Abstract: An arrangement for determining and measuring the position or travel of a piston in a cylinder, e.g., suspension component such as a vibration damper, gas-spring or hydropneumatic suspension, uses a structure having no moving electrical contacts, nor any movable electrical leads. The arrangement measures a variable impedance, e.g., a capacitance which is created by first and second electrodes formed within the suspension component and is distinguished in that the electrodes are fixed and are immovable with respect to each other. Capacitance variation is achieved, for example, by allowing a dielectric medium, such as a ceramic or epoxy resin cylinder to enter between two electrodes, the extent of the entry of the dielectric medium being made to be proportional to the relative travel of the piston in the cylinder. In a variation, an additional electrode forming a fixed reference capacitance with the first electrode is provided.

Abstract: A contactlessly, measuring arrangement for determining the position of a piston in a suspension component such as a vibration damper, gas spring or hydro-pneumatic suspension. In one embodiment, the piston and/or the piston rod of the suspension component and a further electrode are mounted inside the cylinder of the suspension component to form a variable capacitor which, with the aid of other circuitry, measures the position of the piston. The further electrode preferably is in the form of a tube extending from the base of the cylinder into a hollow cylinder formed within the piston rod which receives the tube. In the capacitive embodiment, additionally, there may be provided a further tube within the first tube to form a reference, second capacitor which is sensitive to pressure and temperature in the same manner as the first capacitor.

Abstract: A simple, operationally reliable and not-overly-sensitive level control in a generally known form of self-pumping hydropneumatic spring leg or strut is of such a construction that a delayed adjust-down control action can be achieved when a control opening is opened upon reaching a certain level. For that purpose, a sleeve is fitted as or as part of a throttle arrangement between the control opening of a hollow pump rod and a suction valve arranged at the end of the pump rod, the sleeve allowing oil to flow with a delay from the high pressure chamber which controls the level, by way of the control opening of the pump rod to the pump rod bore, the bore communicating with a low pressure chamber from which oil is normally pumped to the high pressure chamber. By removing the throttling responsibility from the control opening, size restrictions on the control opening are removed, thus facilitating sizing the control opening so as to preclude clogging.

Abstract: A self-pumping, hydropneumatic, telescopic, spring damping device with internal level regulation, especially for automotive vehicles, includes an oil filled working chamber and a working piston with damping devices, the working piston rod being hollow and forming a pump chamber for a pump rod which automatically pumps oil from an oil reservoir into the working chamber. A control opening permits flow from the work chamber to the oil reservoir when the desired level is exceeded. A gas cushion in a gas spring chamber connected with the working chamber pressurizes the oil in the working chamber. The gas spring chamber includes a separating piston, and may be connected axially to the working chamber in the region of a flexible or elastic partition which supports the pump rod. The partition includes communicating passages. A pump suction tube communicates a pump rod cavity with the oil reservoir, and is yieldable with respect to movements of the flexible partition.

Abstract: The elastic articulation or coupling or the like is of the type wherein a metallic inner part such as a ball or a cylindrical sleeve has an elastomeric body firmly adhered thereto, and in turn enclosed by the generally cylindrical interior of a metallic outer part such as a sleeve or an eye, the outer part being joined with the elastomeric body by axial clamping of a pair of annular metallic parts carried at the end faces of the elastomeric body, such that there is solely frictional engagement between the elastomeric body and the outer part. In known devices, various arrangements are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the elastomeric body to enhance the frictional adherence between the elastomeric body and the metallic outer part.

Abstract: A thrust swivel ring for resiliently supporting a mowing knife in a swing arm of a mower cutting system includes internal and external metal bushings and an annular rubber portion disposed between the two bushings. The external bushing is non-rotatably connected to the swing arm and the internal bushing is non-rotatably connected to the mowing knife. One of these connections can be quickly disconnected in axial direction of the bushings. The bearing is resistant to wear, requires little maintenance and ensures a quiet operation of the mower cutting system. Further, the bearing facilitates a quick replacement of the mower knife.

Abstract: In an arrangement according to this disclosure, a spring element (3, 7) is arranged between a mounting core member (2) and a support (6) and is connected to a damper mass (9, 12). The damper mass has a container (10) which is filled with pressure liquid and/or gas and closed by a diaphragm (13). The spring rate of the diaphragm can be varied as desired, particularly in dependence on the speed of rotation of the machine or engine. For varying the spring rate of the diaphragm, a pressure plate (15) is associated with the diaphragm, and is displaceable relative to the diaphragm by way of an adjusting arrangement (16, 17) dependent on the speed of rotation of the machine or engine, and the relative configurations of the pressure plate and the facing diaphragm are such that this displacement reduces or increases the free area of the diaphragm, and thus varies its spring rate.

Abstract: A self pumping, level regulating apparatus for vehicles comprises at least one hydropneumatic, telescoping spring element, and a pumping and regulating element for pumping oil into the work chamber of the spring element as a function of the motion of an axle of the vehicle, to raise the level of oil in the work chamber, and hence the level of the vehicle and for moving oil out of the work chamber when a predetermined level is exceeded. In contrast to an arrangement where the telescoping spring element and the pumping and regulating element are integrated and disposed between relatively movable members, such as levers fixed to two associated swinging axle halves, only the pumping and regulating element is so disposed, and the telescoping spring element is separately disposed between the vehicle body and the wheel axle. A better distribution of force is thus achieved. Moreover, a single pumping and regulating element can serve a number of hydropneumatic spring elements.

