Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8047558 | Heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system An axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle, in which the vehicle has a frame that includes a pair of hangers. The axle/suspension system is attached to the hangers, and includes an axle and a pair of suspension assemblies. Each of the suspension assemblies i... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8006988 | Self-leveling air spring suspension system A suspension system includes a plurality of suspension members, each suspension member including a housing having an interior surface that bounds a chamber and a piston slidably disposed within the chamber. The piston seals against the interior surface of the housin... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7997600 | Apparatus comprising a suspension system and method for adjusting a suspension system An apparatus having a suspension system with a first part which is acted upon by a mass, a second part, and also an air spring arranged between this first part and this second part. At least one supplementary volume device for air is provided, the volume of which ca... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7971889 | Loading machine A wheeled loading machine includes a body mounting a loading arm, a ground engaging structure including a front axle which carries a front pair of ground engaging wheels and a rear axle which carries a rear pair of ground engaging wheels, the loading arm being mount... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7959173 | Air distribution apparatus An air distribution apparatus for directing at least two different air pressure supply sources to fill and exhaust at least a first volume of air and a second volume of air. The apparatus includes a housing and a valve assembly that is disposed within the housing. T... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7946603 | Air suspension system An air suspension system for a multi-axle vehicle having air bags (4,5; 6,7; 8,9; 10,11; 44 to 49) supporting either side of the axles (2,3; 41 to 43), including separate air lines (18 to 25; 50 to 55) respectively co... | 05/24/2011 |
| 7918470 | Hydraulic suspension system A hydraulic suspension system includes a suspension base (16) supporting wheels, a hydraulic cylinder (19) for displaceably suspending the suspension base from a vehicle body, and an oil passage connected to the hydraulic cylinder. An accumulator (2... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7866681 | Self-guided air spring assembly An air spring assembly includes a pedestal that has one end fixed to a suspension arm and includes a second end with a platform that supports an air spring assembly. An air spring piston is fixed to the platform. A lower portion of a flexible bellows is fixed to the... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7862061 | Air suspension system An air suspension system includes a first transfer pipe having one end communicating with the outside, the first transfer pipe being constructed such that air flows through the first transfer pipe; a filter mounted adjacent to the one end of the first transfer pipe ... | 01/04/2011 |
| 7857336 | Air suspension system An air suspension device includes a housing enclosing a compressor chamber that communicates with an air source and at least one piston chamber, optionally through internal air ports. A compressor is disposed in the compressor chamber. When the compressor is driven ... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7823895 | Suspension system, vehicle comprising such a suspension system and a method for controlling a suspension system A suspension system for a vehicle (3) comprises a gas spring accumulator (6) pneumatically connected (7) to a system accumulator (8). The suspension system further comprises a gas throttle valve (9) arranged to restrict the pneumat... | 11/02/2010 |
| 7810826 | Bicycle suspension damping system A bicycle including a suspension system operably positioned between the bicycle frame and at least one of the front wheel and rear wheel of the bicycle. The suspension system includes a damping system including a first valve and a second valve, which cooperate to pr... | 10/12/2010 |
| 7740256 | Compressible fluid independent active suspension An active, independent suspension system has dual piston, compressible fluid struts (22). Each of the dual piston struts (22) has an outer cylinder (24) and an outer piston rod (30), which each respectively define exterior peripheries for... | 06/22/2010 |
| 7690663 | Vehicle suspension with linked air bags An air suspension system for a load carrying vehicle has multiple air bags associated with selected vehicle wheels to at least assist supporting the load and to control relative movement between the respective wheel and a supporting frame structure of the vehicle. A... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7644943 | Gas spring assembly A gas spring assembly that is suitable for use on a vehicle suspension system includes a first end member and a second end member that is spaced from the first end member. A flexible wall is secured between the first and second end members and at least partially def... | 01/12/2010 |
| 7637516 | Vehicular suspension system A suspension system for a vehicle, comprising a plurality of suspension cylinders such as shock absorbers (10, 12, 14, 16) which correspond to respective wheels of the vehicle and which have respective hydraulic chambers (28), and a control cylinder ( | 12/29/2009 |
| 7614630 | Mounting bracket assembly and supplemental suspension system A mounting bracket assembly capable of operatively engaging an associated jounce tongue of an associated vehicle suspension and supporting a supplemental air spring assembly in spaced relation to an associated sprung or unsprung mass of the associated vehicle. The m... | 11/10/2009 |
| 7597336 | Integration of an electronic air suspension system in an electronic air processing system A combined central control unit is provided for an air suspension system and/or an air processing system. The air suspension system has an electronic control system characterized in that the electronic control system is integrated in the electronic control of the ai... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7578512 | Suspension device for motor vehicles The present invention relates to a suspension device for the load-bearing and resilient support of a wheel in a motor vehicle. The device comprises at least one spring cylinder with a piston which is guided in a manner moveable relative to it in a pressure cylinder.... | 08/25/2009 |
| 7568713 | Air-suspension system for vehicles, having a throttle An air-suspension system for vehicles, in particular for commercial vehicles, including at least one air-bellows valve assigned to an air-spring bellows or a group of air-spring bellows of the front axle for individually aerating and venting this air-spring bellows ... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7484747 | Pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle A pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle includes pneumatic bellows connectable by means of a valve arrangement to at least one other component of the pneumatic suspension system in order to selectively increase or decrease the amount of compressed air therein. T... | 02/03/2009 |
