Provided is a temperature-driven valve assembly which can be manufactured in a cost-effective and simple manner as well as a gas pressure spring including the valve assembly which enables more reliable and safer operation of the gas pressure spring.

Provided is a temperature-driven valve assembly which can be manufactured in a cost-effective and simple manner as well as a gas pressure spring including the valve assembly which enables more reliable and safer operation of the gas pressure spring.

Electro-rheological fluid serving as working fluid (2) is filled in a shock absorber (1). The shock absorber (1) is configured to control a generated damping force by generating an electric potential difference in an electrode passage (19) and controlling viscosity of the electro-rheological fluid which passes through the electrode passage (19). An adjusting valve (21) configured to generate a damping force is provided on a downstream side of the electrode passage (19). An orifice area, a spring stiffness, a port area, and the like of the adjusting valve (21) can be adjusted (changed) in accordance with a type, specifications, and the like of a vehicle in which the shock absorber (1) is installed. As a result, the damping force characteristic can be tuned as desired by a method other than adjustment of the damping force through voltage adjustment when the working fluid (2) passes through the electrode passage (19).

A damper assembly includes a housing that defines an interior chamber. A rod is supported by the housing, and is at least partially disposed within the interior chamber. A piston assembly is attached to the rod within the interior chamber. The piston assembly separates the interior chamber into at least a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The piston assembly includes an annular plate defining at least one orifice, which interconnects the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber in fluid communication. The piston assembly includes at least one valve disc that is disposed adjacent a first face of the annular plate. An SMA device is disposed in contact with the valve disc. The SMA device is changeable between a first state and a second state, at a transition temperature, to control a bending stiffness of the valve disc to adjust a damping rate.

A damper assembly includes a housing that defines an interior chamber. A rod is supported by the housing, and is at least partially disposed within the interior chamber. A piston assembly is attached to the rod within the interior chamber. The piston assembly separates the interior chamber into at least a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber. The piston assembly includes an annular plate defining at least one orifice, which interconnects the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber in fluid communication. The piston assembly includes at least one valve disc that is disposed adjacent a first face of the annular plate. An SMA device is disposed in contact with the valve disc. The SMA device is changeable between a first state and a second state, at a transition temperature, to control a bending stiffness of the valve disc to adjust a damping rate.