Abstract: An air bleed system for a suspension fork or shock absorber includes: a fluid passage between an interior of the suspension and an exterior of the suspension; and a manually operable valve having a first position substantially closing the fluid passage and a second position allowing fluid flow between the interior and the exterior.

Abstract: A sliding door apparatus capable of effectively restraining sliding movement of a door body is provided. A sliding door apparatus 1 includes: a rail 20 having an inner surface 24 formed to have a concave shape, the inner surface 24 having a first support surface 24A and a second support surface 24B which are not parallel to each other; a hanger 30A, 30B having a first driving member (32, 37) in rolling contact with the first support surface 24A, and a second driving member (33, 38) in rolling contact with the second support surface 24B; and a door body 40 configured to be moved in a longitudinal direction of the rail 20 through the hanger 30A, 30B. When seen along the longitudinal direction of the rail, the first support surface 24A and the second support surface 24B are formed to come close to each other as they extend toward a bottom of the inner surface 24.

Abstract: A gas spring includes a housing having an end configured to receive a rod therethrough, the rod extending to a piston movably positionable within the housing. A spacer separates a pair of sealing devices and forming a compartment containing oil that is positioned near the end of the housing, the compartment having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is defined by the sealing devices, the spacer and the rod. The second portion is defined by the sealing devices, the spacer and the housing. The first portion is in fluid communication with the second portion permitting circulation of oil therebetween.

Abstract: A delay return gas spring including a piston at least partially received in a cylinder for reciprocation between extended and compressed positions over a cycle including a compression stroke and a return stroke. A seal disposed between the cylinder and the piston separates a primary chamber on one side of the seal from a secondary chamber on another side of the seal during a portion of the cycle. A passage communicates with the secondary chamber and with the primary chamber. The seal is relatively movable between an open position permitting free flow of gas through the passage to a closed position at least partially restricting gas flow through the passage so as to permit gas in the secondary chamber to be compressed in response to movement of the piston toward its extended position, thereby reducing a net return force on the piston and decreasing a velocity of the piston.

Abstract: A damping device, which is provided between a handle and pole tube of a sport pole such as a ski pole, combines the action of a helical compression spring (17) with that of a gas compression spring, whereby a rod-shaped body (5) can be displaced inside a tube (3). An elastic insert (13), which is subjected to the action of the helical compression spring (17), is provided at the end of the rod-shaped body (5). The rod-shaped body (5) is pressed into the tube (3), e.g. when the pole is placed against the ground, and the insert (13) deforms and tightly abuts against the tube (3) from the inside whereby forming a gas compression spring. The damping action is progressively increased inside the tube (3) by the friction of the deformable insert (13).

Abstract: A piston for use in forming a gas spring assembly includes a longitudinally extending axis, a first end wall extending approximately transverse to the axis, and an outer side wall extending longitudinally from adjacent the first end wall. The outer side wall includes a first side wall portion that forms a fully circumferential outer surface and a second side wall portion that forms a partially circumferential outer surface that extends longitudinally beyond the fully circumferential outer surface. A gas spring assembly including such a piston is also included.

Abstract: A high-friction fluid seal used for high-friction sealing, comprising a fluid seal lip provided on the working fluid filling side to intercept a working fluid; and a dust lip provided on the working fluid non-filling side (the outer side) of the fluid seal lip to intercept dust coming from the outside, wherein the thickness of a working fluid film formed on the extension stroke by the dust lip is smaller than the thickness of a working fluid film formed on the extension stroke by the fluid seal lip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a piston-cylinder arrangement, especially a shock absorber piston, comprising a piston body fitted with a peripheral web protruding from the peripheral surface in a section adjacent to the end of the piston to which support webs are attached, said web extending parallel and spaced in relation to each other in longitudinal direction towards the other end of the piston. Two adjacent support webs limit a groove-shaped recess, said webs being open on the ends opposite the peripheral web in longitudinal direction. The piston also comprises a collar-shaped sealing element made of thermoformable plastic material that is formed on the piston body in such a way that only part of the height of both the peripheral web and the support webs is formed in the material of the collar-shaped sealing element.

