A leaf spring device (1) for a vehicle having a first spring leaf (2) made of a fiber reinforced plastic and at least one further spring leaf (3). The first spring leaf (2) and the further spring leaf (3) interact with one another to implement a progressive suspension. The first spring leaf (2) has a receiving space (4) and the further spring leaf (3) is arranged in the receiving space (4) so as to implement the progressive suspension and/or to increase stability when using such a leaf-spring device (1).

A damper of shock and vibration. In one embodiment there is a hydraulic damper with a regressive damping characteristic in both compression and extension, such that damping forces decrease with increased stroking velocity within a predetermined range of stroking velocity. Outside of this range, damping forces are progressive, such that the damping force increases with increased stroking velocity. In another embodiment, there is a hydraulic damper with a second, slidable piston within one of the internal chambers defined by the main piston. This secondary piston is spring loaded and hydraulically latchable at either a first position or a second position based on the pressure differential across the main piston.

A suspension limiter includes a diaphragm element configured to be placed in operable communication with a suspension such that a rate of increase in load per unit travel of compression of the suspension is reduced near a full travel of the suspension than would exist for the suspension if the diaphragm element were not present, the diaphragm element arranged to deform only elastically through the full travel of the suspension. Suspension arrangements and methods of loading suspension arrangements are also described.

A force damper arranged to progressively arrest a first force imparted by an object moving in a first direction, the force damper including a housing, a driving member and first and second resilient members. The housing includes a first end and a second end, the first end having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and a first connection point secured to the first surface, and the second end having a through bore and a third surface opposingly disposed relative to the second surface. The driving member includes a first end, a second end and a shaft therebetween, the first end having a stop and the second end having a second connection point. At least one of the first and second resilient members is formed from a material that at least partially undergoes plastic deformation when the first force is arrested. The first and second resilient members are disposed between the stop and the third surface and impart a second force on the stop toward the second surface.

A damping valve device for a vibration damper includes a first damping valve that moves into a through-flow operating position in a first operating range with increasing flow velocity of a damping medium. A second operating range with a progressive damping force characteristic is influenced by a throttle point in connection with a valve body that can be transferred into a throttle position. The valve body moves in closing direction with increasing flow velocity of the damping medium and is arranged in series with the damping valve. The valve body is constructed as a ring element with variable diameter that executes a radial closing movement in direction of a flow guide surface in which a defined minimum passage cross section is maintained.

A dock bumper for a loading dock includes a rear mounting plate for use in securing the dock bumper to a loading dock wall, a front contact surface configured to engage a vehicle backing into the loading dock, and an elastomer spring block positioned between the rear mounting plate and the front contact surface. The elastomer spring block includes an elastomeric material defining a pattern of geometric cavities. The geometric cavities are configured to provide a progressive spring rate in a longitudinal direction relative to the loading dock.

The invention relates to an assembly arrangement for assembling a component on an assembly environment in a vibration-damping way, comprising an abutment portion at the component end, an abutment portion at the environment end and a damping portion, wherein the damping portion is shaped in accordance with an at least approximately periodic function.

A dock bumper for a loading dock includes a rear mounting plate for use in securing the dock bumper to a loading dock wall, a front contact surface configured to engage a vehicle backing into the loading dock, and an elastomer spring block positioned between the rear mounting plate and the front contact surface. The elastomer spring block includes an elastomeric material defining a pattern of geometric cavities. The geometric cavities are configured to provide a progressive spring rate in a longitudinal direction relative to the loading dock.

A shock absorber includes a bottom rim, a top wall comprising a raised central portion and a top rim, a side wall extending between the top and bottom rims, and a corrugation surrounding a periphery of the raised central portion that (i) connects the raised central portion to the top rim, (ii) descends to a depth below half a height of the side wall, and (iii) is separated by a distance from a surface. Impact forces imparted on the shock absorber are attenuated by a first amount in a first stage by resistive yielding of the side wall; by a second amount in a second stage by depression of the central portion and resistive yielding of the corrugation associated therewith; and by a third amount in a third stage by resistive yielding of the corrugation in response to a force applied to the top rim upon contact with the surface.

A method for execution by a computing entity includes interpreting an electric response from a set of electric field sensors to produce a piston velocity and a piston position of a piston associated with a head unit device. The head unit device includes a chamber filled with a shear thickening fluid (STF) that includes a multitude of piezoelectric nanoparticles. The method further includes determining a shear force based on the piston velocity and the piston position. The method further includes determining a desired response for the STF based on the shear force, the piston velocity, and the piston position. The method further includes generating an electric activation based on the desired response for the STF and outputting the electric activation to a set of electric field emitters positioned proximal to the chamber.