A method for pressurizing and depressurizing a shock absorber of an aircraft. More specifically, it relates to a method in which an aircraft weight and ambient temperature are used to calculate a required pressurization level of a shock absorber. As such, the shock absorber may be pressurized to the correct level without applying an iterative approach, greatly reducing initialization time.

A shock absorber includes a first end and a second end that reciprocate relative to one another. The shock absorber includes a gas spring chamber, a damping chamber, and a floating piston. The first side of the floating piston is in fluid communication with the gas spring chamber. The second side of the floating piston is in fluid communication with the damping chamber. The gas in the gas spring chamber applies pressure against the floating piston, which applies pressure to the substantially incompressible fluid in the damping chamber. This pressure transfer may be adequate to minimize or prevent cavitation.

A spring for a suspension is described. The spring includes: a spring chamber divided into at least a primary portion and a secondary portion, and a fluid flow path coupled with and between the primary portion and the secondary portion. The fluid flow path includes a bypass mechanism, wherein the bypass mechanism is configured for automatically providing resistance within the fluid flow path in response to a compressed condition of the suspension.

A bicycle assembly can include a front or rear suspension system with a shock absorber. A front suspension system can be a suspension fork. A rear suspension system can include a rear shock absorber. The shock can have a shock body and a pressurized main air chamber within the shock body to act as an air spring. The shock can also have a valve configured to receive a pump for adding air to the main air chamber. A secondary air chamber and a control member can be used to reduce the pressure within the main air chamber by venting the secondary air chamber to the atmosphere.

A bicycle assembly can include a front or rear suspension system with a shock absorber. A front suspension system can be a suspension fork. A rear suspension system can include a rear shock absorber. The shock can have a shock body and a pressurized main air chamber within the shock body to act as an air spring. The shock can also have a valve configured to receive a pump for adding air to the main air chamber. A secondary air chamber and a control member can be used to reduce the pressure within the main air chamber by venting the secondary air chamber to the atmosphere.

A shock absorber is provided that includes a shock body and a shaft assembly. The shock body has an inner chamber. The inner chamber is defined by a cylindrical interior surface. At least one groove is formed in the interior surface within at least one select length of the shock body. A piston of the shaft assembly is received within the inner chamber of the shock body. The piston includes valving to allow dampening matter that is received within the inner chamber to pass through the piston to allow the piston to move within the inner chamber. The at least one groove that is formed within the interior surface is configured to allow at least some of the dampening matter to bypass the valving of the piston to allow the piston to move through the at least one select length with less resistance.

A pressure-balanced shock absorber has an outer tube, an inflatable base, a piston tube, a valve adjusting rod, a piston base, an inner tube, and an adjusting resilient element. The inflatable base has a valve passage and a first valve core. The first valve core selectively seals the valve passage. The piston tube communicates with the valve passage. The valve adjusting rod is movably mounted in the valve passage of the inflatable base and the valve tube. The piston base is connected to the piston tube and has a piston passage. A second valve core selectively seals the piston passage. The inner tube is mounted around the piston tube. The piston base divides the inner tube into a first air chamber and a second air chamber. The adjusting resilient element is disposed in the piston tube to achieve the effect of inflating two air chambers.

A device recovers energy in working machines with at least one power drive actuated to move a load mass back and forth and with an energy storage system (16) absorbing the energy released in the movement of the load mass in one direction and making it available for a subsequent movement in the other direction. The energy storage system includes an accumulator cylinder (16) mechanically coupled to the load mass and storing pneumatic pressure energy for movement in one direction. For movement in the other direction, the accumulator cylinder acts as an auxiliary working cylinder supporting the power drive and converting the stored pressure energy into driving force.

A cushion module is provided herein and includes a mounting manifold and a retaining plate. An array of pneumatic assemblies is coupled to and disposed between the mounting manifold and the retaining plate. Each pneumatic assembly includes a pneumatic cylinder having a piston rod and configured to receive pressurized air for moving the piston rod to a selected position. The pressurized air supplied to each pneumatic cylinder is variable and the piston rods collectively define a support surface having variable contour and firmness, and on which an object is rested to assess the comfortability of the support surface.

A front fork leg includes an inner chamber that absorbs by a gas spring a shock caused on a vehicle; an auxiliary gas spring chamber communicating with the inner chamber; an auxiliary piston provided in the auxiliary gas spring chamber; and a gas spring chamber side gas chamber sectioned by the auxiliary piston and communicating with the inner chamber, and the auxiliary piston moves to increase a volume of the gas spring chamber side gas chamber, as pressure inside the inner chamber increases.