Abstract: A trailing link multi-bar suspension assembly for a cycle having improved stability includes a first arm having a first side and a second side, a first arm fixed pivot and a first arm shock pivot, the first side and second side defining a wheel opening. A shock link has a shock link fixed pivot and a shock link floating pivot. A shock absorber has an inline configuration, a gas spring, a first shock mount, and a second shock mount, and the shock absorber is substantially located on the first side or second side of the wheel opening. A spring unit, has a gas spring comprising a spring body, a first spring mount and a second spring mount, and the spring unit is substantially located on the first side or second side of the wheel opening A wheel carrier has a wheel carrier first pivot and a wheel carrier second pivot spaced apart from one another, and a wheel mount that is adapted to be connected to a wheel.

Abstract: A frequency-tunable vibration damper includes a first container having rigid wall regions and compliant wall regions. A second container is coupled to the first container such that a wall region of the second container includes one of the compliant wall regions. A fluid fills the first container and a gas fills the second container. A flow restrictor is included in the second container and is spaced-apart from the one of the compliant wall regions included with the second container.

Abstract: A method for temperature compensating an air spring of an air spring suspension of a motor vehicle after engine shut-off. A desired trim height is obtained. At engine shut-off, the ambient temperature is measured and the temperature of air in the air spring determined. After a wait time (for loading/unloading), a start trim height is measured. A predicted trim height is determined for when the air in the air spring is at the ambient temperature. Finally, the volume of the air in the air spring is selectively adjusted so that when the air in the air spring arrives at the ambient temperature, the trim height will be about the desired trim height.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a shock absorber includes a valve body defining a fluid passage. A valve disc engages the valve body to close the fluid passage. A fulcrum disc engages the valve disc at a first position and a second position radially outward from the first position. The fulcrum disc is designed such that the second position is closer to the valve body. In one embodiment, the fulcrum disc is concave with respect to the valve body.

Abstract: A suspension unit, for example for a track-laying vehicle, comprises an oil-filled cylinder within which a piston, connected to a piston rod, is provided. The cylinder 4 is oil-filled, and communicates with an upper region of a spring chamber, the lower region 46 of which contains gas under pressure. The piston rod has a hollow interior filled with gas under pressure. The piston is connected by a connecting rod to a secondary piston which is slidable within the piston rod. On rebound the piston rod and the piston move relatively to each other between a retracted end position and an extended end position. During this movement and the return movement, oil is transferred, by way of apertures between damping chambers which serve to damp the relative movement of the piston and the piston rod so avoiding shock loading at the end positions of the movement.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a gas spring includes a casing having an inner surface defining in part a gas chamber, a piston rod and a seal. The piston rod is received at least partially in the casing for reciprocation along an axis between extended and retracted positions. The piston rod has an internal cavity defining a hollow space, a stop and a rod guide disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the casing to guide the reciprocation of the piston rod at least in part. The seal generally is provided between the piston rod and the casing to prevent gas leakage from the gas chamber.

Abstract: A cab mounting assembly attaches a cab to a chassis of a vehicle at the point of rotation of the cab when the cab is tilted. The cab mounting assembly provides two paths for the forces acting between the cab and the chassis. The static forces are supported by a bearing assembly which includes a relatively hard elastomeric member. The dynamic forces are supported by an elastomeric mount which includes a relatively soft elastomeric member. The elastomeric mount is attached to the bearing assembly and to a shock absorber. The bearing assembly is attached to the elastomeric mount and to an air spring assembly.

Abstract: A suspension system includes four electronically controlled actuators, one at each of the four wheels. The actuators are each controlled by an electronic control unit. The left front and right front actuators are mechanically connected with each other. The left rear and the right rear actuators are also mechanically connected with each other. The only connection between the front two actuators and the rear two actuators is an electronic communication through the electronic control unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration control or vehicular suspension system. In one embodiment, the system uses a liquid spring filled with a compressible liquid. In such an embodiment, a suspension system, in addition to being able to change stiffness and damping properties, has the ability to level a vehicle or other structure or device to a desired height and compensate the level height for the addition or subtraction of load. Further, the liquid spring can provide either spring force or both spring and damping forces.

