A damper includes a pressure-sensitive damping control circuit that selectively permits fluid flow from a first chamber to a second chamber. A piston varies a volume of the first chamber. A blow-off piston is movable between a closed position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is substantially prevented, and an open position, wherein fluid flow through the control circuit is permitted. The damper also includes a first source of pressure. A fluid pressure created by compression of the damper applies an opening force to the blow-off piston moving the blow-off piston in a direction toward the open position against a resistance force provided by the first source of pressure. The resistance force exceeds the opening force until the pressure created by forces tending to insert the piston rod into the first fluid chamber exceeds the pressure in the first source of pressure by a predetermined amount.

A shock-absorber has a cylindrical body having an inner and an outer cylindrical tubes enclosing a reservoir chamber containing oil, and a rod. A piston divides the internal volume of the inner cylindrical tube into a rebound chamber and a compression chamber. The cylindrical body has an intermediate cylindrical tube enclosing with the inner cylindrical tube an intermediate chamber. A first electronically-controlled valve is arranged inside the inner cylindrical tube, so as to be drivingly connected to the rod, and hydraulically connected to the rebound chamber and to the compression chamber to adjust, during rebound phase, flow of the damping fluid from the rebound chamber to the compression chamber. A second electronically-controlled valve is arranged outside the cylindrical body and is hydraulically connected to the reservoir chamber and to the intermediate chamber to adjust, during compression phase, flow of the damping fluid from the compression chamber to the reservoir chamber via the intermediate chamber.

A vehicle suspension management via an IVI system is disclosed. The system includes an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system and a vehicle suspension system communicatively coupled with the IVI system. The vehicle suspension system includes at least one active shock assembly. A suspension control application on the IVI system, the suspension control application to cause the IVI system to send a signal to the at least one active shock assembly, the signal used to modify a damping characteristic of the at least one active shock assembly.

A vehicle suspension management via an IVI system is disclosed. The system includes an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system and a vehicle suspension system communicatively coupled with the IVI system. The vehicle suspension system includes at least one active shock assembly. A suspension control application on the IVI system, the suspension control application to cause the IVI system to send a signal to the at least one active shock assembly, the signal used to modify a damping characteristic of the at least one active shock assembly.

A regenerative shock absorber that include a housing and a piston that moves at least partially through the housing when the shock is compressed or extended from a rest position. When the piston moves, hydraulic fluid is pressurized and drives a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic motor, in turn, drives an electric generator that produced electric energy. The electric energy may be provided to a vehicle, among other things. The regenerative shock absorber may also provide ride performance that comparable to or exceeds that of conventional shock absorbers.

A method for estimating damping characteristics of shock absorbers in an active or semi-active suspension involves providing a reference model of a nominal relation between a road severity index related to vertical acceleration values, and the mean driving current of the control valves of the shock absorbers, acquiring respective relative acceleration or speed data of at least the front wheels of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle body, determining a value of the road severity index starting from relative acceleration or speed data of the front wheels of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle body, acquiring values representative of the mean driving current of the control valve of each shock absorber, comparing acquired value of the mean driving current with an expected value of the nominal mean driving current determined as a function of the road severity index according to the reference model, and determining a degradation condition if the acquired value does not correspond to the expected value.

Provided herein are a suspension apparatus and a specialized vehicle including the same. The suspension apparatus includes a crankshaft fixed to a vehicle body, a housing rotatably connected to the crankshaft, a first damping portion arranged in the housing and having a damping fluid accommodated in the first damping portion, an amount of the damping fluid in the first damping portion being adjusted according to an external force applied to the vehicle body, a second damping portion arranged in the housing, connected to the first damping portion such that the damping fluid moves between the first damping portion and the second damping portion, and including: a first space accommodating a compressed gas; and a second space accommodating the damping fluid, the first space facing the second space; and a rotational force applier arranged in the housing and configured to apply a rotational force to the housing by adjusting an amount of a working fluid in the rotational force applier.

Altering the damping rate of a vehicle suspension damper. A pressure of a damping fluid is exerted against a second valve mechanism connected to the vehicle suspension damper. The pressure of the damping fluid is increased beyond a threshold of the second valve mechanism that is adjustable by an adjustment member. The adjustment member is exposed through a high pressure side of the vehicle suspension damper. The second valve mechanism is then opened.

A suspension including a spring interposed between the body (B) of the vehicle and the wheel (W); a regenerative hydraulic shock-absorbing unit comprising a hydraulic shock-absorber arranged parallel to the spring, a motor and pump unit with a volumetric hydraulic machine and an electric machine coupled to the hydraulic machine), and an electronic control unit arranged to control the torque of the electric machine. A hydraulic actuator is arranged in series with the spring. A reservoir and a hydraulic circuit are connected to each other, the hydraulic shock-absorber, the hydraulic machine the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir. The hydraulic circuit includes a valve assembly for controlling the flow of a working fluid between the hydraulic shock-absorber, the hydraulic machine, the hydraulic actuator and the reservoir.

A control device controls a damping force of a damping device, which damps a force generated between a vehicle body of a two-wheeled vehicle and at least one of a front wheel and a rear wheel, by using an angular velocity of rotational movement in a front-rear direction of an unsprung part of the two-wheeled vehicle, which is generated due to a difference between a velocity in an up-down direction of the front wheel and a velocity in the up-down direction of the rear wheel.