Abstract: A regulable hydraulic dashpot for motor vehicles and including a cylinder (1) filled with hydraulic fluid and a piston (2) that is attached to the end of a piston rod (7), travels back and forth inside the cylinder, and divides it into two chambers (3 & 4) that communicate through at least one bypass. The bypass's cross-section can be varied in size by a component that is, preferably continuously, controlled by a motor or magnet. To facilitate adjusting the dashpot, the cross-section varying component is a plate-shaped slide (23) provided with one or more breaches (25) and traveling from side to side, preferably in a slot (24), with its flat surface (27) subjected to fluid from each cylinder chamber alternately by way of channels (14, 15, & 16).

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a housing, a piston slidable in the housing, a piston rod extending outwardly from the piston, a cup-shaped stop cap secured to the free end of the piston rod, and an adjusting ring which protrudes from the end of the housing and can be rotated to adjust the damping coefficient by adjusting the open cross-section of throttle openings through which a hydraulic fluid is displaced by the piston. When a load pushes against the stop cap, the maximum travel is limited by the stop cap bearing directly against a rigid end ring of the housing. The load forces are introduced directly from the stop cap into the housing, without applying any loads onto the adjusting ring or other components. The adjusting ring and a return spring coaxially on the piston rod are accommodated within the stop cap in the fully retracted position.

Abstract: An energy dissipation apparatus for installation in structural frames to mitigate seismic effects comprises a scissor-jack system of braces with an energy dissipation device such as a viscous, viscoelastic, or hysteretic damper, or an active or semi-active device, connected between opposing pivot joints of the scissor-scissor jack system. The scissor jack system magnifies displacement so that energy is dissipated more effectively by the damper. Open bay, diagonal, and alternative installation arrangements with respect a structural frame are disclosed.

Abstract: A piston valve assembly for regulating the flow of fluid through a mono-tube fluid vehicle damper is provided. The assembly includes a piston rod and a piston end having opposing first and second surfaces secured to the piston rod by a connector. A first outer annular seat is spaced radially from the piston rod and extends from the first surface. At least one first fluid passageway connects a first opening between the piston rod and the first outer annular seat and the second surface for providing fluid communication therebetween. A first blow-off valve has a hollow cylindrical portion with a first flange extending transversely from an end thereof with the first flange adjacent to the first outer annular seat when the first blow-off valve is in a closed position. The piston rod and connector secure the blow-off valve to the piston end. The first blow-off valve is movable to an open position away from the first surface.

Abstract: A vibration damper includes a rebound, in particular a rebound spring. The vibration damper includes a piston which is formed on an axially movable piston rod and which separates two working chambers in a cylinder, the working chamber penetrated by the piston rod being closed off with a lid and containing the rebound. An out-stroke of the piston rod relative to the cylinder includes an idle-stroke which starts at a minimum out-stroke and in which the rebound does not counteract the piston rod movement, a working-stroke which ends at a maximum out-stroke and in which the rebound counteracts the piston rod movement, and a point of application at which the idle-stroke ends and the working-stroke begins. The vibration damper further includes an arrangement configured to adjust the point of application.

Abstract: The motor vehicle shock absorber selectively enables the selective real-time adjustments to the shock absorber damping based on driving conditions and desired driving characteristics. The adjustments are achieved by using a solenoid assembly to exert a valve closing force, which is selectively adjustable, on the compression valve and so as to control the damping characterization of a shock absorber. The design and construction of the compression head assembly and end cap assembly of the shock absorber permit these assemblies to be manufactured as subassemblies and then brought together and expeditiously assembled so as to minimize the cost of manufacturing the shock absorber.

Abstract: A damping apparatus for damping vibrations in a vibrating system including a piston which is reciprocally movable in a fluid filled chamber, piston movement in either direction of movement being resisted by fluid pressure in the chamber behind the piston, which resistance provides damping forces which act to oppose piston movement, the piston being connected to one component of the vibrating system and the chamber being connected to a second component of the vibrating system, characterized in that means are provided to relieve the fluid pressure behind the piston to allow substantially unopposed piston movement in the chamber without damping forces being provided, during piston movements which occur in response to vibrations in the vibrating system at frequencies other than a fundamental frequency which the damping apparatus primarily is intended to damp.

