Bridgestone/firestone, Inc.

Bfs Diversified Products, LLC

Paccar Inc.

Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC

Daniel J Leonard

Mohamad Taghizadeh

Mark D Hilburger

Daniel I Levy

Pradipta N Moulik

Leo M Schmidt

Jeffrey T Capek

Stan W DeLizo

Michael David

William D Krusel

Keith E Hoffman

Andreas Peickert

Bradley W Hayes

Todd M Ziems

Robert L Hiday

Keith A Stern

Jeffrey D Avesian

David E Grass

Michael K Whitaker

Joseph L Tazewell

Terry J Henderson

James M Wallin

A spring body includes a filament structure formed from at least one length of filament material. An elastomeric wall at least partially defines a spring chamber and includes a first portion of the filament structure. A comparatively-rigid wall includes a second portion of the filament structure. A gas spring assembly that includes such a spring body, as well as a method making a spring body and a method of making a gas spring assembly are also included.

Spring body for gas spring assembly and method of forming same

An air spring ( ) for use in a motor vehicle suspension system is provided. The air spring includes a generally cylindrical flexible bladder ( ) having a circular upper opening ( ), a support unit ( ) sealingly connected to the flexible bladder ( ), and a unitary integrated top assembly ( ) connected to the upper opening ( ) in an air-tight manner. The support unit ( ) further includes an installation fastener ( ) for connection to vehicle support brackets ( ). The top assembly ( ) includes a sealed body ( ) having an interior open volume ( ) and optional attachment components positioned on the body to connect the top assembly to a vehicle main frame. The top assembly further includes an optional connection port ( ) adapted for pneumatic intercommunication with other air springs and an optional fill port ( ) for connection to a pressurized air system.

Integrated air spring

An air spring has a pair of axially spaced end members and an intervening elastomeric flexible sleeve extending therebetween and forming a fluid pressure chamber. An annular clamp ring has at least one radially extending rib formed on an inner sealingly surface which radially align with at least one concave recess formed on a sealing surface of one of the end members. The end member also has at least one radially extending rib which aligns with at least one recess formed in the clamp ring sealing surface. The rib and recess formed on the clamp ring are longer and deeper than the ribs and recesses on the sealing surface of the end member to provide a more aggressive clamping action on the outer surface of the flexible sleeve than the clamping action on the inner surface or innerliner of the sleeve.

Air spring clamping assembly

An integral one-piece end plate and bracket combination is formed of a high strength plastic and is mounted in an airtight sealing engagement with an open end of a flexible elastomeric sleeve which forms the fluid pressure chamber of an air spring. The end plate includes a semi-circular wall which extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the air spring and a semi-circular opening. The bracket includes an upstanding wall perpendicular to the semi-circular wall of the end plate and a half dome-shaped wall, which together with the upstanding wall, forms an auxiliary fluid chamber which is in fluid communication through the semi-circular opening with the main fluid chamber of the flexible sleeve. The upstanding wall includes attachments for securing the bracket and end plate to a support structure which aligns with a longitudinal axis of the air spring. A fluid inlet conduit extends outwardly from the upstanding bracket wall to provide fluid communication between the auxiliary fluid chamber of the bracket and an external source of pressurized fluid. A plurality of reinforcing ribs are formed on the walls of the bracket and on the end plate to provide a rigid structure.

Integral bracket and end mounting plate for air spring

An air spring has a piston formed of a high strength plastic material consisting of a main shell and a bottom end sealing plate extending between a pair of concentric inner and outer annular walls. A pair of internal auxiliary reservoirs or subchambers are formed within the piston and are in fluid communication with each other and with the main air chamber formed by a flexible bellows extending between the piston and an end plate. A plurality of radially extending reinforcing ribs extend between the inner and outer annular walls of the shell and a rigid central post. A central planar support surface having an area approximately 20% than that of the piston base area provides a reduced surface area for mounting the piston on a smaller support surface.

