A suspension system and associated control methods for improving comfort by disabling passive pitch stiffness in the suspension system by holding open electromechanical comfort valves positioned in a manifold assembly of the suspension system. The manifold comfort valves are held open to disable the passive pitch stiffness of the suspension system if the vehicle is traveling down a rough road or if the vehicle is approaching a discrete road event like a pot-hole or speed bump. Deactivation of the passive pitch stiffness of the suspension system is determined based on road classification information, saved road events, and/or real-time vehicle data from on-board sensors. The suspension system therefore reduces pitch angles during pitch events induced by inertial forces caused by driver inputs and disables the pitch stiffness when the pitch event is caused by road inputs.

An energy-dissipative pneumatic cushioning system for cushioning heavy loads includes (i) one or more support members that extend beneath at least a portion of at least one pneumatic cushioning element and (ii) at least one connector assembly that communicatively couple the at least one pneumatic cushioning element to a gas supply unit and optionally at least one gas reservoir. The at least one gas reservoir is capable of accepting at least a portion of gas from the at least one pneumatic cushioning element under a force of a load. The at least one connector assembly is further operable to allow a return of at least a portion of the gas to the at least one pneumatic cushioning element upon reduction of at least a portion of the force of the load.

A suspension for a wheelchair, wherein the suspension comprises: a frame, a motor carrier pivotally mounted on the frame to rotate about a motor carrier axis, a drive wheel having a bottom and mounted on the motor carrier to rotate about a drive wheel axis, a swing arm pivotally mounted on the frame to rotate about a swing arm axis, a swing wheel having a bottom and mounted on the swing arm to rotate about a swing wheel axis, a first contact surface coupled to move in concert with the motor carrier, and a second contact surface coupled to move in concert with the swing arm and configured to contact the first contact surface and transfer an upward force on the swing wheel into a downward force on the drive wheel.

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 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 suspension for a wheelchair is disclosed, wherein the suspension comprises: a frame, a motor carrier pivotally mounted on the frame to rotate about a motor carrier axis, a drive wheel having a bottom and mounted on the motor carrier to rotate about a drive wheel axis, a swing arm pivotally mounted on the frame to rotate about a swing arm axis, a swing wheel having a bottom and mounted on the swing arm to rotate about a swing wheel axis, a first contact surface coupled to move in concert with the motor carrier, and a second contact surface coupled to move in concert with the swing arm and configured to contact the first contact surface and transfer an upward force on the swing wheel into a downward force on the drive wheel.

An aerocar with a dual mode suspension system configured to operate in a roadable mode and a flight mode. The aerocar may include a front suspension assembly having a front axle, and a rear suspension assembly having a rear axle. A conduit system provides a hydraulic fluid in fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly. An auxiliary hydraulic fluid reservoir is provided in fluid communication with the conduit system, and configured to selectively maintain or interrupt fluid communication between the front suspension assembly and the rear suspension assembly to adjust damping of the front suspension assembly. A controller may be provided, configured to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid from the rear suspension assembly to the front suspension assembly, for example, when a stroke of the rear suspension exceeds a predetermined value during landing.

A characteristic is set to a first transmission force characteristic. A sensitivity is set to a first sensitivity. The maximum value of the square of a product of a value representing the first transmission force characteristic and a value representing the first sensitivity in a predetermined frequency range preset so as to include a frequency at which the value representing the first transmission force characteristic takes a peak value is set to an evaluation indication value. A complex spring constant in the vehicle longitudinal direction of the rear wheel suspension is set so that the evaluation indication value takes the minimum value out of values in a variable range of the evaluation indication value.

A suspension system and associated control methods for improving comfort by disabling passive pitch stiffness in the suspension system by holding open electromechanical comfort valves positioned in a manifold assembly of the suspension system. The manifold comfort valves are held open to disable the passive pitch stiffness of the suspension system if the vehicle is traveling down a rough road or if the vehicle is approaching a discrete road event like a pot-hole or speed bump. Deactivation of the passive pitch stiffness of the suspension system is determined based on road classification information, saved road events, and/or real-time vehicle data from on-board sensors. The suspension system therefore reduces pitch angles during pitch events induced by inertial forces caused by driver inputs and disables the pitch stiffness when the pitch event is caused by road inputs.

A walking beam assembly includes a support beam and a mount member configured to mount the support beam on a vehicle chassis. Furthermore, the assembly includes a gear assembly that is supported proximate an end of the support beam. The gear assembly includes a gear train and a gear housing. The gear train is operably coupled to a wheel hub. The gear housing substantially encloses the gear train. Moreover, the walking beam assembly includes an input drive assembly with at least one movable part configured to deliver an input torque from the vehicle engine to the gear train. The input drive assembly includes an input drive housing that substantially encloses the at least one movable part. The input drive housing is attached to the gear housing such that an interior of the input drive housing is in fluid communication an interior of the gear housing.