Abstract: A piston for a piston/cylinder assembly is fastened to a piston rod and axially movably arranged in a working cylinder filled with damping medium. The piston having damping valves for the tension and compression movements of the piston in the cylinder and having a first and second group of passage ducts respectively for the tension and compression directions. The outlet sides of each of the first and second passage ducts open into a control edge covered by valve disks. The first and second passage ducts run axially parallel over at least part of their length, wherein the inlet and outlet regions of each of the first and second passage ducts being arranged axially one behind the other and one of the first and second groups of passage ducts emerges on the end face and the other of the first and second groups of passage ducts emerges radially outward on each side of the working piston.

Abstract: A damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber capable of generating stable damping force even if the flow rate of hydraulic fluid changes sharply. A slider is slidably fitted in a piston bolt. Valve members are secured to both ends of the slider to form extension and compression pressure control valves for controlling the pressure of hydraulic fluid between upstream and downstream ports provided in the piston bolt. Hydraulic fluid chambers at the respective ends of the valve members are cut off from the downstream ports of the extension and compression pressure control valves by flange portions of the valve members. When the flow rate of hydraulic fluid increases sharply, even if the pressure in the downstream ports changes sharply owing to the flow resistance in check valves on the downstream side of the downstream ports, the pressure is not transmitted to the hydraulic fluid chambers. Therefore, there is no possibility of the slider moving under the influence of such a pressure change.

Abstract: A damper including a cylinder, opposite end walls in the cylinder, an elongated shaft mounted for axial movement in seals in the end walls, a piston head on the shaft between the end walls, fluid-tight bellows mounted in sealed relationship between the shaft and the end walls, fluid in the cylinder and in the bellows, and flexible washers mounted between the shaft and the end walls for maintaining the shaft centered in the seals. The damper can function as a snubber when it utilizes a valved piston head.

Abstract: A control cylinder is provided in a vehicle steering column arrangement in order to displace two jacket tube parts, displaceable telescopewise with respect to one another, relative to one another. The control cylinder includes a cylinder housing filled with a damping medium and a piston axially displaceable in a cylinder. A flexible sealing lip is provided as a sealing member for a through bore in the piston. The lip in its unloaded resting position leaves the through-flow cross section open. Upon an abrupt relative movement of the piston and cylinder housing, the level of the impact load on the fluid moves the lip into a closed position that at least largely seals off the through-flow cross section, with the deformation resistance of the sealing lip being chosen so that the sealing lip remains in its resting position during normal adjustment between the piston rod and the cylinder housing. Embodiments with multiple through bores and sealing lips are also provided.

Abstract: A shock absorber utilizes a single flexing disc assembly includes a flexing disc which is capable of performing the flexing disc function normally required for allowing the passage of fluid between the two sides of a shock absorber while also providing the blow off function. The flexing disc is backed by a ridge formed on a spring seat. The ridge defines a ring that is concentric with the central long axis of the piston rod. Under normal rebounding conditions, the pressure of rebounding damping fluid builds to the point that the flexing disc is opened somewhat by flexing to allow normal bleedthrough. However, in the event that the rebound pressure builds to a higher, predetermined value, the valve flexes to an extreme degree against the ridge formed on the spring seat. In this manner, the ring acts as a fulcrum, and a quantity of damping fluid is allowed to pass thereby until normal rebound pressure values are reached.

Abstract: A small-sized damper is provided which enables to effectively vary the damping force of a damper even in a region in which the moving speed of a rod is small. On one of a damper main body and a rod which is inserted into the damper main body, there are mounted a magnet coil having a winding axial line which is coaxial with the damper, and magnetizable attracting members. By electric charging to the magnet coil, the magnetizable attracting members are attracted into contact with the other of the damper main body and the rod.

Abstract: A damping cylinder having a staged rate of movement. The cylinder includes a tube, a rod extending from the tube, and a piston carried by the rod within the tube. A liquid at least partially fills the cylinder, and the piston travels within the liquid. A port through the piston permits the liquid to flow through the piston as the piston moves within the cylinder. The piston also carries a normally open flapper valve over the port. If the flow rate of the liquid through the piston is below a preselected maximum rate, the flapper valve remains open. If the flow rate of the liquid exceeds the preselected maximum rate, the flapper valve closes over the port to prohibit flow beyond the maximum rate. In preferred embodiments, a pair of flapper valves is included to limit the rate in both directions, and a bleeder bypass port is included to permit reduced rate movement of the piston after either or both of the flapper valves close.

