A shock absorber includes a gas spring cylinder containing a piston moveable between an extended position and a compressed position within the gas spring cylinder. A mechanical actuator is arranged whereby a bleed port is automatically closed when the gas spring is compressed to a predetermined position corresponding to a desired sag setting. In one embodiment, the position corresponds to a predetermined sag setting whereby the gas spring is partially compressed. In another embodiment, a proper sag setting is determined through the use of a processor and sensor that in one instance measure a position of shock absorber components to dictate a proper sag setting and in another instance calculate a pressure corresponding to a preferred sag setting.

A bellows accumulator, in particular a pulsation damper, includes a bellows (3) arranged in an accumulator housing (1) and separating two media chambers (27, 28) from each other. Bellows folds (19) of the bellows can be moved at least partially along the inner wall (35) of the accumulator housing (1). The outside diameter of the bellows folds (19) is selected to be slightly smaller than the associated diameter of the inner wall (35) of the accumulator housing (1) in such a way that spaces (37, 41) are formed, which spaces together form a hydraulic damper for at least one medium.

A berth apparatus and method for promoting relaxation and/or inducing sleep in a recumbent passenger occupying a berth belonging to the berth apparatus. The apparatus is mounted in a vehicle and has a secondary suspension with a vibration detection system and a motion management system. The berth may execute motion in all six degrees of freedom with at least the vertical degree of freedom being monitored for unwanted motion. The motion management system has a motion removing component for removing unwanted motion in at least the vertical degree of freedom, and it also has a motion adding component to add to the berth a desirable motion of low frequency and small amplitude in at least one degree of freedom based on a physiological parameter, e.g., the inhalation cycle of the recumbent passenger. The apparatus and method may further use a vibration transfer element to transfer motion in one degree of freedom, such as horizontal displacement, to another degree of freedom, such as roll.

A vibration damper for a motor vehicle may comprise a damper outer tube, a damper inner tube having a lateral surface of the damper inner tube and arranged coaxially in the damper outer tube, a separating plate arranged coaxially in a region of the lateral surface of the damper inner tube, and a sealing element arranged coaxially circumferentially on the damper inner tube on the separating plate. In a region of the separating plate arranged coaxially on the lateral surface of the damper inner tube, a groove for the separating plate may be formed on the lateral surface of the damper inner tube. The separating plate may be arranged in the groove, and the connection between the groove and the separating plate may be press fit, at least in the radial direction.

A power transmission device of a steering system. A first connector includes a cylindrical first support coupled to one of coaxial first and second shafts and first coupling portions extending axially from inner circumferential portions of the first support. A second connector includes a second support coupled to the other of the first and second shafts and fitted into the first support and second coupling portions extending axially from outer circumferential portions of the second support. A damper includes outer support recesses provided in outer circumferential portions thereof, with the first coupling portions being fitted into the outer support recesses, and inner support recesses provided in inner circumferential portions thereof, with the second coupling portions being fitted into the inner support recesses, wherein the damper is coupled between the first connector and the second connector.

The invention relates to a method for measuring the position of a piston-cylinder arrangement, said method comprising: providing the piston-cylinder arrangement, providing an electrical circuit unit, applying a DC voltage (Vcc) to the piston-cylinder arrangement, sensing a capacitance (C) of the piston-cylinder arrangement as an input variable for the electrical circuit unit, generating a pulsed DC voltage (Vcc) by means of the electrical circuit unit on the basis of the sensed capacitance (C) of the piston-cylinder arrangement, providing a measuring unit for measuring a frequency (F.sub.0, F.sub.1) of the pulsed DC voltage (Vcc) generated, determining a frequency difference (DF) between the frequency (F.sub.0) of the pulsed DC voltage (Vcc) before displacement of the piston within the cylinder and the frequency (F.sub.1) of the pulsed DC voltage (Vcc) after displacement of the piston within the cylinder, determining a displacement distance of the piston within the cylinder on the basis of the frequency difference (DF).

There is provided an air spring for supporting a load, the air spring comprises a chamber for holding a pressurised gas in use, a load-bearing surface arranged to transmit a force from a load in use to the pressurised gas held in the chamber. Importantly, in order to lower the spring rate, the chamber contains a mass of adsorptive material. There is also provided a use of an adsorptive material for the purpose of lowering the spring rate of an air spring, including a gas strut and a pneumatic wheel. There is also provided a method of designing an air spring using an adsorptive material to lower the spring rate.

A suspension unit for a front fork of a vehicle includes an annular tube. The first tube defines a compression chamber and a damping chamber. A damper includes a first valve allowing gas to variably flow from the compression chamber to the damping chamber and a second valve allowing gas to flow from the damping chamber to the compression chamber. An external adjuster allows a rider to adjust the first valve to improve ride conditions.

A suspension unit for a front fork of a vehicle includes an annular tube. The first tube defines a compression chamber and a damping chamber. A damper includes a first valve allowing gas to variably flow from the compression chamber to the damping chamber and a second valve allowing gas to flow from the damping chamber to the compression chamber. An external adjuster allows a rider to adjust the first valve to improve ride conditions.

Viscoelastic damper assembly applicable both in air and submerged applications and with improved efficiency over prior art solutions for adding damping to an object or structure.