An load adaptive lift assist for a pivoting stowage bin includes an assembly housing having an interior and a pair of opposing end fittings. A piston rod is disposed within the assembly housing and operatively coupled to one of the end fittings, the piston rod being configured to move between extended and retracted positions based on the movement of the pivoting stowage bin. A spring retainer is attached to a structure that retains at least one lift assist spring and a latch mechanism is operatively coupled to the other of the end fittings. The latch mechanism includes at least one mechanical feature for retaining the spring retainer until a predetermined load has been exceeded in the stowage bin. The load adaptive lift assist automatically resets itself and does not require use of sensors or feedback controls.

An arrangement for the temporary pre-tensioning of fork tubes (1, 2) of a telescoping fork, displaceable with respect to each other, comprises a base body (3) attached to a first fork tube (1) to secure and guide at least a first locking element (4) and a second locking element (5), whereby the locking elements (4, 5) interact with a receptacle element (6) attached to the second fork tube (2). A common actuation element (7) is provided within the housing of the base body (3) to actuate the locking elements (4,5).

An arrangement for the temporary pre-tensioning of fork tubes (1, 2) of a telescoping fork, displaceable with respect to each other, comprises a base body (3) attached to a first fork tube (1) to secure and guide at least a first locking element (4) and a second locking element (5), whereby the locking elements (4, 5) interact with a receptacle element (6) attached to the second fork tube (2). A common actuation element (7) is provided within the housing of the base body (3) to actuate the locking elements (4,5).

A method and apparatus for a suspension comprising a spring having a threaded member at a first end for providing axial movement to the spring as the spring is rotated and the threaded member moves relative to a second component. In one embodiment, the system includes a damper for metering fluid through a piston and a rotatable spring member coaxially disposed around the damper and rotatable relative to the damper.

A method and apparatus for a suspension comprising a spring having a threaded member at a first end for providing axial movement to the spring as the spring is rotated and the threaded member moves relative to a second component. In one embodiment, the system includes a damper for metering fluid through a piston and a rotatable spring member coaxially disposed around the damper and rotatable relative to the damper.

A blocking device for a shock absorber of a motor vehicle includes a first blocking member which has an insertion opening that is open-ended in a radial direction, for attachment of a piston rod of the shock absorber, and which has a receptacle. A second blocking member can be placed in a formfitting manner in the receptacle of the first blocking member in axial and radial directions to thereby close the insertion opening in the radial direction, while being held in the first blocking member.

The shock absorber includes a shock absorber main body, a spring seat that supports one end of a suspension spring and is movable in an axial direction of the shock absorber main body, a jack that adjusts a position of the spring seat, and an auxiliary spring interposed between the spring seat and the jack.

A door component has a controllable damping device and contains a magnetorheological fluid. Two connection units are movable relative to one another. One of the two connection units is connected to a support structure and the other one to a pivotable door unit. The device damps a movement of the door unit between a closed position and an open position in a controlled manner by way of a control unit. The magnetorheological damping device has a piston unit and a cylinder unit surrounding the piston unit. The piston unit divides a cylinder volume into two chambers. The piston unit is equipped with a first one-way valve. The two chambers are connected together, via an external return channel equipped with at least one controllable magnetorheological damping valve, to form a one-way circuit. When the piston unit moves in and out, the magnetorheological fluid flows through the piston unit in the same flow direction.

A method for damping a movement of a door system of a vehicle that is equipped with a damping system having an adjustable and controllable damping action. A movement of the door system between a closed position and an open position is damped in a controlled manner. A measurement of the change in speed of the speed of movement of the door system is calculated and if the change in speed exceeds a predefined limit value, a set, gentle damping action is changed over to a greater damping action.

A door component has a controllable damper device that contains a magnetorheological fluid as a working fluid. Two connection units of the damper device can be moved relative to each other. One of the two connection units can be connected to a support structure, and the other connection unit can be connected to a pivotal door device in order to damp a movement of the door device between a closed position and an open position in a controlled manner. The magnetorheological damper device has a piston unit and a cylinder unit which surrounds the piston unit. The piston unit divides a cylinder volume into two chambers. The piston unit has a first piston rod, which extends through the first chamber, and a second piston rod, which extends through the second chamber.