The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Stemco Products, Inc.

Stemco Kaiser Incorporated

Mark Guy Trowbridge

David Joseph Maguire

David A Palky

Carl Kenneth Safreed, Jr

Gregory Dean Hofacre

The present invention discloses an air spring comprising a piston, a top plate, a clamp ring, a snap ring, and a flexible member which is affixed to the piston and the top plate, wherein the piston, the top plate and the flexible member define a pressurizable chamber, wherein the snap ring is affixed to the clamp ring, wherein the clamp ring affixes an upper portion of the flexible member to the top plate, wherein the clamp ring affixes the snap ring to the top plate, and wherein the top plate is affixed between the snap ring and the flexible member.

Composite bead plate and an air spring using the same

An air spring () has a cylindrical flexible sleeve () secured at each end to form a fluid chamber (). One end () of the sleeve () is secured to a retainer (). The retainer () has a ribbed reinforcement structure () which allows the air spring () to be directly mounted to a moveable part of a vehicle or other machinery. The retainer () has an extending mounting structure () on one side of the reinforcement structure () and a bead-seating surface () adjacent to the reinforcement structure ().

Air spring upper retainer

An improved composite air spring with a simplified construction is disclosed. The piston is has a series of internal floating ribs. The ribs extend from the underside of the piston platform to the lower end of the piston. Circumferential forces acting on the piston when the sleeve rolls down onto the piston are absorbed by the piston and the floating ribs.

Press together air spring

The air spring is comprised of a flexible airsleeve, a retainer, and a main piston. The airsleeve is secured at one end by the retainer and at the opposing end by the main piston. A hollow restraining piston extends from the retainer and into the main piston. The restraining piston acts as a lateral stabilizer, over extension restraint and height control. The hollow region in the restraining piston communicates through at least one passage with an air chamber formed between the airsleeve and the outer surfaces of the restraining piston and the main piston. Fluid is admitted to or exhausted from the air spring through a valve which functions relative to the displacement of the restraining piston and the main piston.

Air spring with lateral restraint and axial control

An air spring wherein the spring constant of the air spring can be readily tuned to achieve a desired ride performance is disclosed. The air spring has a cylindrical elastomeric sleeve, bead plates, and support rings. The sleeve is secured at each end to a bead plate. The support rings are secured to the bead beads, extending radially outward from the bead plates. The support rings have an inner shoulder, an outer shoulder, and a tracking surface extending between the shoulders. When the air spring is at design height, the sleeve contacts only the inner shoulders of the support rings. By limiting the initial contact of the sleeve with ring and determining where this contact occurs, the movement of the sleeve during jounce can be modified, altering the effective area rate of change.

Air spring

An air spring with a pair of spaced end members and a flexible elastomeric sleeve forming a pressurized chamber in combination with the end members is disclosed. The air spring is provided with an internal bumper to absorb impacts and prevent collapse of the air spring when in operation. The bumper is formed with a continuous ledge in the central opening. Securing the bumper to one of the end members is a hollow cup. The cup lip engages the bumper ledge and the cup is attached to the end member.

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Stow, OH, United States of America

Mark Guy Trowbridge