A dual-mode suspension system using hydraulic dampers is disclosed. One or more dampers on each side of the four-wheel suspension system are coupled to a respective damper on the other side via a damper valve. One or more leaf springs may be arranged between the leading links coupled to some of the dampers, and trailing links coupled to other of the dampers. The suspension system may advantageously engage, lock, or partially disengage the respective dampers connected by the valve on each side of the system. Manipulating the valve to control engagement of the dampers, which may depend on the speed and related issues, provides control over whether heave motions should be separated from roll. In another embodiment, one or more single or double acting hydraulic cylinders may be used to engage dampers.

A damper includes a pressure tube, a piston assembly, a piston rod, a reserve tube, and a reserve chamber. The damper also includes a base valve assembly having a valve body and a compression disc assembly. The compression disc assembly engages a first end face of the valve body to restrict flow through at least one compression passage. The base valve assembly also includes a rebound disc assembly. The rebound disc assembly engages a second end face of the valve body to restrict flow through at least one rebound passage. The rebound disc assembly includes at least one rebound bending disc that directly engages the second end face to close the at least one rebound passage. The rebound bending disc bends in response to pressure within the at least one rebound passage to permit flow through the at least one rebound passage.

A vehicle damper assembly is disclosed. The damper includes a reservoir, a cylinder having an inner diameter (ID) and fluidly coupled with the reservoir and a rod and a piston. The piston coupled to the rod and configured to divide the cylinder into a compression side and a rebound side. The damper further includes an active base valve to provide independent flow control for a reservoir flow path between the cylinder and the reservoir. The damper also includes an active main valve to provide independent flow control for a piston flow path fluidly coupling the compression side with the rebound side.

Disclosed is a shock absorber for a vehicle including a cylinder filled with a fluid, a piston rod disposed inside the cylinder, a piston valve disposed at a lower portion of the piston rod, a stopper installed above the piston valve on the piston rod, a free piston configured to divide the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber below the first chamber and installed on the piston rod to be movable upward from the stopper, a spring configured to elastically support the free piston, and a bypass portion provided on an inner circumferential surface of the cylinder.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

A connected component platform (CCP) is disclosed. The CCP receives user information and sensor derived data. The system also includes an overall data evaluator to access a performance database and use the user information in conjunction with information from the performance database to evaluate the received user information as a method to develop user guidance data in the area of suspension tuning and suspension maintenance recommendations. The system further includes a data evaluation results formator to receive the user guidance data from the overall data evaluator, format the user guidance data into a user accessible digital format, and output the user guidance data in the user accessible digital format.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

A method for controlling vehicle motion is described. The method includes accessing a set of control signals including a measured vehicle speed value associated with a movement of a vehicle. A control signal associated with user-induced input is also accessed. The method compares the measured vehicle speed value with a predetermined vehicle speed threshold value to achieve a speed value threshold approach status, and then compares the set of values to achieve a user-induced input threshold value approach status. The method monitors a state of a valve within the vehicle suspension damper, and determines a control mode for the vehicle suspension damper. The method also regulates damping forces within the vehicle suspension damper.

An actuator system for a vehicle suspension system includes: an actuator having a piston and a first fluid chamber separated from a second fluid chamber by the piston; a hydraulic pump having a first port connected by a first hydraulic circuit to the first chamber via a first valve, the first valve being a damper valve operable to variably restrict flow of hydraulic fluid out of the first chamber; a first hydraulic accumulator connected to the first hydraulic circuit between the first port and the first valve; and a second hydraulic accumulator connected to the first port by a second valve, the second valve being a variable pressure relief valve operable to variably restrict flow of hydraulic fluid from the first port to the second hydraulic accumulator.

A shock absorber assembly comprises a main tube disposed on a center axis between a first and a second end and defining a fluid chamber extending therebetween. A first piston is slidably disposed in the fluid chamber dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod attaches to the first piston for moving the first piston between a compression stroke and a rebound stroke. A hydraulic compression stop includes a second piston located in the compression chamber and attached to the piston rod. A tenon couples to the piston rod, located between the first piston and the second piston. The tenon includes a frequency dependent damping valve coupled to the first piston and an enclosure extending about the frequency dependent damping valve, coupled to the frequency dependent valve and the second piston, in fluid communication with the compression chamber.