A solar tracker system includes a torque tube, a solar panel assembly attached to the torque tube, a housing defining a chamber and a fluid passageway extending from the chamber, and an active lock connected to a seal configured to prevent a flow path of fluid while in a sealed state and allow the flow path of fluid in an unsealed state. The system further includes a controller in communication with the torque tube and the active lock. The controller is programmed to receive a command to place the solar panel assembly in a stowed position, instruct the torque tube to rotate the panel assembly to a stowed angle corresponding to the stowed position, monitor a current angle of the panel assembly, compare the current angle to the stowed angle, and instruct the seal to transition to the sealed state when the current angle is equal to the stowed angle.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a column supporting the torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an outer shell surrounding an inner shell. A piston is at least partially positioned within the inner shell and moveable relative thereto. An active lock of the damper assembly includes a housing positioned within the outer shell. The housing defines a cavity and a housing channel extending from the cavity to an outer fluid channel. A shaft extends into the cavity and a valve assembly is attached to the shaft. The shaft is rotatable within the cavity between an unsealed position in which the housing channel is in fluid communication with the cavity, and a sealed position in which the valve assembly is rotationally aligned with the housing channel and obstructs fluid communication between the cavity and the housing channel.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a column supporting the torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an outer shell surrounding an inner shell. A piston is at least partially positioned within the inner shell and moveable relative thereto. An active lock of the damper assembly includes a housing positioned within the outer shell. The housing defines a cavity and a housing channel extending from the cavity to an outer fluid channel. A shaft extends into the cavity and a valve assembly is attached to the shaft. The shaft is rotatable within the cavity between an unsealed position in which the housing channel is in fluid communication with the cavity, and a sealed position in which the valve assembly is rotationally aligned with the housing channel and obstructs fluid communication between the cavity and the housing channel.

An accumulator for a damper is provided. The accumulator includes a housing defining a longitudinal axis, a fluid connector and a bag. The bag includes a plurality of annular discs disposed adjacent to each other. Each annular disc includes an inner diameter defining a through aperture and an outer diameter. The plurality of annular discs includes a first end disc, a second end disc and one or more intermediate discs. Each intermediate disc is disposed between two adjacent annular discs. The inner diameter of the first end disc is connected to the fluid connector. The inner diameter of each intermediate disc is connected to the inner diameter of one adjacent annular disc. The outer diameter of each intermediate disc is connected to the outer diameter of the other adjacent annular disc. A solid cover disc is connected to the outer diameter of the second end disc.

A production method for a cylinder device includes a first liquid injection step of injecting a first predetermined amount of working fluid into the inner cylinder, a first piston rod insertion step of inserting an assembly of the piston rod and the piston into the inner cylinder to dispose the piston at a predetermined position inside the inner cylinder, a second liquid injection step of injecting a second predetermined amount of the working fluid into an upper side of the piston inside the inner cylinder, and a closing step of closing the opening of the outer cylinder with the closing member.

A damper assembly includes a damper, an accumulator, and a tube mount. The damper includes a tube having an outer surface. The tube defines a central axis and a first cavity in the outer surface. The accumulator has an end defining a second cavity. The accumulator defines a longitudinal axis. The tube mount is attached to the outer surface of the tube around the first cavity. The tube includes a damper fluid. The end of the accumulator is supported by the tube mount to allow the damper fluid to flow from the tube through the first cavity and into the accumulator through the second cavity. The longitudinal axis of the accumulator is transverse to the central axis of the tube.

A protruding portion includes a fitting portion to which an outer periphery of a cylinder is fitted. When the cylinder and a closing member are assembled into an outer cylinder, a length from a contact portion to one end side end portion of the outer cylinder is longer than a length from the other end side end portion of the cylinder to one end side end portion on an outer peripheral side of the closing member. A length from one end side end surface of the protruding portion to the contact portion is longer than a difference between the length from the contact portion of a bottom portion to one end side end portion of the outer cylinder and the length from the other end side end portion of the cylinder to one end side end portion on the outer peripheral side of the closing member.

A mounting system for the elastic mounting of a strut or a vibration damper on a vehicle body includes a unit insertable into a receiving cup and a fixing device. The unit includes a mounting unit and a piston rod of a strut or vibration damper. In embodiments, the mounting unit has an elastomer mount for mounting the piston rod; the elastomer mount has a core for receiving the piston rod and an elastomer body, and a ring element that is a separate part or is non-positively, positively and/or materially connected to the body; the unit and fixing device may be inserted into the receiving cup from a side facing away from the body; the fixing device engages behind an undercut formed on the receiving cup; the ring element is supported on the fixing device; and/or the elastomer body is prestressed and presses the ring element against the fixing device.

A piston and a method for producing a piston which can be secured to a piston sliding unit is provided. The piston sliding unit can be moved along its longitudinal axis in a cylinder. The piston includes a disc-shaped base body, wherein the piston is suitable and intended to seal two regions of the cylinder filled with a medium against one another. The method includes the following steps: a) producing the piston by pressing a material into a piston mold; b) smoothing the surface of the piston and/or pressing at least one flow path into the piston, by an embossing tool, which has a raised and rotationally symmetrical structure.

An air spring assembly includes a guide tube having a plurality of fixing openings spaced circumferentially from each other and a bellow including a plurality of tabs. The bellow is disposed within the guide tube and the plurality of tabs are received within a corresponding one of the fixing openings.