Abstract: A boot for a hydraulic, hydropneumatic or pneumatic piston-cylinder unit, in particular for vibration dampers or spring struts for vehicles, covers a portion of a piston rod that projects from the cylinder of the piston-cylinder unit. To protect against dirt and/or damage, the boot is arranged between the end of the piston rod and the cylinder. The interior space of the boot undergoes a change in volume due to the relative movement of the piston rod and cylinder with respect to one another. At least one flow connection is provided which leads to the interior space of the boot and allows for air flow in and/or out of the interior space. The at least one flow connection is at least partly covered by an area of the boot.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a dust tube that surrounds a shock body. The shock body is movable relative to the dust tube in response to road load inputs. A plurality of magnets is mounted to one of the dust tube and shock body, and a module is mounted to the other of the dust tube and shock body. The module interacts with the plurality of magnets to determine a position of the dust tube relative to a position of the shock body. This position information can be used to adjust suspension ride height as needed.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit includes a piston rod guided axially in a cylinder, a support disk fixed to the piston rod, a mounting element fixed to the support disk, and a protective sleeve which can be threaded over the mounting element. The protective sleeve has an end wall with an aperture profiled to receive the mounting element therethrough as the protective sleeve is fitted to the support disk, the protective sleeve being rotatable relative to the mounting element when fitted to the support disk, the mounting element having an axial support surface which can be positioned axially above the end wall to retain the protective sleeve.

Abstract: A dust cover strike plate in a suspension mechanism having a dust cover disposed about a shock absorber and arranged radially inward of a coil spring, and being superimposed on an inner portion of an upper face of a lower spring support member, and includes an abutting face opposite to a lower end of the dust cover in an axial direction. The abutting face has an axial projection height from the lower spring support member that is varied in a circumferential direction corresponding to an incline angle of the lower spring support member to the center axis of the shock absorber so that the abutting face is arranged on a plane substantially perpendicular to the center axis of the shock absorber, with which the lower end of the dust cover comes into contact. A suspension mechanism equipped with the dust cover strike plate is also enclosed.

Abstract: A velocity sensor including a damper assembly having a central axis, a magnet extending parallel to the central axis, the magnet having a magnetic axis radially oriented with the central axis, and a coil extending parallel to the central axis and radially oriented with the central axis, wherein movement of the damper assembly with respect to the magnet induces a voltage in the coil.

Abstract: A method of determining appropriate conditions for leveling a vehicle having a height adjustable air suspension system. The method includes the steps of providing an acceleration-determining device adapted to output a signal associated with an acceleration of the vehicle. Another step includes measuring an acceleration value of the vehicle and comparing the acceleration value to a pre-determined signal. Yet another step includes determining whether appropriate conditions exist for leveling the vehicle based on the comparison. A system for performing the steps of the method is also included.

Abstract: A bellows (2) of a dust boot (1, 30) having large diameter parts (3) and small diameter parts (4) disposed alternately covers a piston rod (R) projecting from a cylinder (C). A bump stopper (B) fixed to the cylinder (C) projects into the bellows (2) as a projecting portion. The bellows (2) comprises a first section (M) which passes a projecting end of the projecting portion according to the elongation and contraction of the piston rod (R) and a second section (L) located therebelow. By making the small diameter parts in the second section (L) have a smaller inner diameter than the small diameter part located at a boundary between the first section (M) and the second section (L), the bellows (2) can be made slim without interfering with the bump stopper (B).

Abstract: An improved protective cover is provided for a piston-cylinder unit. The cover has an elongated body with a convoluted portion and a cylindrical portion. The convoluted portion covers the piston rod of the piston-cylinder unit and allows the protective cover to contract and extend when said unit moves from a compressed position to an extended position. The cover is fixedly attached to the piston-cylinder unit such that it covers and protects the cylinder and the piston rod of the unit. The attachment of the protective cover to the piston-cylinder unit results in water and air resistant seals between the cover and the unit, or in the alternative, in non-watertight and/or non-airtight seals that prevent dirt, debris, dust and the like from contacting the cylinder and piston rod of the unit.

Abstract: A piston, which has a piston rod, is guided with freedom of axial movement in a cylindrical pressure tube. At one end of the pressure tube, the piston rod passes through an opening in an end wall, which closes off the end of the pressure tube. The pressure tube is surrounded by a heat-shrink sleeve, which, at the exit end of the piston rod, extends more-or-less radially inward and has a pass-through opening through which the piston rod extends. The ring-shaped end surface at the piston rod exit end of the pressure tube is enclosed by the heat-shrink sleeve.