Abstract: A shock absorber capable of exhibiting increased shock absorbing characteristics and constantly ensuring desired characteristics irrespective of applications intended. A cylinder is formed therein with a first hollow section of a large diameter and a second hollow section of a small diameter. A piston includes an end wall and a peripheral wall and is formed into a size sufficient to be moved in the second hollow section. The peripheral wall is formed with a plurality of orifices and the end wall is formed with a piston rod insertion through-hole and at least one viscous fluid passage hole. The piston rod is provided thereon with first and second flanges, which are spaced from each other at an interval larger than a thickness of the end wall of the piston and arranged so as to interpose the end wall therebetween.

Abstract: A semi-active damper is controlled by a control circuit which includes a direct main feedback loop, as well as a secondary force feedback loop. The direct main feedback loop includes an inverse model of the damper to be controlled. In the inverse model, an equivalent speed y.sub.e is determined, for use in controlling the damper, based on the measured relative speed y of the ends of the damper. The equivalent speed y.sub.e is used for the purpose of compensating for the fact that a hydraulic fluid used in the damper is not an absolutely incompressible fluid.

Abstract: A shock absorber utilizes a single flexing disc assembly includes a flexing disc which is capable of performing the flexing disc function normally required for allowing the passage of fluid between the two sides of a shock absorber while also providing the blow off function. The flexing disc is backed by a ridge formed on a spring seat. The ridge defines a ring that is concentric with the central long axis of the piston rod. Under normal rebounding conditions, the pressure of rebounding damping fluid builds to the point that the flexing disc is opened somewhat by flexing to allow normal bleedthrough. However, in the event that the rebound pressure builds to a higher, predetermined value, the valve flexes to an extreme degree against the ridge formed on the spring seat. In this manner, the ring acts as a fulcrum, and a quantity of damping fluid is allowed to pass thereby until normal rebound pressure values are reached.

Abstract: A seismic shock isolator and method of strengthening structures against seismic shock is disclosed. The shock isolator includes a cylinder having a damping chamber and an accumulator chamber and a piston movable into the damping chamber. The damping chamber can contain compressible liquid or incompressible liquid. The piston has a damping head and a first control orifice, and the accumulator chamber is separated from the damping chamber by a wall having a second control orifice having a higher exponent than the first control orifice. Movement of the piston into the damping chamber creates a combination of damping and stiffening having a spring component. When the isolator has compressible liquid therein, the spring and stiffening is produced by a compression of the liquid. When the isolator contains an incompressible liquid, the stiffening and spring component are obtained by a yielding of a column which movably supports the wall which divides the damping chamber from the accumulator chamber.

Abstract: A gas spring for the hatchback or other closure member of a motor vehicle body automatically stops at an intermediate position between the fully closed and fully opened positions. A piston carrying a piston rod separates the interior of a cylindrical body into first and second chambers. Gas under pressure forces the piston and piston rod towards the extended position to open the closure member, a restricted gas path through a groove in the cylinder wall allowing gas to flow from the second chamber to the first chamber. A third chamber is also defined within the cylinder and has an uninterrupted wall portion and a wall portion incorporating a groove. The third chamber is on the opposite side of the second chamber to the first chamber and has a smaller diameter than the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A damper includes a piston that carries a relatively compact control valve for controlling fluid flow through the piston. The control valve provides a variable amount of damping by regulating damper fluid flow between the extension chamber and the compression chamber of the damper during extension and compression strokes. Pressure regulation across the piston is controlled through two alternate flow paths as determined by the control valve. Damping through the first flow path is relatively soft and is determined according to the deflective characteristics of first and second single bi-directional annular disc valves in parallel. Damping through the second flow path is relatively firm and is determined solely by the second bi-directional single annular disc.

