A damper assembly includes a cylinder defining a chamber. The damper assembly includes a body supported by the cylinder and having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The body defines a passage extending from the first surface to the second surface. One of the first surface or the second surface define a slope at the passage. The damper assembly includes a check disc at the slope, the check disc selectively restricting fluid flow through the passage.

A controller 10 as a generation mechanism control portion includes a base control portion 15 that determines a lower limit value on an instruction signal (i.e., a base instruction value) that serves as a lower limit on a force to be generated by a variable damper 6 (a force generation mechanism) according to at least a running speed of a vehicle. The base control portion 15 corrects the base instruction value by a base instruction value calculation portion 28 based on a result of a determination about a road surface output from a road surface determination portion 26 (i.e., a result of detection by a road surface state detection portion). A vehicle behavior control apparatus is configured to variably control a damping force characteristic of the variable damper 6 according to a road surface state with use of an instruction value output from the controller 10.

A controller 10 as a generation mechanism control portion includes a base control portion 15 that determines a lower limit value on an instruction signal (i.e., a base instruction value) that serves as a lower limit on a force to be generated by a variable damper 6 (a force generation mechanism) according to at least a running speed of a vehicle. The base control portion 15 corrects the base instruction value by a base instruction value calculation portion 28 based on a result of a determination about a road surface output from a road surface determination portion 26 (i.e., a result of detection by a road surface state detection portion). A vehicle behavior control apparatus is configured to variably control a damping force characteristic of the variable damper 6 according to a road surface state with use of an instruction value output from the controller 10.

A vehicle damper is described. The vehicle damper includes: a cylinder; a piston within the cylinder; a working fluid within the cylinder; a reservoir in fluid communication with the cylinder via the working fluid, the reservoir operable to receive the working fluid from the cylinder in a compression stroke; a valve in a flow path between the cylinder and the reservoir; and a remotely-operable valve having a position allowing the working fluid to significantly by-pass the valve.

A vehicle damper is described. The vehicle damper includes: a cylinder; a piston within the cylinder; a working fluid within the cylinder; a reservoir in fluid communication with the cylinder via the working fluid, the reservoir operable to receive the working fluid from the cylinder in a compression stroke; a valve in a flow path between the cylinder and the reservoir; and a remotely-operable valve having a position allowing the working fluid to significantly by-pass the valve.

A shock absorber for a vehicle includes an inner tube at least partially defining an inner fluid compartment and an outer tube enclosing at least in part the inner tube therein. Together, the inner tube and the outer tube at least partially define an outer fluid compartment therebetween. The inner tube defines a bypass zone having a plurality of bypass apertures that fluidly communicate the inner fluid compartment with the outer fluid compartment. A piston is movably mounted within the inner tube and moves in compression and in rebound. The piston defines a piston passage extending through the piston for permitting fluid flow between a first side and second side of the piston. An electronically controlled valve is connected to the piston and controls fluid flow through the piston passage. A method for controlling the shock absorber is also disclosed.

A shock absorber for a vehicle includes an inner tube at least partially defining an inner fluid compartment and an outer tube enclosing at least in part the inner tube therein. Together, the inner tube and the outer tube at least partially define an outer fluid compartment therebetween. The inner tube defines a bypass zone having a plurality of bypass apertures that fluidly communicate the inner fluid compartment with the outer fluid compartment. A piston is movably mounted within the inner tube and moves in compression and in rebound. The piston defines a piston passage extending through the piston for permitting fluid flow between a first side and second side of the piston. An electronically controlled valve is connected to the piston and controls fluid flow through the piston passage. A method for controlling the shock absorber is also disclosed.

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.

An active suspension system with body wearable device integration is disclosed. The system includes a prosthetic having a shock assembly with at least one active valve and a controller communicatively coupled with the at least one active valve of the shock assembly, the controller configured to communicate damping adjustment information to the at least one active valve of the shock assembly, the damping adjustment information used by said at least one active valve to modify a damping characteristic of the shock assembly.