Continental Automotive Systems Corporation

Continental Teves, Ag and Company Ohg

Sunny Makkar

Garrett Mark Pniewski

Christian Schallmeier

Kranti Kiran Manga

Joseph G Jerisk

Ralf Pielock

Kent Randolph Young

Andreas Nessel

Holger Wehaus

Susanne Tatter

An assembly for an air spring includes an outer gaiter defined in part by an interior portion, an inner gaiter defined in part by an exterior portion, at least one floating ring extending from a first floating ring end to a second floating ring end, the first floating ring end coupled with the inner gaiter and the second floating ring end is coupled with the outer gaiter, where the at least one floating ring allows the outer gaiter to move relative to the inner gaiter.

Air spring gaiters with floating ring

An air spring assembly having pressure relief capability, where the air spring assembly includes a single air volume, or a multi-chamber air volume. When the air spring assembly is operating at a stiffer spring rate in combination with a setting to increase ground clearance, during certain road events, the air spring assembly is compressed, and the pressure in the air spring assembly increases. In order to not exceed the safe mechanical limits of the air spring assembly, the pressure is limited to a maximum value when full compression is achieved. The air spring assembly includes at least one valve, which is opened based on a 'cracking pressure,' which is determined based on the mechanical limits of the air spring assembly. This facilitates the operation of the air spring assembly at settings to increase ground clearance of the vehicle, while allowing for pressure relief when the mechanical limit is reached.

Pressure relief for air springs

Air spring strut for a motor vehicle including an air spring with a shock absorber for spring-cushioning and damping oscillations of a motor vehicle running gear assembly. The air spring includes an air spring cover and an air spring piston. An air spring bellows made of elastomeric material is clamped air-tightly between the air spring cover and the air spring piston partially delimits a working space filled with compressed air and, while forming a rolling fold, rolls on the air spring cover and/or the air spring piston. The air spring cover is embodied in two parts with a first cover part for receiving an absorber bearing and with a second cover part for fastening the air spring bellows. The first cover part is manufactured from metal and the second cover part is manufactured from plastic.

Air spring cover

A pneumatic spring strut for a vehicle is provided including a hydraulic cylinder having a lower end for connection with a suspension system of the vehicle; a hydraulic piston slidably mounted within the hydraulic cylinder; a piston rod connected with the hydraulic piston; a pneumatic spring mount body connected with the hydraulic cylinder; a pneumatic spring bellows having a lower in connected with the pneumatic spring mount body; a top cap encircling the piston rod and being connected with a top end of the spring bellows, and a closing cover twist lock connected with the top cap.

Vehicle air strut with twist lock closure cover

A support ring used as part of an air spring assembly, where the support ring provides support for a top cap against radial forces applied by a clamping ring. The support ring is made of a plastic material which is less costly than a metal support ring. The plastic material is a high creep resistance plastic material, which provides increased strength and improved creep resistance, to withstand the compressive radial forces of the clamping ring. Once the support ring is formed, the top cap, which is also made of plastic, is overmolded such that a portion of the top cap is overmolded around the support ring. The high creep resistance plastic material is oriented during the injection molding process around the entire circumference of the support ring, to provide sufficient strength to withstand the radial forces from the clamping ring.

High creep resistance plastic material reinforced rings

A suspension arrangement for passenger car, an SUV or light truck is provided. The suspension arrangement includes a frame for said vehicle and an axle with rotatably mounted wheels. A leaf spring is provided connected with the frame and connected with the axle. The leaf spring has a contribution to the total axle ride frequency less than 80% of the total axle ride frequency. An air spring acting in parallel with the leaf spring is also provided.

Vehicle axle suspension arrangement

An air spring assembly for a vehicle having a reservoir which is adaptable to meet different packaging requirements. The air spring assembly includes a damper body, at least one piston connected to the damper body, and a bellow connected to the piston, the bellow having a cavity. A top cap is connected to the bellow, and a fitting is connected to the top cap. A reservoir is connected to the fitting such that the reservoir is in fluid communication with the cavity. Air flows between the bellow and the reservoir as a result of movement of the piston and damper body during travel of the vehicle. The reservoir may be tube-shaped, having a consistent diameter, or a varying diameter. The reservoir may also be spherical-shaped, rectangular-shaped, square-shaped, or may be shaped to fit specific packaging requirements such that the reservoir may be positioned in any area of the vehicle.

Reservoir for airspring applications

A closing cover assembly for an air spring includes a first portion defining a first internal space constructed and arranged to receive a portion of an air spring. A second portion is integral with and extends from the first portion. The second portion defines a second internal space. A passageway connects the first internal space with the second internal space. A pressure retention valve having a main body is received in the second internal space, with the second portion of the cover defining an outer protective housing for the main body of the pressure retention valve.

Closing cover with integrated pressure retention valve housing for air spring applications

An air spring for air suspension system comprises a piston assembly and a damper assembly where the piston assembly is spaced apart from the damper assembly to at least partially define an air chamber. A seal is molded with piston walls to form an integrated piston assembly. The seal includes at least one sealing lip extending radially inward from the piston assembly at an angle that is non-perpendicular to an axis of the damper and the at least one sealing lip contacts the damper assembly when the piston assembly and the damper assembly are assembled together to seal the air chamber.

Air spring piston with integrated sealing

A method of orientating a vehicle for a potential impact includes detecting an object proximate a vehicle with at least one sensor mounted to the vehicle, identifying if the object is a pedestrian, determining a potential for a collision between the object and the vehicle with a controller mounted within the vehicle and determining a vehicle orientation for mitigating damage based on the determined potential for collision. The determined vehicle orientation includes at least an independent determination of a ride height for each corner of the vehicle. The method further includes actuating a suspension component to move each corner of the vehicle to the determined ride height for that corner independent of the other corners of the vehicle to place the vehicle in an orientation determined to mitigate damage and injury. A controller provides the independent determination of a ride height for each corner of the vehicle. The controller further is configured to initiate actuation of at least one suspension component of the vehicle to place the vehicle in the determined vehicle orientation that mitigates injury.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Sunny Makkar