Abstract: A shock absorber damps the vibrations that are generated in a washing assembly of a horizontal axis washer. The shock absorber is of the type containing a magnetorheological fluid. A method carried out in a real-time mode throughout the duration of the operation cycles of the machine varies at least one of the rheological properties of the medium and, in due proportion, the vibration damping power of the shock absorber. The method is based on the monitoring of a physical quantity that is representative of the variations in the balance conditions of the washing assembly. The invention provides effective and immediate damping of the vibrations caused by an unbalanced washload in the rotating drum, without any interruption or modification of the washing cycle selected and set by the user.

Abstract: A temperature compensating system for a closed system, such as a damping system, in which fluid is subject to temperature increases and accompanying volume increases. The temperature compensating system provides a compressible member within a temperature compensation volume, and a barrier restricting the entry of fluid to the volume. When the fluid volume increases as a result of temperature increases, fluid seeps past the barrier into the temperature compensation volume to compress the compressible member and thus increase the total volume available to the fluid in the closed system. The increased volume reduces pressure buildup that would otherwise occur, and thereby tends to maintain a steady pressure within the closed system. Dynamic or high speed fluid flows are restricted by the barrier or other restriction, inhibiting such flows from passing into the volume.

Abstract: Impact-absorbing damping device which has at least two telescoping tubes, in particular for motor vehicles, to decelerate a vehicle when it collides with an obstacle by damping and/or spring forces, whereby the cavity of at least one tube is provided with an elastomer body.

Abstract: Fluid strut which consists of a cylinder, the interior of which contains a charge under pressure, and a piston rod connected to a piston located in this interior.

Abstract: A method is shown for determining an operating temperature of a continuously variable hydraulic shock absorber and compensating a control signal therefore. A solenoid 62 provides continuous variability in the damping level a shock absorber produces. The solenoid includes a coil 70 which may be used to determine the temperature of the hydraulic fluid in the shock absorber. An electronic controller 68 uses the temperature to compensate a desired damping signal to account for temperature variations. This allows the shock absorber to provide consistent damping levels for the vehicle throughout a broad temperature range, thereby improving the noise, vibration and harshness characteristics of the vehicle.

Abstract: A damper is provided which includes a first cylinder containing a viscous fluid. The first cylinder is sealed at both ends by end plates. The first cylinder is adapted for connection to a structure such as a building or a bridge. A piston head within the first cylinder is adapted for reciprocation with respect to the first cylinder. A piston rod is connected to the piston head. The other end of the piston rod extends through the end plate and is adapted for connection to the structure. A second piston rod extends from the piston head through the second end plate. A first ring surrounds the piston head and is constructed from a material having a high coefficient of thermal expansion such as plastic. A second ring surrounds the first ring and is constructed from a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion such as metal.

Abstract: According to an illustrative example of the invention, a gas spring is provided with an emergency exit permitting escape of pressurized gas in the event the gas pressure exceeds a predetermined level or in the event of a dangerously high temperature. The emergency exit includes one or more fluid passages connecting the interior of the gas spring to atmosphere and a cooperating seal member for maintaining the fluid passage or passages closed under normal operating conditions. Upon the occurrence of unduly high pressures or temperatures, a destructible or deformable support for the seal or a fluid passage-bearing member permits relative movement of the seal and the cooperating fluid passage so as to open the fluid passage. As an intermediate step of pressure relief, the structure for mounting the gas spring in its environment of use, e.g. a motor vehicle, may be designed to fail under emergency conditions, e.g., fire, thereby permitting a full extension of the piston rod.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a biasing member located between the base cup of a reserve tube and a cylinder end at the bottom of a pressure tube. The biasing member urges the pressure tube away from the base cup of the reserve tube and provides for movement between the lower ends of the two members without affecting the seating or sealing of the components within the shock absorber. The movement between the pressure tube and the reserve tube provides axial compliance for accommodating tubes materials having different materials with different coefficients of thermal expansion.

