An electromagnetic transducer includes a first member and a second member which are relatively slidable along a path having spaced endpoints and which are electromagnetically coupled. The second member has at least one winding which produces a magnetic field which penetrates the second member. The second member has a plurality of contiguous permanent magnets of alternate polarity along the path which establish a periodic magnetic field which reacts with the magnet field created by the first member so as to produce force along the path. The plurality of contiguous permanent magnets are disposed along the path such that transition lines dividing adjacent ones of the magnets are formed at a non-perpendicular angle to the path to allow gradual transition between flux directions.

A wheel assembly for a vehicle. The wheel assembly includes a brake assembly which defines the outer radius of an annular region about the axis of the wheel assembly and a damping mass assembly for damping vertical vibrations of the wheel assembly, located within the annular region.

The suspension device controls the range of movement between a suspended point connected to the body 3 of a vehicle and a non-suspended point connected to a wheel 2 which includes an elastic link 1 mounted between said suspended and non-suspended points, the elastic link being essentially composed of a spring of stiffness K and predetermined length under a reference load and a reversible electric jack 5 acting parallel to the spring 4 in order to control the movements between said suspended and non-suspended points. The device controls the electric jack so that, based on a variation observed in the distance between the suspended and non-suspended points caused by relative displacement of the suspended and non-suspended points, regardless of the direction of displacement, it first follows the spring while supplying the electric jack 5 with electrical energy so that it develops a force oriented in the same direction as the displacement, and then releases the force developed by the electric jack 5 so as to cancel out the force within a predetermined relaxation time.

A low force actuator that is used in conjunction with semi-active and passive suspension systems to provide for improved suspension and ride control for vehicles, and which overcomes stiction and provides limited active capability. The low force actuator is sized to counter the small, high frequency forces (caused by road input disturbances and stiction effects) that act on, or are transmitted between sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle. The present invention provides for two low force actuators. The first comprises a proof mass low force electromagnetic actuator that may be connected to either the sprung or unsprung mass. In either configuration the proof mass provides an extra degree of freedom for the suspension system that decouples ride and holding control actions of the vehicle. The second comprises a differential force actuator that uses an electromagnetic actuator to provide a force between the sprung and unsprung masses of the vehicle. This implementation is inherently simpler and lighter than the proof mass implementation but can only improve ride at the expense of holding, and vice versa, since its reaction force is directly coupled to the vehicle system. The present low force actuator eliminates hoses, accumulators, pumps, and leaks associated with hydraulic systems employed in active suspension control systems.

An apparatus for regenerating energy from the dynamic interactions between the ground and a running vehicle consisting of means (1, 2) for transforming the energy of the movement of at least one suspension or shock absorber of the vehicle into electrical energy which can be stored in batteries (7) located in the vehicle or, alternatively, into mechanical work; in the latter case, there are additionally provided means (22, 23) for storing said mechanical work under the form of elastic potential energy in the vehicle.