Abstract: The present invention provides a suspension control device with which the damping coefficient of the suspension can be easily adjusted on the basis of only the vertical vibration of a body of a vehicle, without measurement of the relative velocity or the relative displacement between the body and the wheel along the vertical direction. The absolute velocity of the body 1 is calculated on the basis of the detected signal of the acceleration sensor attached to the body 1, then the rotation angle .theta. of the movable plate is calculated on the basis of the absolute velocity, and the movable plate is rotated in the predetermined direction by the rotation angle .theta.. Accordingly, the damping coefficient is adjusted so that the coefficient in the extension of the shock absorber becomes larger and the coefficient in the compression of the shock absorber becomes smaller, or so that the damping coefficient in the extension becomes smaller and the coefficient in the compression becomes larger.

Abstract: A valve structure for use in a damper has a cylinder, a piston rod axially movably disposed in the cylinder, a piston or dividing member mounted on an end of the piston rod in the cylinder and dividing an interior space of the cylinder into two oil chambers one on each side of the dividing member, the dividing member having a valve seat, and a circular resilient valve assembly supported at a circumferential edge thereof on the dividing member and having a free end seatable on the valve seat. The circular resilient valve assembly includes a circular auxiliary resilient valve, a circular intermediate resilient sheet, and a circular main resilient valve which have identical inside and outside diameters, the circular auxiliary resilient valve, the circular intermediate resilient sheet, and the circular main resilient valve being stacked in the order named successively from the valve seat.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper including a cylinder and a piston rod and a seal for the piston rod and a metal bellows fixedly mounted between the cylinder and the piston rod for accepting leakage of hydraulic fluid from the cylinder, and a spring arrangement encircling the cylinder and piston rod, the spring arrangement consisting of two equal length, equal size springs wound in opposite directions with their outer ends fixed to the cylinder and piston rod and having their inner ends bearing against each other to eliminate the application of torque from the springs to the bellows.

Abstract: A twin-pipe shock absorber comprises a working cylinder (1), a piston (4) which is movable in the cylinder and has a passage and upstream valve (13, 14, 15), and external pipe (2) which is fitted around the working cylinder having an oil tank (3) formed therebetween, a disc (7) having a passage (16) and an upstream valve (17) positioned near the passage to shut off the working cylinder, a central pipe (10) extending through the piston (4) having its bottom end projecting through the disc (7) so as to produce a shock absorber in which the shock absorption can be adapted very rapidly to the frequency of movement of the unsprung wheel guide part, the damper valve being disposed at the bottom end of the central pipe (10), and a regulation device to regulate the damping exerted by the damper valve depending at least on the frequency which the working cylinder vibrates.

Abstract: A two-tube shock absorber for automotive vehicles is furnished with a shock absorber valve positioned at the lower end of its power cylinder and comprising a pilot control stage, a main stage to adjust its "soft" characteristic curve which is desired for reasons of driving comfort, or a special characteristic curve out of a field of potential characteristic curves. According to the invention, in a lower range of piston speed the shock absorbing power is determined exclusively by the variable cross-sectional area of flow of the pilot control stage wherein the main stage remains closed. In an upper range of piston speed the shock absorbing power is determined by the variable flow cross-sectional areas both of the main stage and of the pilot control stage.

Abstract: A seismic shock isolator and method of strengthening structures against seismic shock. The shock isolator includes a cylinder having a damping chamber and an accumulator chamber and a piston movable into the damping chamber. The damping chamber can contain compressible liquid or incompressible liquid. The piston has a damping head and a first control orifice, and the accumulator chamber is separated from the damping chamber by a wall having a second control orifice having a higher exponent than the first control orifice. Movement of the piston into the damping chamber creates a combination of damping and stiffening having a spring component. When the isolator has compressible liquid therein, the spring and stiffening is produced by a compression of the liquid. When the isolator contains an incompressible liquid, the stiffening and spring component are obtained by a yielding of a column which movably supports the wall which divides the damping chamber from the accumulator chamber.

Abstract: In order to develop sufficient vibration damping performance and effectively prevent transmission of goading vibrations and others in a vibration damping device using an electrorheological fluid, if the moving directions of vibration input side member and vibration output side member of the device are opposite to each other, a voltage applied to electrodes in the device is increased to increase the viscosity of the electrorheological fluid, while if absolute value of vibration acceleration velocity in the vibration input side member exceeds a given value, a voltage applied to the electrodes is always decreased to decrease the viscosity of the fluid.

