GB2456750A - A rolling diaphragm air spring - Google Patents
A rolling diaphragm air spring Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2456750A GB2456750A GB0722133A GB0722133A GB2456750A GB 2456750 A GB2456750 A GB 2456750A GB 0722133 A GB0722133 A GB 0722133A GB 0722133 A GB0722133 A GB 0722133A GB 2456750 A GB2456750 A GB 2456750A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- air spring
- cords
- flexible member
- sleeve
- piston
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- 230000003014 reinforcing effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 230000002787 reinforcement Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 6
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 claims description 30
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 210000001699 lower leg Anatomy 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000012858 resilient material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 7
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920000297 Rayon Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000002964 rayon Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920002430 Fibre-reinforced plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- -1 PET Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010073 coating (rubber) Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000013536 elastomeric material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011151 fibre-reinforced plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001084 poly(chloroprene) Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002994 synthetic fiber Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004753 textile Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- F16F9/00—Springs, vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or similarly-constructed movement-dampers using a fluid or the equivalent as damping medium
- F16F9/02—Springs, vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or similarly-constructed movement-dampers using a fluid or the equivalent as damping medium using gas only or vacuum
- F16F9/04—Springs, vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or similarly-constructed movement-dampers using a fluid or the equivalent as damping medium using gas only or vacuum in a chamber with a flexible wall
- F16F9/0409—Springs, vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or similarly-constructed movement-dampers using a fluid or the equivalent as damping medium using gas only or vacuum in a chamber with a flexible wall characterised by the wall structure
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- F16F9/00—Springs, vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or similarly-constructed movement-dampers using a fluid or the equivalent as damping medium
- F16F9/02—Springs, vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or similarly-constructed movement-dampers using a fluid or the equivalent as damping medium using gas only or vacuum
- F16F9/04—Springs, vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or similarly-constructed movement-dampers using a fluid or the equivalent as damping medium using gas only or vacuum in a chamber with a flexible wall
- F16F9/05—Springs, vibration-dampers, shock-absorbers, or similarly-constructed movement-dampers using a fluid or the equivalent as damping medium using gas only or vacuum in a chamber with a flexible wall the flexible wall being of the rolling diaphragm type
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
- F16J—PISTONS; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS
- F16J3/00—Diaphragms; Bellows; Bellows pistons
- F16J3/06—Bellows pistons
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
- Fluid-Damping Devices (AREA)
Abstract
An air spring 11, especially for a motor vehicle comprises: a reinforced elastomeric flexible tube member 12 with first and second longitudinal end portions 28, 29, for attachment to a support 13 and a piston 14. An external support sleeve 15 extends over the first portion 28 of the length of the reinforced elastomeric flexible tube member 12. The second portion 29 is adjacent the piston 14 and provides an active portion within which a rolling lobe 16 is formed during the operation of the air spring. Reinforcing cords 22 within said first portion 28 extend in a direction optimised for reinforcement thereof and reinforcing cords 23, 24 within the active portion 29 of the reinforced elastomeric flexible tube member 12 are arranged in bias directions optimised for reinforcement of the active portion 29.
Description
-1-2456750 Air S�rinas
Field
This invention relates to air springs of the type used in the suspensions systems of motor vehicles.
Background of the Invention
Air springs for motor vehicles typically comprise bellows types and rolling lobe types. Rolling lobe air springs comprise a flexible member attached at one end to a support on the vehicle chassis-and at the other end to a piston which is usually made of metal or plastics. In the operating state, the piston moves within the flexible member which is pushed over the piston so that the flexible member defines a rolling lobe which rolls over the outer surface of the roll-off piston. The rolling lobe type utilises a cord reinforced flexible bag or tube which forms a pneumatic chamber. The rubber tube essentially consists of an inner liner, reinforced by at least one cord layer and an outer cover.
