US Patent 10160511 Method and apparatus for an adjustable damper

A vehicle suspension damper is described. The vehicle suspension damper includes a primary valve and a pilot valve assembly. The pilot valve assembly includes an adjustable pilot spool configured for controlling a pressure inside the primary valve. The vehicle suspension damper further includes an externally-adjustable adjuster, wherein the pilot valve assembly meters fluid to the primary valve, and movement of the externally-adjustable adjuster varies an effective orifice size of the adjustable pilot spool. The vehicle suspension damper further includes a set of shims coupled to the primary valve, wherein a position of the adjustable pilot spool corresponds to an increase of pressure inside the primary valve and an increase of an axial force on the set of shims by said primary valve.