Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC

David D Jackson, Jr

Jason B Smith

Jakob B Cagle

Matthew F Byron

Charlie B Groover

Jeremy M Wiedmann

Aaron E Vetor

Gas spring end members can include an end member body formed substantially entirely from a polymeric material. The end member body can have a longitudinal axis and can include a body wall with an end wall portion oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis. The end wall portion can at least partially define a mounting plane of the gas spring end member that is dimensioned to abuttingly engage an associated structural component. The body wall can also include an outer peripheral wall portion disposed radially outward of the end wall portion and that at least partially defines an outer peripheral edge of the gas spring end member. The outer peripheral wall portion can be axially offset from the end wall portion in a direction away from the mounting plane. Gas spring assemblies, suspension systems and methods are also included.

Gas spring end members as well as gas spring assemblies, suspension systems and methods

An assembly includes a flexible wall, that can at least partially define a spring chamber for containing pressurized gas. The flexible wall can include at least one mounting bead formed along an end thereof. A compression core can be disposed along the exterior of the flexible wall in abutting engagement with the mounting bead. The compression core can be captured between the mounting bead and a portion of the flexible wall such that inflation of the spring chamber biases the flexible wall, mounting bead and compression core outward and into engagement with an end member to form a gas spring assembly. A suspension system and a method of assembly are also included.

Flexible wall and compression core assemblies as well as gas spring assemblies and methods including same

An end member assembly () that is dimensioned for use in forming a gas spring assembly () can include an end member body () that is dimensioned for securement to a flexible spring member () of the gas spring assembly (). The end member assembly () can also include a compliant support structure () that is operatively connected to the end member body () to support the end member body in spaced relation to an associated structural component (SC). The end member body () can include a side wall () that extends in overlapping (OL; OL) relation with at least a portion of the compliant support structure (). The end member () can also form at least one chamber () within the end member body () and compliant support structure (). A gas spring assembly () and a suspension system () are also included.

Fluid spring and rubber spring assembly

End members () dimensioned for securement to an associated flexible wall () of a rail spring assembly () can include an end member body formed from a polymeric material and can have a longitudinal axis (AX). The end member body can include an end wall () that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis. An outer side wall () can extend longitudinally from along the end wall. An outer peripheral wall () can extend from along the outer side wall and can be dimensioned to abuttingly engage the associated flexible wall. A plurality of support walls () can extend between and operatively interconnect the outer side wall and the outer peripheral wall and thereby buttress at least the outer peripheral wall against loads applied by the associated flexible wall. Gas spring assemblies including one or more of such end members and suspension systems for rail vehicles including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.

End members for rail spring assemblies and suspension systems including same

An end member assembly dimensioned for securement to an associated flexible spring member of an associated gas spring assembly. The end member assembly can include a base wall and a mounting wall disposed in axially-spaced relation to the base wall. A compliant support structure is disposed between the base and mounting walls. The compliant support structure includes at least one compliant element that includes a compliant element body and one or more reinforcing plies at least partially embedded within the compliant element body. Rigid elements can be disposed between adjacent compliant elements if two or more compliant elements are included. A gas spring assembly and a method of manufacture can include one or more of such end member assemblies.

End member assemblies as well as gas spring assemblies and methods of manufacture including same

Flexible spring members can include a flexible spring wall and at least one girdle hoop. The flexible spring wall can include a plurality of convoluted wall portions disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to one another. The girdle hoop can take the form of an annular ring that is at least partially formed from a non-metallic material and can be positioned longitudinally between adjacent ones of the plurality of convoluted wall portions. The girdle hoop can be at least partially embedded within the flexible spring wall and can operate to substantially inhibit radially-outward expansion of the flexible spring wall during inflated conditions and/or use. Gas spring assemblies and methods of manufacture can include one or more of such flexible spring members.

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Noblesville, IN, United States of America

David D Jackson, Jr