Abstract: A dust cover receiving structure of a hydraulic shock absorber 10 is disclosed in which a cover-receiver 50 receiving an end surface of a dust cover 30 is disposed on an upper surface of a spring seat 21. The cover-receiver 50 is fitted and fixed to an engaging portion 21C provided on the spring seat 21 without holding a damper tube 11.

Abstract: In a hydraulic shock absorber for a vehicle, an annular support member is provided in a lower side of a portion to which a vehicle body side mounting member of a piston rod is fixed. A case cover is detachably provided around the vehicle body side mounting member and the annular support member. The case cover has a mounting portion which covers an outer shape of the vehicle body side mounting member. A tubular portion covers an outer periphery of the annular support member and extends to a lower side in an axial direction than the annular support member.

Abstract: Suspension strut unit comprising a connector bearing for piston rod of the suspension strut unit, a spring plate for a vehicle spring, and a first has a bearing with a bearing input part on the spring plate side and a bearing output part on the connector bearing side, which bearing allows relative rotational movement between the vehicle spring and the connector bearing of the piston rod. After the piston rod has traveled inward a certain distance, the cylinder is supported against the connector bearing by way of a stop buffer. A second bearing allows relative rotational movement between the connector bearing and the cylinder when the stop buffer is active; the second bearing is located functionally between the stop buffer and the connector bearing, and a functional separation is present between the bearing input part for the spring plate and the second bearing.

Abstract: A wheel-guiding forward axle spring strut includes a spring and a shock absorber (6) integrated axially therein. The spring includes two end members (8, 10) and a spring element is disposed between these end members. The shock absorber (6) includes a shock absorber cylinder (20) and a shock absorber rod (18) connected to the chassis (24) via a non-rotatable shock absorber bearing (22) The end member (8) is connected by a rotational bearing (28) to the chassis. The lower spring end member (10) is fixedly connected to the shock absorber cylinder (20) and thereby in common to the forward axle. The upper spring end member is an air spring cover and the lower spring end member is an air spring piston (10) and an air spring flexible member (12) is mounted between the cover (8) and the piston (10) so as to be pressure-tight and tension-tight.

Abstract: In a mounting structure of a dust cover in a hydraulic shock absorber, a portion continuously provided in an end portion of a portion forming a tubular portion in a metal pipe material of the dust cover is diameter-reduced to an inner diameter side, and an annular diameter-reduced portion including wall portions at both sides is formed. A flange portion obtained by crimping and folding the wall portions at both sides of the diameter-reduced portion in an axial direction according to a press working is formed so as to be continuously provided in an inner diameter side of one end of the tubular portion, and the flange portion is clamped between a mounting bracket and a support member.

Abstract: A retaining cap includes a sleeve-shaped basic body which has at least one protective bellows retaining segment on which a protective bellows can be supported. A component which is movable with respect to the retaining cap can penetrate into the installation space of the retaining cap, the retaining cap having a plurality of deformation regions which are arranged in the circumferential direction. When in contact with the movable component, these regions make possible a free passage for the movable component.

Abstract: A dust cover receiving structure of a hydraulic shock absorber in which a seat rubber is interposed between a suspension spring and a spring seat. The seat rubber has a spring receiving portion which is arranged between the suspension spring and the spring seat, a centering portion which is fitted to a damper tube and guides an end portion of a dust cover in such a manner as to align the dust cover with an axial center of the damper tube, and a cover receiving portion which is provided between the spring receiving portion and the centering portion, and which receives an end surface of the dust cover.

Abstract: A piston damper assembly includes a piston damper and a relative velocity sensor. The piston damper includes a damper body, a piston rod, and a dust tube which is attached to the piston rod. The relative velocity sensor includes an axially extending first magnet supported by the dust tube, a flux collector, and a first sensor coil. The flux collector is supported by the dust tube, includes an axially-extending first prong in axially-extending contact with the first magnet, includes an axially-extending second prong, and includes a joining member connecting the first and second prongs. The first sensor coil surrounds the joining member and/or one of the first and second prongs. A piston-damper dust tube subassembly includes the dust tube and the relative velocity sensor.