Abstract: A shock and acoustic mount for reducing transmission of forces between two relatively moveable members such as a mounted component and a supporting structure, providing a compressible fluid spring with large allowable relative movement of the mounted component and support structure. The mount comprises a casing, a piston shell with one end disposed in the casing and another end extending outside of the casing, and a piston housed in the piston shell, all relatively moveable in response to external axial forces. In one embodiment, the mount is filled with a compressible fluid, such as air, providing an air spring. The piston is sealingly bonded to the inner surface of the piston shell, the bond accommodating acoustic and vibration forces by deformation of the bond material. An annular seal between the piston shell and the casing accommodates large and shock forces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for retaining a boot on a gliding board. The device includes especially a dorsal support element and a base, the dorsal support element being journalled on the base along a substantially transverse Y-Y' axis of the device, wherein at least one braking mechanism opposes a journal movement of the dorsal support element with respect to the base along the Y-Y' axis, in at least one journal direction, and wherein a return mechanism maintains the dorsal support element substantially in contact with the lower part of the leg.

Abstract: A damping system having a lightweight, low-cost, thin-walled cartridge body sealed on both ends by mechanically deforming the cartridge body wall into sealing elements that seal the ends of the cartridge body. Preferably, the cartridge body wall is roll crimped to compress the sealing elements and thereby create a seal between the wall and the sealing elements. The cartridge body is preferably also provided with a retaining ring having an internally formed ridge that engages the mechanically deformed portion of the cartridge body wall. The retaining ring is thereby axially fixed with respect to the cartridge body. Because the retaining ring is positioned about the cartridge body, the retaining ring forms a shoulder with respect thereto. The shoulder thereby formed may be inserted within the recess of a bicycle suspension fork strut to fix the damping cartridge therein against movement.

Abstract: A pneumatic counterbalance spring includes a hollow cylinder defining a first internal chamber divided into a compression compartment and an extension compartment by a piston movably mounted in the chamber. The compression compartment contains pressurized gas and a seal assembly mounted on the piston prevents the gas from escaping into the extension compartmint. A piston rod is slibably mounted in the open end of the cylinder and has its inner end connected to the piston. The piston rod includes a hollow portion defining a second internal chamber which is fluidly connected to the compression compartment by a flow passage. As a result, the compression compartment has an effective volume of A+B, where A represents the volume of the compression compartment and B represents the volume of the piston rod internal chamber. This design is advantageous in applications where a low spring rate is desired and where the length of the spring needs to be minimized.

Abstract: A prosthetic leg has a pivotal knee joint and a hydraulic fluid control unit connected to provide variable forces which dampen flexion and extension of the knee and also bias the leg to its extended position. The unit includes an aluminum housing lined with an axially adjustable sleeve and control bushing defining a cylindrical operating chamber which receives a piston mounted on a tubular piston rod. The housing and operating chamber receive hydraulic fluid or oil which flows during movement of the piston through fluid control ports, channels and adjustable gaps defined by the sleeve and bushing for damping the movement of the rod. The piston rod encloses a gas filled flexible bladder which forms an oil accumulator during inward movement of the piston rod into a displacement chamber and also produces variable forces for moving the piston rod outwardly to its extended position.

Abstract: A self-contained gas spring or die cylinder including a cylindrical housing having a closed end, an open end and a cylindrical bore. A cylindrical sleeve extends into the bore of the housing and has at least a portion thereof forming an internal cylindrical surface. A piston rod extends through an opening in the sleeve and has a piston thereon contacting the cylindrical surface. The piston rod is hollow and has a closed end in the portion thereof external of the cylindrical housing. The sleeve supports a first seal assembly adjacent the inner end of the rod and engaging the external surface of the rod, an intermediate slide ring on the sleeve and a secondary seal assembly on the sleeve positioned such that the slide ring is between the primary seal and the secondary seal.

Abstract: A gas spring which provides two stages of resistance to axial movement, by a first head and rod slidably disposed within a second rod with a head, with both of the heads subjected to pressurized gas in a common chamber within the cylinder. Preferably, a seal for each provides sealing engagement when the force of pressurized gas acts upon the seal. Hence, the seal provides sealing engagement without being axially compressed and radially expanded. The seal may be used in single stage and two stage gas springs. Desirably, a positive stop for each rod is provided, preferably as a part of the housing for its bearings and seal. Preferably, the seal is a flexible annular sealing element which when viewed in cross section is generally a C-shape, with arms constructed and arranged so that the free edges of the seal are biased into sealing engagement by pressurized gas acting on the arms.