Abstract: A suspension system control according to the steps of: determining an actuator demand force command; determining, responsive to vehicle speed, a first signal indicative of a first maximum demand force; determining, responsive to ambient temperature, a second signal indicative of a second maximum demand force; and constraining the determined actuator demand force command so that it is no greater than the lesser of the first and second maximum demand forces, wherein vehicle body isolation from suspension events is maintained during low temperature and low speed operation of the vehicle to thereby minimize suspension noise and ride harshness.

Abstract: A device using an electrorheological fluid filled in a fluid enclosing space comprises passages or fins for cooling the electrorheological fluid disposed around the fluid enclosing space and is useful for a vibration damper, a clutch, an engine mount, a shock absorber and the like. The power consumption can be maintained at a sufficiently low level and thermal runaway of electric current can effectively be prevented.

Abstract: A variable resistance device capable of utilizing a variable viscosity material, such as an electro-rheological fluid or a magneto-rheological fluid. In one embodiment, a moving member is provided having at least one projecting member for defining a flow path of the variable viscosity material, and for maintaining a precise gap distance between the moving member and other components of the variable resistance device. The moving member engages a shaft so that the moving member is rotatable by the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and is also slidable on the shaft along the longitudinal axis. A controllable force dampener device is also provided. In one embodiment, a first expandable bellows and a second expandable is seperated by an ER fluid (or MR fluid) valve for controllably restricting the flow of the variable viscosity material between the first bellows and the second bellows to effect active force dampening.

Abstract: A rotary viscous damper having a disc surrounded by a housing and cover, the disc rotatable with a shaft which penetrates the housing, a gap provided between opposite sides of the disc and the inside surfaces of the housing and cover for receiving viscous fluid, and triangularly shaped indentations formed on opposing surfaces of the disc and the housing and cover, the indentations on the housing and the cover arranged at selective rotational positions. Rotation of the disc aligning opposing indentations on the discs and the housing and cover to create a rotary position of minimum torque and when misaligned, a rotary position of maximum torque. The oscillating torque value creates a nominal torque associated with the damper, but can be selectively installed to present a minimum torque at a particular rotational position. The invention is particularly adapted to rotary devices where rotational position can effect the available torque for driving the shaft, such as an exercise bicycle.

Abstract: A rotation deceleration device used for a sanitary cleaning device which includes a toilet seat and a toilet cover and is attached to a toilet bowl, thereby injecting warm water in the toilet bowl. The rotation deceleration device includes a cylinder having a hydraulic chamber filled with a control oil; a rotation shaft inserted through the cylinder; a control wall radially projected from the rotation shaft to divide the hydraulic chamber into at least two sub chambers; a control valve provided between the control wall and an inner surface of the cylinder. The control valve has a closing wall opposed to a side surface of the control wall so as to be attachable thereto and also has an engaging member opposed to the other side of the control wall so as to be engageable therewith in accordance with the rotation of the rotation shaft. The control valve is formed of a material which has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than that of a material forming the control wall and the cylinder.

Abstract: An improved piston compression valve mechanism for a shock absorber includes a seal carrier member carried by the shock absorber piston and having a radially extending flange portion and a downwardly extending cylindrical portion, an o-ring seal mounted between upper and lower radially extending arms on the flange portion, and a coil spring mounted on the piston above the seal carrier member. The lower arm of the flange portion has an inner downwardly facing surface adapted to engage an upwardly facing valve seat on the piston, and the upper arm of the flange portion has an upwardly facing surface in force transmitting contact with the lower end of the coil spring. The cylindrical portion of the seal carrier member is provided with a plurality of flow openings spaced about its circumference and along its axial length which are normally in a closed position against the piston.

