Abstract: A spring-biased support pole 10 for supporting a boat cover 40 over a boat during transport of the boat as well as docking of the boat. The support pole comprises a base 14 and a support rod system 100 connected to the base. The support rod system comprises at least two support rod sections 110, 120 that are telescopically connected to one another and a spring 20. The spring is positioned between the telescoping connection of a first support rod section and a second support rod section, such that the spring controls vertical movement of the second support rod section with respect to the first support rod section and provides a biasing force that is applied to the second support rod section and to the cover supported by the support pole.

Abstract: A unidirectional damping system includes a shaft and unidirectional damping modules. Each module is fixedly coupled to the shaft. Each module includes a fluid-filled variable-volume chamber and spring(s). The chamber has at least one port through which fluid flows based on changes in volume of the chamber wherein, when the shaft is adapted to have a unidirectional force applied thereto, the chamber decreases in volume. The spring(s) is coupled to the chamber for increasing volume of the chamber when the unidirectional force is not applied to the shaft. A fluid-filled spacer chamber is coupled between adjacent modules and is uncoupled from the shaft. The spacer chamber includes at least one venting port through which fluid flows based on pressure in the spacer chamber.

Abstract: An assembly for preloading a cable rotary-pendulum kinematic system is provided. The assembly includes a rotational body of a cable rotary-pendulum kinematic system. The rotational body is configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis thereof and is immovable in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The assembly further includes at least one gas spring surrounding the rotational body and which may be compressed in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The assembly further includes primary cables, which force-lockingly connect the rotational body to the gas spring in such a way that a rotational motion of the rotational body causes compression of the gas spring, whereby the assembly is preloaded.

Abstract: An elastomer bearing has an inner part, an outer sleeve that surrounds the inner part, and an elastomer body that is arranged between the inner part and the outer sleeve. The elastomer body extends from the inner part as far as the outer sleeve. The elastomer body comprises two liquid chambers, which are filled with a liquid and arranged one on top of the other in an axial direction, and a duct carrier arranged radially between the elastomer body and the outer sleeve. The duct carrier surrounds the elastomer body in a region of the liquid chambers and bounds the chambers. The elastomer body is vulcanized to the inner part. To reinforce the elastomer body, two, annular reinforcement inlays are embedded in the elastomer body, and form parts, separate from one another, of a cage that is embedded in the elastomer body.

Abstract: In a pneumatic damper for slowing down movable furniture parts, comprising a cylinder and a piston movably disposed in the cylinder so as to form a displacement chamber at one side and a vacuum chamber at the other side of the piston, the piston includes a seal element which, in one end position thereof, is in close contact with the wall of the cylinder whose cross-section increases toward the opposite end of the cylinder so that the sealing effect collapses when the piston approaches its other end position and the piston includes a piston rod, which has a diameter of less than 35% of the piston diameter and sealingly extends through a cylinder end wall.

Abstract: An air spring assembly includes a pedestal that has one end fixed to a suspension arm and includes a second end with a platform that supports an air spring assembly. An air spring piston is fixed to the platform. A lower portion of a flexible bellows is fixed to the air spring piston and an upper portion of the flexible bellows is mounted to a vehicle frame structure. A linear moveable member has one end fixed to the upper portion of said flexible bellows and an opposite end slidingly received within an internal cavity of the pedestal such that the upper and lower portions of the flexible bellows articulate linearly with respect to each other.

