A method and apparatus for a vehicle suspension system gas spring. In one embodiment, a vehicle suspension system gas spring includes a compressible main gas chamber and an additional volume combinable with the main chamber to change a gas spring rate of the system. In one embodiment, a low friction piston seal is created by a flexible seal member.

A stroke sensor system includes a conductor, a coil which moves relative to the conductor and is fitted to one end side of the conductor; and a ferromagnetic body which is arranged on an end position side of the coil. A position of an end portion on one end side of the conductor in a state where a fitting ratio between the conductor and the coil is maximized is defined as the end position. The ferromagnetic body is located on an opposite side to the conductor with the coil interposed therebetween.

A quasi-zero stiffness electromagnetic vibration isolator for ultra-low frequency vibration reduction and isolation is provided. When the vibration isolator is in a static equilibrium position, upper and lower air gaps are equal, and electromagnetic attraction forces of upper and lower stator assemblies to a mover assembly are equal. When the load tends to move upwards, the mover assembly is subjected to an upward resultant force, when the load tends to move downwards, the mover assembly is subjected to a downward resultant force, showing the characteristic of negative stiffness. A negative stiffness mechanism composed of the upper stator assembly, the lower stator assembly and the mover assembly is connected in parallel with the positive stiffness springs to achieve a quasi-zero stiffness.

A quasi-zero stiffness electromagnetic vibration isolator for ultra-low frequency vibration reduction and isolation is provided. When the vibration isolator is in a static equilibrium position, upper and lower air gaps are equal, and electromagnetic attraction forces of upper and lower stator assemblies to a mover assembly are equal. When the load tends to move upwards, the mover assembly is subjected to an upward resultant force, when the load tends to move downwards, the mover assembly is subjected to a downward resultant force, showing the characteristic of negative stiffness. A negative stiffness mechanism composed of the upper stator assembly, the lower stator assembly and the mover assembly is connected in parallel with the positive stiffness springs to achieve a quasi-zero stiffness.

A vehicle strut assembly includes a boot and a coil spring. The boot has a vertical wall, a spring receiving portion and a centering portion projecting from the vertical wall. The coil spring has an end section, a transition section and a main section, the end section being fitted to the spring receiving portion encircling at least a portion of the vertical wall and defining a first radially inner diameter. The transition section has an increasing inner diameter extending from the end section to the main section. The main section defines a second radially inner diameter greater than the first radially inner diameter. The centering portion is positioned to contact a radially inner surface of the transition section of the coil spring restricting movement of the end section of the coil spring relative to the spring receiving portion of the boot.

A damper for fittings for furniture or household appliances has a housing in which a piston connected to a piston rod is guided in a linearly displaceable manner, the piston dividing an interior space in the housing into two chambers, wherein at least one flow channel is formed on or in the piston, which flow channel connects the two chambers to one another, wherein a throttle element is provided, which, in a damping position, keeps the cross-section of the at least one flow channel small when the piston moves in a first direction in order to generate high damping forces, and when the piston moves in the second direction opposite to the first direction, increases the cross-section of the at least one flow channel for reducing the damping forces by a movement of the throttle element.

A robot leg structure includes: a link 500 extending downward from a leg joint; a ground contact portion 600 that comes in contact with a ground, a leaf spring 300 that couples the link 500 and the ground contact portion 600 to each other; and a damping member 400 arranged to be adjacent to the leaf spring 300 and configured to couple the link 500 and the ground contact portion 600 to each other. With this configuration, the damping member 400 damps the vibration attributed to the leaf spring 300, making it possible to reliably stabilize the motion of the legs of a robot.

A robot leg structure includes: a link 500 extending downward from a leg joint; a ground contact portion 600 that comes in contact with a ground, a leaf spring 300 that couples the link 500 and the ground contact portion 600 to each other; and a damping member 400 arranged to be adjacent to the leaf spring 300 and configured to couple the link 500 and the ground contact portion 600 to each other. With this configuration, the damping member 400 damps the vibration attributed to the leaf spring 300, making it possible to reliably stabilize the motion of the legs of a robot.

A hydraulic shock absorber includes: a cylinder that has an opening portion in a side wall surface on an axle side thereof; a reservoir that stores oil; a control unit that generates a damping force; and a movement prevention member at least a part of which is disposed outside the cylinder and on a vehicle body side of the opening portion, and that obstructs the oil from moving from the axle side to the vehicle body side.

An active air spring regulates and controls compression and rebound travel, speed, and shock position by modulating internal pressures in an air bag and/or air cylinder in real time by varying the internal volume of discrete air reservoirs in fluid connection with one another as controlled by valves, venting, and self-pressurization.