A method and apparatus for a vehicle suspension system gas spring. In one embodiment, a vehicle suspension system gas spring includes a compressible main gas chamber and an additional volume combinable with the main chamber to change a gas spring rate of the system. In one embodiment, a low friction piston seal is created by a flexible seal member.

A robot leg structure includes: a link 500 extending downward from a leg joint; a ground contact portion 600 that comes in contact with a ground, a leaf spring 300 that couples the link 500 and the ground contact portion 600 to each other; and a damping member 400 arranged to be adjacent to the leaf spring 300 and configured to couple the link 500 and the ground contact portion 600 to each other. With this configuration, the damping member 400 damps the vibration attributed to the leaf spring 300, making it possible to reliably stabilize the motion of the legs of a robot.

A robot leg structure includes: a link 500 extending downward from a leg joint; a ground contact portion 600 that comes in contact with a ground, a leaf spring 300 that couples the link 500 and the ground contact portion 600 to each other; and a damping member 400 arranged to be adjacent to the leaf spring 300 and configured to couple the link 500 and the ground contact portion 600 to each other. With this configuration, the damping member 400 damps the vibration attributed to the leaf spring 300, making it possible to reliably stabilize the motion of the legs of a robot.

An active air spring regulates and controls compression and rebound travel, speed, and shock position by modulating internal pressures in an air bag and/or air cylinder in real time by varying the internal volume of discrete air reservoirs in fluid connection with one another as controlled by valves, venting, and self-pressurization.

An active air spring regulates and controls compression and rebound travel, speed, and shock position by modulating internal pressures in an air bag and/or air cylinder in real time by varying the internal volume of discrete air reservoirs in fluid connection with one another as controlled by valves, venting, and self-pressurization.

A damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems. The damping air spring includes a first chamber and a second chamber and at least one opening between the first chamber and second chamber to provide restricted fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. An adsorptive material is disposed within the first chamber or the second chamber and works in conjunction with the at least one opening to provide damping characteristics to the air spring over a first and second critical range of frequencies.

A suspension device includes a leaf spring and a buffer. The leaf spring applies an elastic force for relatively moving an unsprung member in a predetermined direction with respect to a body (sprung member) of a vehicle. The buffer includes a first expansion/contraction member, a second expansion/contraction member, an intermediate member, and a damping passage. The first and second expansion/contraction members form first and second gas chambers filled with gas therein and are expandable and contractible. An upper end and a lower end of the first and second expansion/contraction members are connected to the body. The intermediate member couples the first and second expansion/contraction members and is connected to the leaf spring. The damping passage allows the first and second gas chambers to communicate with each other, and applies resistance to flow of flowing gas. When one of the first and second expansion/contraction members expands, the other contracts.

A suspension device includes a leaf spring and a buffer. The leaf spring applies an elastic force for relatively moving an unsprung member in a predetermined direction with respect to a body (sprung member) of a vehicle. The buffer includes a first expansion/contraction member, a second expansion/contraction member, an intermediate member, and a damping passage. The first and second expansion/contraction members form first and second gas chambers filled with gas therein and are expandable and contractible. An upper end and a lower end of the first and second expansion/contraction members are connected to the body. The intermediate member couples the first and second expansion/contraction members and is connected to the leaf spring. The damping passage allows the first and second gas chambers to communicate with each other, and applies resistance to flow of flowing gas. When one of the first and second expansion/contraction members expands, the other contracts.

An accumulator for a vehicle suspension damper, which includes an outer shell with an open end that connects to an accumulator port on the damper and a distal end, opposite the open end, which includes an end wall that extends radially inward to a gas charging port. A bellows assembly, which includes an annular bellows wall extending between proximal and distal plates, is positioned inside the outer shell to define a pressurized gas chamber inside the accumulator that is arranged in fluid communication with the gas charging port. The gas charging port includes a stem that extends inwardly from the end wall of the outer shell and the distal plate of the bellows assembly has an inner diameter that is received on the stem. The inner diameter of the distal plate is coupled to the stem of the gas charging port by a fixation component.

An accumulator for a vehicle suspension damper, which includes an outer shell with an open end that connects to an accumulator port on the damper and a distal end, opposite the open end, which includes an end wall that extends radially inward to a gas charging port. A bellows assembly, which includes an annular bellows wall extending between proximal and distal plates, is positioned inside the outer shell to define a pressurized gas chamber inside the accumulator that is arranged in fluid communication with the gas charging port. The gas charging port includes a stem that extends inwardly from the end wall of the outer shell and the distal plate of the bellows assembly has an inner diameter that is received on the stem. The inner diameter of the distal plate is coupled to the stem of the gas charging port by a fixation component.