Abstract: Rattling of the piston against the tube in a gas spring due to transient lateral loads on the piston are inhibited by engagement of the base of the piston ring groove with internal projections of a serrated inner edge of the sealing ring. Assurance against seizure of the sealing ring to the piston and preservation of a minimum width of the face seal between the sealing ring and the ringland to ensure against leakage are provided.

Abstract: In a gas spring the piston rod passes through a guide ring at one end of a container. On the inner side of the guide ring there are provided two sealing rings, a first axially outer sealing ring adjacent to the guide ring and a second axially inner sealing ring spaced from the first sealing ring. A working chamber is defined axially between the second sealing ring and the second end of the container. Pressurized gas is contained within the working chamber. An annular sealing chamber is defined axially between the first and the second sealing ring. Both sealing rings are provided with a respective radially inner sealing lip sealingly engaging the piston rod and a radially outer sealing lip sealingly engaging the container. Respective sealing lips are axially directed towards the sealing chamber. A volume of pressurized gas is contained within the sealing chamber. The pressure within the sealing chamber exceeds the pressure within the working chamber.

Abstract: A gas spring substantially comprises a cylindrical housing, closed on one end, and a piston rod located concentrically in it and extending in a sealed manner from its other end, the piston rod being provided on its end located in the housing with a piston assembly resting on the inner wall of the housing and being guided in a damped manner. In order to attain a relatively broad hysteresis, which is desirable when the gas spring is used for retaining the upper parts of sun-tanning benches or automobile hatchbacks or the like, the piston assembly has a friction damping liner resting against the inner wall of the housing and made of an expanded plastic, which is open-celled and impregnated with lubricant on its friction face resting on the inner wall.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating seismic waves including an upstanding hollow cylindrical housing within which an impact piston latched in a cocked position is adapted to be propelled downwardly by high pressure expanding gas in the confined chamber above it within the housing so as to strike a target plate resting on the ground adjacent the lower end of the housing. After each blow against the target, the piston is retracted upwardly by means of hydraulic cylinders which recompress the gas in the chamber to its original pressure. Since there is no need for recharging the pressure chamber after each shot, economical rapid cycle operation is facilitated.

Abstract: An adjustable-length gas spring has two compressed-gas-filled cylinders concentrically surrounding one another, with a piston and piston rod disposed in the inner cylinder thereof. A valve for effecting communication between housing chambers divided by the piston is provided at one end of the cylinders. This valve has a valve body, which is sealed with respect to the cylinders by means of outer ring seals.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring counterbalance extensible link including a closed end cylinder with an end connector a piston and rod assembly within the cylinder and maintained therein by the crimped over end portion of the cylinder retaining a rod bushing and rod to cylinder seal. The cylinder is pressurized prior to assembly of the complete piston and rod into the cylinder. The piston assembly includes orifice by-pass arrangements either in the piston periphery or in a piston ring, and the piston may include a fail-safe provision in the event the orifice is clogged. A crimping die assembly is used in assembling and completing final assembly of the counterbalance components while simultaneously maintaining the link in a pressurized environment, utilizing sealed arrangement between the crimping dies to maintain pressurization of the interior of the dies and the counterbalance components prior to assembly of the components.

Abstract: A dynamic sealing ring made of a resilient flowable material such as an elastomer throughout, characterized by its cross-sectional configuration which in its free form is uniform and generally rectangular with arcuate smoothly contoured convex lobes at each of its corners, with its two opposed axially extending surfaces bearing additional annular convex sealing lobes in unequal numbers disposed in non-opposite relation between the adjacent corner lobes and separated therefrom and from each other by concavities and extending outwardly therebeyond a short distance to effect a more perfect seal, particularly when applied in encircling relation to a reciprocating piston rod and subjected to high gaseous pressures from a single direction or as a piston seal.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring counterbalance extensible link including a closed end cylinder with an end connector a piston and rod assembly within the cylinder and maintained therein by the crimped over end portion of the cylinder retaining a rod bushing and rod to cylinder seal. The cylinder is pressurized prior to assembly of the complete piston and rod into the cylinder. The piston assembly includes orifice by-pass arrangements either in the piston periphery or in a piston ring, and the piston may include a fail-safe provision in the event the orifice is clogged. A crimping die assembly is used in assembling and completing final assembly of the counterbalance components while simultaneously maintaining the link in a pressurized environment, utilizing sealed arrangement between the crimping dies to maintain pressurization of the interior of the dies and the counterbalance components prior to assembly of the components.

