A movement control device comprising a housing with an elongate push rod mounted therein for reciprocal movement along a longitudinal axis between first and second positions, wherein the push rod extends out of said housing in both the first and second positions. A spring comprising a primary axis operable to provide a biasing force on the push rod is further provided in the housing. A damping device comprising a primary axis is located in the housing, wherein the damping device is in continuous engagement with the push rod through its reciprocating movement. The primary axis of the spring and the primary axis of the damping device are not coaxial.

Materials, methods, and manufacture for controlled kinetic energy conversion are provided. In an aspect, a material may include a first section having a first set of voids and an associated first set of properties (e.g., mechanical, thermal), and a second section having a second set of voids and an associated second set of properties. The second set of properties of the second section may be configured to be selectively adjusting by at least partially filling one or more of the second set of voids with a substance. The substance may be configured to inhibit, prevent, or otherwise affect a desired deformation or collapse behavior of the material in response to a load.

An elastomeric compression spring for isolating vibrations between a first part and a second part. The first part is movable in a direction relative to the second part. The elastomeric compression spring comprises a tube elongated along a central axis of the tube. The central axis of the tube is perpendicular to the direction. The tube is configured to compress in the direction. The tube comprises an outer surface comprising an initial contact line configured to initially receive contact from the first part. The tube further comprises at least one load tuning feature in the outer surface, parallel to the central axis, and circumferentially spaced apart from the initial contact line. The at least one load tuning feature creates a localized change in a thickness of the tube and a stiffness of the elastomeric compression spring at the at least one load tuning feature.

A damper assembly comprises a main tube extending along a center axis defining a fluid chamber. A main piston is located in the main tube dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod extends into the main tube and coupled to the main piston. The piston rod defines an annular chamber extending along the center axis. A slidable partition is located in the annular chamber dividing the annular chamber into a magnetorheological chamber and a compensation chamber. A secondary piston is slidably disposed in the magnetorheological chamber dividing the magnetorheological chamber into a magnetorheological compression chamber and a magnetorheological rebound chamber. A secondary piston rod sealingly and slidably guided through the main piston and couples to the main tube for moving the secondary piston axially in the magnetorheological chamber.

Systems, apparatus, and methods provide a material, comprising a first section including a first plurality of geometric elements associated with a first characteristic, the first section having a first set of mechanical properties; a second section including a second plurality of geometric elements associated with a second characteristic, the second section having a second set of mechanical properties different from the first set of mechanical properties; and a third section including a third plurality of geometric elements having a change in configuration that provides a transition from the first characteristic to the second characteristic.

An elastomeric compression spring for isolating vibrations between a first part and a second part. The first part is movable in a direction relative to the second part. The elastomeric compression spring comprises a tube elongated along a central axis of the tube. The central axis of the tube is perpendicular to the direction. The tube is configured to compress in the direction. The tube comprises an outer surface comprising an initial contact line configured to initially receive contact from the first part. The tube further comprises at least one load tuning feature in the outer surface, parallel to the central axis, and circumferentially spaced apart from the initial contact line. The at least one load tuning feature creates a localized change in a thickness of the tube and a stiffness of the elastomeric compression spring at the at least one load tuning feature.

Generally described, dampers having shimmed pistons are configured for use with vehicle suspensions. The dampers generally include a shaft having a piston with compression and rebound valves extending therethrough. The piston interfaces a shim assembly at the valve outlets such that damping fluid flow is controlled through a set of valves in one direction, and the damping fluid flow is limited through the same set of valves in the opposite direction. In this regard, the shim assembly is configured to provide bleed relief of the hydraulic damping fluid at lower shaft speeds and deflect away from the piston higher shaft speeds. The shim assembly generally includes a ring shim that interfaces a shim stack to provide a configurable preload for the deflectable shims and a flow path for the hydraulic damping fluid during bleed relief.

An elastomeric compression spring for isolating vibrations between a first part and a second part. The first part is movable in a direction relative to the second part. The elastomeric compression spring comprises a tube elongated along a central axis of the tube. The central axis of the tube is perpendicular to the direction. The tube is configured to compress in the direction. The tube comprises an outer surface comprising an initial contact line configured to initially receive contact from the first part. The tube further comprises at least one load tuning feature in the outer surface, parallel to the central axis, and circumferentially spaced apart from the initial contact line. The at least one load tuning feature creates a localized change in a thickness of the tube and a stiffness of the elastomeric compression spring at the at least one load tuning feature.

A damper assembly comprises a main tube extending along a center axis defining a fluid chamber. A main piston is located in the main tube dividing the fluid chamber into a compression chamber and a rebound chamber. A piston rod extends into the main tube and coupled to the main piston. The piston rod defines an annular chamber extending along the center axis. A slidable partition is located in the annular chamber dividing the annular chamber into a magnetorheological chamber and a compensation chamber. A secondary piston is slidably disposed in the magnetorheological chamber dividing the magnetorheological chamber into a magnetorheological compression chamber and a magnetorheological rebound chamber. A secondary piston rod sealingly and slidably guided through the main piston and couples to the main tube for moving the secondary piston axially in the magnetorheological chamber.

A constant force spring system to achieve a substantially constant force curve, includes top and bottom load surfaces separated by a load compression distance therebetween; a main spring; at least one auxiliary linear spring acting on a last portion of the load compression distance to prevent load compression; a spreading linkage acting between the top load surface and the bottom load surface to prevent load compression thereof; and link hinges connecting the links, wherein the spreading linkage.