A solar tracker system includes a torque tube, a solar panel assembly attached to the torque tube, a housing defining a chamber and a fluid passageway extending from the chamber, and an active lock connected to a seal configured to prevent a flow path of fluid while in a sealed state and allow the flow path of fluid in an unsealed state. The system further includes a controller in communication with the torque tube and the active lock. The controller is programmed to receive a command to place the solar panel assembly in a stowed position, instruct the torque tube to rotate the panel assembly to a stowed angle corresponding to the stowed position, monitor a current angle of the panel assembly, compare the current angle to the stowed angle, and instruct the seal to transition to the sealed state when the current angle is equal to the stowed angle.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a column supporting the torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an outer shell surrounding an inner shell. A piston is at least partially positioned within the inner shell and moveable relative thereto. An active lock of the damper assembly includes a housing positioned within the outer shell. The housing defines a cavity and a housing channel extending from the cavity to an outer fluid channel. A shaft extends into the cavity and a valve assembly is attached to the shaft. The shaft is rotatable within the cavity between an unsealed position in which the housing channel is in fluid communication with the cavity, and a sealed position in which the valve assembly is rotationally aligned with the housing channel and obstructs fluid communication between the cavity and the housing channel.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a column supporting the torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an outer shell surrounding an inner shell. A piston is at least partially positioned within the inner shell and moveable relative thereto. An active lock of the damper assembly includes a housing positioned within the outer shell. The housing defines a cavity and a housing channel extending from the cavity to an outer fluid channel. A shaft extends into the cavity and a valve assembly is attached to the shaft. The shaft is rotatable within the cavity between an unsealed position in which the housing channel is in fluid communication with the cavity, and a sealed position in which the valve assembly is rotationally aligned with the housing channel and obstructs fluid communication between the cavity and the housing channel.

A shock absorber includes a housing and an end wall slidably disposed within the housing. The end wall and the housing cooperate to define at least a portion of a cavity within the housing. The cavity is filled with a fluid, and a piston is slidably disposed within the cavity. Movement of the piston within the cavity compresses the fluid to provide a spring force. The shock absorber further includes a compensator coupled to the end wall. The compensator positions the end wall within the housing to change a volume of the cavity in response to a change in a temperature of a first element of the compensator.

A shock absorber includes a housing and an end wall slidably disposed within the housing. The end wall and the housing cooperate to define at least a portion of a cavity within the housing. The cavity is filled with a fluid, and a piston is slidably disposed within the cavity. Movement of the piston within the cavity compresses the fluid to provide a spring force. The shock absorber further includes a compensator coupled to the end wall. The compensator positions the end wall within the housing to change a volume of the cavity in response to a change in a temperature of a first element of the compensator.

A damper with a main damper assembly includes a damper tube with a damping fluid. A main working piston divides a main fluid chamber into a piston rod side and a non-piston rod side. The main fluid chamber has an upper zone, a lower zone and a mid-zone. A secondary damper assembly with a secondary working piston is in fluid communication with the main damper assembly. When the main working piston travels in the mid-zone, fluid is caused to pass through the main working piston and the secondary working piston to generate a first damping force and when the main working piston travels in either of the upper and lower zone, fluid is caused to pass only through the main working piston to generate a second damping force, wherein the first damping force is less than the second damping force.

Embodiments of a hydraulic bump stop assembly may include a telescoping hydraulic cylinder containing hydraulic fluid. The telescoping cylinder may be located on a vehicle shock. Components of the shock may engage and compress the telescoping cylinder during the final stages of compression of the shock to prevent the shock from bottoming out. The telescoping cylinder has damping properties during compression and expansion due to hydraulic fluid being forced through orifices of one or more hydraulic fluid lines to and from a reservoir. Damping ratios may be adjusted by adjusting the size of the orifices. In some embodiments, the damping ratios may be adjusted remotely, such as from the driver compartment of the vehicle.

A damper with a main damper assembly includes a damper tube with a damping fluid. A main working piston divides a main fluid chamber into a piston rod side and a non-piston rod side. The main fluid chamber has an upper zone, a lower zone and a mid-zone. A secondary damper assembly with a secondary working piston is in fluid communication with the main damper assembly. When the main working piston travels in the mid-zone, fluid is caused to pass through the main working piston and the secondary working piston to generate a first damping force and when the main working piston travels in either of the upper and lower zone, fluid is caused to pass only through the main working piston to generate a second damping force, wherein the first damping force is less than the second damping force.

A shock absorber and method of controlling a shock absorber, wherein the shock absorber comprises damper body having an inner tube and an outer tube and a piston rod having a main piston arrangement arranged inside the inner tube. The shock absorber further comprises two separate electrical continuously controlled valves (CES1, CES2), one for compression and one for rebound flow, arranged with passive valves coupled in series with and downstream of the electronically controlled valves and with a communication chamber coupling these valves to a pressurizing chamber.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a column supporting the torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an outer shell surrounding an inner shell and defining an outer fluid channel. A piston is positioned within the inner shell and moveable relative thereto. A locking valve of the damper assembly includes a shaft extending into a chamber and a seal attached to the shaft. The shaft is selectively moveable axially within the chamber along an extension axis between an unsealed position in which the seal is spaced from a chamber wall and a flow path is defined that extends from within the inner shell, through the chamber, and to the outer fluid channel, and a sealed position in which the seal contacts the chamber wall and the locking valve obstructs the flow path.