Abstract: A lading protection device in the form of a shock absorber for a railway car including a cylinder containing a piston and a body of hydraulic fluid normally captive between the front face of the piston and the closed end of the cylinder. A flow control valve assembly, centered in the piston, mounts an orifice bushing defining a constricted circular orifice. The assembly includes a valve stem slidable in the piston with a spring at its inner end for pressing the stem in a direction to seal the orifice. The piston has a fluid passage extending therethrough and an annular separator piston defines, with the main piston, a receiving space into which the fluid flows upon impact. The space in back of the separator piston is filled with a charge of gas under high pressure so that when the impact has been dissipated the gas pressure acting upon the separator piston restores the fluid to its normal position in readiness for a succeeding impact.

Abstract: A rubber plastic composite cylinder that has a cylindrical hollow elastomeric body bonded internally to a shaft and its external surface bonded to a cylindrical sleeve of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene which includes the bonding as by vulcanization two outer shells of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene to the elastomeric cylinder to place the elastomeric cylinder in compression. Such composite cylinder may be spaced along a shaft or utilized effectively as a coaxial shear spring or as conveyor rollers.

Abstract: A seal between a piston rod and a housing in which the piston reciprocates for preventing the escape of compressed fluid from the housing. A fixed sealing member engages the piston rod adjacent the housing wall, and a floating sealing member engages the piston rod at a location spaced from the fixed sealing member. A liquid is in the space between the sealing members.

Abstract: A new breed of die cylinders operating at 1000-5000 psig. working fluid pressures and adaptable for use individually or by manifolding with punch presses to cushion dies can be operated with maximum rated pressure force against a force which a ram develops in one direction and in the opposite direction with partial pressure force which the die cylinders exert when force balanced. The following is accomplished by loading a piston underside by the same working fluid pressure when the piston bottoms inside a cylinder housing at the end of the ram induced stroke enabling an instant high pressure surge of fluid, be it Nitrogen gas or other working fluid, to enter the piston underside provided with a piston rod and exert a resistance force proportional to the net free area exposed thereto thereby providing force balanced cylinder operation.

Abstract: A gas spring includes a cylinder, filled with compressed gas, a piston rod movable axially inward and outward of the cylinder cavity, and a piston axially movable on the end of the piston rod in the cavity and resiliently biased into engagement with an abutment on the free end of the piston rod. One of two passages bounded by the piston and connecting the two compartments into which the cylinder cavity is divided by the piston is blocked when the piston engages the abutment and opened when the piston is moved away from the abutment against the resilient bias. The other passage is opened during outward movement of the piston rod from the cylinder cavity.

Abstract: A gas spring for movable members such as vehicle deck lids in which a piston assembly carried on the end of a rod slides back and forth in a cylinder to expand and contract the spring. The cylinder is sealed at the head end and also around the rod and is filled with a combination of oil and gas under pressure. The piston assembly is such that the passage of oil and gas from one side to the other is restricted as the spring is expanded by extending the rod and this produces a dampening action but the restriction is eliminated when the spring is contracted so that there is virtually no dampening effect. The head end of the cylinder is closed by a plug which includes an inner portion carrying an O-ring to form a seal between the plug and the cylinder and an outer portion with peripheral teeth which bite into the cylinder wall and hold the plug in place.

Abstract: A snubber having a seal assembly in which a seal having a generally U-shaped cross section encircling a reciprocating rod is engaged with a separate integral wedge element in such a way that radial loads are applied so as to force the outer lip of the seal outwardly and the inner lip of the seal inwardly. The outwardly directed radial load is uniform around the entire seal, and the inwardly directed radial load is likewise uniform around the entire seal; however, the inwardly directed radial load is greater than the outwardly directed radial load.