Abstract: A shroud is disclosed that disguises the particular type of motorcycle fork blade to which it's attached, thereby making the fork blade appear to be that of a different type. As disclosed, a motorcycle fork comprises a fork blade and a shroud. The fork blade comprises an upper support member telescopically received within a lower support member. The shroud is fixedly attached to the upper support member and the lower support member is telescopically received in the lower portion of the shroud. Thus, the invention provides a method of disguising motorcycle forks by attaching the shroud to the motorcycle fork. A method of assembling the shroud to a fork assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring system (2) having two spring units (4a, 4b) arranged coaxially with respect to each other. Each spring unit essentially includes a flexible member (6a, 6b) and a roll-off piston (8a, 8b). The two flexible members (6a, 6b), the roll-off pistons (8a, 8b) and a common outer jacket (10) enclose a common pressure space (14) filled with compressible gas or with a hydraulic liquid. A contamination flexible member (16) is mounted between the roll-off piston (8) and the outer jacket (10) in order to prevent a contamination of the flexible member roll-off surfaces. The contamination flexible member (16) is clamped, on the one hand, in the region of the roll-off piston (8) and, on the other hand, on the outer jacket (10). The effective length of the contamination flexible member (16) is somewhat less than the effective length of the shorter of the two work flexible members (6a, 6b). In this way, the contamination flexible member (16) functions additionally as an end stop (pull stop).

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a damping element and an air spring, the damping element having a container tube, a fixing part and a piston rod. The air spring has a spring bellows acting as a rolling bellows, an outer tube connected to a mass to be held with little oscillation, and a rolling tube bearing a rolling profile. The spring bellows bounds a gas chamber provided with a gas filling under pressure, while the rolling tube seals off the gas chamber with respect to the container tube and is fixed to the latter in the axial direction. Between the container tube and the rolling tube there is arranged a compression stop cap having three webs and thickened ends, which serve as a stop on the container tube for the rolling tube and to dissipate the radial force component acting on the latter.

Abstract: A retaining cap includes a sleeve-shaped basic body which has at least one protective bellows retaining segment on which a protective bellows can be supported. A component which is movable with respect to the retaining cap can penetrate into the installation space of the retaining cap, the retaining cap having a plurality of deformation regions which are arranged in the circumferential direction. When in contact with the movable component, these regions make possible a free passage for the movable component.

Abstract: In a mounting structure of a dust cover in a hydraulic shock absorber, a portion continuously provided in an end portion of a portion forming a tubular portion in a metal pipe material of the dust cover is diameter-reduced to an inner diameter side, and an annular diameter-reduced portion including wall portions at both sides is formed. A flange portion obtained by crimping and folding the wall portions at both sides of the diameter-reduced portion in an axial direction according to a press working is formed so as to be continuously provided in an inner diameter side of one end of the tubular portion, and the flange portion is clamped between a mounting bracket and a support member.

Abstract: A method of producing a dust cover assembly comprising the steps of: preparing a fixing member having a mounting bore to be fitted on a shock absorber's piston rod, and an engaging portion formed in its outer circumferential surface as an axially undercut portion; preparing a tubular parison having a large diameter portion at its one axial end portion; positioning the large diameter portion to be disposed radially outwardly of the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member; closing a blow mold to form a mold cavity around the parison and to hold the large diameter portion of the parison in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member; and blow molding the parison by introducing a compressed gas into the blow mold through the mounting bore, thereby molding the dust cover. A dust cover assembly and a shock absorber equipped with the dust cover assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dust cover receiving structure of a hydraulic shock absorber in which a sheet rubber is interposed between a suspension spring and a spring sheet. The sheet rubber has a spring receiving portion which is arranged and clamped between the suspension spring and the spring sheet, a centering portion which is fitted to a damper tube and guides an end portion of a dust cover in such a manner as to align the dust cover with an axial center of the damper tube, and a cover receiving portion which is provided between the spring receiving portion and the centering portion, and which receives an end surface of the dust cover.

Abstract: A method of producing a dust cover assembly comprising the steps of: preparing a fixing member having a mounting bore to be fitted on a shock absorber's piston rod, and an engaging portion formed in its outer circumferential surface as an axially undercut portion; preparing a tubular parison having a large diameter portion at its one axial end portion; positioning the large diameter portion to be disposed radially outwardly of the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member; closing a blow mold to form a mold cavity around the parison and to hold the large diameter portion of the parison in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member; and blow molding the parison by introducing a compressed gas into the blow mold through the mounting bore, thereby molding the dust cover. A dust cover assembly and a shock absorber equipped with the dust cover assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic spring system, comprising at least the following components, namely air-spring bellows, an air-spring cover, an air-spring piston and an external guide. The inventive pneumatic spring system is characterized in that the external guide consists of a plastic material with a solid support embedded therein.