The reinforcement layer takes up the forces which occur because of the overpressure in the flexible member of the air spring. The cord fabric layer in air-spring flexible members preferably is made of fully synthetic fibres such as rayon, nylon or polyester teraphthallate (PET). The cord fabric comprises a weft of multiplicity of cord lying parallel one next to the other and which are held loosely together at greater distances by a few thin threads in weft direction.
This cord fabric layer is rubberized with a suitable rubber mixture such as a polychloroprene mixture and, after being cut at an angle, is built into the air-spring flexible member with at least two superimposed layers so that the cords lie crosswise. Depending upon the air spring type, the textile cord threads of the two cord fabric sheets define a symmetrical thread angle of approximately DEG to 80 DEG with respect to the peripheral direction. Typical air springs for street motor vehicles utilise only two mutually crossing fabric layers in order to achieve a high flexibility of the flexible member of the rolling-lobe air spring.
This forms a cross ply construction providing an air spring which may not be suitable for high frequency low amplitude wheel movements but has the advantage of accommodating a larger range of movement in the suspension system.
In some cases the flexible tube or bag can be provided with an external steel support sleeve. Air springs with an external steel guide sleeve utilise the sleeve to react some or all of the air pressure in the spring. This allows the use of thinner rubber tubes with reinforcing cords arranged in a uniaxial cord direction, typically extending longitudinally of the tube. This provides for an improved suspension as compared with the unsupported tube. However the air spring tube requires support over its full working length and this may be difficult in applications requiring a large range of movement. Furthermore it is necessary to provide a gaiter for this type of air spring to prevent dirt from entering between the rolling air tube and the sleeve.
The present invention provides an air spring which offers the characteristics of both supported and unsupported flexible members.
Statements of Invention
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an air spring including a reinforced elastomeric flexible member defining a longitudinal axis and having a predetermined length with first and second longitudinal end portions for attachment to a support and piston respectively; and an external support sleeve extending for said first portion of the flexible member adjacent the support, with the second portion providing an active portion adjacent the piston within which a rolling lobe is formed during the operation of the air spring; wherein reinforcing cords within at least said first portion extend substantially, in one direction, and reinforcing cords within the active portion are arranged at a bias to said longitudinal axis.
The cords in the first portion of the flexible member may extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, and may extend for the full length of the flexible member.
The support sleeve may be formed from a resilient material such as reinforced polymeric material for example a fibre reinforced plastics material or a cord reinforced elastomenc material. The cords within the support sleeve may be wound circumferentially around the sleeve.
The elastomeric sleeve may be provided with an integral gaiter which in use engages the spring piston.
The reinforcing cords in the active portion may comprise at least a single layer of cords superimposed on the longitudinally extending cords.
The reinforcing cords within the active portion of the flexible member may comprise cords within two superimposed reinforcement layers, the cords in one layer extending in the opposite bias to the cords in the other of said two layers.
The invention also comprises vehicles having airsprings according to the first aspect of the present invention.
Description of the Drawings
The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic half section view of a rolling-lobe air spring according to the present invention set for off road height; Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the air spring of Fig. I set for standard road height; Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the three fabric layers in a broken-out section of the wall of the flexible member, and Fig. 4 is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of a rolling lobe air spring also according to the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
A rolling-lobe air spring 11 is shown in Fig. I and Fig. 2 and comprises a flexible member 12 attached seal-tight at its upper end to a support 13 mounted on a vehicle chassis. The lower end of the flexible member 12 is attached to a piston 14. The upper portion of the flexible member 12 adjacent the support 13, is surrounded by a cylindrical support sleeve 15 which support the flexible member over the range of wheel travel where ride quality is most important.
The flexible member 12 extends below the support sleeve 15, as is shown in Fig. 1, for off road suspension heights settings where ride quality is not so important.