Abstract: A vibration transmission damping apparatus (1) is attached to a structural object (13) and supports the structural object (13). The vibration transmission damping apparatus (1) includes a cylinder (2) and a piston (3) arranged inside the cylinder (2). A space enclosed by the piston (3) and the cylinder (2) forms a fluid chamber (4) which is filled with air. The piston (3) supports the structural object (13) by pressure generated by the air. A fluid passage (7) which communicates the fluid chamber (4) with the outside is connected to the fluid chamber (4). Further, the fluid passage (7) is provided with an on-off valve (8V). The on-off valve (8V) is opened/closed at frequency of vibration whose transmission to the structural object (13) is not desirable so as to discharge the air in the fluid chamber (4) to the outside.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a gas spring includes a casing having an inner surface defining in part a gas chamber, a piston rod and a seal. The piston rod is received at least partially in the casing for reciprocation along an axis between extended and retracted positions. The piston rod has an internal cavity defining a hollow space, a stop and a rod guide disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the casing to guide the reciprocation of the piston rod at least in part. The seal generally is provided between the piston rod and the casing to prevent gas leakage from the gas chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a strut assembly 10 comprising of a piston 3 in slideable communication with a housing 2; a seal 6 in operative communication with the piston 3 and/or the housing 2; wherein the seal 6 comprises an active material adapted to control the motion of the piston 3. Disclosed herein too is a method of operating a strut assembly 10 comprising displacing a suspended body 60 in mechanical communication with a piston 3; wherein the piston 3 comprises a piston head 14 and a piston rod 12; activating an active material in operative communication with the piston head 14; and controlling the motion of the suspended body 60.

Abstract: A cylinder chamber filled with a liquid, a piston disposed inside the cylinder chamber, a piston rod connected to the piston, and an accumulator allowing the piston rod to generate a damping force by receiving the liquid from a compression side of the cylinder chamber are included, and on an internal periphery of the cylinder chamber, one line of a helical damping groove is formed within a stroke range of the piston, a groove width of the damping groove is constant over the entire length of the damping groove, a depth of the damping groove gradually decreases along a spiral toward the direction in which the piston rod is pushed in, and a length of the piston in a direction along the axis line is smaller than a pitch of the damping groove.

Abstract: A motor used in a hydraulic shock absorber which absorbs the vibrations generated by an engine of a vehicle includes a rotor portion, a stator portion, and a bearing mechanism. The bearing mechanism includes a sleeve, a sleeve holder, and a chip member. The sleeve holder includes a single component having a cylindrical portion which covers an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve, and a bottom portion which covers a lower portion of the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A compact air-bump stop (jounceshock) provides improved motor vehicle suspension system accommodation of jounce and rebound than is provided than by a conventional shock absorber, bump cushion and/or air-bump stop. In an independent jounceshock, a primary shell and a secondary shell are reversibly collapsible into each other, and a valved piston demarcates a primary chamber within the primary shell and a secondary chamber within the secondary shell, both of which being filled with a mixture of pressurized gas, preferably nitrogen, and oil. The valving of the valved piston allows for selectively unidirectional, metered movement of the oil therethrough in concert with the direction of movement of the secondary shell with respect to the primary shell. In an integrated jounceshock, a compact air-bump stop is integrated with a shock absorber.

Abstract: The suspension strut of an embodiment of the invention includes a compressible fluid, a sleeve structure, a hydraulic tube adapted to contain a portion of the compressible fluid, a displacement rod and cavity piston coupled to the sleeve and adapted to move into the hydraulic tube upon the compression movement of the wheel and to move out of the hydraulic tube upon the rebound movement of the wheel, and a hydraulic seal located between the hydraulic tube and the displacement rod. The hydraulic tube defines a hydraulic cavity adapted to contain a portion of the compressible fluid and to cooperate with the compressible fluid to supply a suspending spring force that biases the wheel toward the surface.

Abstract: An hydraulic damping mount has an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve for securing thereto a piston of a spring strut (activatable in at least one direction), an elastomeric body and two chambers. The two chambers are interconnected via a gap. The inner sleeve comprises a radially projecting boss separating the two chambers from each other. The connection between the two chambers is configured in accordance with the invention as a gap between the boss and the outer sleeve so that when activated, the fluid flow through the gap is in the direction opposite to the movement of the boss, resulting in a reduction in the stiffness. This simplifies assembly whilst enhancing the stiffness response of the mount. The invention relates furthermore to a mount for supporting a spring strut in making use of such a mount.

