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.

The present disclosure relates to the customization of a composite layer material for absorbing or dissipating mechanical energy under impacts or vibrations. The composite layer material comprises at least a support layer of a resilient material, said support layer having recessed fluid-tight microchannels comprising a fluid, wherein the channel section and fluid viscosity is such to dampen the external load by the constricted fluid flow through said microchannels. Therefore, the present disclosure relates to a maximization of safety and/or comfort.

The present invention provides apparatus for transferring a load, comprising at least one unitary element of adsorptive material that increases an effective working volume of an enclosure for containing a pressurised gas that transfers a load between a first load transfer element and a further load transfer element. Use of at least one unitary element of adsorptive material is also provided to increase an effective working volume of an enclosure for containing a pressurised gas that transfers a load between a first load transfer element and a further load transfer element. A method of transferring a load is also provided.

A damper assembly includes a piston and cylinder type damper with a piston (14) mounted for reciprocal movement in a cylinder (10) containing damping fluid. The piston (14) is acted on by a piston rod (11) which includes a reaction surface for engaging the piston. The cross-sectional area of the reaction surface is designed to be significantly greater than the cross-sectional area of the piston rod (11) in order to spread the load exerted on the piston (14). Also, the piston (14) is designed to engage the piston rod (11) at its inner end in a manner that provides lateral guidance for the inner end of the piston rod in its movement in the cylinder (10).

A method for protecting the suspension and frame of a vehicle is provided. The method may include providing a first working mode where the strut is at a fully expanded state, providing a second working mode where the strut is at a partially collapsed state, and providing a fail-safe working mode where the strut is at a fully collapsed state. The method may further comprise alerting the user that the strut is operating in the fail-safe working mode and servicing the strut by placing a fail-safe member into the strut.

Apparatus and method for mounting an object are provided. The apparatus includes a clamp configured to attach to a strut, and a bracket coupled to the clamp. The bracket includes a first arm having a first end disposed proximal to the clamp and a second end disposed distal to the clamp, and a second arm having a first end disposed proximal to the clamp and coupled to the object, and a second end coupled to the second end of the first arm. The second arm is positioned between the first arm and the object.

The present disclosure provides a device and a method for controllable forging of a forming flow line of a complex-shaped component. The device includes a frame, a shaping unit, a cushioning unit, and a cleaning unit, and the frame is used to mount and fix the shaping unit, the cushioning unit, and the cleaning unit; the shaping unit is used to improve a shaping capacity of processed parts; the cushioning unit is used to reduce a vibration in a metal shaping process to avoid an impact on the shaping of the metal; the cleaning unit is used to clean up a surface of a mold after shaping; when the metal is put into the mold, the metal is extruded and shaped through the shaping unit, and at the same time, the cushioning unit is used to offset the vibration generated by the shaping unit during the shaping process.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a shock absorber, and to facilitate adjusting of the damping amount of the shock absorber. The shock absorber 10 has an outer tube 11 and an inner tube 15, wherein a piston rod 14 projects from a base end of the outer tube 11, and a rotative operating part 19 provided in the inner tube 15 projects from a base end of the outer tube 11. An annular piston 27 separates a liquid accommodating chamber 16 into a shock absorbing chamber 28 and an accumulator chamber 29. A flow-rate adjusting hole 48 of the outer tube 11 is composed of a contact surface 51 and an eccentric surface 52. A bypass channel 53 communicating with a communication hole 49 is formed between the eccentric surface 52 and the inner tube 15.

A ceiling hanger for reducing transmission of vibrations between ceilings and equipment. The ceiling hanger includes a housing and one or more crumb rubber isolators. The housing includes a first surface, a second surface and one or more side walls connecting the first and second surface. The one or more crumb rubber isolators have through holes for receiving a fastener.