A force transfer system includes a body and an article. The article includes a first portion forming a first lateral axis and a second portion forming a second lateral axis, the axes being offset. An intermediate member is disposed between the first portion and the second portion, and holds the second portion to the first portion. A stimulus received by the first portion causes a temporary alteration of the intermediate member from an initial condition, the alteration of the intermediate member thereby causing a change in a characteristic of the second portion. The intermediate member subsequently returns to the initial condition, thereby causing a change in a characteristic of the first portion, which is influenced by the change in the characteristic of the second portion. The change in the characteristic of the first and second portions prevents at least a portion of the stimulus from reaching the body.

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 vehicle suspension system (3) includes an electromagnetic damper (7) provided with a sprung member (8) and an unsprung member (9) to apply a drive force and a damping force between the sprung member and the unsprung member, and a control unit (10) for controlling the electromagnetic damper. A target load for the electromagnetic damper is determined based on the unsprung member demand load that attenuates a vertical vibration of the unsprung member, and the sprung member demand load that restrains a vertical displacement of the sprung member. An absolute value of the sprung member demand load is reduced when a sprung member frequency is in an unsprung member resonance frequency range.

A metal stamping tool includes a hybrid magnetorheological-nitrogen spring including a housing having an interior wall defining an interior volume. A fixed divider separates the interior volume into a nitrogen gas chamber and a magnetorheological fluid chamber. A piston extends into both the nitrogen gas chamber and the magnetorheological fluid chamber. The piston defines a magnetorheological fluid gap within the magnetorheological fluid chamber. An electric coil positioned adjacent the fluid gap to apply a magnetic field to magnetorheological fluid within the fluid gap when the electric coil is energized.

The present exemplary embodiments relate to a variable damping force shock absorber in which variable valves each capable of varying a damping force during compression and rebound strokes are installed inside a cylinder, and thus, a volume of an apparatus is reduced to easily secure an installation space and prevent interference with peripheral components.

A system for proactively adjusting to impact forces has first and second walls spaced apart from one another to define a stationary enclosed cavity therebetween; a movable member inside the enclosed cavity; an actuator; a proximity sensor; computer memory; a processor in data communication with the actuator, the proximity sensor, and the computer memory; programming causing the processor to determine a potential impact location on at least one of the first and second walls using data obtained from the proximity sensor; and programming causing the processor to activate the actuator based on the potential impact location, activation of the actuator causing the movable member to move inside the enclosed cavity prior to receiving the impact forces.

A system for proactively adjusting to impact forces has first and second walls spaced apart from one another to define a stationary enclosed cavity therebetween; a movable member inside the enclosed cavity; an actuator; a proximity sensor; computer memory; a processor in data communication with the actuator, the proximity sensor, and the computer memory; programming causing the processor to determine a potential impact location on at least one of the first and second walls using data obtained from the proximity sensor; and programming causing the processor to activate the actuator based on the potential impact location, activation of the actuator causing the movable member to move inside the enclosed cavity prior to receiving the impact forces.

A damper assembly has a load management system comprising a jounce bumper, a striker cap conformably coupled to an end of the damper tube and a jounce bumper restraint attached to the striker cap and comprising an annulus that extends axially away from the striker cap and towards the jounce bumper, to define a jounce bumper rate cup therein. The striker cap and the annulus axially and radially engage the jounce bumper during impact events.

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 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.