Horstman Rising Rate Spring Technology

Horstman hydropneumatic suspension uses the rising rate spring characteristic of compressed Nitrogen gas to produce a spring with the benefits of a conventional spring/torsion bar system around normal static ride height of a vehicle platform, and the advantage of an increasing spring rate as the suspension is compressed toward bump/jounce.

The spring characteristic shape is customisable to suit the application.

The isothermal characteristic considers the compression of the gas spring, and all the thermal energy created escapes during this process.

The polytropic spring characteristic considers some of the thermal energy is retained during the compression stroke and is closer to the normal characteristic expected during operation.

Damping characteristics are typically used in combination with the spring to achieve an acceptable performance when used in a vehicle suspension application.

These spring are suited to applications like wheeled and tracked vehicle suspension, gun recoil systems/recuperators, and other recoil systems.