Pressure-sensitive vales are incorporated within a dampening system to permit user-adjustable tuning of a shock absorber. In one embodiment, a pressure-sensitive valve includes an isolated gas chamber having a pressure therein that is settable by a user.

A vehicle height adjustment device includes a cylinder, a piston, a rod, a spring, an adjustor, a storage chamber, and a passage switch unit. The piston divides a space inside the cylinder. The rod has one end in the axial direction holding the piston and has the other end supported at a vehicle wheel side. The spring has one end in the axial direction supported at the body side and has the other end supported at the wheel side. The adjustor includes an accommodation chamber of fluid and supports the one end of the spring to adjust a length of the spring in accordance with an amount of the fluid in the accommodation chamber. The passage switch unit closes an opening of the cylinder and includes first and second communication passages to switch a passage for the fluid in accordance with a movement of the piston.

A vehicle height adjustment device includes a cylinder, a piston, a rod, a spring, an adjustor, a storage chamber, and a passage switch unit. The piston divides a space inside the cylinder. The rod has one end in the axial direction holding the piston and has the other end supported at a vehicle wheel side. The spring has one end in the axial direction supported at the body side and has the other end supported at the wheel side. The adjustor includes an accommodation chamber of fluid and supports the one end of the spring to adjust a length of the spring in accordance with an amount of the fluid in the accommodation chamber. The passage switch unit closes an opening of the cylinder and includes first and second communication passages to switch a passage for the fluid in accordance with a movement of the piston.

A pneumatic system has a compressed air supply and an air spring arrangement which is pneumatically connected to the compressed air supply. The pneumatic system is for a vehicle and further has a controller for controlling the compressed air supply and the air spring arrangement. In the method for operating the pneumatic system, the air dryer and/or the air distributor module represents an overpressure volume. The overpressure volume initially has a pressure greater than a pressure in a remaining portion of the compressed air supply having at least one first air spring and an intermediate store. Compressed air is discharged from the overpressure volume into the compensation volume, accompanied by a reduction in pressure in the overpressure volume, namely, a reduction in the pressure in the air dryer. Compressed air is discharged into the first air spring of the air spring arrangement and into the intermediate store.

A pneumatic system has a compressed air supply and an air spring arrangement which is pneumatically connected to the compressed air supply. The pneumatic system is for a vehicle and further has a controller for controlling the compressed air supply and the air spring arrangement. In the method for operating the pneumatic system, the air dryer and/or the air distributor module represents an overpressure volume. The overpressure volume initially has a pressure greater than a pressure in a remaining portion of the compressed air supply having at least one first air spring and an intermediate store. Compressed air is discharged from the overpressure volume into the compensation volume, accompanied by a reduction in pressure in the overpressure volume, namely, a reduction in the pressure in the air dryer. Compressed air is discharged into the first air spring of the air spring arrangement and into the intermediate store.

A method and apparatus for a shock absorber for a vehicle having a gas spring with first and second gas chambers, wherein the first chamber is utilized during a first travel portion of the shock absorber and the first and second chambers are both utilized during a second portion of travel. In one embodiment, a travel adjustment assembly is configured to selectively communicate a first gas chamber with a negative gas chamber.

A method and apparatus for a shock absorber for a vehicle having a gas spring with first and second gas chambers, wherein the first chamber is utilized during a first travel portion of the shock absorber and the first and second chambers are both utilized during a second portion of travel. In one embodiment, a travel adjustment assembly is configured to selectively communicate a first gas chamber with a negative gas chamber.

A seal arrangement for an air spring system for sealing off a shock-absorbing damper is disclosed. The shock-absorbing damper is situated in a rolling tube and in another tube, where the air spring system has at least one integrated control valve for the admission of compressed air into a pressure chamber formed between the outer tube, the rolling tube, and an air spring bellows that connects the outer tube and rolling tube. The seal arrangement is arranged between an inner circumferential surface of the rolling tube and an outer circumferential surface of the shock-absorbing damper and/or between an inner circumferential surface of the outer tube and the outer circumferential surface of the shock-absorbing damper. A support ring which is of step-shaped form on an outer circumferential surface is arranged on a distal end of the rolling tube and/or on a distal end of the outer tube.

The present invention provides apparatus for transferring a load, comprising at least one unitary element of adsorptive material that increases an effective working volume of an enclosure for containing a pressurised gas that transfers a load between a first load transfer element and a further load transfer element. Use of at least one unitary element of adsorptive material is also provided to increase an effective working volume of an enclosure for containing a pressurised gas that transfers a load between a first load transfer element and a further load transfer element. A method of transferring a load is also provided.

The present invention provides apparatus for transferring a load, comprising at least one unitary element of adsorptive material that increases an effective working volume of an enclosure for containing a pressurised gas that transfers a load between a first load transfer element and a further load transfer element. Use of at least one unitary element of adsorptive material is also provided to increase an effective working volume of an enclosure for containing a pressurised gas that transfers a load between a first load transfer element and a further load transfer element. A method of transferring a load is also provided.