Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC

Bfs Diversified Products, LLC

Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, LLC

Bridgestone/firestone, Inc.

Pradipta N Moulik

Joshua R Leonard

Graham R Brookes

Stephen C Street

Michael C Howard

Joseph A Bounds

Jason Donald Nieten

Paul P Koeske

Jason B Smith

Daniel J Leonard

Mohamad Taghizadeh

Andrew Grabarz

Bradley W Hayes

Jon Irvin Stuckey

Brian S DeBruler

Daniel I Levy

David J Zemla

Stephen R Egolf

Corey S Hart

Daniel P Steele

James D Boomer

Andreas Peickert

Jeffrey T Capek

Sydney Kelsey

Todd M Ziems

Robert A Mundt

Jonathan D Wood

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

A lateral support element () include an element wall with a first surface facing away from an associated flexible wall () and a second surface facing toward the associated flexible wall. The lateral support element is disposed along the associated flexible wall such that an interface () is formed between an outer surface of the associated flexible wall and the second surface of the lateral support element. The interface is operative to generate a lateral spring-rate profile in an associated gas spring assembly that varies according to lateral displacement of the associated flexible wall and the lateral support element relative to one another. The interface can include a quantity of friction-reducing material and/or can be at least partially formed by a cross-sectional profile of the lateral support element that includes a convex profile segment. Gas spring assemblies and methods of assembly are also included.

Lateral support element, gas spring assembly and method

A gas spring and gas damper assembly (AS) includes a first end member () and a second end member () that is spaced from the first end member (). A flexible spring member () is secured between the first () and second () end members and at least partially defines a spring chamber () therebetween. A first damper reservoir () has a substantially-fixed volume. An elongated gas damping passage () is connected in fluid communication between the spring chamber () and the first damper reservoir (). A suspension system including such a gas spring and gas damper assembly as well as a method of assembly are also included.

Gas spring and gas damper assemblies, suspension systems and methods

A mounting assembly () includes first and second mounting components () that are displaceable relative to one another. At least one positive-stiffness biasing element () exhibiting a positive-stiffness spring rate is operatively disposed between the first and second mounting components. At least one negative-stiffness biasing () element exhibiting a negative-stiffness spring rate is disposed between the first and second mounting components in parallel with the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element. A combined spring rate of the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element and the at least one negative-stiffness biasing element is less than the positive-stiffness spring rate of the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element alone. The mounting assembly can exhibit a natural frequency that is less than a natural frequency of a mounting assembly having the at least one positive-stiffness biasing element without the at least one negative-stiffness biasing element. Systems including such mounting assemblies are also included.

Mounting assemblies and systems including same

Suspension systems include a gas spring and gas damper assembly that is adapted for operation in first and second conditions. In the first condition, the assembly provides spring and damping functionality across a first range of travel. In the second condition, the assembly provides actuator functionality with a second range of travel that is substantially less than the first range of travel. A pressurized gas system is in fluid communication with the assembly. A control system is in communication with the assembly and the pressurized gas system. The control system is operative to actuate one or more control devices to transfer pressurized gas and thereby transition the assembly from between the first and second conditions. Methods of operating such as suspension system are also included.

Suspension systems and methods of operating same

An end member assembly (EMI) includes an end member body () and a support column (). The end member body () includes an outer side wall and an inner side wall that together at least partially define an end member reservoir. The inner side wall at least partially defines a passage through the end member body. The support column () extends into the passage and is accessible from along opposing ends of the passage. A sealing element can be disposed in fluid communication between the end member body and the support column. An elongated gas damping passage can extend through the end member assembly in fluid communication with the end member reservoir. A gas spring assembly can include a flexible spring member () that at least partially defines a spring chamber with an end member () and the end member assembly (EMI) on opposing ends thereof. A restraining assembly () can be secured within the spring chamber.

