Abstract: Piston-cylinder assembly, in particular gas spring, comprising a cylinder as a first structural unit, in which a piston rod is arranged in an axially movable manner as a second structural unit. An adjusting device exerting an adjusting force includes an acturator and a force-transmitting means operatively connected to the piston-cylinder assembly, the force-transmitting means engaging concentrically on one of the two structural units of the piston-cylinder assembly.

Abstract: A spring element exerts a radial force on a pivotable ball head and thereby prestresses it in a ball cup, the spring element being formed by a leaf spring which extends along the lengthwise axis of the ball head and whose active line of force is directed toward the ball cup below the equator of the ball head.

Abstract: In a piston-cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder in which a piston rod is installed with freedom of axial movement and which is filled with a blocking medium, a braking device becomes active when the piston-cylinder assembly moves faster than a defined speed and thus limits the speed to a desired extent. A valve body divides the cylinder into two working spaces, which are connected to each other by at least one flow-through opening. As soon as the defined speed is exceeded, the dynamic pressure in the working space elastically deforms a disk, which has the effect of at least partially sealing off the flow-through opening(s) in opposition to the forces trying to keep them open. The elastic deformation of the disk represents a closing movement relative to the cross section of the flow-through opening(s). The disk takes the form of a valve ring, which is installed in a valve ring groove with a certain freedom of axial movement.

Abstract: Actuating system comprising an actuator with a torque-transmission element for a movable element, in particular a swing-action panel in a motor vehicle, the movable element being mounted pivotably in a basic hinge element. The actuating system has a torque support arranged functionally between the basic hinge element and the actuator, at least one key profile being made in the torque support, so that it is possible to bring about axial plug-connection assembly with the basic hinge element.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit with an adjustable stroke length includes a cylinder having an axis, a closed end and a rod end, a piston rod supported in the rod end of the cylinder in sealed and sliding relation, and a piston received on the piston rod for axial movement relative to the piston and received in the cylinder for axial movement relative to the cylinder. A threaded connections is provided between the piston rod and the piston. A stop surface on the side of the piston facing the rod end of the cylinder and a counterstop surface associated in fixed relation with the cylinder and facing the closed end of the cylinder are engaged when the rod is extended from the cylinder to a full stroke length position. Upon such engagement the piston is held rotationally fixed to the cylinder such that upon rotation of the cylinder about the axis, the piston is rotated relative to the piston rod and is moved axially along the piston rod by the threaded connection such as to change the stroke length.

Abstract: Door hinge with a locking device based on a field force, including a cylinder divided by a piston into working spaces that are filled with an operating medium whose viscosity can be changed by means of a field force. The working spaces are connected to one another by at least one flow connection that is subject to the influence of a field force generating element. The door hinge is designed as a pivot bearing, wherein the cylinder takes the form of a bearing eye and the piston takes the form of a rotary piston with at least one blade.

Abstract: An axially movable switching sealing ring within a groove having an axial width greater than the axial width of the ring, in particular in the piston of a piston-cylinder unit, where the switching sealing ring has sealing surfaces on its upper side surface, lower side surface and radial outer wall surface in each instance. The upper and lower side surfaces each have an axially relieved section adjacent the radially outer diameter of the ring, so that the upper and lower sealing surfaces are formed optimally by only part of the upper and lower side surfaces.

Abstract: An actuating system includes a driving device fixed to a base part and operatively connected to a movable part. A sensor detects the rotational speed of the movable part at a reference measuring location, and a control system forms a differential of the rotational speed with respect to the time. The formed differential is compared in a comparison unit with a stored differential value which corresponds to a measuring point on a route of movement of the movable part. An obstacle is recognized when there is a difference above a threshold value between the formed differential and the associated stored value.

Abstract: A length-adjustable column for chairs or the like comprises an upright tube with a longitudinal axis and a piston-and-cylinder unit radially supported and displaceably guided in the direction of the longitudinal axis. A lengthwise end of the piston-and-cylinder unit is locked by means of an axial bearing on a base plate of the upright tube in the axial direction. For this purpose, the axial bearing is axially fixed to the lengthwise end of the piston-and-cylinder unit. The axial bearing has at least two locking arms which lock it to the base plate of the upright tube, and a securing bolt which is pushed by the piston-and-cylinder unit between the locking arms to secure the locking.

