A suspension system and associated control methods for improving the effectiveness of driver assistance systems is disclosed where the driver assistance systems can generate and send requests to a suspension control unit (SCU) of the suspension system to actuate (e.g., close) one or more comfort valves in the suspension system to increase the roll stiffness and/or pitch stiffness of the suspension system when the driver assistance systems are taking corrective action. As part of a two-way communication between the suspension control unit (SCU) and the driver assistance systems, the suspension control unit (SCU) communicates target stiffnesses and/or calculated effective stiffnesses to the driver assistance systems, which is used to update the vehicle stability models used by the driver assistance systems.

A ring circumscribing a moveable rod of a hydraulic damper, the moveable rod defining a central axis, the ring comprising a first circumferential surface, a second circumferential surface, a first finger, a second finger, a first flange, and a second flange. The first finger and the first flange defining a first end of the ring. The second finger and the second flange defining a second end of the ring.

A mechanism and method for externally adjusting the mid-valve stiffness is described and enables adjustment of a mid-valve functionality without disassembly of a suspension system incorporating the invention. The effect of this adjustment on the damping curve is far greater than either low-speed compression adjusters or conventional high-speed compression adjusters. The apparatus combines the valve-stiffening system of a high speed compression adjuster with the sensitivity of the mid-valve. Externally accessible adjustment members are operatively coupled to the mid-valve components located internally in a fork so that manipulation of the adjustment members causes adjustment of the mid-valve and the damping force created by the mid-valve. The apparatus may be utilized in closed cartridge suspension forks (CCSF) and open cartridge suspension forks (OCSF) and other shocks or suspension dampers.

A mechanical bypass for a shock assembly is disclosed herein. The assembly has a damper chamber having a compression portion and a rebound portion. There is further an external reservoir in fluid communication with the rebound portion of the damper chamber via a flow path. A valve is coupled with the flow path, the valve to meter a flow of the working fluid through the flow path. A bypass port to the external reservoir is provided in the flow path and bypasses the valve. A mechanical relief valve is provided in the bypass port to block a fluid flow though the bypass port until a blow-off pressure that is higher than a normal operating pressure and less than a burst pressure of the damping chamber is provided thereon.

A suspension system of an associated vehicle. The suspension system comprises an outer reservoir tube extending along an axis between a first end and a second end and defining a chamber. A piston assembly is at least partially located in the chamber. The piston assembly includes a piston rod and a piston head. A solenoid assembly is connected to the piston rod. The solenoid assembly comprises a core including a core head and a core body. A spool extends about the core body and defines a space. A coil is wrapped around the spool within the space. An induction plate is at least partially located between the spool and the core head. As the input current is modulated the induction plate promotes the induction of eddy currents opposing the field induction attenuating the force ripples of the magnetic field buildup and decay.

Provided is an on-demand shock stiffening system. The on-demand shock stiffening system operates to immediately stiffen the shocks in response to a user activating the system. The system may include a main body with an oil flow aperture and a flow control system that operates to restrict the flow of oil between the reservoir and the shock. The on-demand shock stiffening system may be coupled between the reservoir and the bridge of the shock and operates to restrict flow of the oil in order to stiffen the shock immediately in an on-demand manner.

Methods and systems for hydraulic vehicle suspension are provided. A hydraulic suspension system, in one example, includes a first manifold including a piston-side interface and a rod-side interface fluidically coupled to a piston chamber and a rod chamber, respectively, for each of a first hydraulic cylinder and a second hydraulic cylinder. In the system, the first manifold includes a first electrically activated valve fluidically coupled to the piston-side interfaces, a first damping device, and a second damping device, the first electrically activated valve is configured to lock and unlock vertical motion of the first and second hydraulic cylinders and, while vertical motion of the first and second hydraulic cylinders is locked, the first electrically activated valve permits fluidic communication between the first and second hydraulic cylinders to permit free roll motion in the hydraulic suspension system.

A shock absorber includes: a shock absorber main body that has an outer tube and a rod movably inserted into the outer tube and can extend and contract; a main passage and a sub passage that communicate in parallel two working chambers provided in the shock absorber main body; a main damping force generation element provided in the main passage; and a sub damping force generation element provided in the sub passage. The main damping force generation element has only a main valve that opens and closes the main passage. The sub damping force generation element has an orifice provided in series with the sub passage, and a sub valve that opens and closes the sub passage and has a valve opening pressure lower than that of the main valve.

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.

Disclosed is a frequency sensitive type shock absorber including a piston rod reciprocating an inside of a cylinder and having a connection passage therein; a piston valve mounted on the piston rod and having a plurality of compression and rebound flow paths penetrating up and down thereof, and partitioning the cylinder into compression and rebound chambers; and a valve assembly mounted on the piston rod to generate a damping force that changes with frequency during a rebound stroke; wherein the valve assembly comprises a housing coupled to the piston rod and having a pilot chamber in communication with the connection passage; a main retainer coupled to the piston rod and having a main chamber formed on an upper portion thereof in communication with the connection passage; a first pilot valve coupled to the piston rod and disposed between the housing and the main retainer to partition the pilot chamber and the main chamber; and a second pilot valve coupled to the piston rod and disposed above the pilot chamber and configure to be elastically deformable depending on a change in pressure of the pilot chamber.