A solenoid valve includes a main valve having a valve seat and a main valve body configured to open or close a main flow passage, a pilot passage that branches from the main flow passage, an orifice provided in the pilot passage, a back-pressure chamber configured to bias the main valve body to a closing direction by virtue of an internal pressure, a pilot valve configured to control an internal pressure of the back-pressure chamber, and a solenoid configured to control a valve opening pressure of the pilot valve. There is a time difference between a valve opening timing of the main valve and a valve opening timing of the pilot valve such that the valve opening timing of the main valve is delayed from the valve opening timing of the pilot valve.

A solenoid valve includes a main valve having a valve seat and a main valve body configured to open or close a main flow passage, a pilot passage that branches from the main flow passage, an orifice provided in the pilot passage, a back-pressure chamber configured to bias the main valve body to a closing direction by virtue of an internal pressure, a pilot valve configured to control an internal pressure of the back-pressure chamber, and a solenoid configured to control a valve opening pressure of the pilot valve. There is a time difference between a valve opening timing of the main valve and a valve opening timing of the pilot valve such that the valve opening timing of the main valve is delayed from the valve opening timing of the pilot valve.

A machine base (4) comprising a lower base portion (8) and an upper base portion (10) with the upper base portion including a downwardly projecting portion (14) extending to, into or through the lower base portion with no contact between the upper and lower base portions. The machine base further includes at least two vibration and/or shock isolation sub-systems (22, 24).

A machine base (4) comprising a lower base portion (8) and an upper base portion (10) with the upper base portion including a downwardly projecting portion (14) extending to, into or through the lower base portion with no contact between the upper and lower base portions. The machine base further includes at least two vibration and/or shock isolation sub-systems (22, 24).

A shock absorber having a plurality of pistons in a telescopic or nested configuration. The shock absorber has a first shaft with a first piston disposed within a cylinder filled with a hydraulic fluid. A second shaft is in turn disposed within the first shaft, the second shaft having a second piston extending beyond the position of the first piston. The second shaft is further coupled to a vehicle's suspension system. When undergoing a displacement, the second piston moves through the cylinder and compresses an external spring. After the second shaft has been fully extended, the first piston is then actuated, thereby also moving through the hydraulic fluid. As the pistons traverse through the cylinder, a volume of the fluid is pushed into a reservoir communicated to the cylinder. Both the first and second shafts are configured to move independently with respect to each other and to the cylinder.

A shock absorber having a plurality of pistons in a telescopic or nested configuration. The shock absorber has a first shaft with a first piston disposed within a cylinder filled with a hydraulic fluid. A second shaft is in turn disposed within the first shaft, the second shaft having a second piston extending beyond the position of the first piston. The second shaft is further coupled to a vehicle's suspension system. When undergoing a displacement, the second piston moves through the cylinder and compresses an external spring. After the second shaft has been fully extended, the first piston is then actuated, thereby also moving through the hydraulic fluid. As the pistons traverse through the cylinder, a volume of the fluid is pushed into a reservoir communicated to the cylinder. Both the first and second shafts are configured to move independently with respect to each other and to the cylinder.

A shock absorber for a bicycle including a damping system, the damping system including a damping chamber partitioned in a first chamber and a second chamber by a movable piston, a low-speed throttle for the low-speed range, and a high-speed throttle for the high-speed range, the high-speed throttle having a throttle valve biased to a closed position by a spring device. An effective flow cross-section for the high-speed throttle is adjustable.

A shock absorber for a bicycle including a damping system, the damping system including a damping chamber partitioned in a first chamber and a second chamber by a movable piston, a low-speed throttle for the low-speed range, and a high-speed throttle for the high-speed range, the high-speed throttle having a throttle valve biased to a closed position by a spring device. An effective flow cross-section for the high-speed throttle is adjustable.

A damping force adjustment mechanism includes a casing that accommodates a working fluid, a seal member that divides an interior of the casing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, a housing that holds the seal member and is accommodated in the casing, and adjusting a damping force of the working fluid in the housing, a damping valve accommodated in the housing, a first pilot chamber and a second pilot chamber formed in the housing, a control chamber formed in the housing, a control valve dividing an interior of the control chamber into first and second control chambers, an actuator configured to electrically drive and control the control valve, first and second communication passages, first and second stationary orifices respectively provided in the first and second communication passage, and a third stationary orifice provided in a third communication passage provided in the control valve.

A damping force adjustment mechanism includes a casing that accommodates a working fluid, a seal member that divides an interior of the casing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber, a housing that holds the seal member and is accommodated in the casing, and adjusting a damping force of the working fluid in the housing, a damping valve accommodated in the housing, a first pilot chamber and a second pilot chamber formed in the housing, a control chamber formed in the housing, a control valve dividing an interior of the control chamber into first and second control chambers, an actuator configured to electrically drive and control the control valve, first and second communication passages, first and second stationary orifices respectively provided in the first and second communication passage, and a third stationary orifice provided in a third communication passage provided in the control valve.