Abstract: A locking device includes a cylinder chamber that is filled with a working medium and is divided by a piston into two working sections. A flow connection between the working sections is controlled by a check valve and a gate valve, which are arranged in parallel. When the check valve opens, dynamic pressure of the working fluid flowing through the check valve from one working section acts on a fluid contact surface of the gate valve and opens the gate valve. After it opens, the gate valve is kept in the open position by a pressure in a bypass past the check valve so that working fluid can thereafter flow through the fluid connection, regardless of the state of the check valve.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder assembly has a principal structural group including a cylinder and another principal structural group including a piston rod which has a part-length axially displaceably arranged within the cylinder. The piston rod adopts a default stroke position without external displacement forces acting on the piston-cylinder assembly, the default position being determined by positioning equipment. The positioning equipment includes at least one energy accumulator which acts in the inward and outward movement directions of the piston rod as a function of the stroke position of the piston rod. The at least one energy accumulator includes a tension spring arrangement and a compression spring arrangement.

Abstract: Active control system for a movable member, in particular a tailgate or door, includes a pump unit which is connected by at least one fluid connecting line to a piston-cylinder unit. The control system has an on-off valve through which the direction of motion of the piston-cylinder unit is controlled. A pressure-limiting valve is operable, in emergency conditions, to permit a displacement motion of the piston rod of the piston-cylinder unit by opening a connection to the working chamber of the piston-cylinder unit.

Abstract: A valve that influences flow through a fluid connection includes a valve member that executes a motion in which the distance between a valve seat surface and the valve member varies. The valve member is in operative engagement with a damping arrangement that counteracts its motion.

Abstract: A longitudinally displaceable column includes a longitudinal adjusting unit which is supported on a base plate of a vertical tube. The adjusting unit has a rod that receives an axial bearing, which is interposed between the rod and the base plate so that the rod is rotatable relative to the base plate. The axial bearing is a sliding bearing that has a sliding member.

Abstract: A gas spring includes a cylinder containing a fluid at least part of which is a compressed gas. The cylinder receives a piston that is affixed to a piston rod and divides the cylinder into two working chambers. The piston has a one-way valve that is cycled in response to the direction of motion of the piston and pressure-control valve consisting of a spring and a valve body. In a partial stroke region of the piston a bypass allows fluid flow past the one-way valve and the pressure-control valve. The partial stroke region is adjoined by a bypass-free stroke region, the gas spring being arrested in the bypass-free stroke region. The spring of the pressure-control valve has a temperature-dependent elastic force, the elastic force of the spring increasing with increasing operating temperature, owing to which the compressive force necessary for opening the pressure-control valve increases to an equal extent.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit, comprising a cylinder which is subdivided by a piston on a piston rod into two working chambers. Between the two working chambers, there is a fluid connection which can be blocked by means of a valve arrangement having at least two individual closing valves arranged in series, each with a valve inflow side and a valve outflow side. The valves open sequentially. In the flow path between the individual valves, there is a throttle arrangement which produces a pressure reduction between the valve outflow side of the first closing valve towards the valve inflow side of the following closing valve. As the opening of the first closing valve increases, the effect of the throttle arrangement decreases; to the same extent, the pressurization increases on the valve inflow side of the following closing valve. The valve arrangement features two flow-through directions and is made so that each can be blocked.

Abstract: A piston/cylinder assembly includes a cylinder and a piston received in the cylinder for axial movement and dividing the cylinder into two working chambers. A first connecting member is affixed to the cylinder and is adapted to connect the cylinder to one of two elements that are movable relative to each other. At least one second connecting member is operatively coupled to the piston, extends through an opening in the cylinder, and is adapted to connect the piston to the other of the two elements. The opening has a length axially of the cylinder that is not less than the length of the stroke of the piston.

Abstract: A detent device for locking first and second elements that are movable relative to one another includes a first subassembly connected to a first element and a second subassembly connected to the second element. A first locking mechanism of the detent device can be controlled at will by use of an actuating mechanism. The first locking mechanism is subordinated to a second locking mechanism that acts independently of the first locking mechanism as soon as a threshold value of the relative speed of the two subassemblies of the detent device is exceeded. The second locking mechanism includes a first locking element and a second locking element, the first locking element being functionally associated with the first subassembly and the second locking element being functionally associated with the second subassembly. The first and the second locking elements form a clutch. In addition, the locking mechanism can also have two states of locking actuation.

Abstract: Adjustable-height column, especially for chairs, includes a guide tube and a pneumatic, selectively blockable piston-cylinder unit for height adjustment located in the guide tube. The piston sealingly subdivides the cylinder into two operational chambers. Beginning at a defined retracted setting of the piston-cylinder unit, the blocking function is compulsorily canceled, in that a fluid flow connection between the two operational spaces is established which overrides the blocking function. An additional spring element is placed in series with the piston-cylinder unit to prevent a sudden collapse of the column.

Abstract: A pressurized gas spring, which exerts an expulsion force on the piston rod entailing a maximum extension velocity of the piston rod, includes braking means effective at a velocity of motion due to external forces above the maximum extension velocity for limiting the velocity of motion to a desired measure.