Abstract: An engine mounting for relatively heavy engines has a lower member (2) adapted to be secured to the vehicle chassis (3), and an upper member (7) which is connected to the engine, the upper and lower members being cooperatively associated together by way of at least one rubber shear spring member (6). In order to construct such an engine mounting, without a high level of expenditure, in such a way that it is also possible to damp low-frequency, high-amplitude oscillations and to avoid damping, and the resulting transmission of noise, in respect of high-frequency, low-amplitude oscillations, a hydraulically acting springing and damping device (12) is additionally arranged between the lower member (2) and the upper member (7) of the engine mounting (1).

Abstract: A self-pumping, hydropneumatic, telescopic, spring damping device with internal level regulation, especially for automotive vehicles, includes an oil filled working chamber and a working piston with damping devices, the working piston rod being hollow and forming a pump chamber for a pump rod which automatically pumps oil from an oil reservoir into the working chamber. A control opening permits flow from the work chamber to the oil reservoir when the desired oil level is exceeded. A gas cushion in a gas spring chamber connected with the working chamber pressurizes the oil in the working chamber. The gas spring chamber includes a separating piston and is connected axially to the working chamber in the region of a flexible or elastic partition which supports the pump rod. The partition includes communicating passages. A pump suction tube communicates a pump rod cavity with the oil reservoir, and is yieldable with respect to movements of the flexible partition.

Abstract: Elastic rubber engine mounts with hydraulic damping are provided, especially for engine suspensions in motor vehicles. The mounts comprise two separated liquid-filled chambers, defined in part by elastic rubber-like peripheral walls adheringly connected with end walls and with a centrally disposed supporting element for connection to an engine supporting frame. The liquid chambers are separated by an elastic rubber-like partition connected with the supporting element, and flow connection between the two chambers is provided by perforations or choke openings in the partition. The rigid end walls of the two chambers are rigidly interconnected. Arrangements are provided for minimizing or avoiding hydraulic damping of oscillations of low amplitude and high frequency, while providing hydraulic damping for oscillations of large amplitude and low frequency.

Abstract: A hydropneumatic spring suspension, especially for automotive vehicles with a load bed, includes a hydropneumatic spring element that produces gaseous elastic forces and damping forces by a work piston slidable in an oil-filled work chamber that is loaded by a gas cushion, such that the pressure of the gas cushion determines a variable bearing force or load of the spring element. To increase the bearing force, a pressure medium (oil or gas) is supplied to the spring element. In the instant invention, this pressure medium is supplied from an auxiliary cylinder connected with a load bed, and an auxiliary piston provided with receiving devices for a load unit. When the load unit is set on the piston, the piston is moved from an extended position into a retracted position to supply pressure medium to the spring element, and hence increase the bearing force of the spring element.

Abstract: Elastic rubber engine mounts with hydraulic damping are provided, especially for engine suspensions in motor vehicles. The mounts comprise two separated liquid-filled chambers, defined in part by elastic rubber-like peripheral walls adheringly connected with end walls and with a centrally disposed supporting element for connection to an engine supporting frame. The liquid chambers are separated by an elastic rubber-like partition connected with the supporting element, and flow connection between the two chambers is provided by perforations or choke openings in the partition. The rigid end walls of the two chambers are ridgidly interconnected. Arrangements are provided for minimizing or avoiding hydraulic damping of oscillations of low amplitude and high frequency, while providing hydraulic damping for oscillations of large amplitude and low frequency.

Abstract: A rubber elastic engine mount with hydraulic damping, especially for motor vehicles, includes an elastic peripheral wall on the engine side joined with a metallic end wall that can be connected with an engine casing, and joined also with a metallic supporting element that can be connected to an engine supporting frame. The elastic wall together with the end walls forms a liquid-filled main chamber which is closed off by a partition connected with the supporting element, and which is connected with an auxiliary liquid-filled elastic walled chamber on the other side of the partition. The auxiliary chamber may be constructed generally the same as the main chamber, including an elastic peripheral wall joined with the supporting element and with a metallic end wall relatively away from the engine. The two end walls are rigidly connected. The peripheral walls function as thrust springs. The partition may be rigid and stationary, or it may be movable.

Abstract: An apparatus for the tensioning and relaxing of a safety belt including an elongated housing, a tensioning piston, and a tie rod for connection with the safety belt and arranged for retraction relative to the housing in response to pressure on the tensioning piston as well as being arranged thereafter for extension relative to the housing with a delay in response to tensile stress on the safety belt. A hydraulic damping arrangement including a damping cylinder containing a liquid and damping piston coupled with the tensioning piston is provided for forming a telescopic arrangement such that after the tensioning piston effects the retraction of the tie rod and reaches an arrested retracted position thereof, the hydraulic damping arrangement enables damped extension of the tie rod relative to the housing by displacement of the damping piston which in turn displaces liquid in the damping cylinder in response to tensile stress on the safety belt.

Abstract: The problem of producing small openings in a relatively thick wall, such as a pipe wall of a working cylinder of a shock absorber, is solved in accordance with the invention by placing the wall on a die with an opening that is the same or substantially the same as the opening that is to be produced, and forcefully penetrating the wall with the conical tip of a tool aligned with the die opening, the depth of penetration corresponding substantially to the thickness of the wall at the point of penetration. This forces part of the material of the wall into the die opening, and, upon further penetration to approximately the thickness of the wall, the material forced into the die opening is sheared off at the edge of the die opening, such that the sheared material can detach from the wall before the conical tip is seated in the die opening. Openings produced successively in this manner are almost identical, and the operation does not leave burrs, the wall face which was lying against the die remaining smooth.