Abstract: A control method for semi-active damper (32) which oscillates in real time (at the frequency of the moving member (22) motion or higher) between a high-damping On state and a low-damping Off state wherein the On and Off damping states are selected by the driver via a driver selectable switch (60) and overridden when the absolute velocity differential across the suspended body exceeds a threshold value and the signs are opposite. Damping bands can be set to a luxury, touring, or sport mode via the driver selectable switch (60). This system provides driver selectable ride feel and yet controls excessive roll and pitch due to vehicle maneuvers, braking, and acceleration by overriding the driver selectable setting whenever the absolute velocity differential threshold setting is exceeded and the directional signs are different. When the threshold is exceeded and the signs are opposed, the null band is adjusted to a narrower setting to initiate control of the damper.

Abstract: In the disclosed hydraulic shock absorber, damping force characteristics are adjusted in accordance with the frequency of stroke, and the damping force is made small at the time when the directions of stroke are changed from one to the other. Cylinder upper and lower chambers are communicated with each other through main hydraulic fluid passage and first and second bypass passages. During the extension stroke, the second bypass passage is cut off by a check valve, and a shutter in the first bypass passage is slid in accordance with the frequency of stroke by the fluid flowing through an orifice passage to regulate the passage area of the first bypass passage. During the contraction stroke, the first bypass passage is cut off by a check valve, and a shutter in the second passage is slid in accordance with the frequency of stroke by the fluid flowing through an orifice passage to regulate the passage area of the second bypass passage.

Abstract: A vibration isolation apparatus having a shaft with an axis therethrough. The shaft has a first and second end. A piston having an axial bore is coaxially positioned with the shaft to provide a damper by forming a damping path between the piston and the shaft. A flange extends radially from the piston for coupling the apparatus to a load. A first extension is coupled to and extends radially from the first end of the shaft and a second extension is coupled to and extends radially from the second end of the shaft. Secondary bellows extending from and secondary fluid paths extending through the first and second extensions provide a first volumetric stiffness in series with the damper. Primary bellows connect the flange to the first and second extensions and are coaxial with the shaft to provide a second volumetric stiffness parallel with the damper and the first volumetric stiffness.

Abstract: An impact energy absorption system for aircraft seats and the like, comprising seat mounting means, a seat movable between a first unloaded position and a second crash induced position, a deforming die and an additional set of die jaws connected to the seat mounting and defining an aperture of variable size, and a deformable rod having a shoulder connecting the seat to the mounting the rod passing through the deforming die and the variable die jaws. During crash induced movement of the seat between its two positions the rod is pulled through the deforming die and the die jaws to absorb impact energy by deformation of the rod. The aperture defined by the die jaws is variable being adapted to allow for self adjustment of the aperture size and respective impact energy absorbing capacity corespondent to the weight of the seat occupant.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method whereby not only the relative speed of the body and axle but also a dashpot's farthest-in and farthest-out positions can be measured without using complicated and expensive sensors. Relative speed is detected with a known combination of sensor coil and permanent magnet. The induced voltage at the midsection of the coil is proportional to relative speed. The voltage induced as the end of the coil is traveled by is exploited as a signal representing the dashpot's farthest-in and farthest-out positions.

Abstract: The hydraulic damper has at least one restricted communication passage (47) between its two working chambers (8, 9) whose cross section is controlled by a viscous restriction valve (51) positioned via a control pressure of a fluid of a control damper with at least one secondary chamber (41, 42) delimited in a secondary cylinder (39) by a control piston (40), which cylinder and control piston are integrally attached, one to the main body (1), the other to the damping piston (4) of the damper, such that the pressure law of the control fluid positioning said valve (51) is linked to the relative displacements of the main body (1) and damping piston (4).

Abstract: A bypass valve with selective characteristics for controlled and adjustable dashpots. It has pressure-activated check valves that are reversed by means of a slide that can assume two positions and is activated by an electromagnet. Springs can be designed to dictate the characteristic of the dashpot independent of the type of piston employed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for absorbing mechanical shock is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pressure cylinder forming a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid. The apparatus further comprises the first valve for controlling the flow of damping fluid between the first and second portions of the working chamber during compression of the shock absorber. In addition, the apparatus further comprises a pressure chamber in fluid communication with the first portion of the working chamber and the first valve. A solenoid is also provided for regulating the flow of damping fluid between the pressure chamber and the second portion of the working chamber. A second valve is further provided for controlling the flow of damping fluid between the first and second portions of the working chamber during rebound of the shock absorber.

