A variable spring rate absorber is adjusted to provide the vibration attenuation characteristics needed to match current operating conditions. Control of a variable spring rate absorber determines the desired absorber spring rate for existing conditions based on a number of inputs and predetermined characterization tables. Once the spring rate is calculated, a predetermined map may be used to determine the absorber setting needed to achieve the desired spring rate. A sensor may be used to measure the actual state of the absorber to determine the extent to which the setting must be adjusted to achieve the desired spring rate.

A balance assembly for an engine is provided. The balance assembly includes a first electric motor coupled to the engine and configured to rotate a first eccentric mass relative to the engine, the first eccentric mass being coupled to a first shaft of the first electric motor, and a second electric motor coupled to the engine and configured to rotate a second eccentric mass relative to the engine, the second eccentric mass being coupled to a second shaft of the second electric motor. The first and second electric motors are configured to rotate the first and second eccentric masses in order to balance a vibration characteristic of the engine.

A control device of a processing machine actuates an axle drive of the processing machine commensurate with a reference displacement movement, displacing a mechanical structure of the processing machine accordingly. The control device determines an absolute movement of the mechanical structure in space and therefrom, taking into account the reference displacement movement of the mechanical structure, a compensation movement for a compensating mass damping a vibration of the mechanical structure. Arranged on the mechanical structure is a compensating drive which acts on the compensating mass. The control device actuates the compensating drive in accordance with the compensation movement, displacing the compensating mass relative to the mechanical structure and thereby damping the vibration of the mechanical structure.

A method is described for operating machines (10) having moving parts and arranged jointly on a support (32), said parts being moved periodically with substantially the same frequency, and wherein the phase of an oscillation of one machine (10) in relation to the phase of an oscillation of a further machine (10) is controlled by shifting the phases with respect to one another such that the amplitude of an oscillation of a structural part, for example of the support (32), remains below a predefined maximum value.

Provided a suspension control appratus including a vehicle behavior detection unit (acceleration sensors), an electrorheological damper provided between a vehicle body (1) and each wheel (2), and a controller configured to execute control so that a damping force of each electrorheological damper is adjusted based on a detection result obtained by the vehicle behavior detection unit. The controller includes a target voltage value setting unit (damping force command calculation unit) configured to obtain a target voltage value to be applied to an electrode tube based on the detection result obtained by the vehicle behavior detection unit, a temperature estimation unit configured to detect or estimate temperature of ERF, and a target voltage value correction unit (output limiting unit) configured to change the target voltage value so that a piston speed (V) is adjusted based on a value obtained by the temperature estimation unit.

A method for cancelling seat vibration includes receiving, from an accelerometer, a plurality of accelerometer measurements and applying a first filter to the plurality of accelerometer measurements to remove accelerometer measurements of the plurality of accelerometer measurements having a frequency above a first threshold frequency. The method also includes applying a second filter to an output of the first filter to remove accelerometer measurements of the output of the first filter having a frequency above a second threshold frequency and applying a third filter to an output of the second filter to generate an accelerometer measurement output having a center frequency corresponding to a resonant frequency of the vibration of the at least one component of the seat. The method also includes determining an absolute magnitude value of the accelerometer measurement output and selectively controlling a motor based on the absolute magnitude value of the accelerometer measurement output.

A suspension device includes a damper having an extension-side chamber and a contraction-side chamber, an air spring that exerts a resilient force in a direction in which the damper is extended, and a control part that independently adjusts the pressures of the extension-side chamber and the contraction-side chamber to control a force exerted by the damper. The control part makes the damper exert a balancing force against the resilient force of the air spring in a predetermined stroke range of the air spring.

To solve a problem, for example, in which holding a movable mass becomes difficult because the spring characteristics of a rubber constituting a basis are set low in order to set the characteristic value at a low value. In a first dynamic vibration absorber including a movable mass that is coupled to a vibration damping target member via an MRE as a first elastic member having elastic characteristics variable with a magnetic field, and being capable of varying a vibration characteristic value of the movable mass by controlling the magnetic field, the dynamic vibration absorber has a second elastic member different from the MRE, and the vibration damping target member and the movable mass are elastically-coupled to each other via the second elastic member.

Shock absorber and method for operating a shock absorber for a bicycle wherein a relative motion of a first and a second component interconnected via a damper device is dampened. The damper device includes a controllable damping valve with a field generating device with which a field-sensitive medium can be influenced for influencing a damping force of the damper device by applying a field intensity of the field generating device. A parameter for the current relative speeds of the first and second components is obtained in real time. For damping, a current field intensity to be set is derived in real time by way of the parameter from a characteristic damper curve and the field intensity to be currently set is generated by the field generating device in real time for setting in real time a damping force which results from the predetermined characteristic damper curve at the parameter obtained.

A damper is provided which can more reliably prevent malfunction and breakdown and which enables efficiently performing repair and inspection operations. This damper, provided with a casing linked to a first object and a rotating part linked to a second object rotatably attached to the first object, damps rotation in either the direction closing or the direction opening the second object, and is provided with a sensor which detects prescribed change in the external environment in the damper or around the damper, and a control unit which externally communicates, over a communication network, information relating to the change in the external environment detected by the sensor, wherein the sensor is configured from at least one of: a rotation sensor for detecting the number of revolutions of the rotating part; a sound sensor for detecting sound during rotations of the rotating part; a temperature sensor for detecting temperature; and a torque sensor for detecting torque on the basis of friction during rotation of the rotating part.