Abstract: Closed-loop control of an energy absorber acting as a damper between two parts that are movable relative to one another. A damping force of the energy absorber, or damper, can be adjusted by way of the change in the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid (MRF), which change can be influenced by a magnetic field of a coil. According to the method it is possible to decelerate an impact or a movement with the lowest possible forces in order to minimize possible consequential damage/loading by way of setting as constant a deceleration as possible, as small a deceleration as possible, by way of using the entire available deceleration travel, and low or zero residual speed at the end of the deceleration travel independently of the moving mass or speed.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a bicycle has a damper device with first and second damper chambers. The damper chambers are connected by way of a controllable throttle valve. A changeable electronic unit has a control device for controlling the electrically controllable throttle valve. The control device thereby influences the damper characteristics.

Abstract: A device for generating electrical energy has at least one pair of permanent magnets and at least one coil. They are moved about a pivot axis relative to one another by agitating or shaking. Each coil is disposed between the pole surfaces of the at least one pair of permanent magnets which are disposed opposite each other.

Abstract: A suspension system and a method for controlling a suspension system for a muscle-powered two-wheeled vehicle having a damper device with a first damper chamber and a second damper chamber coupled with one another via a controllable damping valve. A sensor is provided for capturing data about a current operational state. An electric control device and a data storage device for controlling the damper device are provided, such that at least one damping characteristic of the damper device can be influenced by a signal from the control device. The control device is configured and organized to provide a teaching mode in which route-related data are stored in the memory. The control device is furthermore configured and organized to provide a repeat mode in which the damper device is controlled according to the route-related data stored in the memory device.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a bicycle or another, at least partly muscle-powered, vehicle has a damper device with a damper housing in which a first and a second damper chamber are separated from one another via at least one damper piston. A piston rod connected with the damper piston extends from the damper piston through the second damper chamber out of the damper housing. The first damper chamber is in communication with the second damper chamber via a flow duct that leads through the piston rod out of the damper housing toward at least one throttling device. The flow duct, at the throttling device, has a damping duct provided with a field-sensitive rheological fluid which, by way of a field generating device disposed at the throttling device, can be exposed to a field of a predetermined strength to influence the pass-through flow of the field-sensitive rheological fluid through the throttling device.

Abstract: A valve is particularly suited for a movement damping apparatus. The valve has a field-generating device, such as a magnet unit, and a fluid that is subjected to the field, such as a magnetorheological fluid, is pressed through a flow path forming a bottleneck. At the bottleneck the fluid is subject to the field and it changes its flow characteristics in response to the field. The flow path is divided into at least two flow tracks by a partition that forms one or more additional friction surfaces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regulating the current flow of a coil that controls the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid of a controllable energy absorber in a steering system for a motor vehicle, wherein during an accident the energy absorber acts as a hydraulic damper between two parts movable with respect to one another, whose damping force is determined by the current flow through the magnetic coil, wherein the following steps are provided: the relative velocity between a first part of the steering column movable with the steering wheel and a second part of the steering column fixed to the vehicle body is determined continuously or at intervals, the acceleration required for the braking from the measured relative velocity at standstill up to the end of the travel path is calculated, the current flow is calculated from the calculated acceleration in such a way that the value of the acceleration is approximately reached during the further travel of the parts movable with respect to one anoth

Abstract: A damping device for a two-wheeled vehicle having a first and a second damper chamber which are coupled to one another through a flow connection. The flow connection includes at least one flow valve provided with a damping channel. A magneto-rheological fluid is provided in the damping channel of the flow valve wherein the flow valve includes at least one magnetic device such that the damping channel of the flow valve can be exposed to a magnetic field of the magnetic device. The flow valve further includes at least one spring device. The magnetic device of the flow valve is provided on a valve piston and the valve piston is received in a deflection chamber to resiliently deflect counter to a spring force of the spring device such that the magnetic field of the magnetic device effective in the damping channel depends on the resilient deflection of the valve piston.

Abstract: A shoe contains an adjustable space for the foot and several fluidically connected chambers. In order to adjust the space for the foot, the flowability of a magnetorheological fluid can be influenced by one or more devices that generate a magnetic field and thereby adjust the space for the foot resulting in a better fitting of the shoe. The novel system may also be implemented in orthoses (e.g., pronation correction) or in complete shoes with orthotics devices for correcting musculoskeletal abnormalities.

Abstract: A damping device for a two-wheeled vehicle having a first and a second damper chamber which are coupled to one another through a flow connection. The flow connection includes at least one flow valve provided with a damping channel. A magneto-rheological fluid is provided in the damping channel of the flow valve wherein the flow valve includes at least one magnetic device such that the damping channel of the flow valve can be exposed to a magnetic field of the magnetic device. The flow valve further includes at least one spring device. The magnetic device of the flow valve is provided on a valve piston and the valve piston is received in a deflection chamber to resiliently deflect counter to a spring force of the spring device such that the magnetic field of the magnetic device effective in the damping channel depends on the resilient deflection of the valve piston.

