The present embodiment generally relates to a mechanical assembly which modifies and enhances the performance of a critical portion of the parts which comprise an air spring assembly. A key element common with an air spring assembly is the precharge chamber. This chamber is filled at the factory with compressed gas and along with a floating piston and a piston rod, creates the basic air spring assembly. Although this is a sealed chamber, the potential for air leakage is well documented. The inability to maintain the design gas pressure in the precharge chamber requires the chamber to initially be overcharged to remain functional even with the slow loss of air charge. The present invention demonstrates how the precharge assembly found in all such air springs can be modified and, with the addition of a few parts, be capable of maintaining the precharge pressure at an optimum level.

An end member assembly can include a first end member section and a second end member section that together form an end member volume. A partition section is provided separately and is disposed within the end member volume to separate the end member volume into at least two volume portions. At least one passage extends through the partition section and at least one control device is disposed in fluid communication along the passage. The control device substantially fluidically isolates the two volume portions under conditions of use below a predetermined differential pressure threshold. The control device permits fluid communication between the two volume portions under conditions of use in which the predetermined pressure threshold is exceeded. Gas spring assemblies including such an end member assembly as well as suspension systems and methods of manufacture are also included.

A control arrangement for a frequency-dependent damping valve having a control pot and an axaially displaceable control piston that axially limits a control space in the control pot and is connected to the damping valve device via an inlet connection. A spring element is arranged between the control piston and the damping valve that introduces a spring force axially into the control piston and the damping valve. When the control piston displaces towards the damping valve and the spring element increases the pressing pressure of the valve disks to increase the damping force. An axial position of a stop in the control arrangement is adjusted by plastic deformation of the pot base. A deformation portion produced by the plastic deformation and a depression partially receives the guide bush. A cross section of the depression corresponds to an outer cross section of the guide bush received in the depression.

A control arrangement for a frequency-dependent damping valve having a control pot and an axaially displaceable control piston that axially limits a control space in the control pot and is connected to the damping valve device via an inlet connection. A spring element is arranged between the control piston and the damping valve that introduces a spring force axially into the control piston and the damping valve. When the control piston displaces towards the damping valve and the spring element increases the pressing pressure of the valve disks to increase the damping force. An axial position of a stop in the control arrangement is adjusted by plastic deformation of the pot base. A deformation portion produced by the plastic deformation and a depression partially receives the guide bush. A cross section of the depression corresponds to an outer cross section of the guide bush received in the depression

A dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut arrangement includes a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut, a pressure/temperature sensor mounted to the primary gas chamber, a stroke sensor, and a monitoring system, comprising a recorder configured to receive a plurality of sensor readings from at least one of the pressure/temperature sensor and the stroke sensor, a landing detector configured to detect a landing event based upon a stroke sensor reading received from the stroke sensor, and a health monitor configured to determine a volume of oil in the oil chamber, a volume of gas in the primary gas chamber, and a volume of gas in the secondary gas chamber.

A dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut arrangement includes a dual-stage, separated gas/fluid shock strut and a monitoring system. The shock strut includes a strut cylinder, a strut piston operatively coupled to the strut cylinder, an oil chamber, a primary gas chamber, and a secondary gas chamber. The monitoring system includes a first pressure/temperature sensor, a second pressure/temperature sensor, a stroke sensor, a recorder configured to receive a plurality of sensor readings from the first pressure/temperature sensor, the second pressure/temperature sensor, and/or the stroke sensor, a landing detector configured to detect a landing event based upon a stroke sensor reading received from the stroke sensor, and a health monitor configured to determine a volume of oil in the oil chamber, a primary chamber gas volume in the primary gas chamber, and a secondary chamber gas volume in the secondary gas chamber.

A head unit system for controlling motion of an object includes an environment sensor and a head unit device that include shear thickening fluid (STF) and a chamber configured to contain the STF. The chamber further includes front and back channels. The head unit device further includes a piston housed at least partially radially within the piston compartment and separating the back channel and the front channel. The piston includes a first piston bypass and a second piston bypasses to control flow of the STF between opposite sides of the piston. The chamber further includes a set of fluid flow sensors and a set of fluid manipulation emitters to control the flow of the STF to cause selection of one of a variety of shear rates for the STF within the chamber to abate an external factor of concern associated with an external environment as sensed by the environment sensor.

A spring and damping arrangement for adjusting the spring rate and the driving position of a motorcycle includes a series circuit having at least one helical spring, an air spring unit, and a hydraulic actuating element. The spring rate of the air spring unit is changeable as a function of a force acting from the outside on the spring and damping arrangement, such that the driving position change resulting from the applied force is compensated by the hydraulic loading of the hydraulic actuating element, such that a defined driving position can be adjusted or maintained.

An active damping system for a driveline includes a prop shaft configured to transmit engine power from an engine to a load, a sealed damper housing, and an active damping fluid contained within the sealed damper housing. A viscosity of the active damping fluid is changeable based on a torsional vibration of the prop shaft. The active damping system further includes a piston fixed to a side of the prop shaft and in communication with the active damping fluid. The piston is configured to rotate about an axis of the prop shaft. The system further includes a viscosity changing unit in communication with the active damping fluid, and a controller operatively connected to the viscosity changing unit. The controller is configured to cause the viscosity changing unit to change a viscosity of the active damping fluid. The viscosity of the active damping fluid changes the torsional vibration.

A monitoring system for a dual-stage, pressure-activated, mixed fluid gas shock strut, may comprise a controller, and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the controller, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising receiving, by the controller, a primary chamber temperature sensor reading, receiving, by the controller, a primary chamber pressure sensor reading, receiving, by the controller, a shock strut stroke sensor reading, and calculating, by the controller, an oil volume in a primary chamber of the shock strut. The instructions may cause the controller to perform further operations comprising calculating, by the controller, a number of moles of gas in a primary chamber of the shock strut and calculating, by the controller, a number of moles of gas in a secondary chamber of the shock strut.