Abstract: A hydraulic damper includes a cylinder containing hydraulic fluid therein, a piston working in the cylinder and partitioning the interior thereof into two liquid chambers, a piston rod connected to the piston and extending through one of the liquid chambers to project to the outside of the cylinder, and disc valves provided on opposite sides of the piston for generating damping force both in the extension and contraction strokes of the damper. A liquid passage is formed in the piston rod to communicate the two liquid chambers separately from the disc valves. An adjusting member is provided in the liquid passage and is displaceable between three or more adjusting positions for changing the effective area thereof. A digital encoder connected to the adjusting member for detecting the adjusting positions. The digital encoder includes a common electric line which ON-OFF controls at least two other electric lines when the other two lines generate the same digital signals.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper of the adjustable damping force type includes a piston working in a cylinder and partitioning the interior of the piston into two liquid chambers, a first passage provided in the piston for connecting the two liquid chambers, a first damping force generating valve mechanism provided on the piston for generating a damping force in response to liquid flow in the first passage, a by-pass passage for connecting the two liquid chambers and by-passing the first passage, and an adjusting valve for controlling the effective passage area of the by-pass passage. A second damping force generating valve mechanism is provided in the by-pass passage and generates a damping force substantially smaller than the damping force of the first damping force generating valve mechamism.

Abstract: A gas spring comprising a cylinder, a rod slidably extending from the cylinder, and a novel locking mechanism. The mechanism comprises first and second axially contiguous recesses in the circumference of the rod, a locking member normally located in the first recess and snappingly and rockingly movable between two recesses, and axially spaced first and second actuating members cooperating with the locking member. The first actuating member comprises an engaging portion and a releasing portion being circumferentially spaced therefrom. The releasing portion acts to displace the locking member to the second recess. The second actuating member comprises an engaging portion for locking the rod and also for displacing the locking member to the first recess, and axially and circumferentially inclined guide walls for circumferentially displacing the locking member thereby guiding the same between the releasing portion and engaging portions in response to the movement of the rod.

Abstract: An extensible strut such as a gas spring and having a cylinder, a rod guided by the cylinder and slidably extending through one end of the cylinder to the outside, and a locking mechanism for locking the rod at an extended position.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper includes a cylinder containing oil therein, a hollow piston rod one end of which projecting out of the cylinder and the other end of which extends into the cylinder, a piston provided on the inner end of the piston rod and dividing the interior of the cylinder into two oil chambers, a connecting passage including the interior of the hollow piston rod and placing the two oil chambers in communication, a rod member rotatably extending through the hollow piston rod and projecting out of the cylinder, a valve mechanism connected to the inner end of the rod member for changing the effective area of the connecting passage and having a predetermined range of rotational movement for changing the effective area of the connecting passage, an adjusting element receiving member detachably connected to the outer end of the piston rod, an adjusting element mounted on the adjusting element receiving member and being rotatable and axially displaceable relative thereto, the inner end of the adjusting elemen

Abstract: A shock absorber includes an outer cylinder and a slidable member fitted in the outer cylinder. The slidable member is inserted into the outer cylinder, and thereafter a beading technique is applied to the outer cylinder so as to form an annular bead on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder for retaining the slidable member within the outer cylinder.