piston varies a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston moving the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force exceeds the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A pull shock damper for a bicycle comprising a spring device and a damper device, the spring device comprising a positive spring and a gas-operated negative chamber. The damper device comprises a first oil chamber and a second oil chamber connected therewith. The negative chamber abuts the first oil chamber via a piston. A tubular structure extends from the piston through the negative chamber interior up to the end of the negative chamber. The piston rod of the piston extends through the first oil chamber to the exterior.

Abstract: Provided is a continuous damping control shock absorber of a dual solenoid valve structure. The continuous damping control shock absorber of the dual solenoid valve structure includes a rebound solenoid valve and a compression solenoid valve. In the continuous damping control shock absorber, a separator tube for interworking prevention is installed to form a connection chamber at a position where the rebound separator tube and the compression separator tube are connected, thereby preventing interworking of the rebound solenoid valve and the compression solenoid valve 40. A communication hole is formed in the compression separator tube to communicate with the connection chamber.

Abstract: A damping valve comprises a through-hole forming a passage for a working fluid. A poppet having a center axis is seated on a valve seat around the through-hole. The poppet is housed in a housing so as to be free to slide along the center axis. The poppet is pressed against one wall surface of the housing by a biasing mechanism, that biases the poppet in a direction perpendicular to the center axis, vibration of the poppet is thereby suppressed.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly comprises a piston and cylinder arrangement, a damping-fluid chamber and a damping valve arrangement which is located in the damping fluid chamber and serves to divide the chamber into sub-chambers. The assembly is such that in use the valve arrangement regulates the flow of fluid between the sub-chambers.

Abstract: Pressure-sensitive vales are incorporated within a dampening system to permit user-adjustable tuning of a shock absorber. In one embodiment, a pressure-sensitive valve includes an isolated gas chamber having a pressure therein that is settable by a user.

Abstract: A springless combination shock absorber and suspension apparatus comprising three tubes: An outer tube, a piston tube (inner tube) and a stationary (damping) tube, with a floating piston disposed in the inner piston tube, wherein the floating piston forms two chambers therein, a lower liquid chamber and an upper gas chamber. Fluid dampens shocks by passing through a two-way valve in the outer tube and may be controlled internally by a shim plate positioned over apertures or valve passageways, or, in a separate embodiment, by external adjustment of flow by rotating adjusting plates to open and close the valve passageways. The amount by which the gas chamber is reduced in compression is large enough to generate the high pressures required to produce spring-like forces. This design allows the gas pressure chamber to operate effectively as a spring.

Abstract: A frequency unit valve is provided. In the frequency valve, a free piston reciprocates within a housing where a sub-valve is mounted in a lower portion. Variable frequency units installed above and under the free piston provide a damping characteristic by selectively opening or closing a passage when a frequency of a piston rod is in a high-frequency region and a low-frequency region. Accordingly, the vehicle ride comfort is maximally improved.

Abstract: A damping valve includes an annular valve seat, a valve body, an actuator for driving the valve body and a valve case including a valve hole into which the valve body is slidably inserted. The valve body includes a valve main body and a shaft for transmitting a thrust force of the actuator to the valve main body. The valve main body includes a flange partitioning the interior of the valve hole into a valve seat side chamber and an opposite valve seat side chamber, a shaft portion extending from the flange and a valve head to be seated on and lifted from the valve seat. The valve seat side chamber and the opposite valve seat side chamber communicate via a communication passage and the valve seat side chamber and the flow path communicate via a throttle passage.

Abstract: Embodiments may provide a hydromount, an inertial track and a method. The hydromount may a curvilinear inertial track fluidically coupled at a first end to a first fluid chamber, and fluidically coupled at a second end to a second fluid chamber. The hydromount may also include a choke disposed within the inertial track at a predetermined location to reduce a width of a flow path within the inertial track at the predetermined location.

Abstract: Provided is a cassette-vibration isolation device that is easy to upkeep (maintain) and that can cause a heavy structure to rise during an earthquake. The device is provided with an upper base and a lower base that are arranged so that the bottom surface of the upper base faces the upper surface of the lower base; a cavity, which is formed between the upper base and the lower base, and the inside of which is filled with fluid; sealing members, which are provided in an attachable/detachable manner along the inner walls of the cavity, and which maintain the state wherein the cavity is filled with fluid; and a valve, which connects the cavity and a fluid-supply source, and which supplies fluid to the inside of the cavity. During an earthquake, the upper base can rise from the lower base due to the supply of fluid via the valve to the inside of the cavity.

Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber, a damping force generating device is provided between a piston side oil chamber and a rod side oil chamber of a cylinder, and in a compression stroke, a compression side flow path for circulating oil in the piston side oil chamber of the cylinder through an outside flow path of the cylinder toward the rod side oil chamber is provided in the damping force generating device, while in an extension stroke, an extension side flow path for circulating the oil in the rod side oil chamber of the cylinder through the outside flow path of the cylinder toward the piston side oil chamber is provided in the damping force generating device.

