Abstract: A spray guard that may be used with a spray applicator of the type used to apply agriculture and garden chemicals. The guard has an adaptor with a conical body and a flared skirt. The conical body is slotted to accommodate insertion over the spray wand of the sprayer. A clear, conically-shaped spray shield is securable to the adaptor. The shield is preferably provided to the user in a flattened condition and assembled into conical shape by the user. The spray shield may be trimmed to size by the user and may be easily replaced by removing it from the adaptor.

Abstract: A device for dispensing a fluid product includes a reservoir configured to contain a fluid product and a spray orifice associated with the reservoir. The reservoir may include at least one actuating wall having a predetermined threshold resistance to deformation. The actuating wall may be configured to deform in response to pressure exerted on the actuating wall so as to cause the product to be sprayed out from the orifice. When pressure exerted on the actuating wall is less than a threshold pressure Ps sufficient to overcome the predetermined threshold resistance to deformation of the actuating wall, substantially no portion of the product is sprayed from the spray orifice. At least upon a first use of the device, continuous exerting of the threshold pressure Ps on the actuating wall causes spraying of the product from the spray orifice for a spray duration that is capable of being altered.

Abstract: A valve actuating device is provided which may be employed in fuel injectors for automotive internal combustion engines. The valve actuating device includes an actuator, a large-diameter piston displaced by said actuator, a small-diameter piston operating a valve, a displacement amplifying chamber filled with working fluid to amplify and transmit displacement of the large-diameter piston to the small-diameter piston, and a drain passage. The drain passage communicates with the displacement amplifying chamber through a pinhole for draining the working fluid within the displacement amplifying chamber, thereby enabling the pressure in the displacement amplifying chamber to be released in order to ensure the movement of the small-diameter piston when the valve actuating device is started.

Abstract: The invention concerns electrohydrodynamic spraying means enabling electrohydrodynamic spraying, in the air and at atmospheric pressure, of liquids with high surface tension such as water. The means are characterised in that they comprise at least a liquid dispensing conduit (1) whereof the dimensions of the external diameter and of the internal diameter, at the liquid exit point, correspond to an appropriate ratio. Said means can be advantageously used for depolluting aerosol effluents, or transformable into aerosols.

Abstract: A recycling method comprises classifying products to be recycled on the basis of classifier unit information, decomposing and fractionating some of the products on the basis of fractionator unit information. Applying a physical action to the fractionated products on the basis of physical action information. Producing a recycled material on the basis of recycled material producer unit information. Producing a recycled component from the recycled materials on the basis of recycled component producer unit information. The information required at each step is appropriately supplied.

Abstract: The present invention provides a garbage disposal machine and includes a body and a disposal tub installed in the body to put in garbage and garbage disposal materials that decompose the garbage. An agitator agitates the garbage and garbage disposal materials in the disposal tub. A warm air inductor induces warm air into the disposal tub, circulating the gas developed in the process of garbage decomposing in the disposal tub and sends the gas into the disposal tub. Part of the gas circulated by the warm air inductor is exhausted through an exhaust passage. The gas in the exhaust passage is deodorized and exhausted and ejected to the outside.

Abstract: The data destruction machine is a desk-top, portable unit with a short (under 10 second) cycle time, pluggable into a wall outlet. Upon insertion of a disk (such as a CD or split DVD) into the machine, which is fully automatic, data is removed. The machine converts the data-storage layer into residue consistent with security destruction standards from which no data is retrievable. A single machine may be used for declassifying CDs and split DVDs. Splitting DVDs in preparation for inserting them into the data destruction machine may be accomplished quickly and simply.

Abstract: Spool for a spinning reel for line-winding, fitted onto the fore end portion of a spool shaft that pumps back and forth with respect to a reel unit, is furnished with a bobbin trunk, a front flange and flange-fastening member. The bobbin trunk is fitted onto the fore end portion of the spool shaft. The front flange includes a first flange portion, which is formed integrally into a brim encompassing the fore end of the bobbin trunk, and a ring-shaped second flange portion fitted removably and reattachably onto the outer periphery of the first flange portion and made of a hard material. The flange-fastening member fastens the second flange portion onto the first flange portion.

Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner has a piston; a tube housing the piston; a force reservoir, activatable when a crash is sensed, to drive the piston along the tube; a resilient steel band connected to the piston; and means for selectively connecting the steel band to a retractor spool. Preferably the force reservoir is a gas generator which may be pyrotechnically activated and has an output in the tube on one side of the piston to drive the piston along the tube pulling the steel band and engaging the connecting means to turn the retractor spool and shorten the belt webbing. The steel band has indexing features, such as indexing holes or slots to engage teeth on the outer periphery of a drive wheel attached to the retractor spool. As the steel band is pulled by the piston it tightens around the drive wheel and the indexing holes engage the teeth, turning the drive wheel and thus the spool and pulling in the webbing to secure the vehicle occupant.

Abstract: A seat belt retractor has a housing and a spool in the housing. A toothed ratchet wheel is coupled to the spool. A locking assembly has a lock bar pivotally mounted to the housing and moveable by means of a camming arrangement from an initial position clear of the ratchet wheel to a position whereby the lock bar locks the ratchet wheel to the housing. An adjustment mechanism enables adjustment of the initial position of the lock bar.

Abstract: A handset cable reel for use e.g. in passenger aircraft comprises a spool fitted with a rewind bias spring, the spool also having peripheral teeth 82. These interact with an oscillating pawl 62, a ratchet/star wheel 60 and a pawl 57 so that, after the cable has been extended a certain amount, repeatedly releasing and then pulling on the cable will alternately lock the spool to prevent retraction of the cable by the rewind bias, and then allow such retraction under the influence of the rewind spring. A driving key 100 on the spool indexes a cam wheel 88 for rotation so that as the final length of the cable is being rewound, a cam surface 96 rotates the pawl 57 about a pin 48 so that it no longer co-operates with the star/ratchet wheel 60 and the cable remains under spring tension even if inadvertently tugged.

Abstract: The present invention aims at providing a method of wire winding without the failure of engagement of the wire caused by the deviation of position of a nozzle and bobbin terminal. The method is characterized in that, in the case of winding wire around the outer peripheries of rotating wind-up tools of which the peripheries are parallel to their axes of rotation, each wind-up tool 8 is attached to each of a plurality of spinning bodies 6 each of which has the rotation axis same as the wind-up tool, a rotation driving source is provided for each spinning body 6 for winding the wire, and the rotation driving sources are rotated in synchronism with each other.

Abstract: A tube feeding device (12) for a work station (2) of a cheese-producing textile machine (1) with an arrangement for transferring an empty tube (14) stored in a tube reservoir (13) into a tube transfer position (II) in which the empty tube (14) can be accepted by a pivotably seated creel (19). The tube feeding device (12) has a tube gripper (24) which is automatically adjustable to the diameter and the shape of an empty tube (14) for displacing the central longitudinal axis (57) of the empty tube (14) during the tube transfer operation independently of the shape or the diameter of the empty tube (14) so as to coincide with the common axis of rotation (61) of tube receiving plates (58) of the creel (19) in the tube transfer position (II).

Abstract: The device comprises in combination: a carriage (1) movable in a direction of displacement between a loading and unloading position and an unwinding position; on said carriage, at least one oscillating arm (25) for supporting at least one reel (B) of web material, and at least one actuator (39) for moving said oscillating arm; in the unwinding position, a flexible unwinding member (45) driven around a plurality of pulleys (47, 49, 51, 53), at least one of which is motorized, a member (61) for tensioning the flexible unwinding member being associated with at least one (47) of said pulleys.

Abstract: Landing gear support assemblies and associated methods of installation. In one embodiment, a landing gear support assembly usable with an aircraft wing includes an aft trunnion support beam having a base portion, an aft trunnion support spaced apart from the base portion, and a shear center axis extending from the base portion toward the aft trunnion support. The aft trunnion support can be at least approximately vertically aligned with the shear center axis. The base portion can be configured to be attached at least proximate to the rear wing spar with a plurality of fuse pins configured to fail and release the aft trunnion support beam from the rear wing spar when the landing gear exerts a preselected force against the aft trunnion support.

Abstract: An airborne platform comprising: (a) an aerodynamic body; (b) a protected element within the aerodynamic body; and (c) a cover, reversibly secured to the aerodynamic body, for protecting the protected element from an external atmosphere. The present invention is particularly suited for an electro-optical detection system equipped with an optical dome or window. Optical windows carried on airborne platforms are known to be particularly sensitive to the high temperatures generated by air friction at super-sonic speeds. By covering such a window when the airborne platform is in flight, and releasing the cover just before use, the electro-optical detection system equipped with the optical window can be made operative, even at airborne platform speeds of several Mach and higher.

