Abstract: A vehicle suspension system (10) has a spring (11) operatively arranged to act between sprung (15) and unsprung (13) masses. The coil (24) of an LVDT (22) is mounted on the sprung mass. The core (23) of the LVDT is connected to an intermediate portion (25) of the spring. Thus, displacement of the core relative to the coil will be a proportional fraction of the relative displacement between the masses. This arrangement allows the use of a short-stroke position-sensing transducer to measure the relative displacement between the two masses.

Abstract: A hydrostatic bearing is provided between two relatively movable members. Opposing sensing and bearing pads extend into either member and face the other member. These pads communicate with one another. An inlet orifice is defined between the members and extends from a fluid source to the sensing pad. An outlet orifice is defined between the members and extends from the bearing pad to the fluid return. The areas of the inlet and outlet orifices vary reciprocally in the sense that as one area increases, the other area decreases. The bearing exhibits reduced flow characteristics when one member moves axially and/or radially relative to the other member.

Abstract: Apparatus for roll-stabilizing a vehicle broadly includes a compound physical pendulum operatively arranged to sense the lateral and angular acceleration of the vehicle attributable to an applied disturbance torque, and an inertia wheel arranged to be accelerated in the appropriate angular direction to exert a reaction torque on the vehicle to oppose the disturbance torque. The compound physical pendulum has a rigid dumbbell-shaped member mounted for frictionless pivotal movement between opposing discharge nozzles of a hydraulic amplifier. The hydraulic amplifier produces a differential control pressure in response to the acceleration forces acting on the pendulum, and this control pressure is used to operate a servovalve. The servovalve produces a drive pressure which is supplied to a hydraulic motor to accelerate the inertia wheel in the appropriate angular direction.

Abstract: A toe clip, adapted to hold the toe portion of a ski boot to a sole plate, is formed of a length of wire bent to have a base portion, two leg portions extending outwardly therefrom, and a loop portion adapted to be received in the toe notch of a ski boot. The ends of the wire are welded together. The toe clip may be operatively positioned in any of a plurality of transversely-extending key-shaped recesses provided in the sole-plate. The toe clip base portion is bowed in each of two perpendicular intersecting planes. One bow impedes insertion and removal of the base portion from a recess. The other bow provides a degree of friction between the base portion and the recess walls.