During standard ride conditions, as is shown in Fig. 2, the flexible member 12 is pushed over the piston 14 so that a rolling lobe 16 is provided which is braced on the outer wall surface of the roll-off piston 14. The flexible member 12 is in the form of a flexible tube and the roll-off radius, that is, the bending radius of the rolling fold 16, is very tight, the rolling fold 16 rolling over the external wall of the roll-off piston 14 during spring compression and rebound of the piston 14.
As is shown in Fig. 3, the flexible member 12 typically comprises an inner rubber layer 21, an outer rubber layer forming a cover 25 and intermediate cord layers 22, 23, 24 embedded between the inner and outer layers 21, 25. The inner layer 21 and outer layers are typically formed from chioroprene. The cord layer 22 in the supported region 28 of the tubular flexible member 12 has cords extending in a direction optimised for use within the supporting sleeve 15 typically in a direction substantially longitudinally of the tubular member. The cord layers 23, 24 in the unsupported region 29, which forms the active portion of the flexible member 12, from which the rolling-lobe 16 is formed, are arranged in other directions optimised for use without a supporting sleeve 15 and typically are arranged at a bias to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member. The longitudinal cord layer 22 may extend over the entire length of the flexible member 12 or may terminate with the formation of the bias cord layers 23, 24.
The cord layers 22, 23, 24 are embedded in core rubber and built into the flexible element 12. The layers 23, 24 of the tubular active portion 29 of the airspring are layered one on top the other and extend in at opposite bias angles forming cross plies in the unsupported region of the flexible member which leads to an increase of the force which can be supported by the flexible member. The bias angle of the cords in the cords layer 23, 24 is typically between 40 degrees and 80 degrees to the peripheral direction of the flexible member 12.
The reinforcing cords are typically formed from nylon, PET, or Rayon threads The support sleeve 15 may be formed from a metal tube as is known.
Alternatively the support sleeve may be formed from a flexible or semi-flexible material such as reinforced polymeric material for example a fibre reinforced resilient plastics material or a cord reinforced elastomeric material. The cords within the support sleeve may be wound circumferentially around the sleeve.
By having an upper supported portion 28 with longitudinal cords only and a lower unsupported portion with crossing cords at a bias angle, it is possible to produce a air spring having the advantage of both supported and unsupported flexible members with the additional benefits of packaging.
With reference now to Fig. 4, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention which is substantially similar to the embodiment shown with reference to Figs. I to 3 so that only the differences with be described in detail. The cylindrical support sleeve 15 is shown as being fastened to the support 13 on the vehicle chassis by an annular clamp 31. The sleeve 15 is formed with an integral gaiter 32 which between the sleeve 15 and piston 14 to prevent the ingress of dirt into the gap between the sleeve 15 and the rolling lobe 16. The gaiter has a bellows area 33 that can extend and contract to accommodate the full movement of the piston 14.
The reinforcing cord layers are typically embedded in the elastomenc layer of the flexible element 12 and may themselves be coated in a rubber coating. The different layers may be formed separately and then wound onto a mandrel to build up the carcass for the flexible member which is then vulcanised in a mould.
Alternatively, the variable angle cords may be laid onto a rubber inner layer formed on a mandrel by a method as is disdosed in European patent Application 0285 726.
In yet another method the cord reinforcement could comprise a single knitted component.
Claims (10)
- Claims 1. An air spring including a reinforced elastomeric flexible member defining a longitudinal axis and having a predetermined length with first and second longitudinal end portions for attachment to a support and piston respectively; and an external support sleeve extending for said first portion of the flexible member adjacent the support, with the second portion providing an active portion adjacent the piston within which a rolling lobe is formed during the operation of the air spring; wherein reinforcing cords within at least said first portion extend substantially in one direction, and reinforcing cords within the active portion are arranged at a bias to said longitudinal axis.
- 2. An air spring as claimed in Claim I wherein the cords in the first portion of the flexible member extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
- 3. An air spring as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the longitudinally extending cords extend for the full length of the flexible member.