Abstract: A suspension damper including a tube and a damping piston assembly disposed within the tube and slidably mounted therein for reciprocal movement in the tube. The suspension damper also includes a piston rod extending through the tube and connected to the damping piston assembly, a rod guide assembly closing a top end of the tube, and a rebound cut-off disk and spring suspended in the tube between the rod guide assembly and the damping piston assembly and cooperating with the damping piston assembly to provide a rebound cut-off effect between the rebound cut-off disk and the damping piston assembly. The rebound cut-off disk and spring have specific gravities that are less than the specific gravity of the fluid in the tube, such that the disk and the spring are floatable in the fluid.

Abstract: An impact damper as a connecting member between a bumper and a chassis of a motor vehicle for the purpose of damping the shock loading during a collision between this motor vehicle and an obstacle through hydraulic damping forces and gas-spring forces. This impact damper includes an inner tube which can be displaced telescopically inside an outer tube, thereby changing the volume of a pressurized gas space, which interact by means of a separating piston with a first liquid space, which communicates hydraulically via a restriction orifice with a second liquid space, which is bounded by a deformation element. The separating piston is arranged in a floating manner in the inner tube and thereby brings about a static equilibrium by pressure compensation in the liquid spaces and in the gas space.

Abstract: The air spring of the present invention combines both traditional air spring characteristics and components with internal hydro damping. The air spring has an upper retainer, a piston, an elastomeric sleeve secured to the upper retainer at a first end and secured to the piston at the lower end, and a damping device. The damping device has an upper and a lower variable volume chamber and a channel connecting the two variable volume chambers, and a damping fluid contained within the damping device.

Abstract: An adjustable shock absorber is provided that includes a body having a fluid passageway with first and second passages in fluid communication with one another. A valve assembly is arranged between the passages and includes a plunger that is adjustable between a plurality of positions corresponding to a plurality of fluid flow positions. The valve assembly includes a metering valve having a orifice in a disc, and the plunger includes a needle with a portion disposed in said orifice to provide flow area. The flow area is changed when the plunger moves. The valve assembly also includes a blow-off valve in which the disc is biased to a closed position by a spring arranged between the plunger and the disc. Movement of the plunger changes the loading on the spring. An adjustment knob has a cammed surface that cooperates with the plunger so that as the adjustment knob is rotated the cammed surface moves the plunger.

Abstract: A damper comprises a first chamber and a second chamber separated by a piston. At least one of the chambers includes an axially moveable member and an axially fixed member. A resilient or compressible member is positioned between the axially moveable member and the axially fixed member. The axially moveable member is displaced toward the fixed member during slight pressure increases to absorb small pressure fluctuations that may be insufficient to cause flow through the piston.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit controls a doubling acting cylinder of a vehicle suspension to provide load leveling and shock absorption functions. A set of solenoid valves control the application of pressurized hydraulic fluid from a supply line to the cylinder and from the cylinder to a tank return line to raise and lower the vehicle for load leveling. The chambers of the cylinder are interconnected by a parallel arrangement of a check valve, orifice and a relief valve. Another parallel arrangement of a check valve, orifice and a relief valve couples the cylinder to an accumulator. These parallel arranged components enable the doubling acting cylinder to function as a passive shock absorber. A lock-out valve is provided in the preferred embodiment a to defeat the shock absorber operation and provide a very stiff suspension.

Abstract: A suspension system (20) controls the amount of compressible fluid (42) within struts (28) to determine spring rate coefficients (Ks) and dampening coefficients (Bs) for the struts (28). The spring rate and dampening coefficients (Ks, Bs) are selected to provide forces (F) which are a sum of several components, which include a desired target static force (Fd) for balancing various forces acting upon a vehicle chassis, comparison of the target strut force (Fd) to the actual force (F) applied by the respective struts (28), comparison of velocity ({dot over (z)}5) of the chassis relative to a selected reference datum, and a ride height error (erh). Frequency dependant filtering decreases the spring rate coefficients (Ks) when changes in position (Zs) are detected at frequencies (&ohgr;) beneath a threshold level (&ohgr;K), and decreases the dampening coefficients (Bs) when changes in velocity ({dot over (z)}s) are detected at frequencies (&ohgr;) above a threshold level (&ohgr;B).