Abstract: A viscous damper for absorbing vibrations of low amplitude over a wide frequency range. Two working volumes of resiliently deformable material, in the form of a bellows, are provided in a folded structure joined by a base carrying a restrictive annular fluid passage. Compressive forces applied to the primary volume are transmitted by a damping fluid through the restrictive annulus to the secondary volume, the resulting energy dissipation providing a damping effect. A hermetically sealed configuration provides multi-axis damping and isolation without wearing of frictional surfaces. Large damping values are attained with linear performance over a large dynamic range.

Abstract: A temperature compensated fluid filled damper is provided which in a preferred embodiment is a rotary damper which includes a housing for receiving a rotor having a surface for engaging a viscous fluid sealed within the housing. The housing includes a temperature compensating member positioned adjacent the rotor surface and which is made of a material which has a coefficient of thermal expansion different than that of the rotor to provide a varying gap width between the surface of the rotor and the temperature compensating member such that as the temperature changes the drag provided to the rotor by the gap change varies inversely to the drag provided by the viscous fluid.

Abstract: A change of state coupling for controlling the rotation of a rotatable shaft in a housing through the application of heat. A disk is secured for rotation with the portion of the shaft that is located within the housing. Heaters are also located within the housing and a liquid predetermined temperature change of state material is located in the housing around the disk and the heaters. The predetermined temperature change of state material for use in the housing is selected for a melting point that insures that the predetermined temperature change of state material is solid at the temperature to which the housing is usually exposed. However, when heat is applied to the predetermined temperature change of state material by the heaters the normally solid predetermined temperature change of state material becomes liquid and thus permits the rotatable shaft to rotate within the housing.

Abstract: A gas spring comprises a first bypass with a one-way valve that allows fluid to bypass the piston when the piston moves outward, a second bypass with a spring-biassed valve that allows fluid to bypass the piston when the piston is pushed inward with a force exceeding the combined gas-spring and spring-biased valve forces, and a third bypass having a temperature-responsive valve that allows fluid to bypass the piston when the rod is pushed in but only when the temperature of the gas exceeds a selected level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for regulating the damping of masses rotating on roller bearings. An oil pressure film in an oil pressure gap has its viscosity changed via temperature control as a function of the vibrating condition of the rotating masses in order to provide an optimally quiet operation of the rotating system.

Abstract: An impact damper or an energy absorbing device having at least two tubes which telescope one into the other and are configured especially for motor vehicles for the dampening of forces on a vehicle which crashes into an obstacle. In the inner space or interior of the impact damper, there may be included at least one dampening fluid which is filled through a filling device; a throttling point; and at least one component which confines the at least one dampening fluid in the inner space.

Abstract: A double-rod hydraulic cylinder for an exerciser including a casing, a piston assembly and a universal joint. The piston assembly includes a piston head and two piston rods. Two bearings are respectively fixed to an inner wall of each closed end of the casing. A disk-type spring washer, a washer, an oil seal and a disk-like fixing gasket are arranged respectively in series from each bearing to said piston head. Each of the bearings, the disk-like fixing gaskets, the disk-type spring washers, the washers and the oil seals have a central hole in alignment for the piston rods to pass through. The washers, the oil seals and the gaskets are axially slidable a short distance within the casing. The two disk-like fixing gaskets and the piston head together define a first chamber and a second chamber. Each disk-type spring washer is compressed when the piston assembly axially moves in either direction. The hydraulic cylinder further includes an oil pipe.

Abstract: A rate controllable damping mechanism is disclosed. The mechanism includes a chamber disposed within a housing; an element mounted for movement within the chamber; a damping material, preferably a low melting temperature metal alloy, in the chamber for preventing the movement of the element at a first temperature and for damping the movement of the element at a second temperature; and a heater for selectively increasing the temperature of the damping material from the first temperature to the second temperature. Controlled damping is effectuated by heating the fluid material until it reaches a molten state at which the resultant fluid damps the movement of the element in a conventional manner. A novel method is also disclosed for structural stress relief.

