A shock absorber has a main piston and a compression piston, connected by a compression piston housing. In stage 1, the shock absorber operates as a conventional monotube, with the damping force being generated only by the main piston. In stage 2, the compression piston travels into the compression housing, as the shock absorber still operates as a monotube damper. In stage 3, the compression piston is now significantly increasing its compression damping force by supplementing the main piston. The oil volume in the compression piston housing passes through the compression piston, causing an increase in compression damping force.

An end-stop control valve can progressively add end-of-stroke damping resistance to complement the damping force provided by a main piston in a damper tube. The end-stop control valve may include a piston that is secured on a piston rod and selectively engages a catch piston, both of which are longitudinally movable within the damper tube. As the piston approaches the catch piston, an annular pocket of hydraulic fluid is created longitudinally and radially between the piston and the catch piston. As the piston continues to approach the catch piston, a cross-sectional area through which hydraulic fluid exits the pocket decreases, thereby gradually increasing the resistance of the end-stop control valve. In addition, a spring disc secured on the piston rod may contact a valve seat on the catch piston and provide resistance by elastically deforming in a longitudinal direction before the contact surfaces of the piston and catch piston engage.

A cylinder apparatus is provided with a stopper mechanism that operates when a piston rod extends and moves toward an upper end portion in an inner cylinder. This stopper mechanism includes a second cylinder provided movably relative to the piston rod and including a bottom portion on an upper end side in the inner cylinder and a cylinder portion extending from the bottom portion toward a lower end side, and a second piston provided so as to be able to move along with a movement of the piston rod to be fitted to the second cylinder. While being configured in this manner, the cylinder apparatus is configured in such a manner that a spring member 21 is provided between the second cylinder and a rod guide.

A ring circumscribing a moveable rod of a hydraulic damper, the moveable rod defining a central axis, the ring comprising a first circumferential surface, a second circumferential surface, a first finger, a second finger, a first flange, and a second flange. The first finger and the first flange defining a first end of the ring. The second finger and the second flange defining a second end of the ring.

A damper assembly includes a main tube disposed on a center axis and defines a fluid chamber for containing a working fluid. A main piston is disposed in the fluid chamber dividing the fluid chamber into a rebound and a compression chamber. A piston rod is attached to the main piston for moving the main piston between a compression stroke and a rebound stroke. An additional piston is attached to the piston rod adjacent to the main piston. The additional piston includes a body having an upper and a lower member defining a groove. A sealing ring is disposed in the groove and being radially expandable in response to a working fluid pressure. The sealing ring includes at least one annular collar extending outwardly from the sealing ring for forming a locking engagement with the upper and lower members to limit the radial expansion of the sealing ring.

Disclosed is a hydraulic damper wherein the main damper tube has a narrowed section and it includes at least one additional piston assembly adapted to be received in the narrowed section to generate additional damping force. The piston assembly comprises a compression valve assembly and a rebound valve assembly each comprising at least one deflective disc. A sealing ring assembly is disposed between the compression and rebound valve assembles and comprises a first annular member having a plurality of channels covered by the deflective disc of the compression valve assembly; a second annular member having a plurality of channels, covered by the deflective disc of the rebound valve assembly; an axial projection between the annular members radially internal to the axial channels; and a sealing ring displaceable axially between the annular members and radially over the axial projection and adapted to cooperate with the narrowed section of the tube.

A damper providing varying damping force is provided. The damper may include a housing and a rotary member rotatably received the housing. The rotary member may rotate within the housing between defined end points of travel to define an angular range of travel of the rotary member. An outermost surface of the rotary member may be spaced inwardly from an inner surface of the housing defined between the end points of travel to define a gap between the outermost surface of the rotary member and the inner surface of the housing throughout the angular range of travel. The gap may vary in dimension depending on a rotational position of the rotary member to provide varying damping rates within the angular range of travel of the rotary member.

A hydraulic device includes a tubular housing containing a rod to which a plunger is rigidly secured that separates an upper chamber and a lower chamber both filled with a hydraulic fluid such that the plunger and the rod move together in a relative manner axially inside the tubular housing, thereby moving the hydraulic fluid from one chamber to the other and varying the volumes thereof. The hydraulic device further includes a spring that operates under compression resisting the movement of the plunger in one direction when the plunger moves toward a maximum extension position of the hydraulic device. The hydraulic device also includes an open elastic ring, the ends of which define an adjustable intermediate passage for the hydraulic fluid in order to adjust damping at the end of maximum extension of the hydraulic device and in other relative positions.

A damper comprises a pressure tube extending longitudinally between a first pressure tube end and a second pressure tube end, a piston arranged in sliding engagement inside the pressure tube, a piston rod coupled to the piston, a hydraulic rebound stop positioned in a first working chamber and including a sealing ring circumferentially extending around the piston rod and within the pressure tube. The sealing ring at least partially defining a high-pressure region within the pressure tube during a rebound stroke the damper further comprising a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the high-pressure region. The pressure relief valve being operable to allow pressurized fluid from the high-pressure region to pass therethrough once a predefined pressure threshold has been reached.

A passive damper with a cylinder and piston arrangement, the cylinder being arranged to be connected to a first item, the cylinder having a first chamber and a second chamber. The piston arrangement is connected to a second item, the piston arrangement comprising a piston movable in the cylinder. A fluid passage is associated with a one-way valve. Damping fluid substantially freely flows through the fluid passage in a first direction of movement of the piston arrangement in the cylinder and the damping fluid is restricted from flowing through the fluid passage in a second direction of movement of the piston arrangement in the cylinder. Damping fluid relatively freely flows around the piston when the piston is in the second chamber of the cylinder and the damping fluid is restricted from flowing around the piston when the piston is in the first chamber of the cylinder.