In a suspension device, a first piston is movable in an axial direction inside of a cylinder, and an inner pipe that extends in the axial direction is provided inside of the cylinder. A first rod is coupled to the first piston and inserted into the inner pipe. A second rod is coupled to the first piston and projects outwardly from the cylinder. A second piston is movable in the axial direction while sealing a space between an outer surface of the inner pipe and an inner surface of the cylinder. A first gas chamber is located between the second piston and a closure to be arranged outside of the inner pipe. A second gas chamber is located inside of the inner pipe. The first rod includes a first inner passage that communicates with the second gas chamber, and the second rod includes a second inner passage that communicates with the first inner passage.

A bearing spring/damper system of a vehicle wheel has a hydraulic vibration damper consisting of a damper cylinder and a damper piston guided therein, the piston rod of which hydraulic vibration damper is fastened to the vehicle body, whilst the damper cylinder is supported to a wheel guiding element. A pretension spring is clamped functionally between the damper piston and a pretension piston which can be displaced hydraulically in the longitudinal direction of the piston rod. The pretension piston is supported hydraulically with respect to the damper cylinder by a support chamber filled with the hydraulic medium of the vibration damper, and can be displaced by a conveying device, which conveys hydraulic medium into or out of the support chamber. The pretension spring is parallel-connected in every possible position of the pretension piston of a bearing spring ultimately clamped between the vehicle body and the wheel for force transmission.

A bearing spring/damper system of a vehicle wheel has a hydraulic vibration damper consisting of a damper cylinder and a damper piston guided therein, the piston rod of which hydraulic vibration damper is fastened to the vehicle body, whilst the damper cylinder is supported to a wheel guiding element. A pretension spring is clamped functionally between the damper piston and a pretension piston which can be displaced hydraulically in the longitudinal direction of the piston rod. The pretension piston is supported hydraulically with respect to the damper cylinder by a support chamber filled with the hydraulic medium of the vibration damper, and can be displaced by a conveying device, which conveys hydraulic medium into or out of the support chamber. The pretension spring is parallel-connected in every possible position of the pretension piston of a bearing spring ultimately clamped between the vehicle body and the wheel for force transmission.

A damper assembly comprises a main tube extending along a center axis between a first end and a second end defining a fluid chamber. A main piston is disposed in the fluid chamber dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod extends along the center axis coupled to the main piston. An external tube extends about the main tube and defines a compensation chamber therebetween. The external tube includes a protrusion extending radially inwardly from an opened end to abut the main tube. An external piston is located in the compensation chamber and coupled to the main tube, dividing the compensation chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment. The first compartment extends between the protrusion and the external piston for containing a working fluid. The second compartment extends between the closed end and the external piston for containing a gas.

A vehicle damper is described. The vehicle damper includes: a cylinder; a piston within the cylinder; a working fluid within the cylinder; a reservoir in fluid communication with the cylinder via the working fluid, the reservoir operable to receive the working fluid from the cylinder in a compression stroke; a valve in a flow path between the cylinder and the reservoir; and a remotely-operable valve having a position allowing the working fluid to significantly by-pass the valve.

A suspension assembly for a cycle having improved stability includes a steering fork having a steering axis, a first arm, and a second arm, each of the first arm and the second arm having a fixed pivot and a shock pivot, the space between the first arm and the second arm defining a wheel opening. A shock link has a shock link fixed pivot and a shock link floating pivot. A shock absorber has a shock gas spring comprising a shock spring body a shock gas piston having a first gas piston area, a spring unit has a spring gas spring comprising a spring body and a spring gas piston having a second gas piston area. The first gas piston area is not equal to the second gas piston area. A mechanical trail distance increases as the suspension assembly compresses relative to a fully extended state.

A method and apparatus for a shock absorber for a vehicle having a gas spring with first and second gas chambers, wherein the first chamber is utilized during a first travel portion of the shock absorber and the first and second chambers are both utilized during a second portion of travel. In one embodiment, a travel adjustment assembly is configured to selectively communicate a first gas chamber with a negative gas chamber.

A rotary damper includes a rotating input member rotating about a rotation axis; a first cylinder and a second cylinder coaxially arranged on opposite sides of the rotation axis; a first and a second pistons slidable inside the first and second cylinders and defining a first and a second working chambers containing incompressible working fluids, respectively; motion conversion mechanisms converting the rotary motion of the rotating input member about the rotation axis into reciprocating motion of the first and second pistons; a third cylinder; a fourth cylinder; and a third and fourth pistons, slidable inside the third and fourth cylinders, respectively and separating the inner volume of the respective cylinder into a respective main chamber in fluid communication with the first working chamber and auxiliary chambers; and the second working chamber and auxiliary chambers respectively.

A method for monitoring a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut includes receiving, by a controller, primary chamber temperature and pressure sensor readings, secondary chamber pressure and temperature sensor readings, and a shock strut stroke sensor reading, determining, by the controller, a shock strut stroke at which a secondary chamber is activated, calculating, by the controller, a volume of oil in an oil chamber of the shock strut, a primary chamber gas volume of, a number of moles of gas in, and a volume of oil leaked into, a primary gas chamber of the shock strut, a secondary chamber gas volume in, a volume of oil leaked into, and a number of moles of gas in, the secondary chamber, based upon at least one of the secondary chamber pressure sensor reading, and the secondary chamber temperature sensor reading.

A method for monitoring a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut includes receiving, by a controller, a primary chamber temperature sensor reading, a primary chamber pressure sensor reading, and a shock strut stroke sensor reading, calculating, by the controller, a secondary chamber nominal pressure based upon the primary chamber temperature sensor reading, determining, by the controller, a shock strut stroke associated with the secondary chamber nominal pressure, calculating, by the controller, a volume of oil in an oil chamber, a volume of gas in a primary gas chamber, a number of moles of gas in the primary gas chamber, a volume of oil leaked into the primary gas chamber, a volume of gas in a secondary chamber, and a number of moles of gas in the secondary chamber.