The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 15, 1988
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1987
Jack D Ecktman, Indianapolis, IN (US);
The Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, OH (US);
Abstract
An air spring having a pair of spaced end members and an intervening tubular elastomeric sleeve with internal reinforcing cords forms a fluid pressure chamber for mounting between spaced portions of a vehicle to provide damping and to absorb road shock. Each of the end members has an end cap and a clamp ring provided with annular mating surfaces. The clamp ring is formed with an annular convex projection which extends into a larger annular concave recess formed in the end cap. When the ring and end cap are snapped axially together, two annular radially space areas of the sleeve are placed in compressive shear to provide a secure clamping engagement with the sleeve material. An annular expansion area is formed within the recess between the projection permitting the sleeve material located between the compressive shear areas to expand therein. The sleeve cords move through a direction change of approximately 180.degree.. The annular projection and annular recess form two radially spaced annular pinch areas on each of the end members, and the intervening expansion area ensures a change of direction of the reinforcement cord to securely clamp the sleeve ends therebetween eliminating any internal bead reinforcement on the sleeve. In a second embodiment helical thread-like mating projections formed on the end cap and clamp ring provide the two compressive shear pinch areas and intervening expansion area.