A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.

A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.

A hydraulic strut system that damps vehicle vibration and includes a compressible fluid, a strut, and a valve plate. The strut includes three concentric tubes defining an inner cavity, an intermediary cavity, and an outer reservoir cavity, the inner cavity and intermediary cavity being fluidly coupled, wherein the inner cavity receives a piston that divides the inner cavity into a first volume and a second volume, the piston having an aperture that allows one way flow from the first volume to the second volume. The valve plate is removably coupled to the strut, and includes a first fluid path that allows one-way fluid flow from the intermediary cavity to the reservoir cavity, the first fluid path including a damping valve that damps fluid flowing therethrough; and a second fluid path that allows one-way fluid flow from the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity, the second fluid path further including a replenishment valve.

A hydraulic strut system that damps vehicle vibration and includes a compressible fluid, a strut, and a valve plate. The strut includes three concentric tubes defining an inner cavity, an intermediary cavity, and an outer reservoir cavity, the inner cavity and intermediary cavity being fluidly coupled, wherein the inner cavity receives a piston that divides the inner cavity into a first volume and a second volume, the piston having an aperture that allows one way flow from the first volume to the second volume. The valve plate is removably coupled to the strut, and includes a first fluid path that allows one-way fluid flow from the intermediary cavity to the reservoir cavity, the first fluid path including a damping valve that damps fluid flowing therethrough; and a second fluid path that allows one-way fluid flow from the reservoir cavity to the inner cavity, the second fluid path further including a replenishment valve.

A baffle plate (41, partition member) is manufactured by being integrally formed of a single material including flexible or pliable NBR (nitrile rubber), and a projection (51) formed on an abutment surface (42B) of the baffle plate (41) is fitted into a recess (52) in a reduced-diameter portion (36) of an intermediate tube (20). Thus, when the intermediate tube (20) fitted with the baffle plate (41) is assembled into an outer tube, the sheet-shaped baffle plate (41) can be prevented from rotating about a connecting pipe (23), and it is possible to improve the productivity and assembleability of the shock absorber.

A baffle plate (41, partition member) is manufactured by being integrally formed of a single material including flexible or pliable NBR (nitrile rubber), and a projection (51) formed on an abutment surface (42B) of the baffle plate (41) is fitted into a recess (52) in a reduced-diameter portion (36) of an intermediate tube (20). Thus, when the intermediate tube (20) fitted with the baffle plate (41) is assembled into an outer tube, the sheet-shaped baffle plate (41) can be prevented from rotating about a connecting pipe (23), and it is possible to improve the productivity and assembleability of the shock absorber.

A front fork of the present invention has: a cylinder in which a damper of one fork leg is connected to an outer tube on a vehicle body side; a piston rod connected to an inner tube on an axle side; and a piston valve attached to the piston rod and movably inserted into the cylinder. A variable throttle for extension-side damping force adjustment is provided in the piston rod. A stroke sensor has a detected element attached to the cylinder, and a detection unit that is attached to the piston rod and detects a displacement of the detected element. A variable throttle for compression-side damping force adjustment is attached to an outer tube on the vehicle body side of another fork leg.

Included are: a first supporting member; a second supporting member arranged to be spaced away from the first supporting member in a main load direction; an elastically deformable diaphragm forming a closed space by connecting the first supporting member and the second supporting member; a detection unit detecting a change of a relative distance between the first supporting member and the second supporting member, and producing a mechanical output of the change of the relative distance; and a controlling member capable of discharging air in an inside of the closed space S to an outside of the closed space S in response to the mechanical output from the detection unit. Thereby, an air spring having a mechanism for suppressing an abnormal rise of a vehicle height without deteriorating the diaphragm can be provided.

Included are: a first supporting member; a second supporting member arranged to be spaced away from the first supporting member in a main load direction; an elastically deformable diaphragm forming a closed space by connecting the first supporting member and the second supporting member; a detection unit detecting a change of a relative distance between the first supporting member and the second supporting member, and producing a mechanical output of the change of the relative distance; and a controlling member capable of discharging air in an inside of the closed space S to an outside of the closed space S in response to the mechanical output from the detection unit. Thereby, an air spring having a mechanism for suppressing an abnormal rise of a vehicle height without deteriorating the diaphragm can be provided.

A bicycle rear derailleur has a base member mountable to a bicycle frame, a movable member movably coupled to the base member, a chain guide assembly rotatably connected to the movable member for rotation about a rotational axis, a biasing element configured and arranged to bias the chain guide assembly for rotation in a first rotational direction with respect to the movable member, and a fluid damper having a fluid cavity containing a volume of fluid. The fluid damper is operatively disposed between the chain guide assembly and the movable member to apply a damping force to the chain guide assembly when the chain guide assembly rotates in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction. The fluid damper has a compensation device in fluid communication with the fluid cavity and is configured to accommodate a change in the volume of fluid in the fluid cavity.