A top mount assembly including a housing for being connected to the frame of the vehicle. A rod connection assembly is disposed in the housing for being attached to a piston rod of the damper assembly. A chamber is defined between the rod connection assembly and the housing for receiving a fluid. A resilient member is disposed between the rod connection assembly and the housing. A partition assembly is positioned between the resilient member and the housing and axially divides the chamber into an upper chamber region and a lower chamber region. The partition assembly defines at least one passage that extends between the upper chamber region and the lower chamber region. At least one electromagnetic coil is disposed adjacent to the passage for selectively modifying the characteristics of the fluid passing through the passage to modify the damping characteristics of the top mount assembly.

The invention relates to a strut rod made of composite material for a suspension of a front axle of a vehicle, including: an upper part coupled to a rod and piston assembly connected to a vehicle body; and a U-shaped lower part including two brackets for fixing a knuckle arm of the vehicle. This strut rod includes means for detecting a crack. This detection means includes at least one additional edge positioned so as to project from an outer surface of the U-shaped lower part of the strut rod in a region where a crack possibly occurs in the case of an accidental shock on a wheel of the vehicle.

Systems and methods for controlling a vehicle including a friction control device are provided. A method of controlling the vehicle includes operating at least one friction control device in a first of a plurality of friction modes, detecting a vehicular speed, changing operation of the at least one friction control device from the first friction mode to a second of the plurality of friction modes in response to the vehicular speed exceeding a first threshold speed value, and changing operation of the at least one friction control device from the second friction mode to the first friction mode in response to the vehicular speed falling below a second threshold speed value that is less than the first threshold speed value. The second friction mode is associated with a higher level of resistance than the first friction mode.

A seal inserted into a circular opening in a work piece from a first direction for sealing a component inserted into the circular opening from a second direction is disclosed. The seal body has a ring shape and includes an upper edge and a lower edge. An upper seal extends radially outward and downward from the upper edge of the seal body, a lower seal extends radially inward and upward from the lower edge of the seal body, and a clip secures the seal to the circular opening.

A utility vehicle with ergonomic, safety, and maintenance features is disclosed. A vehicle is also disclosed with improved cooling, suspension and drive systems. These features enhance the utility of the vehicle.

The four wheel vehicle uses an electric motor (142) for driving the vehicle and a battery unit (160) for supplying electric power to the electric motor. The lower chassis (5) of the vehicle includes a pair of front side frames (10) extending linearly in a fore and aft direction with an upward slant and a progressively increasing lateral mutual spacing from a front part thereof to a rear part thereof and a plurality of cross members (14, 16, 18) connecting the front side frames to each other. The battery unit is positioned between the two front side frames such that the battery unit overlaps with the front side frames in side view. Thereby, the battery unit can be effectively protected from side impacts.

The four wheel vehicle uses an electric motor (142) for driving the vehicle and a battery unit (160) for supplying electric power to the electric motor. The lower chassis (5) of the vehicle includes a pair of front side frames (10) extending linearly in a fore and aft direction with an upward slant and a progressively increasing lateral mutual spacing from a front part thereof to a rear part thereof, a pair of rear side frames (12) connected to rear ends of the respective front side frames, and extending linearly in a fore and aft direction with an upward slant from a front part thereof to a rear part thereof in continuation of the corresponding front side frames in a mutually parallel relationship, and a plurality of cross members (14, 16, 18, 20, 22) connecting the side frames to each other.

Disclosed are a shock absorber and an automobile. The shock absorber includes a shock absorber cylinder and an air spring arranged around the shock absorber cylinder. The air spring includes a damping spring and a piston. A free end of the damping spring is supported at a free end of the piston. A support is disposed between the piston and the shock absorber cylinder. The free end of the piston is supported on the shock absorber cylinder by the support. In the shock absorber according to the invention, the piston and the shock absorber cylinder can be connected in a simple way.

The present disclosure relates to a cover cap and an insulator for a shock absorber including the same, and the cover cap according to the embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cap main body having a circular plate shape, and a cap hollow portion penetrating a center of the cap main body. Further, a part or the entirety of the cap hollow portion is formed such that a diameter thereof increases toward one surface of the cap main body and the diameter maximally increases at one surface of the cap main body.

A damper mount structure improves accuracy of positioning to increase assembling efficiency and includes a damper mount for fixing an upper portion of a suspension device to an attachment opening formed in a vehicle body. The damper mount includes: a housing to be mounted on the upper portion of the suspension device; a stay which protrudes from an outer circumferential surface of the housing and is brought in contact with a lower surface of a circumferential edge of the attachment opening in a state that the housing has been inserted through the attachment opening to attach the housing to the circumferential edge of the attachment opening; and a plurality of ribs which connect the stay with an outer circumferential surface of the housing. A first rib, a second rib, and a third rib include side surfaces, respectively, facing an inner circumferential surface of the attachment opening.