Beadless air spring

Abstract

An air spring formed by a pair of spaced end members and an intervening tubular elastomeric sleeve forms a fluid pressure chamber therebetween for mounting between spaced portions preferably of a vehicle to provide damping and to absorb road shock on the vehicle. Each of the end members is provided with a surface formed with a series of convex projections and concave intervening areas which align with similarly shaped projections and concave areas on an adjacent snap ring. The snap rings compress the ends of the tubular sleeve against the corresponding end cap surfaces to provide a secure clamping engagement therewith. The various projections and surfaces form at least two radially spaced pinch areas on each of the end members and an intervening expansion area in combination with a squeeze area and subsequent terminal expansion area which ensures a change of direction of the reinforcement cords within the sleeve ends to securely clamp the sleeve ends therebetween. The expansion areas permit the elastomeric material of the sleeve to expand on both sides of the pinch areas. The combination of the pinch areas with adjacent expansion areas and squeeze areas provide for a secure end clamp and seal for the tubular sleeve without requiring any internal bead reinforcement.