Abstract: An energy absorbing element contains a free-flowing medium. The medium is expressed from the element, upon the occurrence of an impact, through at least one opening. The medium is enclosed in a capsule that bursts on impact.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for regulating the current flow of a coil that controls the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid of a controllable energy absorber in a steering system for a motor vehicle, wherein during an accident the energy absorber acts as a hydraulic damper between two parts movable with respect to one another, whose damping force is determined by the current flow through the magnetic coil, wherein the following steps are provided: the relative velocity between a first part of the steering column movable with the steering wheel and a second part of the steering column fixed to the vehicle body is determined continuously or at intervals, the acceleration required for the braking from the measured relative velocity at standstill up to the end of the travel path is calculated, the current flow is calculated from the calculated acceleration in such a way that the value of the acceleration is approximately reached during the further travel of the parts movable with respect to one anoth

Abstract: An energy absorbing device, in particular a device for single-use occupant protection in vehicles, has a container with a magneto-rheological medium which is forced on impact through a restriction with at least one outlet channel. The flow resistance of the outlet channel may be influenced by a device for generation of a magnetic field.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing apparatus for occupant protection in vehicles, has a receptacle with a magneto-rheological fluid which in the event of an impact is pressed through a flow zone determining the flow velocity. A device generating a variable magnetic field has pole faces in the flow zone, the magnetic field acting on the magneto-rheological fluid between the pole faces in order to regulate the flow velocity. The flow zone is divided into at least two flow routes by at least one partition forming two additional planar pole faces.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a bicycle has a damper device with first and second damper chambers. The damper chambers are connected by way of a controllable throttle valve. A changeable electronic unit has a control device for controlling the electrically controllable throttle valve. The control device thereby influences the damper characteristics.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a bicycle or another, at least partly muscle-powered, vehicle has a damper device with a damper housing in which a first and a second damper chamber are separated from one another via at least one damper piston. A piston rod connected with the damper piston extends from the damper piston through the second damper chamber out of the damper housing. The first damper chamber is in communication with the second damper chamber via a flow duct that leads through the piston rod out of the damper housing toward at least one throttling device. The flow duct, at the throttling device, has a damping duct provided with a field-sensitive rheological fluid which, by way of a field generating device disposed at the throttling device, can be exposed to a field of a predetermined strength to influence the pass-through flow of the field-sensitive rheological fluid through the throttling device.

Abstract: A suspension system for a muscle-powered two-wheeled vehicle having a damper device with a first damper chamber and a second damper chamber coupled with one another via a controllable damping valve. A sensor captures data about at least one current state. An electronic control device and a storage device are provided for controlling the damper device. At least one damping characteristic of the damper device can be influenced by a signal from the control device. The damping valve has a field generating device assigned to it which serves to generate and control a field strength in a damping channel of the damping valve. A field-sensitive rheological medium is provided in the damping channel for controlling the damping characteristic of the damper device in dependence on the sensor data.

Abstract: A suspension system and a method for controlling a suspension system for a muscle-powered two-wheeled vehicle having a damper device with a first damper chamber and a second damper chamber coupled with one another via a controllable damping valve. A sensor is provided for capturing data about a current operational state. An electric control device and a data storage device for controlling the damper device are provided, such that at least one damping characteristic of the damper device can be influenced by a signal from the control device. The control device is configured and organized to provide a teaching mode in which route-related data are stored in the memory. The control device is furthermore configured and organized to provide a repeat mode in which the damper device is controlled according to the route-related data stored in the memory device.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing apparatus for occupant protection in vehicles has a receptacle in which a magnetorheological fluid is present, which in the event of an impact is pressed through a flow zone. The apparatus further has a device generating a variable magnetic field and which has a core which is wound with a coil. The magnetic field acts on the magnetorheological fluid in order to regulate the flow properties. The coil together with the core is arranged in the flow zone. The axis of the coil lies perpendicularly to the direction of flow of the magnetorheological fluid, and the flow zone has a sheathing formed of a magnetically conductive material.

Abstract: A damping device for a two-wheeled vehicle having a first and a second damper chamber which are coupled to one another through a flow connection. The flow connection includes at least one flow valve provided with a damping channel. A magneto-rheological fluid is provided in the damping channel of the flow valve wherein the flow valve includes at least one magnetic device such that the damping channel of the flow valve can be exposed to a magnetic field of the magnetic device. The flow valve further includes at least one spring device. The magnetic device of the flow valve is provided on a valve piston and the valve piston is received in a deflection chamber to resiliently deflect counter to a spring force of the spring device such that the magnetic field of the magnetic device effective in the damping channel depends on the resilient deflection of the valve piston.