Abstract: A radial sonobuoy launch system comprising a clam-shell launch tube and method for launching a sonobuoy. The clam-shell launch tube radially releases a sonobuoy and the clam-shell launch tube is reloaded during flight. The sonobuoys are pneumatically ejected about parallel to the airstream. A pressure boundary structure, having a door and a gate, maintains cabin pressure during reloading and launching. Support arms and drive arms evenly distribute the ejection accelerations from the firing mechanism and guide the trajectory of the sonobuoy during release. A clam-shell launch tube is capable of launching a multitude of differently sized sonobuoys.

Abstract: To support and point a load on a support element, the pointing device having distinct link arms distributed around the load. Each link arm having a flexible element having a first end connected to the support element via a first hinge having a single degree of freedom, and a second end connected to the load via a second hinge having a single degree of freedom. The pointing device also having at least one movement transmission element disposed between the support element and the load to point the load relative to the support element.

Abstract: A spacecraft protected by a coating comprises a spacecraft having an external surface, and a coating on the external surface of the spacecraft. The coating includes a binder that is an organic material or an inorganic material, and a plurality of pyroelectric pigment particles bound together by the binder. The coating initially includes a coating vehicle which is subsequently evaporated so that the coating is a solid. The coating has a thickness of from about 0.001 inch to about 0.020 inch where the binder is an organic material, and has a thickness of from about 0.001 inch to about 0.010 inch where the binder is an inorganic material.

Abstract: A reaction wheel system is provided that includes at least two rotors. The first rotor is the primary rotor that provides the large output torques to the vehicle. The second rotor is a vernier control rotor. The primary rotor and vernier control rotor each rotate about a common axis. The vernier control rotor has an inertial mass that is less than the inertial mass of the primary rotor, and rotates independently of the primary rotor. Because the vernier control rotor can be rotated independently from the primary rotor, it can be used to significantly improve the performance of the reaction wheel system. Specifically, the vernier control rotor is used to provide relatively small output torques. These relatively small output torques can be used to reduce the disturbances created by motor ripple, provide precise torque output control and/or reduce the disturbances created by static friction.

Abstract: A split detent tactile cueing vehicle control system (10) for a vehicle (11) is provided including an active control inceptor system (12). The active system (12) includes a control inceptor (22) having a plurality of positions and a position sensor (42) that generates a control inceptor position signal. The tactile cueing system (10) also includes a plurality of vehicle performance sensors that generate a plurality of vehicle performance signals. A flight controller (20) is electrically coupled to the position sensor (42) and the plurality of vehicle performance sensors, and generates a control inceptor actuation signal by applying a tactile cueing model having a split detent and in response to the position signal and the plurality of vehicle performance signals. A method of performing the same is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electric overhead conveyer comprising a large number of carriages (8), which circulate on a running rail system (1). Each carriage (8) has an autonomous carriage control (11), whose memory stores (13) all the data for the rail network. The overhead conveyer can either be operated in individual circulation mode, in which each carriage (8) attempts to travel individually at the greatest permissible speed, or in group mode. In group mode, the carriages (8), which are to traverse a common section of the rail network (1) are combined into groups and exchange data concerning the locally permissible speeds that are respectively valid. All the carriages (8) in the group then travel at a speed that corresponds to the lowest permissible speed for all carriages (8) in the group.

Abstract: A pipe clamp arrangement that includes a body having a tab extending therefrom, a clamp for receiving pipe, and a threaded member having a first end attached to the clamp. The threaded member is threadably secured to the body and a second end of the threaded member is adapted to contact the tab. Rotation of the threaded member adjusts a longitudinal distance between the clamp and the body.

Abstract: A support device is provided herein and includes a support structure which has a recess therein. The support device optionally further includes a plate which has a depression therein. The plate is disposed on the support structure, where the depression of the plate is disposed at least partially within the recess of the support device. An elongate strut is disposed within the depression of the plate, where the elongate strut is coupled to the plate. A support device optionally includes support structure having a cut out or a recess therein.

Abstract: A stiffener apparatus, including first and second stiffener body sections, each section forming an open, geometric structure, with U-shaped channels facilitating mechanically mating the two sections, i.e. a quasi-congruent, multi-planar surface, snap-ring construction, that effects reliable compression of flexible material disposed between two mating sections. The stiffener sections are sized for fitting an opening of a flexible trash bag. An integral clamping mechanism securely latches the stiffener sections together and facilitates separating the sections. Mating channels compress the outer edges of the trash bag's opening material, greatly improving the compression fit keeping the trash bag open, especially in heavily loaded trash bag conditions. Each stiffener section, has a scooping ramp edge member for channeling material into the trash bag. One stiffener section has at least one handle with a notch for hanging the apparatus. The apparatus has means for attaching an optional hinged cover.