Abstract: The invention provides an antivibration device lightweight and excellent in heat interception, wherein a top opening of a main body fitting (1) and an upper attachment fitting (2) are interconnected through a vibration-isolating base (3); a stopper fitting (8) of a generally cylinder form partly cutout is connected to the main body fitting (1) with its upper edge bent inwardly to form a stopper portion (81), which is located above a stop flange (22) of the upper attachment fitting (2) and has a stopper function against a large vertical displacement; a stopper rubber member (15) is fitted to the stopper fitting (8) so as to extend from the upper surface of the stopper portion (81) to an outer surface of its side plate by vulcanization molding; the cutout portion (83) of the stopper fitting (8) is plugged by a heat shield rubber membrane portion (17) vulcanization molded integrally with the stopper rubber member (15).

Abstract: In a dust cover mounting structure of a hydraulic shock absorber (10), a spring seat (15) is formed in a non-annular outer shape, a standing-up rib (34) is provided in an outer edge thereof, and a mounting portion (51) of a dust cover (50) is formed in a non-annular outer shape profiling an inner periphery of the rib (34) of the spring seat (15) and is received in the inner periphery of the rib (34).

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic spring arrangement (1) comprising at least the following components, namely a pneumatic spring lid (2), a pneumatic spring piston (3), pneumatic spring bellows (7), a vibration damper (11) with a rucksack module (14; e.g. an ADS module) and a protective collar (17) with a first connection area (B; inside diameter D1) and a second connection area (B′; inside diameter D2). The inventive pneumatic spring arrangement is characterized in that the inside diameters (D1 , D2) of the first (B) and the second (B′) connection area pertaining to the protective collar (17) have a size so that the protective collar can be slid over the ruck sack module (14). The excess free space within the second connection area (B′) of the protective collar (17) can be filled with an adapter element (18) in a compensating manner.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension damper assembly is provided which includes a cup member with a threaded opening formed therein. A piston rod includes a threaded portion, which is engaged in the threaded opening. An electrical connector including a terminal portion is received in an opening formed in the piston rod. The threaded engagement between the piston rod and the cup member is a predetermined length that reduces deflection of the cup member to reduce transfer of load to the terminal portion of the electrical connector.

Abstract: A method of producing a dust cover assembly comprising the steps of: preparing a fixing member having a mounting bore to be fitted on a shock absorber's piston rod, and an engaging portion formed in its outer circumferential surface as an axially undercut portion; preparing a tubular parison having a large diameter portion at its one axial end portion; positioning the large diameter portion to be disposed radially outwardly of the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member; closing a blow mold to form a mold cavity around the parison and to hold the large diameter portion of the parison in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member; and blow molding the parison by introducing a compressed gas into the blow mold through the mounting bore, thereby molding the dust cover. A dust cover assembly and a shock absorber equipped with the dust cover assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A structure wherein a dust cover (60) is mounted in a lower portion of an under bracket (14) for mounting an inner tube (13) of a front fork (11) to a vehicle body side; an annular stopper (61) is fixed on an outer peripheral surface of the inner tube, and a flange (64) of the dust cover is locked through an annular cover seat (62) by the stopper; the dust cover is structured such that the flange thereof is held and fixed between the under bracket inserted to the inner tube and the stopper under a compressing deformation in an axial direction of the cover seat, and the inner peripheral surface of the dust cover is elastically brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cover seat so as to be supported to the inner tube in a concentric state.

Abstract: A jounce bumper plate for a damping module of a type commonly employed automotive suspension system having a hydraulic cylinder with an upper end cover, a piston rod slidably extending from the upper end of the cylinder and ajounce bumper mounted upon the piston rod. The jounce bumper plate mounted on an upper end of the cylinder and includes a central bore therethrough to allow slidable passage of the piston rod, and includes a series of arches extending about the outer periphery of the plate. The arches increase in curvature from the central bore to the outer periphery, thereby forming gaps between the jounce bumper plate and the associated hydraulic cylinder to facilitate the expulsion of moisture and contaminants from the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder during compression and extension cycles of the associated cylinder.