A flat shaped spring may include a spring element. The spring element may have, in a longitudinal section along a central longitudinal axis extending along an axial direction, two profile halves disposed on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis. The two profile halves may each have a first profile portion and a second profile portion. The first profile portion may have a curvature opposed to the second profile portion. Two outer ends of the spring element facing away from the central longitudinal axis, and which lie opposite one another in a longitudinal direction extending perpendicularly to the axial direction, may be connected to one another via at least one connection element such that the spring element and the at least one connection element collectively form a closed profile in the longitudinal section.

A leaf spring device includes a plurality of leaf springs, in which a restricting protrusion is provided on one leaf spring, a recessed part is formed on the other leaf spring, a first side surface of the restricting protrusion and a third side surface of the recessed part face each other in a plate width direction, a second side surface of the restricting protrusion and a fourth side surface of the recessed part face each other in the plate width direction, a first inclined surface is formed on one of the first and third side surfaces to be further away from the other thereof from a central portion toward a first direction, and a second inclined surface is formed on one of the second and fourth side surfaces to be further away from the other thereof from the central portion toward a second direction.

A spring leaf for a leaf spring (1) has an upper side (13), a lower side (14), two lateral sections extending between the upper side (13) and the lower side (14), a longitudinal axis (15), a section plane (III) extending perpendicularly to the upper side (13) and lower side (14) and through the longitudinal axis (15), two end sections (3a, 3b), and a middle section (4) extending between the end sections (3a, 3b). The middle section (4) has a clamping region (5). A main tension region (6a, 6b) is provided between at least one of the end sections (3a, 3b) and the clamping region (5), the thickness (S) of which decreases in the direction from the clamping region (5) to the end section (3a, 3b), in particular decreases parabolically. The width (B) of the main tension region (6a, 6b) extending between the section plane (III) and a lateral section of the spring leaf (2) increases over a part of its length or over its entire length in the direction from the end section (3a, 3b) toward the clamping region (5) according to a quadratic function.

In a method for producing a spring leaf (2) for a leaf spring, in particular a parabolic spring or suspension spring, wherein the spring leaf (2) comprises two end regions, a central region, a top side which is subjected to tensile stress in the operative state, and a bottom side (1) which is subjected to pressure in the operative state, at least one hole (3) is introduced into the bottom side (1). The bottom side (1) is peened locally in the region around the hole (3).

In a method for producing a spring leaf (2) for a leaf spring, in particular a parabolic spring or suspension spring, wherein the spring leaf (2) comprises two end regions, a central region, a top side which is subjected to tensile stress in the operative state, and a bottom side (1) which is subjected to pressure in the operative state, at least one hole (3) is introduced into the bottom side (1). The bottom side (1) is peened locally in the region around the hole (3).

An aluminum alloy according to the present invention includes 1.2% by mass to 4.0% by mass of copper, 4.0% by mass to 14.0% by mass of zinc, 0.5% by mass to 4.0% by mass of magnesium, 0.01% or less of silicon, and 0.01% or less of iron, with the balance containing aluminum and inevitable impurities, and has an average equivalent circle crystal grain size of 500 nm or less.

Wafer cushions for use in wafer carriers include spring beams that include a first arm extending from the frame of the wafer cushion in a first direction and a second arm extending from the first arm in a second direction, and a wafer contact at the end of the second arm opposite where the second arm is joined to the first arm. The wafer cushion may contact a substrate within the wafer carrier only at the wafer contacts during normal conditions. The substrate may also contact secondary contact points on the second arm when a shock event occurs. The wafer contact can be v-groove style wafer contact. The wafer contact may include a contact surface having a convex surface where it is configured to contact the wafer.

A spring for use in conjunction with a vehicle, in particular a leaf spring (1), preferably a parabolic spring, has a single-part spring leaf (12) made of steel, in particular spring steel, having a central region (2) and two adjoining edge regions (4a, 4b), wherein the edge regions (4a, 4b) each have an end region (5a, 5b), the end regions (5a, 5b) can each be connected to a chassis in a stationary manner via a rolled eye (11), and the total length of the spring when installed on the vehicle is substantially unchangeable in all load states. In the unloaded state, the spring leaf (12) has two bending sections (13, 14), which each have a curvature with a curvature direction, wherein the curvature directions of the two bending sections (13, 14) are opposed, and the two bending sections (13, 14) merge into each other in the region of a turning point (15). The first bending section (13) is a vertical spring section and runs from the end region (5a) of the first edge region (4a) via the central region (2) to the turning point (15). The second bending section (14) is a horizontal and vertical spring section and runs from the turning point (15) to the end region (5b) of the second edge region (4b).

A valve structure includes: a valve unit including a valve body, a shaft portion extending from the valve body, and a separating portion provided on the shaft portion and spaced apart from the valve body; a mounting plate located between the valve body and the separating portion and including an insertion hole into which the shaft portion is inserted; a holding portion including a first holding surface provided on the mounting plate, and a second holding surface provided on the valve unit and spaced apart from the first holding surface; a protrusion provided on one of the valve unit and the mounting plate, an end of the protrusion protruding beyond the first and second holding surfaces; and an elastic body including a contact portion located between the first and second holding surfaces, and a pressed portion located inside or outside the contact portion and contacting the protrusion.

A spring, in particular a flat spring (5), for use in connection with a vehicle, has a middle region (6) which has a curve with a first curve direction, as well as two edge regions (7). In an unladen state, the edge regions (7) each have a curve with a second curve direction and vertices (10), with the second direction of curve being opposed to the first direction of curve. The flat spring (5) has a vertex axis (11) running through the vertices (10) of the curves of the edge regions (7). End regions (8) of the edge regions (7) are tilted away from the vertex axis (11) toward the side of the vertex axis (11) on which the middle region (6) lies.