Abstract: A self-pumping hydropneumatic spring strut unit includes a working cylinder filled with oil under pressure and a piston and rod unit displaceable in the cylinder so as to define two working spaces in the cylinder, and high-pressure and low pressure chambers surrounding the cylinder. The strut unit further has a piston pump operable to transport a working medium from the low-pressure chamber into the one working space which is in flow communication with the high-pressure chamber. The piston pump has a cylinder defined by the inner surface of the piston rod unit, and a hollow pump rod coupled to the working cylinder and having a flow channel in communication with the low-pressure chamber. The flow channel has a deregulating opening on the working space and a throttle in flow communication with the deregulating opening. A filter device protects the throttle from impurities carried by the oil during flow from the deregulating opening to the low pressure chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved vehicle suspension system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an independent suspension system for light and medium duty trailers which utilizes a flexible bladder mounted between the vehicle frame and the axle. The flexible bladder is housed within a casing to control the flow of air into the bladder and to provide for flexible movement of the axle relative to the vehicle frame. In the preferred embodiment, the flexible bladder is a traditional break-chamber housing and multiple break-chamber housings may be utilized to increase the load-carrying capacity of the trailer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid-filled active vibration damping device including: an elastic body; a primary fluid chamber partially defined by the elastic body; a movable member partially defining the primary fluid chamber on one side and a working air chamber on the other side; and a vacuum pump including an air intake port and an exhaust port, which are connectable to the working chamber via a valve mechanism. A fluid pressure variation in the primary fluid chamber can be actively controlled by transmitting an air pressure variation in the working air chamber to the primary fluid chamber via the movable member. A switching operation of the valve mechanism selectively applies a negative pressure generated in the air intake port and a positive pressure generated in the exhaust port to the working air chamber in order to generate the air pressure variation in the working air chamber.

Abstract: A method of retaining a suspension system includes creating a negative pressure within an air spring such that a longitudinal member is retained in a substantially fixed position relative to a chassis component when the longitudinal member is placed in an unloaded condition. When there is no pressure in the air spring, the air cell is deflated and the suspension is mechanically bottomed out. By further introducing a negative pressure into the air cell with the gas feed, a partial vacuum is formed and the air cell collapses in upon itself. The collapsed air cell grips the piston thereby immobilizing the air spring. Accordingly, when the vehicle is lifted and the air suspension becomes unloaded, the longitudinal member is maintained relative to the chassis component by the immobilized air spring to thereby prevent the air cell from being inverted and damaged.

Abstract: In an air-type shock absorber, a piston is sealing situated in a cylinder chamber. A vacuum state occurs in a piston bearing side of the cylinder chamber when a piston is pushed. Also, an air reservoir is provided at a side opposite to the piston bearing to have a sealed structure, so that a force of absorbing a shock can be increased to have the same effect as in an oil-type shock absorber. The shock absorber can be used not only at a place requiring cleanness but also in adverse environment in which the shock absorber is exposed to water or coolant, and durability of the shock absorber is also improved.

Abstract: A liquid-filled type vibration isolator, having a vibration isolation mechanism, formed between first and second coupling members to be mounted to a vehicle body-side member, including: a rubber-like insulator for absorbing and isolating vibrations from the vibration member; a main chamber, whose chamber walls are formed by a portion of the insulator, and which is filled with liquid; a sub-chamber, whose chamber walls are partially formed by a first diaphragm, coupled to the main chamber through a first orifice; a partitioning member for partitioning between the main chamber and the sub-chamber; a second diaphragm for partitioning between a third liquid chamber to be coupled to the main chamber through a second orifice, and a balance chamber into which negative pressure is introduced.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of making an automatic temperature compensating gas spring strut, the method comprising providing an outer cylinder having opposite ends with one end closed and the other end apertured to permit movement of the strut therethrough; nesting an inner cylinder within the outer cylinder with radial space therebetween, the inner cylinder being apertured at opposite ends; partitioning the space between said cylinders into a first chamber adjacent the closed end of the outer cylinder and a second chamber remote from such closed end; inserting a piston in sliding, sealing relation with the interior of the inner cylinder, the piston having a piston rod extending from said piston and sealingly out through the aperture of the outer cylinder; after injecting a high pressure, non-condensing gas in the first chamber, inserting a measured quantity of solid carbon dioxide (“dry ice”) in the second chamber at ambient conditions and closing said second chamber while sealingly allowing movem