A method of on-demand energy delivery to an active suspension system is disclosed. The suspension system includes an actuator body, a hydraulic pump, an electric motor, a plurality of sensors, an energy storage facility, and a controller. The method includes disposing an active suspension system in a vehicle between a wheel mount and a vehicle body, detecting a wheel event requiring control of the active suspension; and sourcing energy from the energy storage facility and delivering it to the electric motor in response to the wheel event.

A vibration damping component, comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a hydraulic motor; The hydraulic oil cylinder comprises an oil storage cylinder and a working cylinder, wherein the working cylinder is internally provided with a first piston piece and is divided into an expansion cavity and a contraction cavity by means of the first piston piece; the expansion connects the oil storage cylinder by means of a first one-way oil discharge; the contraction connects the oil storage cylinder by means of a second one-way oil discharge; the oil storage cylinder is provided thereon with an oil outlet hole; an input end of the hydraulic motor is connected to the oil outlet hole; and an output end of the hydraulic motor is in communication respectively with the expansion by means of a first one-way oil return pipe and with the contraction by means of a second one-way oil return pipe.

An accumulator for a vehicle suspension damper, which includes an outer shell with an open end that connects to an accumulator port on the damper and a distal end, opposite the open end, which includes an end wall that extends radially inward to a gas charging port. A bellows assembly, which includes an annular bellows wall extending between proximal and distal plates, is positioned inside the outer shell to define a pressurized gas chamber inside the accumulator that is arranged in fluid communication with the gas charging port. The gas charging port includes a stem that extends inwardly from the end wall of the outer shell and the distal plate of the bellows assembly has an inner diameter that is received on the stem. The inner diameter of the distal plate is coupled to the stem of the gas charging port by a fixation component.

An accumulator for a vehicle suspension damper, which includes an outer shell with an open end that connects to an accumulator port on the damper and a distal end, opposite the open end, which includes an end wall that extends radially inward to a gas charging port. A bellows assembly, which includes an annular bellows wall extending between proximal and distal plates, is positioned inside the outer shell to define a pressurized gas chamber inside the accumulator that is arranged in fluid communication with the gas charging port. The gas charging port includes a stem that extends inwardly from the end wall of the outer shell and the distal plate of the bellows assembly has an inner diameter that is received on the stem. The inner diameter of the distal plate is coupled to the stem of the gas charging port by a fixation component.

A shock absorber including a shock absorber body substantially filled with a hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber includes a piston disposed within the shock absorber body that includes a piston head movable within the shock absorber to apply a pressure change in the hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber includes a piezoelectric material disposed within the shock absorber and in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid. The piezoelectric material is configured to generate an electrical charge in response to the pressure change in the hydraulic fluid. The piezoelectric material is electrically connected to at least one battery configured to receive the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric material.

A shock absorber including a shock absorber body substantially filled with a hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber includes a piston disposed within the shock absorber body that includes a piston head movable within the shock absorber to apply a pressure change in the hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber includes a piezoelectric material disposed within the shock absorber and in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid. The piezoelectric material is configured to generate an electrical charge in response to the pressure change in the hydraulic fluid. The piezoelectric material is electrically connected to at least one battery configured to receive the electrical charge generated by the piezoelectric material.

Methods and apparatus for regulating the function of a suspension system are disclosed herein. Suspension characteristics often contribute to the efficiency of a suspended system. Depending on the desired operating parameters of the suspended system, it may be desirable to alter the functional characteristics of the suspension from time to time in order to maintain or increase efficiency. The suspension hereof may be selectively locked into a substantially rigid configuration, and the damping fluid may be phase separated and/or cooled to increase damping rate during use (or offset rate degradation). The suspension hereof may generate power usable to achieve any or all of the foregoing or to be stored for use elsewhere in the suspended system or beyond.

Methods and apparatus for regulating the function of a suspension system are disclosed herein. Suspension characteristics often contribute to the efficiency of a suspended system. Depending on the desired operating parameters of the suspended system, it may be desirable to alter the functional characteristics of the suspension from time to time in order to maintain or increase efficiency. The suspension hereof may be selectively locked into a substantially rigid configuration, and the damping fluid may be phase separated and/or cooled to increase damping rate during use (or offset rate degradation). The suspension hereof may generate power usable to achieve any or all of the foregoing or to be stored for use elsewhere in the suspended system or beyond.

Disclosed herein are hydraulic actuators and methods for the operation of actuators having variable relative pressure ratios. Further disclosed are methods for designing and/or operating a hydraulic actuator such that the actuator exhibits a variable relative pressure ratio. In certain embodiments, the relative pressure ratio of the hydraulic actuator may be dependent on one or more characteristics (such as, for example, frequency or rate of change) of an oscillating input to the hydraulic actuator.

An energy harvesting switch is disclosed. The energy harvesting switch includes a magnet, a coil, and a mechanical switch. The manipulation of the mechanical switch causes the magnet to move with respect to the coil and generate an amount of energy. The energy harvesting switch also includes a transmitter configured to use the generated amount of energy to transmit a signal to at least one component coupled with a vehicle, the signal configured to cause a change to at least one characteristic of the at least one component.