Abstract: A stable, small size, and ajustable support with a multi-stage clamping mechanism that not only provides a clamping function but also a free-standing function and includes a fixing unit and a moving unit to define a first clamping distance via a resilient element. The primary clamp can be rotated individually, or the primary claim and the auxiliary clamp can be rotated together, so as to further provide a second or third clamping distance.

Abstract: A bracket system that supports a tailgate. The brackets can be mounted to a garage wall, for example. The tailgate is then attached to the brackets. The tailgate can be stored in an upright position, flat against the wall. The brackets also allow the tailgate to fold down and be used as a table.

Abstract: A bow rest made of a high-strength, highly durable plastic, such as ABS, is attachable to a tree stand. A first member has a first ratchet surface that engages a second ratchet surface on a second member to permit rotational adjustment of the second member relative to the first member in an orientation to optimally engage and support a bow. The second member has a pair of support arms, one of which has an angled support surface designed to balance the weight of the bow. The support arms of the second member are jacketed with an elastomeric non-slip surface that is preferably made of rubber.

Abstract: A camming device comprises a stem, one or more spindles mounted on the support, at least two cam members adapted to engage the walls of a crack or hole by their cam profiles pivotally mounted on the spindle or spindles and adapted for opposite pivotal movement from a closed position to an open position, means to apply a force to each cam member to urge it to its open position, means for pivoting the cams to the closed position, characterised in that the stem includes means for movement of at least a major part thereof about an axis other than that of the or of either spindle.

Abstract: An assembly for mounting and adjusting an instrument, the received or transmitted radiation of which must accurately hit its receptor or target, is provided. The assembly includes a base which is mounted to a wall or beam, a pedestal connected to the base and an instrument or instrument mount connected to the pedestal. The instrument may rotate with respect to the pedestal about a first axis defined by the longitudinal axis of the pedestal and about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and about a third axis perpendicular to the second axis. This enables the position of the instrument to be easily adjusted in order to enable the assembly to be used at various locations, and for different uses.

Abstract: A pen box structure includes a box body pivoted with a box cover. The box body has one side defining an opening and has two inner walls each provided with a guide track which is provided with a lug that defines an insertion groove. The box cover has an inner face provided with a locking flange, and a lock mating device is locked on the locking flange, so that the box cover forms a proper included angle relative to the box body. A retractable drawer is movably inserted in the opening, and has two ends each provided with an insertion rod movably inserted in the guide track. The insertion rod has one side provided with a plate movably inserted in the insertion groove, and two L-shaped book clamping blocks pivotally mounted in the drawer.

Abstract: A modular sign stand. The preferred embodiment consists primarily of a base portion attached to a breakaway column. The base portion is intended to be driven into the ground. The breakaway column supports an attached sign. The breakaway column is pierced by one or more breakaway holes at a position just above the ground. When the sign stand is struck by a moving vehicle, the one or more breakaway holes cause the breakaway column to fracture in a predictable fashion near its attachment to the base. Several embodiments are disclosed, including one forming the breakaway column and the base as one integral unit.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel stand in which at least one support (1, 2) is torsionally vibration-damped with respect to another (2, 1).

Abstract: A sacrificial plastic mold having an electroplatable backing is provided as are methods of making such a mold via the infusion of a castable liquid formulation through a porous metal substrate (sheet, screen, mesh or foam) and into the features of a micro-scale master mold. Upon casting and demolding, the porous metal substrate is embedded within the cast formulation and projects a plastic structure with features determined by the mold tool. The plastic structure provides a sacrificial plastic mold mechanically bonded to the porous metal substrate, which provides a conducting support suitable for electroplating either contiguous or non-contiguous metal replicates. After electroplating and lapping, the sacrificial plastic can be dissolved, leaving the desired metal structure bonded to the porous metal substrate. Optionally, the electroplated structures may be debonded from the porous substrate by selective dissolution of the porous substrate or a coating thereon.

Abstract: A choke or kill line connector for a subsea blowout preventer stack which is slide member operated to provide pressure balanced design to eliminate the potentially high forces associated with connectors which do not have the complication of a locking connector and provide integral valving capability to allow for testing and to retain drilling mud in the choke or kill lines upon disconnection.

