A shock absorber is disclosed which has a base valve assembly for controlling a flow of a working fluid between a reservoir chamber and a working chamber of the shock absorber. The base valve makes use of at least one digital valve assembly. The digital valve assembly communicates with an intermediate chamber formed between an intermediate tube and a pressure tube of the shock absorber. The digital valve assembly controls flow of the working fluid between the intermediate chamber and the reservoir chamber, to help control a damping action provided by the shock absorber.

A shock absorber is disclosed which has a base valve assembly for controlling a flow of a working fluid between a reservoir chamber and a working chamber of the shock absorber. The base valve makes use of at least one digital valve assembly. The digital valve assembly communicates with an intermediate chamber formed between an intermediate tube and a pressure tube of the shock absorber. The digital valve assembly controls flow of the working fluid between the intermediate chamber and the reservoir chamber, to help control a damping action provided by the shock absorber.

A suspension system has an isolator cylinder with a primary reservoir having a primary reservoir volume, a secondary reservoir having a secondary reservoir volume, a manifold and a primary duct fluidly connecting the primary and secondary reservoirs for controlling the flow rate of the fluid between the primary and secondary reservoirs, and optionally a valve for controlling a flow rate of a fluid through the duct, and a control system for operating the valve. A shock absorption system for a vehicle seat is provided comprising an isolator with at least one secondary pneumatic reservoir connected with a fluid duct to the primary reservoir of an isolator. The reservoir volumes, length and cross sectional area of the connecting duct and fluid flow control valves may be determined using methods including algorithms, experimental testing and models to determine the optimal values to achieve consistent shock mitigation across a range of seat loads.

A shock absorber is disclosed having a pressure tube forming a working chamber, and a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube. The piston assembly may divide the working chamber into upper and lower working chambers. The piston assembly may have a piston body defining a first fluid passage extending therethrough and a first valve assembly controlling fluid flow through the first fluid passage. A second fluid passage, separate from the first fluid passage, extends from one of the upper and lower working chambers to a fluid chamber defined at least in part by the pressure tube. A plurality of digital valve assemblies are included and configured to exclusively control all fluid flow through the second fluid passage, and thus all fluid flow between the one of the upper and lower working chambers to the fluid chamber.

A shock absorber is disclosed having a pressure tube forming a working chamber, and a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube. The piston assembly may divide the working chamber into upper and lower working chambers. The piston assembly may have a piston body defining a first fluid passage extending therethrough and a first valve assembly controlling fluid flow through the first fluid passage. A second fluid passage, separate from the first fluid passage, extends from one of the upper and lower working chambers to a fluid chamber defined at least in part by the pressure tube. A plurality of digital valve assemblies are included and configured to exclusively control all fluid flow through the second fluid passage, and thus all fluid flow between the one of the upper and lower working chambers to the fluid chamber.

A shock absorber includes a piston joined to a piston rod that proceeds into and recedes from a cylinder, an extension-side chamber and a compression-side chamber that are separated from each other by the piston and have a working fluid reserved therein, first and second extension-side discharge passages in which the working fluid discharged from the extension-side chamber flows, an extension-side supply passage in which the working fluid to be supplied to the compression-side chamber flows, first and second compression-side discharge passages in which the working fluid discharged from the compression-side chamber flows, and a compression-side supply passage in which the working fluid to be supplied to the extension-side chamber flows. An extension-side damping valve and a compression-side damping valve are respectively provided in the first extension-side discharge passage and the first compression-side discharge passage. An extension-side electromagnetic pressure control valve and a compression-side electromagnetic pressure control valve, which are respectively provided in the second extension-side discharge passage and the second compression-side discharge passage, are set such that the openings thereof are maximized before the piston speed reaches a high-speed range.

A shock absorber includes a piston joined to a piston rod that proceeds into and recedes from a cylinder, an extension-side chamber and a compression-side chamber that are separated from each other by the piston and have a working fluid reserved therein, first and second extension-side discharge passages in which the working fluid discharged from the extension-side chamber flows, an extension-side supply passage in which the working fluid to be supplied to the compression-side chamber flows, first and second compression-side discharge passages in which the working fluid discharged from the compression-side chamber flows, and a compression-side supply passage in which the working fluid to be supplied to the extension-side chamber flows. An extension-side damping valve and a compression-side damping valve are respectively provided in the first extension-side discharge passage and the first compression-side discharge passage. An extension-side electromagnetic pressure control valve and a compression-side electromagnetic pressure control valve, which are respectively provided in the second extension-side discharge passage and the second compression-side discharge passage, are set such that the openings thereof are maximized before the piston speed reaches a high-speed range.

A damper assembly includes a housing and rod supported by the housing. A piston assembly is attached to the rod, and is positioned to separate an interior chamber of the housing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The piston assembly includes an annular plate that defines at least one orifice. The orifice interconnects the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber in fluid communication. The damper assembly includes a piezoelectric device that is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, in response to a control signal. When disposed in the disengaged position, the piezoelectric device does not affect fluid flow through the at least one orifice. When disposed in the engaged position, the piezoelectric device does affect fluid flow through the at least one orifice, to adjust a damping rate of the piston assembly.

A damper assembly includes a housing and rod supported by the housing. A piston assembly is attached to the rod, and is positioned to separate an interior chamber of the housing into a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The piston assembly includes an annular plate that defines at least one orifice. The orifice interconnects the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber in fluid communication. The damper assembly includes a piezoelectric device that is moveable between a disengaged position and an engaged position, in response to a control signal. When disposed in the disengaged position, the piezoelectric device does not affect fluid flow through the at least one orifice. When disposed in the engaged position, the piezoelectric device does affect fluid flow through the at least one orifice, to adjust a damping rate of the piston assembly.

A damping spindle mechanism includes a spindle, a sleeve, a housing and a blade. The sleeve is coupled to the spindle; the housing is disposed with a chamber, one section of the spindle threaded with the sleeve is assembled in the chamber of the housing to form a closed chamber; the close chamber is filled with damping oil and is separated to a first chamber body and a second chamber body by the sleeve; the sleeve is disposed with a first passage connecting the two chamber bodies in the axial direction; wherein the blade is of ring shape or arc shape coupled to the internal wall surface of the housing, the blade is disposed with a deformable first thin wall. When the blade moves towards the second chamber body, the first thin wall deforms towards the internal wall surface of the housing.