A shock absorber assembly comprises two springs 11, 12 arranged in series so as, in use, to extend between a pair of spaced apart spring seats. A coupling member 13 is arranged between the adjacent ends 11b, 12a of the springs 11, 12. The coupling member 13 is adjustable and is formed by a shaft having a pair of flanges 14, 15 provided on the outer surface thereof. The shaft extends axially beyond each flange 14, 15 so as to extend inside the windings of the abutting spring ends 11b, 12a to locate the spring ends 11b, 12a on the coupler 13. Each flange 14, 15 engages an associated adjacent ends 11b, 12a of one of the springs 11, 12. At least one of said flanges 14, 15 is moveable longitudinally along the shaft so as to vary the longitudinal separation between the two flanges 14, 15 and thereby vary the preload on the springs 11, 12.

Embodiments of the present invention describe a recreational vehicle spindle, including a spindle body having one or more sockets in the spindle body, and an upper attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body and adapted to attach to a steering component. The spindle also includes a lower attachment mechanism in contact with the spindle body and adapted to attach to a ski or wheel. The one or more sockets are adapted to each receive a ball and stud forming one or more ball joints.

A tandem wheel assembly for a work vehicle includes a tandem wheel housing having a center opening extending along a pivot axis and wheel end openings extending along associated wheel end axes. The tandem wheel housing is pivotally mounted to a chassis of the work vehicle about the pivot axis. A center sprocket is rotatably disposed within the tandem wheel housing. Wheel end assemblies are disposed at the wheel end openings and each includes a wheel end sprocket, a wheel end gear train, and a wheel end hub. A pair of reaction bars are being pivotally coupled at first ends to the chassis and at second ends to a component of the respective wheel end assembly. A pivot dampening system is positioned, at least in part, axially between the tandem wheel housing and either the chassis or the component of at least one of the wheel end assemblies. The pivot dampening system is configured to dampen the pivoting of the tandem wheel housing tandem wheel housing relative to the chassis.

A spring configuration comprises a cylindrical damper (5), a primary coil spring (9) with a first predetermined spring rate K1, and a secondary coil spring (11) with a second predetermined spring rate K2, the coil springs arranged about the cylindrical damper (5) in series so as to provide a total combined spring rate KT, an actuator (20) configured to compress and decompress the coil springs (9, 11), a stop (12) configured to deactivate the secondary coil spring (11) at a stop position, such that, when the system is in a first, comfort, mode, the overall suspension spring rate is defined by the series equation 1/KT=1/K1+1/K2, and when the system is in a second, handling, mode, the overall vehicle suspension spring rate is defined by the series equation KT=K1, thus selectively and switchably providing both a low rate, optimal ride comfort setting and a high rate, optimal handling lower ride height setting.

A spring configuration comprises a cylindrical damper (5), a primary coil spring (9) with a first predetermined spring rate K1, and a secondary coil spring (11) with a second predetermined spring rate K2, the coil springs arranged about the cylindrical damper (5) in series so as to provide a total combined spring rate KT, an actuator (20) configured to compress and decompress the coil springs (9, 11), a stop (12) configured to deactivate the secondary coil spring (11) at a stop position, such that, when the system is in a first, comfort, mode, the overall suspension spring rate is defined by the series equation 1/KT=1/K1+1/K2, and when the system is in a second, handling, mode, the overall vehicle suspension spring rate is defined by the series equation KT=K1, thus selectively and switchably providing both a low rate, optimal ride comfort setting and a high rate, optimal handling lower ride height setting.

The invention refers to a method of preventing automatic leveling during battery replacement, and a computer-program thereof. The method of preventing automatic leveling during battery replacement, according to invention, operates for an electric vehicle equipped with a first electronic control unit (100) in charge with battery replacement and a second electronic control unit (200) of suspension system, the respective ECUs (100, 200) communicating by means of an internal bus system. The method includes the following steps: (51) Sending an information from the first ECU to the second ECU that the vehicle is prepared to perform a battery replacement; (52) Once said information is received by the second ECU, triggering a leveling forbid flag to the suspension system and deactivating it; (53) Once said deactivation has been performed, setting a feedback signal to inform that battery replacement can commence; (54) during battery replacement, setting said feedback signal to inform that battery replacement is ongoing; (55) Upon completion of battery replacement, informing the second ECU that the battery replacement has been finished successfully, and allowing the activation of suspension.

The invention refers to a method of preventing automatic leveling during battery replacement, and a computer-program thereof. The method of preventing automatic leveling during battery replacement, according to invention, operates for an electric vehicle equipped with a first electronic control unit (100) in charge with battery replacement and a second electronic control unit (200) of suspension system, the respective ECUs (100, 200) communicating by means of an internal bus system. The method includes the following steps: (51) Sending an information from the first ECU to the second ECU that the vehicle is prepared to perform a battery replacement; (52) Once said information is received by the second ECU, triggering a leveling forbid flag to the suspension system and deactivating it; (53) Once said deactivation has been performed, setting a feedback signal to inform that battery replacement can commence; (54) during battery replacement, setting said feedback signal to inform that battery replacement is ongoing; (55) Upon completion of battery replacement, informing the second ECU that the battery replacement has been finished successfully, and allowing the activation of suspension.

A crane, in particular a pick and carry crane, may have a front chassis with front wheels and a back chassis with back wheels, the front chassis being articulated relative to the back chassis so that the crane can travel whilst carrying a load suspended from a boom. The back and front wheels have independent suspensions which are capable of connection to one another so that movement of a left wheel influences movement of a right wheel, thereby improving the handing of the crane, particularly over rough terrain.

A wheelchair suspension comprises a frame, at least one pivot arm, at least one front caster, at least one rear caster, a stabilizing system, and a sensor. The pivot arm is coupled to the frame. The front caster is coupled to the pivot arm. The rear caster is coupled to the frame. The stabilizing system is coupled to the frame and the pivot arm. The sensor is arranged such that tipping of the frame causes actuation of the stabilizing system to at least partially resist further movement of the frame.

A wheelchair suspension comprises a frame, at least one pivot arm, at least one front caster, at least one rear caster, a stabilizing system, and a sensor. The pivot arm is coupled to the frame. The front caster is coupled to the pivot arm. The rear caster is coupled to the frame. The stabilizing system is coupled to the frame and the pivot arm. The sensor is arranged such that tipping of the frame causes actuation of the stabilizing system to at least partially resist further movement of the frame.