Abstract: A hydrant for delivery of hot or cold water has first and second parallel splined fluid inlet pipes. The pipes have forward and rearward ends and are connected to sources pressurized water. A laterally extending fluid conduit member connects the forward ends of the first and second fluid inlet pipes. A fluid closure valve is located in the rearward ends of each of the first and second fluid pipes. A valve rod having forward and rearward ends rotatably extends through pipes and has one end operatively connected to closure valves. A longitudinally spring loaded handle is slideably engageable with the forward end of the valve rods to permit the manual movement of the rods to open or close the fluid closure valves. When the handle is pushed inwardly to engage splines in the rod and handle.

Abstract: A valve system having a valve operated by a piezoelectric device to control the flow of fluid through the valve system. Movement of the valve is controlled by a pre-stressed bender actuator that changes its shape by deforming in opposite axial directions in response to a control signal applied by an actuator control system. The valve system may comprise a common rail fuel injector, electrohydraulic actuator system, electronically-controlled fuel injector, gasoline port injector, fluid metering valve, relief valve, reducing valve, direct valve or direct-injection gasoline injector.

Abstract: A pressure control valve serves to regulate the fuel pressure in a fuel system. The pressure control valve includes a valve housing, at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and at least one prestressed, electrically actuatable, and at least regionally ball-shaped valve member. The valve member cooperates with a valve seat structurally connected to the housing. To make it possible to achieve stable closed- and/or open-loop control properties of the pressure control valve, it is proposed that the valve seat widen conically toward the valve member, and the ball diameter of the valve member is selected such that with the valve closed, the valve member touches the valve seat in the vicinity of its farther end.

Abstract: A compact, in-line valve assembly consists of a hollow valve body, a seat, and a first diaphragm assembly including a deflectable portion forming a first volume between the seat and the first diaphragm assembly. A second diaphragm is attached to the first diaphragm assembly such that a second volume is defined between the second diaphragm and the second opening. A third volume is formed between the first diaphragm assembly and the second diaphragm and is sealed from the first volume and the second volume. A process flows through the first diaphragm assembly between the first volume and the second volume. A low-leak rate, self-aligning head assembly including a stem and a head coupled are coupled to the first diaphragm assembly. A deflection of the deflectable portion and the second diaphragm provides movement to open and close the head from the valve seat.

Abstract: A valve body having one or more integral seal retention grooves and one or more interior hollows which may be manufactured using frictional or other types of welding to join two previously formed portions through at least one cylindrical web. Forging or casting valve body portions to near-net-shape prior to joining minimizes machining necessary to achieve a final desired shape. Finish machining of certain valve body surfaces prior to joining is optional. One or more interior hollows and an integral seal retention groove are formed in the welded valve body from features present on the portions joined by welding to form the body. Such valve bodies have relatively high stiffness for their weight and require only limited machining to achieve a final shape. Increased valve durability and reduced metal wear arise from the reduced valve body weight and correspondingly reduced impact loading as the valve body moves to seal against a valve seat.

Abstract: In order to propose a hollow poppet valve having an excellent, high strength to weight properties by constructing it in order that no influence from welding heat is exerted onto the face, and no stress is concentrated at the welded portion, and a method for manufacturing the same valve, a fillet area 14 opened like a flare is integrally formed at one end of the cylindrical stem portion 12, and a cap is integrally welded to the open edge portion of the fillet area, wherein only the open edge portion of the fillet area 14 is made thicker than the other portions, and the face 15 is formed on the thicker portion 30. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the hardness of the face 15 from being lowered due to the cap welding heat, and stress from being concentrated at the welded portion, whereby the property of high strength to weight can be improved.

Abstract: A scissor lift mechanism for use on a coil car or the like, the lift having scissor legs connected to each other by a shaft. The lift is raised and lowered by a means for providing a generally vertical force to the shaft. The means may be provided by a hydraulic cylinder and a bell crank mechanism. The bell crank mechanism redirects the force from a hydraulic cylinder to a generally vertical force on a hinge connecting the scissor legs of the lift. The bell crank mechanism allows the strength of the lift to be maximized while retaining a low profile design.

Abstract: A wire fastening device and a wire extending structure capable of extending a wire with an appropriate tension between support. The wire fastening device includes a case, a cap bolt and a pulling cylinder. The case has a wire engaging portion at one end thereof and a female thread formed on an inner circumference thereof. The cap bolt is inserted into the pulling cylinder with the head abutted with the pulling cylinder and has a male thread formed on an outer circumference thereof. The pulling cylinder is held on the cap bolt rotatably and the case, with one end of the wire engaged therewith, is screwed on the pulling cylinder.

