Abstract: An actuator assembly may comprise a control unit and a shape memory coil spring in electrical communication with the control unit. The shape memory coil spring may increase from a first length to a second length in response to receiving a current from the control unit. The shape memory coil spring may be configured to translate a spacer and/or a slider shaft in response to increasing in length. The shape memory coil spring may be configured to transition a pawl in a latch assembly from a retracted state to an erected state, and vice versa.

Abstract: A height-adjustable spring arrangement for a vehicle includes a bearing spring, a first limiting cylinder with a first limiting cylinder pot and a first limiting piston, a second limiting cylinder with a second limiting cylinder pot and a second limiting piston, and a guide cylinder with a guide cylinder pot, a displaceable guide piston in the guide cylinder pot and a guide piston rod fixed on the guide piston and extending out of the guide cylinder pot along a longitudinal axis of a bearing spring and through the bearing spring. The guide piston rod is displaceable by the first and second limiting cylinders such that a spring preload acting on the bearing spring and a negative spring path of the bearing spring remain constant as a result of a height adjustment.

Abstract: A spring system that has first and second housings and a first mechanical spring connected to the first and second housings. The first and second housings each have a front portion having a front end and rear portion having a rear end and an internal chamber. The front end of the second housing is telescopically inserted into the internal chamber of the first housing. The first mechanical spring is at least partially positioned in the internal chamber of the first and second housings. The first end of the first mechanical spring is connected to a first connection arrangement in the first housing. The second end of the first mechanical spring is connected to a second connection arrangement in the second housing. The first and/or second connection arrangement threadedly engages the first mechanical spring.

Abstract: A lagwire system and method for facilitating the fixation of bone fractures is disclosed. The lagwire system includes an anchor component, a wire, a sleeve and a cap. The sleeve and cap are operable to slide along the length of the wire and also operable to be used to fixate a fracture individually by using a canal prepared by the anchor and wire.

Abstract: A spring system that includes at least an inner spring and an outer spring disposed around the inner spring. The inner spring exhibits a stiffness (k1) and the outer spring exhibits a stiffness (k2) in an uncompressed state. The inner spring exhibits a stiffness (k3) and the outer spring exhibits the stiffness (k2) in an intermediate compressed state, and the inner spring exhibits the stiffness (k3) and the outer spring exhibits a stiffness (k4) in a fully compressed state. In this manner, the spring system of the present disclosure may provide a vehicle with variable rates of compression that assist in providing a smooth ride at lower loads or jounce levels.

Abstract: In a conventional hard material insulator, reproduced sound can be tuned with use of characteristics of the material; however, various types of acoustic materials have specific high frequency characteristics, and thus their acoustic effects lack versatility, require compatible audio devices, and change with environment, musical genre, etc. To address this, a wind-bell member (resonant member) is arranged in parallel with a main propagation path of vibration transferred from an audio device to an insulator. Accordingly, a vibration system of a wind-bell having a tone determined by many factors such as a fundamental tone, harmonic tones, lingering sound, and fluctuation assists (enhances) high frequency vibration propagated from the audio device. As a result, due to the above assist action that is different in principle from a conventional type, acoustic characteristics such as a sense of localization, resolution, and a sense of transparency and scale a sound image can be dramatically improved.

Abstract: A spring system that includes at least an inner spring and an outer spring disposed around the inner spring. The inner spring exhibits a stiffness k1 and the outer spring exhibits a stiffness k2 in an uncompressed state. The inner spring exhibits a stiffness k3 and the outer spring exhibits the stiffness k2 in an intermediate compressed state, and the inner spring exhibits the stiffness k3 and the outer spring exhibits a stiffness k4 in a fully compressed state. In this manner, the spring system of the present disclosure may provide a vehicle with variable rates of compression that assist in providing a smooth ride at lower loads or jounce levels.

Abstract: A spring system for relatively displacing elements attached to end mounts of the rod assembly comprises a housing having a rod member movable between extended and retracted positions relative thereto, and a first compression spring in the housing surrounded by a second compression spring for biasing the rod member to one of an extended or retracted position relative to the housing. The two springs are oppositely wound whereby, from a compressed condition, the spring rod exerts an expansion force which increases at a linear rate. The spring system includes a valve arrangement to control the rate at which the spring rod moves from a retracted position to an extended position.

Abstract: A spring arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, with a first spring device and a second spring device, wherein the first spring device and the second spring device are mechanically arranged in series, and are designed to support a component of the vehicle on a further component of the vehicle in a support direction, the first spring device has a first transverse rigidity in a transverse direction running transverse to the support direction, the second spring device has a second rigidity in the transverse direction which is smaller than the first transverse rigidity. The first spring device and the second spring device are arranged nested in the support direction.

Abstract: A force control strut including a housing having first and second ends and an internal chamber, a rod member having an inner end reciprocally movable inside the housing and along the internal chamber, a guide member forming a bushing allowing reciprocation of the rod member in the housing, a bottom plug fixed in the internal chamber, a guide piston secured to an inner end of the rod and slidable along an inner surface of the internal chamber, a first coil spring positioned between the guide piston and one end of the housing to bias the rod member in a given direction in the housing, a first external connector fixed to the rod member, a second connector fixed to the bottom plug, and a damper that includes a plunger reciprocally mounted in a force controlling passageway inside the rod member and movable in a passageway of the rod member.

