A spring made of a fiber composite includes a metal thread which is connected to the spring and has an electrical resistance which changes in dependence on a deformation of the spring. The metal thread can be integrated inside the spring or may also be arranged on an outer side of the spring.

A lubrication system includes a coupling; a bushing in the coupling; a lubricant inlet to the coupling; a flat surface against a front surface of the bushing; and a path for lubricant to flow from the lubricant inlet to a groove on the front surface of the bushing and out between the flat surface and the front surface to lubricate an interface between the flat surface and the front surface.

Springs of different types are provided with the ability to dynamically change stiffness. For one embodiment turning the elastic beams with elongated cross-section inside a leaf spring's housing plate, leaf springs stiffness is varied. Friction forces between plates are also controlled by using a thin layer of electro-rheological fluid between plates whose viscosity is greatly varied by application of voltage. Second embodiment springs made of hollow tubing filled with oil wherein inside pressure is changed by an actuated membrane or piston whose movement drastically increases the hydrostatic pressure inside the tubing and thus increases tensile stress in the tubing's wall and expands the diameter of tubing which may be of cross-section purposely suited for expansion, thereby increasing its stiffness or decreasing it with any desired frequency or changing the stiffness possibly in milliseconds for a period of time. These springs that are also provided with limited actuation capability are especially suitable for counteracting vibration when changing stiffness with same frequency as vibration. When a number of such springs are used to support one load, they can be used for dynamically varying the load distribution or preventing a change to said load distribution in real time. Another embodiment features annular corrugated tubing which with the increase in inside pressure will substantially lengthen, producing large coil radius expansion and accordingly large decrease in spring stiffness, still another embodiment uses corrugated tubing inside a retaining cylinder; said tubing expands lengthwise when inside pressure is increasing but retaining cylinder forces the lengthening tubing to produce new coils inside of it resulting in spring length increase that is actuation and large stiffness variability resulting from coil number variability.

A suspension arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle having a base and a structure, is disclosed. This arrangement includes at least one first spring and at least one second spring, the at least one first spring and the at least one second spring having spring attachments which are connected to attachment apparatuses of the structure on one side and of the base on the other. The at least one second spring is fastened to the base by way of at least one adjustment device. An adjustable air spring suspension arrangement and methods for controlling the suspension arrangements are disclosed.

A suspension arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle having a base and a structure, is disclosed. This arrangement includes at least one first spring and at least one second spring, the at least one first spring and the at least one second spring having spring attachments which are connected to attachment apparatuses of the structure on one side and of the base on the other. The at least one second spring is fastened to the base by way of at least one adjustment device. An adjustable air spring suspension arrangement and methods for controlling the suspension arrangements are disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a suspension system of a motor vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a plurality of wheel pairs (2a/2b, 2c/2d), wherein the suspension system comprises spring members arranged for resilient connection between the wheels of the vehicle and said vehicle body. The method comprises the step of: monitoring at least one first parameter indicating braking of thee motor vehicle, and when said parameter indicates braking of the motor vehicle, preventing compression of the spring members of at least one wheel pair (2a/2b, 2c/2d) of the motor vehicle for counteracting a rotation of the vehicle body in connection to braking.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a suspension system of a motor vehicle comprising a vehicle body and a plurality of wheel pairs (2a/2b, 2c/2d), wherein the suspension system comprises spring members arranged for resilient connection between the wheels of the vehicle and said vehicle body. The method comprises the step of: monitoring at least one first parameter indicating braking of thee motor vehicle, and when said parameter indicates braking of the motor vehicle, preventing compression of the spring members of at least one wheel pair (2a/2b, 2c/2d) of the motor vehicle for counteracting a rotation of the vehicle body in connection to braking.

A suspension arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle having a base and a structure, is disclosed. This arrangement includes at least one first spring and at least one second spring, the at least one first spring and the at least one second spring having spring attachments which are connected to attachment apparatuses of the structure on one side and of the base on the other. The at least one second spring is fastened to the base by way of at least one adjustment device. An adjustable air spring suspension arrangement and methods for controlling the suspension arrangements are disclosed.

A suspension arrangement for a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle having a base and a structure, is disclosed. This arrangement includes at least one first spring and at least one second spring, the at least one first spring and the at least one second spring having spring attachments which are connected to attachment apparatuses of the structure on one side and of the base on the other. The at least one second spring is fastened to the base by way of at least one adjustment device. An adjustable air spring suspension arrangement and methods for controlling the suspension arrangements are disclosed.

A traveling car includes a car body and a driver. The driver has a motor that is attached to the car body, a drive wheel, a support that supports the drive wheel, and a transmission that transmits rotary drive force to the drive wheel. The support has a holder that rotatably supports the drive wheel and is attached to the car body so as to rotate about a rotation axis M extending in the horizontal direction. The transmission has an output pulley that is coupled to the motor and is located on the car body, an input pulley that is coupled to the drive wheel and is located on the holder, and a belt wound around the output pulley and the input pulley. The rotation axis M is located coaxial with the output pulley.