Abstract: The fencing system of the present invention includes elongate posts and cross-members. The posts are hollow tubular posts having cylindrical cavities along their length and apertures formed in side walls thereof. The apertures are for accepting in mating engagement therein the cross-members when the cross-members extend between adjacent posts in a parallel array of the posts. The cross-members each have a hole in at least one end thereof although usually in both ends, the holes extending laterally through the end or ends of the cross-members. A rod is inserted or insertable into the cylindrical cavity of at least one of the posts for mating into each hole of each of the cross-members when the cross-members are mated into the apertures. Each hole of each of the cross-members is sized to accept the rod in journalled relation therethrough. Thus, a single rod may releasably lock a plurality of cross-members mounted to a single post.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved construction perimeter guard stanchion. A dual adjustment system performs both coarse and fine adjustments to tightly clamp a pair of jaws at the lower end of the stanchion upon the edge of a floor slab in an elevated, unfinished building structure. A coarse jaw adjustment sleeve formed of a short section of hollow steel tubing is coaxially disposed about an outboard support member in sliding engagement therewith. The coarse adjustment sleeve has one or more perforations therethrough so that a locking pin can be passed through it and through aligned openings in the outboard support member. A fine adjustment screw member is disposed coaxially within a vertical rail support tube and may be rotated by lever arms to move the upper jaw closer to or further from the lower jaw. Adjustment of the fine positioning mechanism is performed by manipulating handles at the top of the vertical rail support tube.

Abstract: A dry out mechanism for controlling a humidifier is disclosed. The mechanism includes a float and a switch. The float contacts the switch when the float is within an operating range. The movement of the float can be manually changed between settings to achieve normal operation or dry out operation of the humidifier. In the normal operation, the float activates the switch based on the fluid level within the humidifer's reservoir. In the dry out setting, the float activates the switch independent from the level of fluid within the reservoir so that the humidifier depletes the reservoir and components of fluid.

Abstract: A liquid coater generating mists from liquid in a container and discharging the mists to the outside of the container. The liquid coater includes a lower nozzle having a gas injection port in the liquid, an upper nozzle having a gas injection port in the upper part of the container, and a mist conveying passage provided in the upper part of the container. The mist conveying passage conveys mists in the container to the outside of the container, and the mists are generated by injecting gas from the gas injection port of the lower nozzle. In addition, the gas injection port of the upper nozzle and the gas injection port of the lower nozzle are arranged so that gas is injected toward an inner-wall side face of the container from both the gas injection ports.

Abstract: An air spring (10) for use in a motor vehicle suspension system is provided. The air spring includes a generally cylindrical flexible bladder (12) having a circular upper opening (18), a support unit (14) sealingly connected to the flexible bladder (12), and a unitary integrated top assembly (16) connected to the upper opening (18) in an air-tight manner. The support unit (14) further includes an installation fastener (52) for connection to vehicle support brackets (78). The top assembly (16) includes a sealed body (34) having an interior open volume (23) and optional attachment components positioned on the body to connect the top assembly to a vehicle main frame. The top assembly further includes an optional connection port (28) adapted for pneumatic intercommunication with other air springs and an optional fill port (48) for connection to a pressurized air system.

Abstract: A pneumatically controlled vibration damper that includes: an elastic connector disposed between and secured to a mounting member and a mass member for elastically connecting the mass member to the mounting member, and partially defining a working air chamber closed from an external area; an air passage connected to the working air chamber for regulating an air pressure in the working air chamber from the external area; and a static pressure-regulating system operable for substantially statically regulating the air pressure in the working air chamber via the air passage, so as to induce a substantially static elastic deformation of the elastic connector for changing a spring characteristic of the elastic connector.

Abstract: A hybrid leaf spring includes an elongated primary leaf having a compression surface, an opposite tension surface, and a first modulus of elasticity. At least one composite material layer is provided having a second modulus of elasticity different from the first modulus of elasticity. An adhesive layer is interposed between and bonds the at least one composite material layer to and in substantially parallel relationship with a respective one of the tension and compression surfaces of the elongated primary leaf. A reinforcing layer of natural, synthetic or metallic sheet material extends within the adhesive layer, preferably in spaced relation to opposing surfaces of the primary leaf and the composite material layer to strengthen the bond formed by the adhesive layer.