Abstract: In a hydraulic positioning device a piston divides the cavity within a cylinder into two working chambers. The piston is connected with a piston rod passing through one end of the device and with a volume compensating rod through the other end of the device. The piston rod is provided with a passage which can be opened and closed by a valve so as to allow optional adjustment and blocking of the piston rod. The hydraulic liquid within the working chambers is subjected to volume variation in response to varying temperatures. With the aim of compensating such volume variations a partition at one end of the cylinder is supported by an abutment of the cylinder through an axially deformable compensating body having preferably a deformation force--deformation path characteristic which is responsive to temperature.

Abstract: A rotary damper comprises a stator and a rotor which are co-axial, circular and cylindrical, two extreme faces substantialy transversal to the axis of the stator and rotor and disposed respectively on either side of the stator and rotor, a main chamber filled with a fluid, defined between the extreme faces and the stator and the rotor, blades disposed on the stator and rotor and dividing the main chamber is a plurality of volumes, the blades laminating the flow of fluid through the different volumes of the main chamber, and an auxiliary chamber which communicates with the main chamber. The auxiliary chamber is at least partly formed by a diaphragm which is elastically deformable and which is designed to compensate for the volume variations of the fluid as a function of its temperature, and to bring in, if necessary, a twisting stiffness in parallel to the damping function. The rotary damper finds application for example in vehicle suspensions.

Abstract: A vibration damping and isolation apparatus wherein in damping is obtained by purely viscous fluid shear forces. The fluid is sealed in two chambers divided by a orifice to permit fluid flow. Chamber containment of the fluid and chamber volume change is provided by metal bellows which are arranged to provide a constant overall volume. Coulomb forces are avoided by the elimination of rubbing surfaces.

Abstract: A vibration isolating and damping suspension strut for vehicle undercarriages comprising an elongated cylinder and piston structure wherein the cylinder is divided into opposed chambers which are in communication with each other by passages formed in the piston and in a flow restricting shuttle valve mounted on the piston rod. When the strut undergoes a retraction stroke of the piston to absorb loads silicone fluid is compressed in the opposed chambers and transferred from the chamber opposite the piston rod to the rod side chamber through passages in the piston only. When the strut rebounds or extends its piston rod fluid is forced to flow through passages in the shuttle valve member and the piston flow passages at a more restricted rate. The piston flow passages and the shuttle valve are arranged to direct fluid flow toward the outer cylinder borewall to improve heat transfer to the exterior of the strut and minimize heating of the fluid contained in the cylinder chambers.

Abstract: For a temperature-compensated gas spring, which consists of a container in which a concentrically arranged cylinder is arranged, where a main pressure chamber is separated in sealing manner from an auxiliary pressure chamber by a piston which is connected with a piston rod, a damping arrangement is provided for controlling the outward thrust speed. This is effected in that a damping chamber is arranged in which a damping piston provided with damping valves slides, the damping piston being arranged on an auxiliary piston rod which is in axially fixed connection with the piston rod.

Abstract: A temperature compensated gas spring mechanism comprises a main gas spring energized by a pressure source that generates primary forces in excess of the selected design forces for the mechanism and a secondary gas spring energized by a second pressure source that generates forces opposed to those of the main gas spring and of magnitudes approximately equal to the excesses of the primary forces over the selected design forces, thereby a compensate to a substantial extent for changes in the primary pressure due to temperature variations.

Abstract: An apparatus for a suspension system in a vehicle provides both spring and damping characteristics in a single unit. Within a closed container that has a variable volume (similar to commonly available shock absorbers), a gas-liquid interfacial system acts under input deflection from the axle of a vehicle to provide both spring and damping characteristics. To increase the damping response time of the system, the interfacial area in contact between the gas and the liquid is increased over the ordinary cross-sectional area of the container. The gas is soluble in the liquid and preferably increases in solubility with an increase in temperature so that, as the temperature increases and the gas expands, the static condition of the container is substantially maintained by the increase in absorption of the gas into the liquid. Preferably, pentane thickened with 3% aluminum octoate and 4% oleic acid is the liquid. It is stored in an open-cell urethane foam having an average pore cell size of approximately 0.

