Air spring having internal sealing band and method of installing same

Abstract

An air spring for motor vehicles including first and second end members, at least one of which is a piston, with an intervening flexible sleeve forming a fluid pressure chamber therebetween sealingly connected to the end members. A continuous annular sealing band clamps at least one end of the flexible sleeve within an annular recess formed on the inside surface of an annular wall portion of one of the end members within an open end of the end member by compressing the sleeve material between the band and wall, and without deforming the band or wall of the end member beyond their elastic limits. In one embodiment, the annular wall of the end member is formed of plastic and is deformed outwardly but maintained within its elastic limits upon insertion of the band within the open end. The end of the sleeve is rolled over the sealing band and then the sleeve end and band are inserted by a press plate into the open end of the end member with the band compressing and sealing the flexible material of the sleeve into the annular recess. The compressed flexible material expands to seal the sleeve against the end member. In another embodiment, the press plate expands the plastic material of the end member outwardly upon inserting the band and a rolled end of the flexible sleeve into the annular recess of the annular wall portion whereupon the wall attempting to return to its unstressed state seals the flexible sleeve between the sidewall and band.