| 7441789 | Pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle A pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle includes a compressed air accumulator, a compressed air transport device, at least one pneumatic bellows and an electrically controllable reversing valve used to connect the compressed air accumulator to a suction connecti... | 10/28/2008 |
| 7425005 | Suspensions for low floor vehicles A low profile chassis and suspension system for a road vehicle. The chassis supports a payload section or cargo compartment, such as for a delivery truck, ambulance, or shuttle bus. The chassis includes a largely planar frame having a top surface which is located be... | 09/16/2008 |
| 7396024 | Fluid pressure control apparatus for stabilizers A hydraulic pressure control apparatus for stabilizers controls hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic communication path hydraulically connecting cylinders each operatively connected to each stabilizer of a vehicle. The apparatus includes a spool valve provided in the hydr... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7392998 | Suspension device for motor vehicles The present invention relates to a suspension device for the load-bearing and resilient support of a wheel in a motor vehicle, comprising at least one spring cylinder with a piston, which is guided in a manner moveable relative to it in a pressure cylinder, and comp... | 07/01/2008 |
| 7384054 | Passive ride control for a vehicle suspension system A roll control system for a vehicle suspension system and a method for controlling said control system, the suspension system including support means, the roll control system including: wheel cylinders each including first and second chambers; and first and second f... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7380799 | Adjustable vehicle suspension system with adjustable-rate air spring An adjustable vehicle suspension system includes a plurality of damping members and an air spring operatively associated with each of the damping members. The suspension system also includes a compressed air source, a valve assembly, and a controller. The compressed... | 06/03/2008 |
| 7370872 | Rigid vehicle axle with integral trailing arms In a rigid vehicle axle comprising an axle beam with axle journals forming wheel carriers arranged at the ends thereof, and at least two trailing arms rigidly fixed to the axle beam, each half of the rigid vehicle axle comprises an axle beam section, a trailing arm ... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7360777 | Vehicle suspension system A vehicle suspension system for a vehicle, including: (a) a plurality of suspension cylinders each disposed between a chassis-side member and a corresponding one of a plurality of wheel-side members; (b) a controller cylinder including a housing and at least one pis... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7357395 | Device for controlling suspension performance of a vehicle having variable axle loads A device for controlling suspension performance in a vehicle having variable loads on an axle, a level control system, and a hydropneumatic suspension apparatus between unsprung and sprung masses. The device includes at least one double-acting hydraulic cylinder hav... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7350793 | Vehicle suspension roll control system A roll control system for a vehicle including: two double-acting rams (1, 2) at the first end of the vehicle and two single acting rams (3, 4) at the second of the vehicle; each double-acting ram (1, 2) including a first and a second fluid chamb... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7347437 | Damper assembly A damper assembly for a suspension system of a vehicle includes a housing adapted to be mounted to one end of a strut in the suspension system. The housing has a chamber with fluid therein. The damper assembly also includes at least one diaphragm extending across th... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7344145 | Compressed air treatment device that is designed to be installed in an industrial vehicle A compressed air treatment device is designed to be installed in an industrial vehicle consisting of a motor vehicle that can pull a trailer. The device comprises: an inlet for air from a compressed air source; at least one air outlet which is connected to a tank th... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7341263 | Hydropneumatic suspension A hydropneumatic suspension having at least one suspension cylinder (10) and at least one hydraulic accumulator configured as a suspension accumulator (18) has a pilot-actuated valve (20) for opening or blocking a fluid-carrying connection betwe... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7331571 | Integrated solenoid valve and air spring assembly A portion of the housing of an air operated leveling device is configured to integrally include an air valve receptacle which receives thereinside a solenoid valve. The housing carries an air fitting and an electrical connector which are interconnected with the sole... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7331592 | Compressed air processing apparatus for compressed air systems of motor vehicles A compressed air processing apparatus includes a pressure controller, an air dryer, a multi-circuit protection valve and an electronic control unit. A switching valve is designed and arranged to supply compressed air to an air suspension system and to deaerate the a... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7328887 | Self-indexing spacer for air spring assembly An air spring spacer for use in mounting an associated air spring in spaced relation to an associated vehicle component. The air spring spacer includes a spacer body, a first indexing feature, and a second indexing feature complementary to the first indexing feature... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7328908 | Steer axle and method of making the same A steer axle for a vehicle and a method of making the same involves forming portions of a steer axle to have a three sided design. Spring seats that wrap around two of the three sides are secured to the steer axle. Plates are secured to the spring seats. The plates ... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7322864 | Amphibious vehicles with retractable wheels Amphibious vehicle having road wheels which are retractable to allow planing. Each wheel suspension is protractable through a gap in the planing surface of the hull. To reduce hydrodynamic drag and improve marine handling, covers are provided which cover such gaps w... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7320387 | Load adaptive damper with transient air signal restrictor A shock absorber for a vehicle suspension includes a pneumatic actuator that is fluidly connected to a compressed air source in the vehicle suspension, such as a suspension air bag. The pneumatic actuator cooperates with an adjustment mechanism housed within the sho... | 01/22/2008 |