Pedestal mounted full reservoir air spring piston

An air actuator has a rigid piston at one end and a rigid housing and end cap at the other end with an intervening elastomeric flexible sleeve extending therebetween which forms a fluid pressure chamber. The rigid piston, elastomeric flexible sleeve, and rigid housing are all injection or blow molded as one integral piece of preferably a thermoplastic elastomer, while the end cap is injection or blow molded as a second integral piece of preferably a thermoplastic elastomer that is thereafter welded to the rigid housing to define an internal chamber that is pressurizable. The first piece consisting of the piston, flexible membrane and housing, is configured such that the walls of the housing and piston are thick and rigid while the walls of the flexible membrane are thin and thus flexible, thereby allowing the membrane to roll and bend such that the piston may axially move in relation to the housing.

Thermoplastic elastomer air spring

An air spring has a pair of spaced end members for mounting the spring at spaced locations on a structure. A flexible sleeve of elastomeric material is sealingly engaged with the end members and forms a pressurized fluid chamber therebetween. A post is mounted on one of the end members and extends into the fluid chamber. A shock absorbing two-piece bumper includes a rigid base which is formed with an axial opening and is seated upon one of the end members with the post extending into the opening. An elastomeric member is mounted within the axial opening of the rigid base member and is snap-fitted onto the post. The upper end of the elastomeric member extends outwardly over the upper end of the base to engage the opposite end member upon the air spring failing or experiencing a large deflection. The two-piece bumper provides a high load carrying capability with low deflection and replaces the heretofore used single member elastomeric bumper.

Snap-on bumper for air spring

An air spring has a pair of spaced end members for mounting the spring at spaced locations on a structure. A flexible sleeve of elastomeric material is sealingly engaged with the end members and forms a pressurized fluid chamber therebetween. A post is mounted on one of the end members and extends into the fluid chamber. A shock absorbing bumper having an outer shell formed of a high strength first plastic material is mounted on the post. The shock absorbing bumper shell is formed with a plurality of internal compartments containing one or more blocks formed of a second plastic material. The second plastic material preferably is a thermoplastic and is stronger in compression than the first plastic material of the outer shell. The relatively stronger but stiffer blocks are surrounded by the relatively softer plastic material of the outer shell and provides a bumper having extremely high compressive strength and a high resistance to breakage or fracture.

Air spring bumper utilizing a combination of materials

An air actuator has a pair of axially spaced end members and an intervening elastomeric flexible sleeve extending therebetween which forms a fluid pressure chamber. An annular clamp ring having a smooth inner diameter coacts with an annular wall on the end cap having an outer diameter with annular indentations formed therein to clamp the ring on the end cap. The annular wall defines clamping surfaces in between and adjacent to the annular indentations. The annular indentations form a series of pinch areas with the intervening sleeve, which sealingly clamp the sleeve therebetween. The indentations receive portions of the sleeve and change the direction of reinforcing cords within the sleeve. The clamp ring abuts against a radially extending surface or shoulder of the end cap to reduce axial movement of the ring during operation of the air spring.

Clamp assembly for air actuator

An air spring has a pair of spaced end members for mounting the spring at spaced locations on a structure. A flexible sleeve of elastomeric material is sealingly engaged with the end members and forms a pressurized fluid chamber therebetween. A post is mounted on one of the end members and extends into the fluid chamber. A shock absorbing two-piece bumper includes a rigid metal base which is formed as an inverted cup-shaped member with a cylindrical sidewall. The base is secured to one of the end members with the post extending into an open end of the base member. An elastomeric member is snap-fitted into a hole formed in an end closure wall of the base member and engages the opposite end member upon the air spring failing or experiencing a large deflection. In an alternate embodiment, a plurality of flexible fingers are formed from the cylindrical sidewall of the base and are snap-fit to the post to mount the base member on the post and on the one end member of the air spring.

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Carmel, IN, United States of America

Daniel J Leonard