A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.

A damper valve with an adjustable effective stiffness of a shim. The damper valve includes a piston. The piston has a fluid path formed therethrough. A shim is disposed proximate the fluid path formed through the piston. A stiffness adjustment feature is coupled to the shim, and the shim is disposed between the piston and the stiffness adjustment feature. The stiffness adjustment feature is configured to adjust the effective stiffness of the shim without affecting a preload applied to the shim.

A shock absorber is provided having a cylinder, a piston rod, a piston body, and a valve. The cylinder is configured to receive fluid. The piston body is connected to the piston rod and is configured to reciprocate within the cylinder between a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. The valve is provided by the piston body having a fluid flow port, a valve seat, a circumferential valving element, and a spring configured to urge the valve body into the valve seat. A primary damping valve and an auxiliary damping valve are also provided.

A shock absorber is provided having a cylinder, a piston rod, a piston body, and a valve. The cylinder is configured to receive fluid. The piston body is connected to the piston rod and is configured to reciprocate within the cylinder between a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. The valve is provided by the piston body having a fluid flow port, a valve seat, a circumferential valving element, and a spring configured to urge the valve body into the valve seat. A primary damping valve and an auxiliary damping valve are also provided.

A vehicle damper assembly is disclosed. The damper includes a cylinder having an inner diameter (ID). 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. An electronic valve assembly including an electronic valve body coupled with the rod on the compression side of the piston. The electronic valve body having an electronic valve body outer diameter (OD). A boost valve having a boost valve body, a boost valve area located between the electronic valve body and the boost valve body, the boost valve having a boost valve OD. The boost valve OD is larger than the electronic valve body OD, such that the boost valve is configured to allow the electronic valve assembly to operate within said cylinder ID that is too large for the electronic valve body OD.

A method and apparatus for a damper. The damper comprises a fluid chamber having a piston dividing the chamber into a compression and rebound sides, a reservoir in fluid communication with the compression side of the chamber, and an isolator disposed between the compression side and the reservoir, whereby the isolator obstructs fluid flow between the compression side and the reservoir. In one embodiment, a bypass provides a fluid path between the compression side and the isolator.

A method and apparatus for a damper. The damper comprises a fluid chamber having a piston dividing the chamber into a compression and rebound sides, a reservoir in fluid communication with the compression side of the chamber, and an isolator disposed between the compression side and the reservoir, whereby the isolator obstructs fluid flow between the compression side and the reservoir. In one embodiment, a bypass provides a fluid path between the compression side and the isolator.

Provided is a valve device and a shock absorber that can prevent them from being in a failure state at the normal time and can freely set a passive valve even when both pressure control and passage opening/closing are performed by a solenoid valve. For this reason, the valve device includes a first passage and a second passage connected downstream of the pressure introducing passage, a solenoid valve that opens the first passage to control the upstream pressure and closes the second passage when energized, and that closes the first passage and opens the second passage when not energized, and a passive valve provided downstream of the solenoid valve in the second passage.

Provided is a valve device and a shock absorber that can prevent them from being in a failure state at the normal time and can freely set a passive valve even when both pressure control and passage opening/closing are performed by a solenoid valve. For this reason, the valve device includes a first passage and a second passage connected downstream of the pressure introducing passage, a solenoid valve that opens the first passage to control the upstream pressure and closes the second passage when energized, and that closes the first passage and opens the second passage when not energized, and a passive valve provided downstream of the solenoid valve in the second passage.

A shock absorber includes a piston valve, a body valve installed at a lower side of a tube, a lower guide member installed between the piston valve and the body valve and including a lower through-hole through which the fluid passes, and a lower passing slit formed to allow the fluid to pass therethrough at a flow rate relatively lower than a flow rate at which the fluid passes through the lower through-hole, a mid-guide member having a mid-guide hole through which the fluid passes, the mid-guide member being disposed between the piston valve and the lower guide member and configured to close the lower through-hole when the mid-guide member is in contact with the lower guide member, a first elastic member interposed between the lower guide member and the mid-guide member, and a second elastic member interposed between the piston valve and the mid-guide member.