End member assemblies and travel-restraint assemblies as well as gas spring assemblies including same

A suspension actuation assembly can include first and second support assemblies that are displaceable relative to one another in a first direction of travel. A cable-tensioning assembly can be operatively disposed between the supporting and supported structures. A torsional spring and isolator assembly can be operatively secured to the supported structure. An elongated cable can be operatively connected between the cable-tensioning assembly and the torsional spring and isolator assembly such that associated loads acting on the supported structure displace the cable-tensioning assembly and thereby tension the elongated cable against the torsional spring and isolator assembly to support the load acting on the supported structure while isolating. A suspension system including such a suspension actuation assembly is also included.

Suspension isolation assemblies as well as suspension systems including same

Various embodiments of a tire assembly having an inner tire and an outer tire are disclosed.

Tire assembly including an inner tire and an outer tire

A damper rod bushing operatively connects an end member of a gas spring and a damper rod of a damper to at least partially form a gas spring and damper assembly. The damper rod bushing is constructed for exposure to gas pressure within a spring chamber of a gas spring and damper assembly such that pre-load forces due to gas pressure within said spring chamber act on said damper rod bushing. The damper rod bushing can include an outer support element, an inner support element and an elastomeric connector element operatively connected between the outer and inner support elements such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween. A gas spring and damper assembly including such a damper rod bushing, as well as a suspension system including one or more of such gas spring and damper assemblies and a method of assembly are also included.

Damper rod bushings as well as gas spring and damper assemblies and methods including same

A replacement indicator can be operatively associated with an elastomeric article such that the replacement indicator is visually observable. In some cases, the replacement indicator can be secured on or along the elastomeric article. Gas spring assemblies and pneumatic tires including a replacement indicator, as well as methods of manufacture are also included.

Replacement indicator, elastomeric articles and methods

A pressurizable gas reservoir can include a first end member and a second end member that is disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to the first end member. A flexible reservoir member can extend between opposing first and second ends. The first end secured to the first end member and the second end secured to the second end member. The flexible reservoir member at least partially defines a reservoir chamber between the first and second end members that is capable of storing a quantity of pressurized gas for an extended duration of time. The first and second end members can be maintained in substantially-fixed axial position relative to one another. A suspension system including such a pressurized gas reservoir and a method of assembly are also included.

Pressurized gas reservoirs including an elastomeric wall

An elastomeric article and elastomeric thermal barrier system includes an elastomeric article that is at least partially formed from an elastomeric material susceptible to thermal degradation upon exposure to an external thermal energy source. An elastomeric thermal barrier extends around and along at least a portion of the elastomeric article. The elastomeric thermal barrier is spaced apart from the elastomeric article to form a thermal break. The elastomeric thermal barrier is at least partially formed from an elastomeric material having a thermal property that is different from the thermal property of the elastomeric article and is operative to provide at least one of reduced absorption, reduced conductivity, increased reflectance and reduced emissivity to reduce thermal energy transfer into the elastomeric article from the external thermal energy source. A gas spring and thermal barrier system and/or assembly and a suspension system are also included.

Elastomeric thermal barrier as well as gas spring assembly and suspension system including same

A gas spring and gas damper assembly () can include a gas spring assembly () and a gas damper assembly (). The gas spring assembly can include opposing end members () and a flexible spring member () secured there between that at least partially forms a spring chamber (). One of the end members () can include an end member chamber () that is separated into a plurality of damping chambers (). Damper pistons () are disposed within the damping chambers () and are connected to the other end member () by way of a damping rod ().

Gas spring and gas damper assembly

A gas spring and gas damper assembly includes a first end member, a second end member and a flexible wall that at least partially defines a first spring chamber therebetween. A damping chamber wall at least partially defines a damping chamber. A damper piston is received within the damping chamber and is operatively connected between the first and second end members and within the first spring chamber. A suspension system that includes a gas spring and gas damper assembly as well as a method of assembly are also included.

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Carmel, IN, United States of America

Pradipta N Moulik