A gas spring for use in a gas suspension system. The gas spring includes a gas inlet port configured to receive compressed gas and a gas inlet chamber connected via an inlet conduit to the gas inlet port and via an opening to an internal volume of the gas spring. The inlet conduit is connected to the gas inlet chamber at a position offset from a central axis of the gas inlet chamber such that an angle between a longitudinal axis of the gas inlet port and a surface of an interior wall of the gas inlet chamber opposing the gas inlet port is acute.

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 combination gas spring and shock absorber apparatus includes a vented gas spring housing and a vented shock absorber housing slidably mounted within the gas spring housing. A shock absorber piston is concentrically mounted within a gas spring piston. A base housing is slidably mounted in the gas spring housing. A shaft extends through the base housing and into the shock absorber housing. The shock absorber piston is mounted in the shock absorber housing on the free end of the shaft. The gas spring piston is mounted in the gas spring housing on the distal end of the base housing. The shock absorber piston is fluidically sealed and slides within the shock absorber housing. The gas spring piston is fluidically sealed and slides along the gas spring housing and the shock absorber housing. The base housing telescopically translates relative to the gas spring housing.

A three-wheeled vehicle having a front wheel assembly attached to a chassis. The chassis includes a rotational control shaft having a rotational axis that is generally directed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The rotational control shaft is integrated with or secured to the chassis in a non-rotational manner and passes through the front wheel assembly in a rotationally-free manner, such that the rotational control shaft can rotate about its rotational axis. The front wheel assembly includes one or more lean control motors, which are operably configured to rotate the rotational control shaft about its rotational axis thereby causing the chassis to lean from side to side to improve the handling ability of the vehicle. Some embodiments include a lean control system configured to automatically control the degree of rotation of the chassis.

A shock absorber including a pressure tube, a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube, and a fluid transfer tube that extends about the pressure tube, and a reserve tube that extends about the fluid transfer tube is provided. The piston assembly divides an inner volume of the pressure tube into first and second working chambers. An intermediate chamber between the pressure tube and the fluid transfer tube is arranged in fluid communication with the first working chamber. A reservoir chamber between the fluid transfer tube is arranged in fluid communication with the intermediate chamber. An insert is disposed within the intermediate chamber, reducing the volume of the intermediate chamber and defining a fluid transfer channel between the first working chamber and the reservoir chamber.

Provided are a reliable high-voltage system and a failure diagnosis method thereof, in which a vibration damping mechanism using an electrorheological fluid as a working fluid is a load, and can prevent electric shock due to leakage current and the influence on surrounding electronic devices. There are provided a first circuit that includes a power source and a ground, a second circuit that is magnetically coupled to the first circuit via a transformer and includes a load connected to the ground, a controller that is connected to the ground, a third circuit that is connected to the second circuit and the ground, a first resistor that is provided between a connection point at a high potential end of the second circuit and the ground, and a second resistor that is provided between a connection point at a low potential end of the second circuit and the ground, and has a resistance value different from a resistance value of the first resistor.

Provided are an electroviscous fluid exhibiting a high ER effect and having sufficient durability, and a cylinder device. An electroviscous fluid of the present invention includes a fluid and polyurethane particles containing metal ions. The polyurethane particles have a phase separation structure of a hard segment and a soft segment, and contain an additive increasing a urethane bond forming the hard segment.

A damper including inner and outer tubes and a control valve. A piston is slidably disposed within the inner tube to define first and second working chambers. An intermediate member assembly is disposed annularly about the inner tube. An intermediate channel is positioned radially between the intermediate member assembly and the inner tube and a reservoir channel is positioned radially between the intermediate member assembly and the outer tube. A first unidirectional blocking valve forms a first partition between first and second intermediate channel portions of the intermediate channel. A second unidirectional blocking valve forms a second partition between the second intermediate channel portion and a third intermediate channel portion. An external control valve has a control valve inlet that is arranged in fluid communication with the second intermediate channel portion.

A shock absorber for a vehicle includes a pressure tube containing a hydraulic fluid. The shock absorber further includes a piston rod extending within the pressure tube along a longitudinal axis, and including a piston end disposed within the pressure tube. The piston rod includes a rod chamber defined within the piston rod and extending along the longitudinal axis from an upper chamber end distal to the piston end to a lower chamber end proximal to the piston end. The piston rod further includes at least one first opening disposed proximal to the lower chamber end. The shock absorber further includes a first piston assembly, an auxiliary housing, and a damper assembly including a sleeve received within the rod chamber.