The invention relates to a spring element for vibration damping and/or suspension of a rail vehicle, comprising at least one elastic damping body and at least one fire-resistant cover layer arranged on the damping body, the cover layer having at least one compensation zone, wherein the compensation zone is compressed in the loaded state of the spring element such that wrinkling of the cover layer is prevented, wherein the cover layer and the damping body are inseparably connected to form a composite element. The invention further relates to a cover layer and the use of a spring element or a cover layer.

Externally-damped electromechanical valve assemblies well-suited for deployment within high vibratory operating environments, such as those associated with work vehicle engines, are provided. In embodiments, the valve assembly includes a housing through which a flow passage extends, a valve element positioned in the flow passage, a valve actuator, and control electronics electrically coupled to the valve actuator. The valve assembly may also contain a constrained layer damper including a first mass element and a first viscoelastic layer. The first mass element is mounted in suspension to the housing exterior for movement relative thereto when the first mass element is excited by vibrations transmitted through the housing. Constrained between the first mass element and the housing exterior, the first viscoelastic layer deflects in shear as the first mass element moves relative to the housing to attenuate the vibrations transmitted through the housing by conversion of vibrational energy to heat.

A shock-absorbing or vibration-absorbing assembly includes a metal base and an elastic shock-absorbing or vibration-absorbing material secured to the metal base. A top surface of the metal base has at least one orifice extending from the top surface to at least one hollow chamber beneath the top surface. The hollow chamber occupies a planar area of the metal base parallel to the top surface that is larger than a planar area of the metal base that is occupied by the orifice at the top surface. The elastic material is secured to the metal base by the elastic material filling the orifice and the hollow chamber of the metal base and the elastic material filling a region above the top surface of the metal base that has a cross-sectional area parallel to the top surface of the metal base that is larger than the planar area of the metal base that is occupied by the orifice at the top surface of the metal base. The elastic material is secured to the metal base by placing the metal base against a mold having a hollow space to be filled with the elastic material. The elastic material is injected into the hollow chamber and orifice of the metal base and into the hollow space of the mold. The mold is removed from the metal base, so that the elastic material is secured to the metal base by the elastic material filling the orifice and the hollow chamber of the metal base and the elastic material filling a region above the top surface of the metal base that corresponds to the hollow space of the mold.

A shock-absorbing or vibration-absorbing assembly includes a metal base and an elastic shock-absorbing or vibration-absorbing material secured to the metal base. A top surface of the metal base has at least one orifice extending from the top surface to at least one hollow chamber beneath the top surface. The hollow chamber occupies a planar area of the metal base parallel to the top surface that is larger than a planar area of the metal base that is occupied by the orifice at the top surface. The elastic material is secured to the metal base by the elastic material filling the orifice and the hollow chamber of the metal base and the elastic material filling a region above the top surface of the metal base that has a cross-sectional area parallel to the top surface of the metal base that is larger than the planar area of the metal base that is occupied by the orifice at the top surface of the metal base. The elastic material is secured to the metal base by placing the metal base against a mold having a hollow space to be filled with the elastic material. The elastic material is injected into the hollow chamber and orifice of the metal base and into the hollow space of the mold. The mold is removed from the metal base, so that the elastic material is secured to the metal base by the elastic material filling the orifice and the hollow chamber of the metal base and the elastic material filling a region above the top surface of the metal base that corresponds to the hollow space of the mold.

A wave spring comprises fiber in a thermoplastic resin matrix, and includes one or more annular wave-springs elements, or one or more curvilinear wave-spring elements. The annular wave-spring elements, which are arrayed in a stack, are not coupled to one another. A wave spring comprising annular wave-spring elements includes an alignment feature for establishing and maintaining the alignment of the wave spring elements. In a wave spring including curvilinear wave-spring elements, a first end of each curvilinear wave-spring element is attached to a first member and a second end of each curvilinear wave-spring element is attached to a second member, the plurality of curvilinear wave-spring elements being disposed between the two members. The plurality of curvilinear wave-spring elements in the array are positioned side by side, the array extending laterally along a length of the first member and second member, and providing a low-profile wave spring.

A wave spring comprises fiber in a thermoplastic resin matrix, and includes one or more annular wave-springs elements, or one or more curvilinear wave-spring elements. The annular wave-spring elements, which are arrayed in a stack, are not coupled to one another. A wave spring comprising annular wave-spring elements includes an alignment feature for establishing and maintaining the alignment of the wave spring elements. In a wave spring including curvilinear wave-spring elements, a first end of each curvilinear wave-spring element is attached to a first member and a second end of each curvilinear wave-spring element is attached to a second member, the plurality of curvilinear wave-spring elements being disposed between the two members. The plurality of curvilinear wave-spring elements in the array are positioned side by side, the array extending laterally along a length of the first member and second member, and providing a low-profile wave spring.

A sheet-shaped cushioning rubber including a planar base portion and a three-dimensional portion formed to rise from the base portion toward one side in a sheet thickness direction, the planar base portion and the three-dimensional portion being alternately provided in one direction of a sheet plane, wherein the three-dimensional portion includes a hollow portion that opens toward the other side in the sheet thickness direction. The three-dimensional portion is integrally provided with a first rising surface that is continuous from the base portion, a top surface, a second rising surface on a side opposite to the first rising surface, and a pair of rising surfaces on both sides in a sheet width direction, and the hollow portion opens only toward the other side in the sheet thickness direction.

A sheet-shaped cushioning rubber including a planar base portion and a three-dimensional portion formed to rise from the base portion toward one side in a sheet thickness direction, the planar base portion and the three-dimensional portion being alternately provided in one direction of a sheet plane, wherein the three-dimensional portion includes a hollow portion that opens toward the other side in the sheet thickness direction. The three-dimensional portion is integrally provided with a first rising surface that is continuous from the base portion, a top surface, a second rising surface on a side opposite to the first rising surface, and a pair of rising surfaces on both sides in a sheet width direction, and the hollow portion opens only toward the other side in the sheet thickness direction.

An insert to a mold for a leaf spring comprises a substrate and a hole that extends through the substrate, A post protrudes from the substrate such that the insert, may be coupled to the mold. Further, the post covers the hole on a first end, so the hole is not exposed. On the other end of the hole, a thin overlay that covers the hole. Thus, during a process where resin is added to the mold, no resin enters the hole. The insert, when added to a leaf spring, offers reinforcement on areas where there is high stress. Therefore, holes may be added to a leaf spring at areas of high stress without overly weakening the leaf spring.

An insert to a mold for a leaf spring comprises a substrate and a hole that extends through the substrate, A post protrudes from the substrate such that the insert, may be coupled to the mold. Further, the post covers the hole on a first end, so the hole is not exposed. On the other end of the hole, a thin overlay that covers the hole. Thus, during a process where resin is added to the mold, no resin enters the hole. The insert, when added to a leaf spring, offers reinforcement on areas where there is high stress. Therefore, holes may be added to a leaf spring at areas of high stress without overly weakening the leaf spring.