Abstract: An air lift shock absorber for an automotive suspension system includes a damping piston slidable within a housing, a piston rod extending from the housing to a top mount assembly including a rigid top mount housing and a force absorbing member within the housing for transferring damping forces from the piston to the top mount housing. A jounce bumper absorbs impact forces from the housing. An air lift mechanism includes an inflatable sleeve and a pressure retainer connecting the inflatable sleeve with a flexible force receiving member that is bonded to the pressure retainer and to the top mount housing. The flexible force receiving member allows the pressure retainer to flex relative to the top mount during normal operation of the suspension system and also provides a force transmitting path for transferring forces from the air lift mechanism and the jounce bumper to the top mount housing independent of the resilient force absorbing member within the top mount housing that transfers damping forces.

Abstract: A motorcycle suspension using an air bag in place of a spring, having a front bag bracket that is fixed to the motorcycle main frame and a pivoting rear bag bracket that is attached to a swing arm of a motorcycle. An air bag is sandwiched between the front bag bracket and the rear bag bracket and is compressed and extended with the action of the rear bag bracket and the swing arm. A shock absorber is mounted in its conventional place and dampens the motions of the swing arm and the rear bag bracket. The air bag is capable of being inflated or deflated by the driver either while driving or stationary. The front bag bracket and rear bag bracket are pivotably attached to the main frame of the motorcycle with a common pivot axis, allowing a scissor like motion, which allows the suspension to react in a conventional manner.

Abstract: A vibration control system utilizes a liquid spring filled with a compressible liquid. In its most general embodiment, the vibration control system minimizes the transmission of vibration between a first mass and a second mass, i.e. vehicle frame/vehicle cabin, structure/ground, machinery/platform. The liquid spring can be either a passive or an active system. An active system utilizes a second volume of compressible fluid. A passive system only uses a single volume of fluid. Further, the liquid spring can provide either spring force or both spring and damping forces. Alternatively, a single volume liquid spring can be utilized in conjunction with a conventional damper.

Abstract: A vibration control system utilizes a liquid spring filled with a compressible liquid. In its most general embodiment, the vibration control system minimizes the transmission of vibration between a first mass and a second mass, i.e vehicle frame/vehicle cabin, structure/ground, machinery/platform. The liquid spring can be either a passive or an active system. An active system utilizes a second volume of compressible fluid. A passive system only uses a single volume of fluid. Further, the liquid spring can provide either spring force or both spring and damping forces. Alternatively, a single volume liquid spring can be utilized in conjunction with a conventional damper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration damper, in particular for a helicopter rotor, the damper comprising both a driving element and a rigid element and including a damper assembly functionally interconnecting the driving element and the rigid element, the damper assembly comprising firstly a hydraulic damper device disposed in at least one viscous fluid cavity and a laminated flexible device. The hydraulic damper device comprises first and second sets of interleaved plane vanes. In the invention, the hydraulic damper device also has at least one damper element which is disposed in one of said viscous fluid cavities and which is secured to the driving element, said damper element presenting an outer outline which tapers going away from a base situated beside one axial end of the damper towards an apex situated beside the sets of plane vanes.

Abstract: A gearbox mounting arrangement for a gas turbine engine includes a plurality of variable stiffness positioning links that attach the gearbox housing to the engine case. The links include a first portion that is connected to the engine case, a second portion connected to the gearbox and the first and second portion releasably connected by an isolation mechanism having a lower stiffness than the first and second portions. During a high rotor imbalance condition such as a fan blade loss condition, the links yield to a lower stiffness level than during normal operation as the isolation mechanism becomes operational in response to the application of high axial loads and the first and second portions partially disengage. The partial disengagement of the portions of the links of the present invention results in partially isolating the gearbox from the deflections experienced by the engine case. Thus, only a percentage of engine case imbalance loads are transmitted through the links to the gearbox.