A shock absorber including: a first cylinder having an interior, first and second ends and defining an axis, wherein the interior includes a damping fluid chamber and a damping piston movably mounted therein for movement between the first and second ends, wherein the damping piston is mounted on a first end of a shaft, wherein the first end of the shaft is movably retained within the interior of the first cylinder; first and second bypass openings configured for opening into the damping fluid chamber at first and second axially spaced-apart positions; a bypass channel fluidly coupling the first and second bypass openings; a fluid metering valve; and a floating piston dividing a portion of the shock absorber into a gas chamber and the reservoir chamber, wherein the fluid metering valve and the floating piston define the reservoir chamber there between.

Air suspension strut for a motor vehicle comprising an air spring with a shock damper, wherein the air spring comprises an air spring cover and a rolling piston, wherein a rolling bellows of elastomer material is clamped in an airtight manner between the air spring cover and the rolling piston, the air spring cover comprises a damper bearing receptacle having a base and receiving a damper bearing of the shock damper, and the air spring cover comprises a clamping base to which a first end of the rolling bellows is attached, wherein the air spring cover is manufactured from a plastic material and comprises a reinforcing core in order to increase the strength of the damper bearing receptacle, the reinforcing core being arranged in the base of the damper bearing receptacle and being at least partially surrounded by the plastic material of the air spring cover.

A damper assembly includes a tubular member including a sidewall and a shoulder. The damper assembly includes a rod and a piston coupled to the rod. A secondary piston has a second contact surface, an opposing second surface, an inner cylindrical face defining a central aperture that receives the rod, and an outer cylindrical face. The opposing second surface includes one or more surface grooves, extending between the inner cylindrical face and the outer cylindrical face along the opposing second surface, and one or more bypass orifices disposed about the body member. The bypass orifices extend along the inner cylindrical face between the second contact surface and the opposing second surface. The secondary piston defines a channel extending between the inner cylindrical face and an outer periphery of the body member. The channel and bypass orifices form a fluid flow path when the piston contacts the secondary piston.

An air suspension assembly comprises a top and a bottom disposed on a center axis and spaced apart from one another. A bellows of an elastomeric material extends between a first end secured to the top and a second end secured to the bottom defining a chamber. The chamber extends between the top, the bottom, and the bellows for containing pressurized air, whereby a pressure of the pressurized air is controlled based on a force applied. The bellows has an interior surface and an exterior surface and including a plurality of convolutes extending between the first end and the second end. Each convolute of the plurality of convolutes includes a pair of outer lobes and an inner lobe with each outer lobe of the pair of outer lobes having an outer lobe thickness extending between the interior surface and the exterior surface of the bellows.

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 includes: a cylinder; a piston rod including a piston provided at one end-side, and inserted in the cylinder together with the piston; an outer tube part opened at the one end-side, a position of which relative to the piston rod is fixed at the other end-side, and configured to receive therein at least a part of the cylinder; and a tubular rolling diaphragm having one end disposed at the cylinder and the other end fixed to the outer tube part, and configured to roll in conjunction with displacement of the piston rod with respect to the cylinder. The rolling diaphragm becomes convex toward the other end-side of the outer tube part and is accommodated in the outer tube part, upon contraction of the suspension.

A method for making an air spring assembly, including the steps of providing a bellow, a support ring, and a guide tube. The support ring is positioned relative to a bellow adapter such that a portion of the bellow adapter extends through the support ring. The bellow is then positioned such that a portion of the bellow extends over the support ring and a portion of the bellow adapter. The guide tube is then positioned relative to the bellow and the support ring, such that a portion of the bellow extends into the guide tube and the guide tube is supported by the bellow adapter, and a portion of the guide tube is supported by a ridge support fixture. The first clamp and second clamp are then moved towards the guide tube, applying force to the guide tube, simultaneously forming a first crimp and a second crimp.

An air suspension strut for a motor vehicle comprises an air spring having an air spring cover and a rolling piston. A shock damper is integrated with the air spring and has a damper tube and a piston rod receivable within the damper tube. A rolling bellows is secured between the spring cover and the rolling piston thereby delimiting a variable volume pressure chamber filled with compressed air. The rolling bellows rolls on the rolling piston with a rolling fold being formed. A damper bearing is accommodated in a bearing socket of the air spring cover and connected to the piston rod. The damper bearing comprises a supporting piece, an elastomer body, and a sleeve. A closure element inserted in the bearing socket above the damper bearing. An elastic element arranged between the sleeve and the closure element.

An air spring assembly includes bellow with an outer ring disposed on an outer surface of the bellow. The outer ring containing an embedded cord for constraining a portion of the bellow to establish a “B” shaped fold in an inflated bellow.

A suspension system for controlling movement of a vehicle wheel may include a spring and damper assembly coupling the wheel to the vehicle chassis for movement of the wheel relative to the vehicle chassis. The spring and damper assembly may include a spring coupled to a damper member configured to extend and retract the wheel relative to the vehicle chassis. The suspension system may further include a damper actuator located remotely from the spring and damper assembly and configured to modify an amount of damping and/or wheel extension. The suspension system may also include a spring actuator integrated with the damper actuator and configured to control an amount of deflection of the spring and/or to alter a spring rate. The damper actuator may be provided at a location in the vehicle separated from the spring and damper assembly.