Abstract: A dry friction shock absorber including a casing having an internal surface, a piston of low coefficient of friction bearing material having an external surface in contiguous relationship with the internal surface of the casing, attachment fittings on the piston and the casing for moving the piston into the casing when the shock absorber is subjected to shock forces, and expanding structure within the piston for tending to move the external surface of the piston outwardly toward the internal surface of the casing to increase the friction therebetween when the shock absorbing force is applied to the shock absorber for moving the piston into the casing. Adjustment structure is provided for varying the expanding force on the piston. A shock absorber of the foregoing type wherein the expanding structure is not activated when the piston moves slowly relative to the casing but which produces an expanding force on the piston when the shock absorber is subjected to shock forces both in tension and compression.

Abstract: The valve comprises a shutter (11) which cooperates with a seat (12), and a spring (13) tending to press the shutter onto the seat, so as to limit the flow rate of a hydraulic fluid passing through the valve. In order to vary the force exerted by the spring (13) on the shutter (11) as a function of the flow rate through the valve, the latter comprises a movable piston (14) on which the spring (13) bears, the movable piston being displaced in a cylinder (15) which it separates into two chambers (15a, 15b). One of these chambers is in communication with the hydraulic fluid downstream or upstream of the valve, the other chamber being in communication with an intermediate space (23) whose shutter (11) constitutes a first passage orifice and which is equipped, at a second passage orifice (24), with a restriction (25) defining a pressure drop which increases with the flow rate passing through it.

Abstract: A shock absorber employs a seal structure which can sucessfully prevent a working fluid from causing leak flow for enhanced variation characteristics of damping force. The seal structure includes a seamless seal member applied on a piston and/or on an inner periphery of a piston rod guide member.

Abstract: A shock absorber for damping the relative movement of the sprung portion of the automobile with respect to the unsprung portion of the automobile. The shock absorber includes a pressure cylinder and a piston disposed within the pressure cylinder. The piston is able to control the flow of damping fluid between the first and second portions of the working chamber so as to generate firm and soft damping characteristics. The shock absorber also includes a reserve cylinder disposed exterior of the pressure cylinder, and a base valve disposed at one end of the pressure cylinder. The base valve is operable to control the flow of damping fluid between the second portion of the working chamber and the reserve chamber in response to the flow of damping fluid between the first and second portions of the working chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper according to the present invention includes a cylinder, working fluid disposed in the cylinder, a piston partitioning the cylinder into two fluid chambers and including passages therethrough for providing fluid communication between the two fluid chambers, and a damping force generation mechanism. The damping force generation mechanism includes a large diameter valve disc mounted adjacent the passages, a smaller diameter valve disc stacked against the large diameter valve disc, an inner pressure chamber formed adjacent and in fluid communication with the passages, and an outer pressure chamber formed adjacent and in fluid communication with the passages and formed radially outwardly of the inner pressure chamber. A partition wall is formed between the inner and outer pressure chambers and a passage is formed through the partition wall for communicating between the inner and outer pressure chambers.

Abstract: A shock absorber which selectively produces different magnitudes of damping forces includes a cylinder and a piston slidably disposed in the cylinder and dividing an interior space of the cylinder into first and second fluid chambers filled with a fluid. A housing assembly coupled to the piston has a main fluid passage providing fluid communication between the first and second fluid chambers at all times and an auxiliary fluid passage providing selective fluid communication between the first and second fluid chambers. The auxiliary fluid passage can be opened to provide fluid communication between the first and second fluid chamber in response to an external control signal. The auxiliary fluid passage can be closed to cut off fluid communication between the first and second fluid chambers when the speed of relative movement of the cylinder and the piston is substantially zero, i.e., when the speed of expansion and contraction of the shock absorber is substantially zero.

Abstract: A shock absorber including a piston with two relatively movable elements defining a variable-sized, fluid-filled space in communication with a shock absorber chamber through a vent. The size of the space is decreased when subjected to external fluid pressure and fluid flow through the piston is modified in response to such decrease. The rate of space size decrease is controlled by means for selectively changing the effective size of the vent.