Abstract: A compression spring rod for relatively displacing elements attached to end mounts of the rod assembly comprises a housing having a rod member moveable between extended and retracted positions relative thereto, and a first compression spring in the housing surrounded by a second compression spring for biasing the rod member to one of an extended or retracted position relative to the housing. The two springs are oppositely wound, of different length, of different outside diameter, and of different wire diameter whereby, from a compressed condition, the spring rod exerts an expansion force which increases at a linear rate. Two sets of the springs can be arranged for biasing the rod member to a central position relative to the housing.

Abstract: A spring seat 51 adapted to support a large coil spring 34 to absorb and to dampen torsional vibrations and a small coil spring 35 positioned within the large coil spring 34 having a smaller outside diameter than an inside diameter of the large coil spring 34, includes a seat body 52 supporting an end of the large coil spring 34 and an end of the small coil spring 35 in a compressing direction, a first supporting portion 54 protruding from the seat body 52 in the compressing direction of the small coil spring 35 and supporting an inner periphery of the small coil spring 35, and a second supporting portion 53 formed at an end portion of the seat body to covering partial an outer periphery of the large coil spring 34 and to support an outer peripheral side of a part of the large coil spring 34.

Abstract: A self-centering mechanical strut has first and second housing members. The second housing member telescopically receives the first housing member. Spring assemblies are mounted within each of the housing members. The spring assembly in the first tube is compressed when the first housing is pushed into the second housing. The spring assembly in the second tube is compressed when the first housing is pulled out of the second housing. Each housing is spring-biased to return to its respective neutral position.

Abstract: A damper includes a housing, a cover and a rotor. A portion of the rotor extends outwardly of the housing through the cover, and has a gear disposed thereon. The cover is joined to the housing by laser welding.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a motor vehicle includes a wheel assembly attached to the frame of a motor vehicle for movement in response to uneven roadway surfaces. A first inductive coil attached to the frame is mounted along an axis, and a second inductive coil is mounted co-axially with the first inductive coil and for movement with the wheel assembly. The inductive coils are movable relative to one another along the axis. An electromagnetic force generated by the inductive coils provides spring and dampening forces for the motor vehicle. Further, variation in the inductance between the coils is measurement to determine the relative position between the coils in order to monitor motor vehicle ride height.

Abstract: A spring system comprising an axially movable, generally conically shaped plug having a flange on its larger diameter end, and a coil spring, within which the plug is axially arranged, formed in two co-axial integral inner and outer coil spring sections. The spring inner section coils having diameters which are sized to closely conform to the portions of the outer surface of the plug which they overlay, and the spring outer section coils surrounding and being radially spaced from the inner section of the spring. The free end of the inner section is fixedly anchored to a support member and the free end of the outer section engages a support surface. The sections are integrally connected by a common coil arranged to engage the plug flange. When the plug is initially moved endwise within the spring, the coils of the inner section are tightened and stretched around the conically shaped plug surface. Further movement of the plug compresses the outer spring section between the plug flange and the support surface.

Abstract: A suspension system for isolating a platform from external vibrations includes spring assemblies suspending the platform. In each spring assembly an elongated outer coil spring is suspended at an upper end thereof from a support structure. A tube is disposed loosely within the outer spring and is attached to a lower end of the spring so as to extend upwardly. An elongated inner coil spring is disposed loosely within the tube and is suspended from an upper point of the tube. The inner spring has a lower end attached to the platform. For friction dampening, o-rings are fitted on the inner spring in sliding contact with the tube.

Abstract: A shock absorber for use in connection with moored barge fleets, and capable of withstanding very large shock loads so that when positioned between a mooring cable and a stationary shore connection the shock absorber absorbs impact loads that are applied to the mooring cable by virtue of the flow of the current and the passage of other vessels. The shock absorber includes a cylindrical outer shell, the shell including end closure plates at each end. Extending between the end closure plates are six guide rods, each guide rod carrying four aligned groups of two concentric helical compression springs, the respective groups of springs being separated from axially adjacent groups of springs by respective alignment plates that are freely movable relative to the guide rods.

Abstract: A helical spring composed of a plurality of parallel, coiled strands of spring wire with such strands being unconnected along most of their length but being joined together at least at one end of the spring. In a preferred embodiment, such strands or wires are welded together at opposite ends of the spring. Such a spring is formed by incrementally advancing a plurality of wires in contiguous, parallel relation towards a wire-coiling station and then, at the termination of a coiling step, interrupting such advancement to sever the wires through, or immediately adjacent to, a first welded zone while at the same time welding such wires together in a second zone spaced a precise distance from the point of the severing operation.

Abstract: Spring-like element for use as a toy or the like consisting of a coil of copper tape of high width-to-thickness ratio forming an elongated frusto-conical structure that exhibits spring characteristics combined with dry friction damping.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved seat belt retractor rewind spring assembly. In accordance with this invention, a rewind spring assembly is provided having the "bridling" effect wherein the coiled flat strip spring is retained by a spring cap which exerts an outwardly directed bending load on the end of the spring which engages the cap. This bridling effect has been found to increase the efficiency of the coil spring. The rewind spring assembly according to this invention improves over prior art designs in that completely automated assembly is possible through the provision of a novel spring cap design, assembly fixture and assembly process.