A damper assembly has a longitudinal axis and includes a damper housing with a side wall portion and an end wall portion defining a damping chamber containing a quantity of damping fluid. A photon source and a photon receptor are operatively disposed in optical communication with the non-gaseous damping fluid in the damping chamber. The photon source is operable to direct a photon through the non-gaseous damping fluid toward an associated target surface. The photon receptor is operable to receive the photon reflected off the associated target surface through the non-gaseous damping fluid. A sensor suitable for such use as well as spring and damper assemblies and suspension systems are also included.

The present invention relates to a hydraulic damper, comprising a tube, a piston assembly comprising compression and rebound valve assemblies, and a controllable solenoid valve. The piston assembly further comprises a housing; first, second and third partition members; first, second, third and fourth check valves; and one or more radial channels; wherein said first partition member has a first axial opening and the solenoid valve has a valve member provided with at least one inlet in fluid communication with said first axial opening, and one or more outlets in fluid communication with said first internal chamber, wherein said second partition member has a second axial opening; wherein said first axial opening and said second axial opening allow the working liquid to flow from said third internal chamber to said at least one inlet of the solenoid valve bypassing said second internal chamber.

A baffle press-fit against an inner portion of an outer tube defining an interior of a hydraulic damper. The baffle comprising a first wall, a second wall, opposite the first wall, a circumferential third wall, and a channel formed between at least a portion of the circumferential third wall and the inner portion of the outer tube. The channel comprising an inlet formed along at least a portion of the first wall, an outlet formed along at least a portion of the second wall, and a groove formed along at least a portion of the circumferential third wall and fluidly coupling the inlet to the outlet.

A baffle press-fit against an inner portion of an outer tube defining an interior of a hydraulic damper. The baffle comprising a first wall, a second wall, opposite the first wall, a circumferential third wall, and a channel formed between at least a portion of the circumferential third wall and the inner portion of the outer tube. The channel comprising an inlet formed along at least a portion of the first wall, an outlet formed along at least a portion of the second wall, and a groove formed along at least a portion of the circumferential third wall and fluidly coupling the inlet to the outlet.

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 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 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 damper includes: a cylinder having a cylinder tube; a piston slidingly movable within the cylinder tube; a piston rod integrally movable with the piston; a first chamber and a second chamber into or from which fluid flows by sliding movement of the piston relative to the cylinder tube; a piston port portion connecting the first chamber and the second chamber; a damping force generating device disposed downstream of the piston port portion through which the fluid flows; and a sub-valve disposed upstream and/or downstream of the damping force generating device. The sub-valve is provided with a sub-valve port portion that is connected to a flow path of the piston port portion. A total cross-sectional area of a flow path of the sub-valve port portion is smaller than a total cross-sectional area of the flow path of the piston port portion.

A hydraulic damper includes: a cylinder having a cylinder tube; a piston slidingly movable within the cylinder tube; a piston rod integrally movable with the piston; a first chamber and a second chamber into or from which fluid flows by sliding movement of the piston relative to the cylinder tube; a piston port portion connecting the first chamber and the second chamber; a damping force generating device disposed downstream of the piston port portion through which the fluid flows; and a sub-valve disposed upstream and/or downstream of the damping force generating device. The sub-valve is provided with a sub-valve port portion that is connected to a flow path of the piston port portion. A total cross-sectional area of a flow path of the sub-valve port portion is smaller than a total cross-sectional area of the flow path of the piston port portion.