A main orifice plate assembly may be configured to transition a multi-actor damping system from a first damping actor configuration to a second damping actor configuration. The multi-actor damping system may be used in a shock strut assembly to alter a damping curve of the shuck strut assembly. The main orifice plate assembly may be a part of a main orifice assembly including an orbital cam. The main orifice plate may include a flow restrictor. The flow restrictor may be configured to retract or deploy in response to main orifice plate rotating about the orbital cam. The first damping actor configuration may correspond to a first damping curve. The second damping actor configuration may correspond to a second damping curve. The first damping curve being different than the second damping curve.

A metering pin for use in a multi-actor damping system is disclosed herein. The multi-actor damping system may be used in a shock strut assembly to alter a damping curve of the shuck strut assembly. The metering pin may be configured to transition the multi-actor damping system from a first damping actor configuration to a second damping actor configuration. The first damping actor configuration may correspond to a first damping curve. The second damping actor configuration may correspond to a second damping curve. The first damping curve being different than the second damping curve.

A method for monitoring a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut includes receiving, by a controller, a primary chamber temperature sensor reading, a primary chamber pressure sensor reading, and a shock strut stroke sensor reading, calculating, by the controller, a secondary chamber nominal pressure based upon the primary chamber temperature sensor reading, determining, by the controller, a shock strut stroke associated with the secondary chamber nominal pressure, calculating, by the controller, a volume of oil in an oil chamber, a volume of gas in a primary gas chamber, a number of moles of gas in the primary gas chamber, a volume of oil leaked into the primary gas chamber, a volume of gas in a secondary chamber, and a number of moles of gas in the secondary chamber.

A method for monitoring a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut includes receiving, by a controller, primary chamber temperature and pressure sensor readings, secondary chamber pressure and temperature sensor readings, and a shock strut stroke sensor reading, determining, by the controller, a shock strut stroke at which a secondary chamber is activated, calculating, by the controller, a volume of oil in an oil chamber of the shock strut, a primary chamber gas volume of, a number of moles of gas in, and a volume of oil leaked into, a primary gas chamber of the shock strut, a secondary chamber gas volume in, a volume of oil leaked into, and a number of moles of gas in, the secondary chamber, based upon at least one of the secondary chamber pressure sensor reading, and the secondary chamber temperature sensor reading.

A vehicle suspension damper including: a cylinder; a piston assembly; and an adjuster, wherein the piston assembly compresses fluid as it moves within the cylinder and the adjuster obstructs fluid flow from a first side of a damping piston of the piston assembly to a second side of the damping piston.

A dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut arrangement includes a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut, a pressure/temperature sensor mounted to the primary gas chamber, a stroke sensor, and a monitoring system, comprising a recorder configured to receive a plurality of sensor readings from at least one of the pressure/temperature sensor and the stroke sensor, a landing detector configured to detect a landing event based upon a stroke sensor reading received from the stroke sensor, and a health monitor configured to determine a volume of oil in the oil chamber, a volume of gas in the primary gas chamber, and a volume of gas in the secondary gas chamber.

A shock absorber assembly including a housing along an axis. A hydraulic stop mechanism includes a retainer extending about and fixed to a piston rod, and a ring guide that has a base portion axially adjacent to the retainer and a plurality of catchers each connected to and spaced axially from the base portion and each having a radially outer portion. Each of the catchers defines a channel. A piston ring is axially moveable along the ring guide between a blocked position wherein the piston ring axially abuts the retainer to close the channels, and an unblocked position wherein the piston ring is axially spaced from the retainer to open the channels. The piston ring further includes a plurality of stabilizer pins extending axially and each received by one of the channels of the catchers radially inward of the radially outer portions of the catchers.

A dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut arrangement includes a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut and a monitoring system. The shock strut includes a strut cylinder, a strut piston operatively coupled to the strut cylinder, an oil chamber, a primary gas chamber, and a secondary gas chamber. The monitoring system includes a first pressure/temperature sensor, a second pressure/temperature sensor, a stroke sensor, a recorder configured to receive a plurality of sensor readings from the first pressure/temperature sensor, the second pressure/temperature sensor, and/or the stroke sensor, a landing detector configured to detect a landing event based upon a stroke sensor reading received from the stroke sensor, and a health monitor configured to determine a volume of oil in the oil chamber, a primary chamber gas volume in the primary gas chamber, and a secondary chamber gas volume in the secondary gas chamber.

An apparatus and system are disclosed that provide position sensitive suspension damping. A damping unit includes a piston mounted in a fluid-filled cylinder. A vented path in the piston may be fluidly coupled to a bore formed in one end of the piston rod, creating a flow path for fluid to flow from a first side of the piston to a second side of the piston during a compression stroke. The flow path may be blocked by a needle configured to engage the bore as the damping unit is substantially fully compressed, thereby causing the damping rate of the damping unit to increase. In one embodiment, the piston includes multiple bypass flow paths operable during the compression stroke or the rebound stroke of the damping unit. One or more of the bypass flow paths may be restricted by one or more shims mounted on the piston.

A method and apparatus for a shock absorber for a vehicle having a gas spring with first and second gas chambers, wherein the first chamber is utilized during a first travel portion of the shock absorber and the first and second chambers are both utilized during a second portion of travel. In one embodiment, a travel adjustment assembly is configured to selectively communicate a first gas chamber with a negative gas chamber.