Example aspects of a sliding disc assembly for a dual spring valve, and a method of operating a dual spring valve are disclosed. The sliding disc assembly can comprise a shaft defining a first end and a second end; a disc mounted on the shaft between the first end and the second end, the disc defining an upper disc surface, a lower disc surface, and an annular base surface; a first spring mounted on the shaft between the lower disc surface and the first end of the shaft; and a second spring mounted on the shaft between the upper disc surface and the second end of the shaft, wherein the first spring defines a spring force that is different from a spring force of the second spring.

Disclosed are impact sensor arrangements for active hood systems, methods for making and for using such impact sensor arrangements, and motor vehicles with active hood systems using such impact sensor arrangements. Disclosed, for example, is an impact sensor arrangement for an active hood system of a motor vehicle. An active hood system actuator is selectively actuable to displace the vehicle's engine hood. The impact sensor arrangement includes a sensor connected to a sensing tube to detect a characteristic change of the sensing tube and responsively output an actuator trigger signal. First and second blocks, each formed from a high-density material, attach to the vehicle body adjacent the bumper and collectively define an internal channel within which is nested the sensing tube. The first block is movably attached to the second block such that displacement of one block with respect to the other initiates the characteristic change of the sensing tube.

A damper includes a housing in which an opening is formed, a cap closing the opening of the housing, a movable member movably housed between the housing and the cap, and a gel-like attenuating medium filled in a movable area of the movable member inside the housing. The housing and the cap are physical objects, the attenuating medium is filled between the physical objects and the movable member, and the housing and the cap are formed by the same principal material.

A damping force generation device for a vehicle includes a shock absorber including a cylinder and a piston. The shock absorber is coupled to a vehicle body, a wheel carrier, and the like at a rod part of the piston and the cylinder, respectively, and is configured to generate a damping force due to a flow resistance when oil passes through an orifice formed in the piston. Each of self-discharge type charge eliminators is fixed to a surface of a specific member being at least one of a component of the shock absorber or an auxiliary member connected to the component. The charge eliminator reduces positive electric charge that is charged to the specific member, to thereby reduce a charge amount of the oil.

A fluid damper device may include a tube-shaped case with a bottom wall, a tube part and a partitioning protruded part protruded from the tube part, a turning shaft provided with a body part which faces a first end face of the partitioning protruded part and a flange part enlarged to an outer side in the radial direction from the body part and faces a second end face of the partitioning protruded part, a valve body supported on an outer side of the body part, and fluid filled on an inner side of the case. A face of the flange part is provided with a first region structured to contact the partitioning protruded part and a second region where a distance between the second end face and the flange part is set to be wider than the first region along one direction in a circumferential direction.

The present disclosure relates to a strut assembly for use with a vehicle. The strut assembly has a shock absorber having a shock absorber tube, a lower spring seat, a tubular member and a coil spring. The lower spring seat supports one end of the spring and includes a tubular member having an inner wall surface, and is configured to receive the shock absorber tube therein. The lower spring seat has an annular member extending radially outwardly from the tubular member with a surface for supporting the one end of the coil spring thereon. The tubular member has a portion constructed to deform and collapse in response to a predetermined excessive force experienced by the shock absorber.

A bumper cap assembly for an electrically adjustable hydraulic shock absorber. The bumper cap assembly includes a printed circuit board assembly and a bumper cap. The printed circuit board assembly includes power drive electronics and is electrically coupled to the shock absorber. The bumper cap defined a gap, wherein the printed circuit board assembly is housed within the gap.

Support and carrier assemblies are dimensioned for securement along a damper housing and dimensioned to operatively support an end member of a gas spring assembly on the damper housing as well as to form a substantially fluid-tight connected between the end member and the damper housing. The support and seal assembly can include a seal assembly with a seal carrier and at least one sealing element. The seal carrier can be dimensioned for securement along the damper housing. The at least one sealing element can be dimensioned sealingly engage the seal carrier and one of the end member and the damper housing to at least partially form the substantially fluid-tight connection therebetween. End member assemblies including such support and carrier assemblies are included. Gas spring and damper assemblies as well as suspension systems are also included.

The present invention provides a magneto rheological fluid composition for use in a vehicle mount having a flexible body and a diaphragm. The magneto rheological fluid composition consists of a carrier fluid, a plurality of magnetic responsive particles dispersed in the carrier fluid and an anti-settling agent of fumed silica dispersed in the carrier fluid forming a thixotropic network with the carrier fluid suspending the magnetic responsive particles in the thixotropic network for preventing the magnetic responsive particles from settling. The magneto rheological fluid composition of the present invention contains no additional additives providing stability to the thixotropic network and to the magneto rheological fluid and preventing the flexible body and the diaphragm from reacting with the composition to prolong the life of the composition.

A damping bearing (20) including an inner ball portion (34) attached to an end of a support shaft (32), and an outer collar portion (30) attached to a housing (22) for rotation of the housing relative to the support shaft about a center point. A chamber (28) for a damping fluid such as grease is defined by clearance between the end of the shaft and the housing. The fluid chamber has opposed bounding surfaces (29, 37) that are non-spherical about the center of rotation so that the chamber changes shape upon rotation of the bearing, thus shifting damping fluid across the chamber. The chamber may be a flat cylindrical void normal to a centerline (33) of the shaft. It may provide only enough clearance for less than ±10 of relative rotation between the housing and shaft. A set-screw (26) may pressurize the fluid in the chamber.