Abstract: An integrated and self-contained suspension assembly having a gas spring integrated with a shock absorber (damper) is described. The rigid gas cylinder of the air spring is divided into a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber. A flow port connects the first and second gas chambers, and can be manually opened or closed by valve and a simple one-quarter turn rotation of an external knob to instantly switch the gas spring between two different spring rates. The different spring rates are functions of the separate or combined volumes of the two. gas chambers. The integrated suspension assembly is compactly packaged and self-contained, i.e., does not require any externalities, such as gas sources or electricity, to operate.

Abstract: A self-aligning prosthetic foot and ankle assembly has an ankle unit pivotally mounting a foot component. The ankle unit contains a hydraulic piston and cylinder assembly having a piston which is linearly movable within a cylinder. The axis of the cylinder is coincident with a shin axis defined by a shin connection interface on the ankle unit. Bypass passages containing damping resistance control valves provide continuous hydraulic damping of dorsi and plantar ankle flexion, the unit being such that, over the major part of the range of damped movement, there is no resilient biasing in either the dorsi or the plantar direction. This confers a number of advantages, including stabilization of standing, balance control, and improved stair-walking and ramp-walking.

Abstract: A rotary damper includes: a shaft having a hollow portion; a pair of side panels; a case provided between the pair of side panels; a vane provided on the shaft so as to divide a first chamber and a second chamber; a liquid chamber defined within the hollow portion; a first partition wall and a second partition wall housed in the hollow portion; a first side valve chamber that is defined by the first partition wall; a second side valve chamber that is defined by the second partition wall; a first side port that connects the first side valve chamber to a second liquid chamber; a second side port that connects the second side valve chamber to the second liquid chamber; a first side damping valve capable of opening and closing the first side port; and a second side damping valve capable of opening and closing the second side port.

Abstract: An integrated and self-contained suspension assembly having a gas spring integrated with a shock absorber (damper) is described. The rigid gas cylinder of the air spring is divided into a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber. A flow port connects the first and second gas chambers, and can be manually opened or closed by valve and a simple one-quarter turn rotation of an external knob to instantly switch the gas spring between two different spring rates. The different spring rates are functions of the separate or combined volumes of the two. gas chambers. The integrated suspension assembly is compactly packaged and self-contained, i.e., does not require any externalities, such as gas sources or electricity, to operate.

Abstract: A rotary damper includes: a shaft capable of rotating about a central axis; a pair of side panels that support the shaft rotatably; a case provided between the pair of side panels such that an operating chamber is defined in an interior thereof; a vane provided on the shaft such that a tip end thereof slides against an inner periphery of the case, thereby dividing the operating chamber into a first chamber and a second chamber; and a damping valve provided in the shaft to apply resistance to a flow of a fluid traveling between the first chamber and the second chamber.

Abstract: A damping element, particularly for a vehicle, includes first and second cylinder chambers, a cylinder and a connection element formed as a hollow body fastened to the end of the cylinder. A movable separating piston is arranged between the second cylinder chamber and the interior of the connection element for separating the region of the second cylinder chamber that is filled with hydraulic medium from a region of the connection element that is filled with a compressible medium. The connection element has a tube cross section having an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the cylinder and is inserted into the cylinder and tightly and fixedly. The separating piston is arranged so as to be coaxially displaceable in the cylinder and its displaceability is limited relative to the end region of the cylinder by the front side of the end region of the connection element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a shock absorber having a damping fluid compensation chamber with a gas charge. In one aspect, a partition separates a first chamber portion from a second chamber portion, wherein the first portion of the chamber is at a first initial gas pressure and the second portion of the chamber is at a second initial pressure. A valve separates the first and second chamber portions and opening the valve commingles the first and second chamber portions so that the combined chamber portions are at a third pressure. In another aspect, a piston disposed through a wall is in pressure communication with the gas charge and is biased inwardly toward a pressure of the charge, whereby an indicator is movable by the piston in response to the pressure.

Abstract: An integrated and self-contained suspension assembly having a gas spring integrated with a shock absorber (damper) is described. The rigid gas cylinder of the air spring is divided into a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber. A flow port connects the first and second gas chambers, and can be manually opened or closed by valve and a simple one-quarter turn rotation of an external knob to instantly switch the gas spring between two different spring rates. The different spring rates are functions of the separate or combined volumes of the two. gas chambers. The integrated suspension assembly is compactly packaged and self-contained, i.e., does not require any externalities, such as gas sources or electricity, to operate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a damper adjustment assembly that comprises an adjuster having a first detent at a first axial location, and a second detent at a second axial location. The assembly may further comprise a housing having a keeper for engaging the first and second detents. The method may comprise rotating the adjuster within the housing, and engaging the keeper with the first detent at the first axial location. The method may further comprise further rotating the damping adjuster within the housing and engaging the keeper with the second detent at the second axial location on the adjuster.

Abstract: An integrated and self-contained suspension assembly having a gas spring integrated with a shock absorber (damper) is described. The rigid gas cylinder of the air spring is divided into a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber. A flow port connects the first and second gas chambers, and can be manually opened or closed by valve and a simple one-quarter turn rotation of an external knob to instantly switch the gas spring between two different spring rates. The different spring rates are functions of the separate or combined volumes of the two gas chambers. The integrated suspension assembly is compactly packaged and self-contained, i.e., does not require any externalities, such as gas sources or electricity, to operate.

