A hydraulic damper with one end connected to the body of a vehicle and a second end connected to a suspension system of a vehicle. The mechanism allows for multiple hydraulic-fluid metering valve positions to control piston resistance based on a variable pressure input using pressurized gas. The use of compressed gas to mechanically control a valve position allows changes to the piston resistance to be made quickly and to be increased or decreased as desired. The hydraulic damper features a control piston which in turn mechanically controls a valve needle within a hydraulic suspension piston. The position of the valve needle controls the damping characteristics of the suspension piston. When the control piston moves, the position of the valve needle is proportionally adjusted.

End members are supportable along a damper housing and dimensioned for securement to flexible spring member. End members include a wall with a side wall portion including an inner side surface portion. First projections extend toward a first inner edge with a first shoulder surface portion faces a second end. Second projections extend inward beyond the inner side surface portion toward a second inner edge with a second shoulder surface portion facing a first end. Second projections are spaced axially from first projections such that a groove is formed inward of the inner side surface portion between first and second shoulder surface portions. End member assemblies including such an end member as well as gas spring and damper assemblies and suspension systems are also included.

A damper for use with an automotive coil over shock absorber. An outer damping sleeve is retained over the exterior surface of an inner body and includes a plurality of bypass ports to alternately align and unalign with bypass ports of the inner body to regulate a bypass flow of damping oil between an interior volume and an outer passage, thereby allowing variable damping control of the damper. The outer damping sleeve is connected to an internal floating piston (IFP) which rides inside the inner body. A control spring is retained for applying a force to the IFP to limit the free movement of the IFP and thereby control a damping force of the damper during the damping event. Increased pressure in the hydraulic damping oil causes the IFP to move, causing the bypass ports to open and close depending on the forces subject to the damper.

A suspension actuator includes a first housing part, a second housing part, a ball screw actuator that is connected to the first housing part and to the second housing part, and an air spring membrane that is connected to the first housing part and to the second housing part. The air spring membrane includes a flexible material and a reinforcing structure that is disposed within the flexible material to resist torsion loads that are applied to the second housing part by the ball screw actuator.

The present invention provides an electromagnetic suspension capable of suppressing interference with other components and devices, being mounted in a narrow space, and having a small thrust pulsation, a large thrust, and a high damping performance even for a high-frequency vibration source. An electromagnetic suspension of the present invention includes a linear motor that includes an armature and a permanent magnet portion, the armature including a winding and a magnetic body, the permanent magnet portion being disposed on an outer periphery of the armature and including a permanent magnet and a cylindrical magnetic body, and the armature and the permanent magnet portion being relatively linearly driven in the linear motor, in which a recess recessed from an outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical magnetic body and a protrusion protruding from the outer peripheral portion are disposed on the same circumference of the outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical magnetic body.

A damper assembly includes a rod elongated along an axis. The damper assembly includes a body supported by the rod, the body having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The body and the rod define a passage between the body and the rod, the passage extending from the first surface of the body to the second surface of the body.

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 rod-end front suspension is provided for an off-road vehicle. The rod-end front suspension comprises a spindle assembly that is pivotally coupled with an upper suspension arm by way of a first rod-end joint and pivotally coupled with a lower suspension arm by way of a second rod-end joint. A steering rod-end joint coupled with the spindle assembly pivotally receives a steering rod. An axle assembly coupled with the spindle assembly conducts torque from a transaxle to a wheel coupled with the spindle assembly. Each of the first and second rod-end joints comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing. The ball is fastened within a recess between parallel prongs extending from the spindle assembly. A threaded shank extending from the casing is threadably fixated with the suspension arm, such that the spindle assembly may be moved with respect to the casing and the suspension arm.

A damper assembly includes a pressure tube defining a chamber. The damper assembly includes a body supported by the pressure tube. The body has a first surface and a second surface opposite and spaced from the first surface along an axis. The body defines a passage extending from the first surface to the second surface. The damper assembly includes an orifice disc movable from an unflexed position to a first flexed position and movable from the first flexed position to a second flexed position. The orifice disc in the unflexed position is spaced from the first surface radially outward and radially inward of the passage. The orifice disc in the first flexed position is spaced from the first surface radially outward of the passage and abuts the first surface radially inward of the passage. The orifice disc in the second flexed position abuts the first surface radially outward and radially inward of the passage.

A suspension system including four dampers is disclosed where each damper includes a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A first hydraulic circuit includes a front hydraulic line, a rear hydraulic line, and a first longitudinal hydraulic line that extends between and fluidly connects the front and rear hydraulic lines of the first hydraulic circuit. A second hydraulic circuit includes a front hydraulic line, a rear hydraulic line, and a second longitudinal hydraulic line that extends between and fluidly connects the front and rear hydraulic lines of the second hydraulic circuit. First and second longitudinal comfort valves are positioned in the first and second longitudinal hydraulic lines, respectively, between the front and rear hydraulic lines. Both of the first and second longitudinal comfort valves are electromechanical valves and can be actuated to couple and decouple front axle roll control from rear axle roll control.