Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC

Bfs Diversified Products, LLC

Other

Joshua R Leonard

Pradipta N Moulik

Graham R Brookes

Stephen C Street

Robert F Elliott

Donald E Foulke, Jr

Charles R Simmons

Paul P Koeske

Daniel L Nordmeyer

Jason B Smith

Brian S DeBruler

J Richard Myers

Corey S Hart

Daniel P Steele

James D Boomer

Jeffrey T Capek

Edger Ten Broeke

Matthew F Byron

Paul J Fessel

Robert A Mundt

Flexible spring member and end closure assemblies include a flexible spring member-defining a spring chamber. An end closure body includes an outer peripheral surface portion and an elongated damping passage extending axially into end closure wall in a spiral arrangement about longitudinal axis. End closure body is positioned along an end of flexible spring member with flexible wall permanently attached along outer peripheral surface portion such that a substantially fluid-tight joint is formed between flexible spring member and end closure body. Gas spring and gas damper assemblies as well as methods of assembly are also included.

Flexible spring member and end closure assemblies as well as gas spring and gas damper assemblies including same

Gas spring and gas damper assemblies include a gas spring and a gas damper. The gas spring includes a flexible spring member with opposing end members secured thereto and at least partially defining a spring chamber. An elongated damping passage having a spiral configuration extends through one of the end members. The gas damper includes a damper housing that at least partially defines a damping chamber in fluid communication with the spring chamber through the elongated damping passage. A damper piston assembly is received within the damping chamber and secured to the other of the end members. Suspension systems and methods are also included.

Gas spring and gas damper assemblies as well as suspension systems and methods of assembly

A clamping plate is dimensioned to secure a flexible spring member to an end member for forming a gas spring assembly. The clamping plate includes a clamping plate wall with an axis and opposing surface portions oriented transverse to the axis. An opening extends into the clamping plate wall from along each of the opposing surface portions. An elongated damping passage extends in a spiral configuration through the clamping plate wall in fluid communication with the openings. A gas spring assembly includes a flexible spring member that defines a spring chamber, and an end member with an end member wall that defines an end member chamber. The clamping plate is secured to the end member and retains the flexible spring member thereon. The elongated damping passage is in fluid communication between the spring chamber and the end member chamber. Gas transfer between the spring chamber and the end member chamber generates pressurized gas damping during use of the gas spring assembly. Suspension systems and methods are also included.

Gas spring end member assemblies as well as gas spring assemblies including same

Gas spring and gas damper assemblies include a flexible spring member. First and second end members are secured to opposing ends of the flexible spring member to form a spring chamber. The second end member includes an end member wall that at least partially defines a damping chamber within the second end member. A damper piston assembly includes a damper piston and an elongated damper rod. The damper piston separates the piston chamber into first and second chamber portions. A pneumatically-actuated control device is disposed in fluid communication with one of the first and second chamber portions. The control device is selectively operable to alter the functionality of the gas spring and gas damper assembly between spring and damper functionality and actuator functionality. Suspension systems including one or more of such gas spring and gas damper assemblies as well as methods of operation are also included.

Gas spring and gas damper assemblies as well as suspension systems and methods including the same

End mount assemblies include a mounting bracket dimensioned for securement to an end member of a gas spring and damper assembly. The end mount assembly can include an inner mounting element dimensioned for securement to an elongated damping rod of the gas spring and damper assembly. A first plurality of bushing elements can be operatively disposed between the inner mounting element and the mounting bracket. A second plurality of bushing elements can be operatively disposed between the inner mounting element and the end member. Gas spring and a damper assemblies including such an end mount assembly as well as suspension systems and methods of assembly are also included.

End mount assemblies as well as gas spring and damper assemblies including same

An inertia-actuated valve assembly includes a valve housing, a valve body and a biasing element. The valve housing includes a groove that has an open end fluidically accessible from along one side thereof. The valve housing includes a flow channel extending therethrough in fluid communication with the groove from along an opposing side of the valve housing. The valve body is positioned within the groove of the valve housing such that the valve body and the valve housing are axially co-extensive along at least a portion thereof. The biasing element operatively engages the valve body and generates a biasing force urging the valve body in a first axial direction. The biasing force is greater than a predetermined dynamic gas pressure threshold value multiplied by a pressure area and is less than or approximately equal to a valve body mass multiplied by 2.5 times the nominal acceleration due to gravity.

Inertia-actuated valve assemblies as well as gas spring and gas damper assemblies, suspension systems and methods including same

An air scoop light unit for a vehicle includes a light emitting area and related features where the light unit comprises a concave guiding surface spaced apart from the vehicle body to form an airflow channel there between that guides airflow at least partially around an outer side corner of the vehicle body to enhance aerodynamic efficiency. The air scoop light unit may incorporate safety features such as sensing devices as well as features that allow the air scoop light unit to deform, break or move in a predetermined manner such as to absorb energy in case of contact with an object such as a pedestrian. Vehicles including one or more such lamp assemblies are also included, including vehicles having tapered bodies.

Aerodynamic vehicle structures with air scoop light unit

Vibration isolators can be dimensioned for securement between a rotational motion source and a rotational motion target. The vibration isolators can include a first end member and a second end member supported in substantially-fixed axial position but axially-rotatable relative to the first end member. An intermediate member can be disposed between and operatively engaging the first and second end members. A rotational motion-to-axial motion conversion system is operatively disposed between the intermediate member and the first end member such that rotation of the intermediate member and the second end member generates axial displacement of the intermediate member relative to the first and second end members. A biasing element can be operatively disposed between the intermediate member and one or more of the first and second end members to bias the intermediate member in an axial direction. Rotary power transmissions or system are also included.

Vibration isolator and systems including same

Clamping plates and gas spring assemblies as well as suspension systems and methods including same

An end member assembly includes first and second end member sections. The first end member section includes a first securement feature integrally formed thereon. The second end member section includes a second securement feature integrally formed therein that is dimensioned to cooperatively engage the first securement feature. In an assembled condition, the first and second end member sections are operatively engaged to substantially inhibit axial displacement therebetween. A substantially fluid-tight joint can be formed between the first and second end member sections such that an end member chamber can be formed within the end member assembly. A third end member section can be included, and can be operatively connected to the second end member section. A gas spring assembly and a suspension system are also included.

End member assemblies and gas spring assemblies including same

Lateral support elements include an element wall with an exterior surface dimensioned to abuttingly engage an associated flexible wall and an interior surface that at least partially defines an element chamber within the lateral supporting element. Gas spring assemblies include a flexible spring member that at least partially defines a spring chamber. The lateral support element is disposed along and operatively connected to the flexible spring member. The element chamber can, optionally and in some cases, be disposed in fluid communication with the spring chamber. The gas spring assembly can include one or more end members operatively connected to the flexible spring member. Suspension systems and methods of assembly are also included.

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Noblesville, IN, United States of America

Joshua R Leonard