Abstract: An integrated and self-contained suspension assembly having a gas spring integrated with a shock absorber (damper) is described. The rigid gas cylinder of the air spring is divided into a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber. A flow port connects the first and second gas chambers, and can be manually opened or closed by valve and a simple one-quarter turn rotation of an external knob to instantly switch the gas spring between two different spring rates. The different spring rates are functions of the separate or combined volumes of the two gas chambers. The integrated suspension assembly is compactly packaged and self-contained, i.e., does not require any externalities, such as gas sources or electricity, to operate.

Abstract: An air spring is optionally integrated with a shock absorber or other damping unit, and has an air cylinder closed at one end, and in axially-slidable engagement with a sealing head at the other end. A sealed partitioning plate is fixed in the cylinder, and divides the cylinder into a primary air chamber and a secondary air chamber. A sealed air passage connects the primary and secondary air chambers, and can be opened or closed by a simple one-quarter turn rotation of an external knob to instantly switch the air spring between two different spring rate curves.

Abstract: The hydraulic cylinder or shock absorber arrangement has a cylinder unit limiting an inner space in which a medium in the form of a gas or a liquid is intended to be placed. A forwardly and backwardly movable piston unit is placed such that it can slide within the space that is defined by the piston into a first chamber and a second chamber. An inlet/outlet is defined in the respective chambers of the cylinder unit for the addition to and removal of medium from the chambers together with devices which co-act in order to determine the relative position of the piston within the cylinder unit, an active first part of which is attached to the cylinder unit and arranged stretching into a recess that is arranged in the piston unit.

Abstract: A vibration isolation apparatus for preventing shaking and vibration of a stage of an exposure apparatus or the like uses a vibration isolation mount formed of a spring buffer system employing a spring member and a fluid buffer system employing a viscous fluid as a vibration isolation base which is disposed between a base member on which an exposure unit is mounted and an installation surface on which the base member is installed so as to support the base member. The coefficient of viscous drag of the viscous fluid is varied to vary a damping coefficient which depends on the coefficient of viscous drag thereby to vary rigidity of the vibration isolation mount, whereby vibration transmitted from an external source and vibration associated with a stage movement are damped.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing the unwanted extension of a hydraulic lock when the lock is subjected to relatively high dynamic loads. The lock includes a hydraulic cylinder having a piston slidably mounted therein. The piston is secured to a piston rod which passes outwardly through one end wall of the cylinder. The lock is placed in tension when the piston rod is being extended and in compression when the rod is being retracted. A flow channel is formed in the piston through which fluid is exchanged from one side of the piston to the other. A manually operated spring biased control valve is mounted in the flow channel which is normally held closed by a set spring. Fluid is allowed to flow when the valve is manually opened or when the lock is placed in tension by some external force that overcomes the biasing force of the set spring. A velocity sensitive restrictor is also mounted in the flow channel that closes the channel when the lock is placed in tension by a dynamic force above a predetermined velocity.

Abstract: An electronic controller unit particularly intended for use with intelligent suspension systems for motor vehicles incorporates a microprocessor for enabling operational calibration of each of a plurality of transducers associated therewith in such a manner as to take into account zero output level influencing factors to establish a compound calibration relationship for each transducer. A non-volatile memory stores each such calibration relationship and the microprocessor compares the instantaneous output of each transducer with its stored associated calibration relationship value for the ambient temperature prevailing at the time of the instantaneous output to produce a temperature corrected output value for each transducer.

Abstract: The characteristics of a double-tube shock absrober are variable in response to temperature variations as a result of viscosity variations of the damping liquid. In view of compensating for such variations of the damping characteristics the central cavity is connected with the annular compensation chamber by a throttled flow cross-sectional area. This throttled flow cross-sectional area is variable in response to ambient temperature. In view of varying the flow cross-sectional area a control bar is provided on the outer surface of the cylinder of the shock absorber. This control bar extends substantially in axial direction of the shock absorber and is fixed to the cylinder at a location remote from the location of the throttled flow cross-sectional area. The other end of the control bar cooperates with the flow cross-sectional area and effects the variation thereof.

Abstract: A rectangular metering member with transversal grooves is located with respect to specially formed apertures in a pressure tube of a hydraulic shock absorber to form orifices communicating between the shock absorber pressure tube and a reservoir. The orifices are adjusted in size automatically to account for hydraulic fluid viscosity changes as a function of temperature by a thermal expansion plug which moves the metering member to increase or decrease the size of the orifices. The metering member is also manually positionable to adjust the size of the orifices for loads of varying mass and velocity. The specially formed apertures in the pressure tube allow the automatic temperature compensation to operate independently of the initial manual adjustment of the metering member.

Abstract: An improved integrating accelerometer having a plurality of proof masses adapted to move relative to a casing in response to accelerations of the casing, a temperature compensated damping mechanism, and fluid resistors for extending the temperature operating range and for calibrating.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber which comprises a piston rod inserted into a cylinder assembly; a piston fixed to the inner end of the piston rod to divide the internal space of the cylinder assembly into first and second oil chambers; and passage means designed to attain communication between both chambers and provided with an opening-variable orifice whose opening area automatically varies with the temperature of damping oil, wherein the damping property of said shock absorber is always kept constant independently of changes in the temperature of damping oil.