A damper assembly includes a tubular member, an outer cylinder positioned at least partially within the tubular member, an inner cylinder positioned at least partially within the outer cylinder, a cap coupled to the inner cylinder, a plunger received within the inner cylinder and coupled to an end of a rod extending at least partially within the inner cylinder, an annular piston fixed to the inner cylinder where the annular piston extends between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and a barrier extending between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. The rod has an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the inner cylinder. The plunger, the cap, and an interior of the inner cylinder at least partially define a first chamber. The barrier, the annular piston, an exterior surface of the inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder at least partially define a second chamber.

A damper assembly includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder positioned at least partially within the outer cylinder, a cap coupled to the inner cylinder, and a plunger positioned radially inward from the inner cylinder and coupled to a rod. The plunger, the cap, and an interior of the inner cylinder at least partially define a first chamber. The suspension system further includes a passage extending through the rod and fluidly coupled with the first chamber, a piston coupled to the inner cylinder and extending radially outward toward the outer cylinder, a first port in fluid communication with the plunger through the passage, and a second port in fluid communication with the piston. The piston, an exterior surface of the inner cylinder, and the outer cylinder at least partially define a second chamber.

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 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 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 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.

A method for monitoring a dual-stage, stroke activated, mixed fluid gas 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, calculating, by the controller, a compression factor, determining, by the controller, a plurality of compression factors for known oil volumes based on the primary chamber temperature sensor reading and/or the shock strut stroke sensor reading, and calculating, by the controller, an oil volume in a primary chamber of the shock strut, a number of moles of gas in the primary chamber of the shock strut, a volume of gas in a secondary chamber of the shock strut, and a number of moles of gas in the secondary chamber.

The present invention relates to a damper for a rail vehicle, the damper comprising —a cylindrical housing (1) wherein a hollow piston (2) is received axially movable, —a working chamber (5) of variable volume in the housing, —a overflow chamber (4) of variable volume in the piston, the hydraulic overflow chamber (5) being connected to the hydraulic working chamber (5) via a throttle (8) that is in a flow passage between the working chamber (5) and the overflow chamber (4), —a spring chamber (3) of variable volume in the piston, the spring chamber (3) being configured to hold a gas volume for acting as a spring, and the spring chamber being separated from the hydraulic overflow chamber (4) by a separator piston (6) that is axially movable, and the damper further comprising a pressure detector (7) that is configured to detect a pressure in at least one of the spring chamber (3), the working chamber (5) and the overflow chamber (4). The invention also relates to a monitoring system and to a method for monitoring a pressure in a damper.

Disclosed herein is a sway bar system comprising a damping link that couples a first end of a sway bar to a first location on a vehicle. The damping link is comprised of a body comprising a damping chamber and a reservoir. There is also a through shaft coupled to a piston, where the piston divides the chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber. A high-pressure line is fluidly coupled with the chamber and the reservoir and allows fluid to flow from the first chamber and the second chamber to the reservoir. A low-pressure line is fluidly coupled with the chamber and the reservoir and allows fluid to flow from the reservoir to the first chamber and the second chamber. The high-pressure line and the low-pressure line assist in self-centering the sway bar.