Abstract: A thermally efficient shock absorber comprising a strut housing having an open end and a closed end, a piston including a piston housing and a piston head slideable in the strut housing, and a preselected volume of fluid and gas located in the strut and piston housings. A compensating system is provided coupled to the fluid for maintaining a constant fluid-to-gas volume ratio irrespective of thermal variations and a valve is provided for isolating the compensating system from the fluid. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the compensating system includes a gas compensating chamber and a fluid compensating chamber having a movable separator piston therebetween, the fluid compensating chamber being coupled to the fluid in the strut and piston housings. The gas and fluid compensating chambers are contained within the strut housing separate from the gas and fluid in the strut and piston housings.

Abstract: A conventional shock absorber is modified by adding a valve cage to the rod nd and providing an additional cylinder outside the shock absorber to form an annular reservoir outside the shock absorber. Temperature sensitive valves open when oil heats to a potentially destructive level, unloading the shock absorber. When the oil cools to a safe operating temperature, the temperature sensitive valves re-close and the shock absorber is again operative.

Abstract: A control coupling, particularly for use with a differential gearing, the coupling including an enclosure containing a viscous liquid and first and second mutually interleaved sets of annular plates arranged for rotation about a common axis within the enclosure. The first set of plates are arranged to be connected with a first rotatable member and the second set of plates being arranged to be connected with a second rotatable member, and the plates of at least one set are free to move in directions parallel to the common axis. One of the sets of plates are mounted on a hollow hub which projects within the enclosure and which has a bore which is open to, and forms part of, the enclosure volume. A piston is slidable in this bore to vary the volume of the enclosure and springs are located in the bore to urge the piston towards a limit position in which the volume of the bore in communication with the remainder of the enclosure is at a minimum.

Abstract: A vehicle shock absorber of the hydraulic cylinder and piston type which includes a control valve for limiting pressure of the hydraulic fluid during compression movement to control the damping force of the device in accordance with rate of compression movement above a predetermined rate. The damping force is limited during expansion movement to provide good road-holding ability for the vehicle.

Abstract: A viscous damper for damping linear vibrations along an axis to isolate a precision instrument such as a vibrating beam accelerometer having a divided sealed cavity containing a damping fluid with a diaphragm disposed on each side of the division and a narrow gap coupling the spaces next to the two diaphragms, the diaphragms coupled respectively between an internal and an external mount with the instrument to be protected mounted to the internal mount and the external mount mounted to the body to which the instrument is attached.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved spring of the type in which an elastomer is subjected to hydrostatic compression and is constituted by a mass of elastomer contained in an enclosure which comprises a casing in which a piston is mounted to slide. In said mass of elastomer is included a body, whose volume, in a certain range of temperatures, increases as the temperature drops. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this body is advantageously water contained in at least one sealed and deformable bag.

Abstract: A piston rod having a variable volume auxiliary chamber extends into a primary chamber in a casing. Normally open valve means are arranged between the primary and auxiliary chambers which are filled with a compressible medium and which are in communication when the shock absorber is at rest. The variable volume auxiliary chamber accommodates changes in volume of the compressible medium resulting from changes in temperature of the medium. When impact forces are imposed on the piston rod, initial movement of the piston rod closes the valve means and subsequent movement of the piston rod into the primary chamber reduces the volume of the compressible medium therein thereby effecting energy absorption.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydropneumatic suspension device, comprising in the conventional manner a cylinder filled with a liquid in which a piston provided with spring-loaded valve is slidably mounted. This device comprises compensating apparatus for compensating the expansion of the liquid and gaseous media acting as a pneumatic spring, the compensating apparatus comprises an auxiliary space containing a gaseous fluid under pressure and a movable wall responsive on one side to the gas pressure and on the other hand to the pressure of the liquid contained in the device and also of the liquid contained in the device and also of the liquid filling the hollow rod of this device.