Abstract: In a damper for a steering device of a motor vehicle and more particularly a motor cycle a piston rod is axially movable with respect to the cylinder. The piston rod is provided with a piston inside the cylinder. The piston is provided with axial bores. The axial bores open into valve seat faces of the piston. Valve rings are allocated to the valve seat faces. Helical compression springs are located within the bores. These springs urge the valve rings towards respective opening positions. The valve rings are movable towards respective damping positions in response to the axial movement of the piston rod with respect to the cylinder. The valve rings have valve faces opposite to the respective valve seat faces. The valve faces are provided with projections towards the valve seat faces and with recesses adjacent these projections. So, a restricted fluid communication is obtained in the damping position of the respective valve ring.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber employs first and second stage disc valves arranged in tandem fashion. The first stage disc valve is provided for acting on a relatively small pressure difference for enhanced damping characteristics at a relatively low piston stroke speed range. On the other hand, the second stage disc valve is provided for acting on a greater pressure difference for generating damping a force at a higher piston stroke speed range. The second stage disc valve is initially pre-loaded at a predetermined magnitude of load so as to set a pressure relief point of the second stage disc valve at a desired piston stroke speed for better damping characteristics of the shock absorber.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is mounted on the vehicle body by a seat adjuster which enables movement of the seat relative to the vehicle body to a position chosen by the occupant. A seat belt is anchored on the seat so that the seat belt moves with the seat to the adjusted position. An extensible cylinder extends from the vehicle floor to the seat belt anchor on the seat and extends and retract as necessary to accommodate the adjusting movement of the seat. The extensible cylinder includes a piston movable within a fluid filled chamber and having a flow rate responsive valve associated therewith which permits low flow rate fluid flow through the piston during adjusting movement of the seat so that the cylinder extends and retracts to follow the seat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for absorbing mechanical shock is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a pressure cylinder forming a working chamber having first and second portions operable to store damping fluid. The apparatus further comprises the first valve for controlling the flow of damping fluid between the first and second portions of the working chamber during compression of the shock absorber. In addition, the apparatus further comprises a pressure chamber in fluid communication with the first portion of the working chamber and the first valve. A solenoid is also provided for regulating the flow of damping fluid between the pressure chamber and the second portion of said working chamber. A second valve is further provided for controlling the flow of damping fluid between the first and second portions of the working chamber during rebound of the shock absorber.

Abstract: The invention concerns controls for a semiactive chassis on a motor vehicle that is provided with variable or power-regulated vibration attenuators. The results of various sensor measurements are supplied to a regulator that controls the settings in the vibration attenuators on the sky-hook principle.

Abstract: A resilient suspension system for the front wheel of a bicycle or the like which turns bump energy into viscous heat loss without absorbing the pedaling energy of the rider. The suspension system includes two telescoping tubes having fluid therein and a fluid valve that meters the fluid flowing between the two tubes on the compression and expansion of the tubes. The invention also employs certain design features so as to retain the structural rigidity of the front fork assembly while remaining light in weight and utilizing a majority of the standard bicycle wheel, brake and steering components.

Abstract: A system which limits the intensity of a snap load imposed in a tether or cable, used, for example, in the recovery of an object at sea, includes a floating plate for connection to the cable and a support housing for connection to the object being recovered. The system also includes an actuatable mechanism extending between and connected to the plate and housing. The actuatable mechanism is movable from an initial position toward a deflected position in response to the introduction of a snap load in the cable caused by the occurrence of the sudden removal of a slack condition in the cable.

Abstract: A shock absorber is provided a piston stroke dependent variable shock absorbing characteristics by means of a first and second flow restriction valves associated with a piston. The first and second flow restriction valves are arranged in a fluid path for communicating first and second working chambers defined within a shock absorber cylindrical housing in series. The first flow restriction valve is associated with an orifice forming a part of the fluid path and has variable flow restriction rate in response to a pressure difference between the first and second chambers greater. The second flow restriction means is disposed in tandem fashion with the first flow restriction valve for providing a predetermined constant flow restriction rate in response to the pressure difference smaller than a predetermined criterion and providing a variable flow restriction as a function of the piston stroke speed in response to the pressure difference greater than the predetermined criterion.