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: The invention relates to a pressure regulator in a shock absorber valve. The pressure regulator comprises an axially movable first valve part and a first seat, which are arranged in a valve housing in such a way that an adjustable flow opening is created between the parts. The flow opening is arranged to restrict a damping medium flow (q) and its flow opening size (s) is determined by a force balance on the first valve part. The force balance is principally or partially created by the sum of an actuating force (F) and the force (Fs) from a spring arrangement counter to the action of a counter holding regulator force (R). The spring arrangement comprises a first spring having a first spring constant (kI) and a second spring having a second spring constant (k2).

Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle, having a bellows piston, bellows, and a fluid as the damping medium. The shock absorber has a first partition wall, which is situated on the bellows piston, and is implemented to separate a volume area of the bellows piston from a volume area of the bellows. The first partition wall has a first opening, which is implemented to limit a fluid flow between the volume area of the bellows piston and the volume area of the bellows. The shock absorber further has a sprung mass, which is situated inside the shock absorber to influence the fluid flow inside the shock absorber.

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 method and apparatus for a vehicle shock absorber comprising a main damper cylinder, a first reservoir and a second reservoir. One embodiment includes a first operational mode where both reservoirs are in fluid communication with the cylinder. In a second operational mode, only one reservoir communicates with the cylinder during fluid evacuation from the cylinder. In each mode, rebound from either or both reservoirs may travel through a single, user-adjustable metering device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a shock absorber having a damping fluid compensation chamber with a gas charge. In one aspect, a partition separates a first chamber portion from a second chamber portion, wherein the first portion of the chamber is at a first initial gas pressure and the second portion of the chamber is at a second initial pressure. A valve separates the first and second chamber portions and opening the valve commingles the first and second chamber portions so that the combined chamber portions are at a third pressure. In another aspect, a piston disposed through a wall is in pressure communication with the gas charge and is biased inwardly toward a pressure of the charge, whereby an indicator is movable by the piston in response to the pressure.

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 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 damping force adjustable hydraulic shock absorber, in which response delay of a pressure control valve and self-excited vibration of a valve body can be prevented. A damping force is generated by controlling an oil flow between an annular oil passage (21) and a reservoir (4) generated by sliding movement of a piston in a cylinder with use of a back-pressure type main valve (27) and a pressure control valve (28). The damping force is directly generated by the pressure control valve, and valve-opening pressure of the main valve is adjusted by adjusting an inner pressure of a back-pressure chamber. In the pressure control valve, a valve spring is disposed between a valve body and a plunger. A mass of the valve body is sufficiently less than that of the plunger, and a spring stiffness of the valve spring is higher than that of a plunger spring.

Abstract: Oil grooves of a shutter and oil holes of a stepped rod constitute first orifices as variable orifices whose opening areas are variable according to the rotational position of the shutter. The oil grooves of the shutter and oil holes of the stepped rod constitute third orifices as variable orifices. Cut portions of inner disk valves constitute second orifices. The opening areas of the variable orifices are changed by rotating the shutter, thereby controlling damping force characteristics in a low piston speed region and the relief pressures of pressure control valves independently of each other, and thus increasing the degree of freedom for adjusting the damping force characteristics.

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: An adjustable damping valve device for a vibration damper includes a housing with an axially movable valve body. The valve body has in the direction of a valve seat surface a pressure-loaded surface AOED which is operative in the lift direction of the valve body and a surface ACloseD which is loaded by pressure in the closing direction, wherein a resultant force comprising a force of at least one valve spring and an actuating force of an actuator acts on the valve body, and wherein an additional surface ACloseD2 of the valve body is pressure loaded by damping medium in closing direction of the valve body. The damping valve device has an emergency operation valve by means of which a pressure level can be at least indirectly adjusted in a control space for an emergency operation. The emergency operation valve is operative only in one flow direction.

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: The invention relates to a pressure regulator (1) in a shock absorber valve. The pressure regulator (1) comprises an axially movable first valve part (4) and a first seat (3), which are arranged in a valve housing (2) in such a way that an adjustable flow opening is created between the parts (3, 4). The flow opening is arranged to restrict a damping medium flow (q) and its flow opening size (s) is determined by a force balance on the first valve part (4). The force balance is principally or partially created by the sum of an actuating force (F) and the force (Fs) from a spring arrangement counter to the action of a counter holding regulator force (R). The spring arrangement comprises a first spring (5) having a first spring constant (k1) and a second spring (6) having a second spring constant (k2).

Abstract: An integrated and self-contained suspension assembly having a gas spring integrated with a shock absorber (damper) is described. The rigid gas cylinder of the air spring is divided into a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber. A flow port connects the first and second gas chambers, and can be manually opened or closed by valve and a simple one-quarter turn rotation of an external knob to instantly switch the gas spring between two different spring rates. The different spring rates are functions of the separate or combined volumes of the two. gas chambers. The integrated suspension assembly is compactly packaged and self-contained, i.e., does not require any externalities, such as gas sources or electricity, to operate.

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.