A jounce bumper of an automotive vehicle suspension system contains a longitudinal axis. The jounce bumper is configured to resiliently deform between an uncompressed state and a compressed state, where in the compressed state the jounce bumper has a smaller length in the direction of the longitudinal axis than in the uncompressed state. The jounce bumper also contains a base body that acts as a primary spring element, where the base body is partially or completely made of a volume-compressible first material. In particular, the base body further contains at least one secondary spring element integrated within the base body. The secondary spring element is resiliently deformable between a first length in the uncompressed state and a second length in the compressed state, where the second length is smaller than the first length. The secondary spring element is partially or completely made of a compact second material.

A jounce bumper of an automotive vehicle suspension system contains a longitudinal axis. The jounce bumper is configured to resiliently deform between an uncompressed state and a compressed state, where in the compressed state the jounce bumper has a smaller length in the direction of the longitudinal axis than in the uncompressed state. The jounce bumper also contains a base body that acts as a primary spring element, where the base body is partially or completely made of a volume-compressible first material. In particular, the base body further contains at least one secondary spring element integrated within the base body. The secondary spring element is resiliently deformable between a first length in the uncompressed state and a second length in the compressed state, where the second length is smaller than the first length. The secondary spring element is partially or completely made of a compact second material.

A coil spring includes an elongated body (10) formed by a plurality of continuous coils (21, 31), and the body (10) includes an upper section (20) and a lower section (30), wherein pitches (22) and coil angles (23) of the coils (21) in the upper section (20) are generally consistent to form an upright profile (24) for the upper section (20), and wherein pitches (32) and coil angles (33) of two or more coils (31) at a free end of the lower section (30) is differed from the pitches (22) and the coil angles (23) of the coils (21) in the upper section (20) to form a gradually curved profile (34) for the lower section (30).

A coil spring includes an elongated body (10) formed by a plurality of continuous coils (21, 31), and the body (10) includes an upper section (20) and a lower section (30), wherein pitches (22) and coil angles (23) of the coils (21) in the upper section (20) are generally consistent to form an upright profile (24) for the upper section (20), and wherein pitches (32) and coil angles (33) of two or more coils (31) at a free end of the lower section (30) is differed from the pitches (22) and the coil angles (23) of the coils (21) in the upper section (20) to form a gradually curved profile (34) for the lower section (30).

A method for manufacturing a hollow spring member having a hollow steel spring rod having terminal sealed portions at both ends thereof. Each terminal sealed portion has a rotationally symmetric shape in which an axis passing through a center of the spring rod is an axis of symmetry. Each terminal sealed portion has an end wall portion including an end face; an arc-shaped smoothly curved surface between an outer peripheral surface of the spring rod and the end face, and a hermetically closed distal-end-center closure portion on the axis passing through the center of the spring rod. The method includes forming each of the end portions of the spring rod by forming a chamfered portion on an inner or outer peripheral side of the end portion of a hollow wire, the end portion having an opening portion at a distal end, heating the end portion of the hollow wire having the chamfered portion, and spinning the heated end portion to be gathered toward the axis from the outer peripheral side by a jig. The end wall portion, which includes the distal-end-center closure portion, is formed by the distal end of the end portion being joined together on the axis.

A method for manufacturing a hollow spring member having a hollow steel spring rod having terminal sealed portions at both ends thereof. Each terminal sealed portion has a rotationally symmetric shape in which an axis passing through a center of the spring rod is an axis of symmetry. Each terminal sealed portion has an end wall portion including an end face; an arc-shaped smoothly curved surface between an outer peripheral surface of the spring rod and the end face, and a hermetically closed distal-end-center closure portion on the axis passing through the center of the spring rod. The method includes forming each of the end portions of the spring rod by forming a chamfered portion on an inner or outer peripheral side of the end portion of a hollow wire, the end portion having an opening portion at a distal end, heating the end portion of the hollow wire having the chamfered portion, and spinning the heated end portion to be gathered toward the axis from the outer peripheral side by a jig. The end wall portion, which includes the distal-end-center closure portion, is formed by the distal end of the end portion being joined together on the axis.

In a method for determining an axle load on a mechanically and/or pneumatically/hydraulically suspended vehicle, the axle load is determined with the aid of control and sensor means that are installed in the vehicle and/or functionally enhanced. Functions for axle load determination at mechanically suspended vehicle axles (4) and for axle load determination at pneumatically/hydraulically suspended vehicle axles (2) are available. In a mechanically suspended vehicle axle (4) a distance measuring unit (9), and in a pneumatically/hydraulically suspended vehicle axle (2) a pressure measuring unit (7) are used to determine the axle load. An initial plausibility check is implemented in an electronic control unit (10) of the level control system (1), on the basis of which the level control system (1) identifies the particular suspension type, mechanical or pneumatic/hydraulic, of a vehicle axle (2, 4) and, thereafter, the appropriate function for axle load determination is activated.

In a case where the coating film is confirmed to remain in a third step, at least one or more of conditions of the shot peening treatment including a propelling speed of the shot medium, a propelling time of the shot medium, a material of the shot medium, and an average particle diameter of the shot medium are changed and the second step and the third step are repeated until the coating film does not remain In a case where the coating film is not confirmed to remain in the third step, the condition of the shot peening treatment in the second step in which the coil spring is obtained with no remaining coating film is determined as the propelling condition for the shot medium.

In a case where the coating film is confirmed to remain in a third step, at least one or more of conditions of the shot peening treatment including a propelling speed of the shot medium, a propelling time of the shot medium, a material of the shot medium, and an average particle diameter of the shot medium are changed and the second step and the third step are repeated until the coating film does not remain In a case where the coating film is not confirmed to remain in the third step, the condition of the shot peening treatment in the second step in which the coil spring is obtained with no remaining coating film is determined as the propelling condition for the shot medium.

A 360-degree rotating wheel apparatus may include a cap unit defining a driving space at a lower side of the cap unit; an in-wheel driving unit provided in the driving space in the cap unit and configured to generate a driving force during operation thereof; and an angle adjustment unit coupling the in-wheel driving unit and the cap unit to each other and configured to cause the in-wheel driving unit to rotate in a circumferential direction of the cap unit so that a traveling direction of the 360-degree rotating wheel apparatus determined according to operation of the in-wheel driving unit is changed by 360 degrees around a vertical axis, increasing the traveling range of the wheel apparatus, and which is easily applicable to a mobility to be improved in usability thereof.