Dampers

The orientation insensitive, non-cavitating differential, bi-directional damper has a tubular body defining a closed, elongated chamber that has a first end and a second end. A piston assembly is disposed in and is movable within a portion of the chamber. One end of a piston shaft is connected with the piston assembly and the other end of the shaft extends out of one end of the chamber. Another assembly is disposed in the chamber between the piston assembly and the other end of the chamber. A floating piston is disposed in the chamber and is movable in the chamber between the other assembly and the other end of the chamber. The portion of the chamber between the other end of the chamber and the floating piston is filled with gas while the remainder of the chamber is filled with fluid. The floating piston is spring biased toward the other assembly. Orifices in the piston assembly control the rate of fluid flow across the piston assembly when the piston assembly moves relatively to the tubular body. The orifices in the other assembly control the rate of fluid flow across the other assembly when the piston assembly moves relatively to the tubular body.