- 4. An air spring as claimed in any one of Claims I to 3, wherein the support sleeve is formed from a resilient material such as reinforced polymeric material.
- 5. An air spring as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the sleeve comprises a cord reinforced elastomenc material, said cords within the support sleeve being wound circumferentially around the sleeve.
- 6. An air spring as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the sleeve further comprises an integral gaiter which in use engages the spring piston.
- 7. An air spring as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the reinforcing cords in the active portion comprise at least a single layer of cords superimposed on the longitudinally extending cords.
- 8. An air spring as claimed in any one of Claims I to 7, wherein the reinforcing cords in the active portion comprise at least two superimposed reinforcement layers, the cords in one layer extending in the opposite bias to the cords in the other of said two layers.
- 9. An air spring substantially as described herein and with reference to Figs. I to 3, or Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
- 10. A motor vehicle having air sprins as claimed in any one of Claims I to 9.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0722133.6A GB2456750B (en) | 2007-11-10 | 2007-11-10 | Air springs |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0722133.6A GB2456750B (en) | 2007-11-10 | 2007-11-10 | Air springs |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0722133D0 GB0722133D0 (en) | 2007-12-19 |
| GB2456750A true GB2456750A (en) | 2009-07-29 |
| GB2456750B GB2456750B (en) | 2012-07-18 |
Family
ID=38858529
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0722133.6A Active GB2456750B (en) | 2007-11-10 | 2007-11-10 | Air springs |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2456750B (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012136650A1 (en) * | 2011-04-06 | 2012-10-11 | Continental Teves Ag & Co. Ohg | Air spring having hybrid bellows |
| WO2015022102A1 (en) * | 2013-08-16 | 2015-02-19 | Contitech Luftfedersysteme Gmbh | Air spring rolling lobe with supporting fabric |
| EP3081827A1 (en) * | 2015-04-16 | 2016-10-19 | ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH | Cushion-type air spring with segment belt |
| KR102212684B1 (en) | 2020-07-30 | 2021-02-04 | 현대자동차주식회사 | Air spring |
| DE102022210452A1 (en) | 2022-09-30 | 2024-04-04 | Contitech Luftfedersysteme Gmbh | Air spring with transverse stiffness |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0529435A1 (en) * | 1991-08-28 | 1993-03-03 | Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. | Fabric reinforced stiffeners for air springs |
| US5566929A (en) * | 1994-07-06 | 1996-10-22 | Continental Aktiengesellschaft | Rolling-lobe air spring having a flexible member made of elastomeric material |
| EP1546573A1 (en) * | 2002-08-30 | 2005-06-29 | Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership | Airspring sleeve |
-
2007
- 2007-11-10 GB GB0722133.6A patent/GB2456750B/en active Active
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0529435A1 (en) * | 1991-08-28 | 1993-03-03 | Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. | Fabric reinforced stiffeners for air springs |
| US5566929A (en) * | 1994-07-06 | 1996-10-22 | Continental Aktiengesellschaft | Rolling-lobe air spring having a flexible member made of elastomeric material |
| EP1546573A1 (en) * | 2002-08-30 | 2005-06-29 | Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership | Airspring sleeve |
Cited By (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012136650A1 (en) * | 2011-04-06 | 2012-10-11 | Continental Teves Ag & Co. Ohg | Air spring having hybrid bellows |
| CN103477112A (en) * | 2011-04-06 | 2013-12-25 | 大陆-特韦斯贸易合伙股份公司及两合公司 | Air spring having hybrid bellows |
| JP2014516397A (en) * | 2011-04-06 | 2014-07-10 | コンチネンタル・テベス・アーゲー・ウント・コンパニー・オーハーゲー | Air spring with hybrid bellows |
| CN103477112B (en) * | 2011-04-06 | 2016-03-23 | 大陆-特韦斯贸易合伙股份公司及两合公司 | There is the pneumatic spring of mixing air bag |
| US9512895B2 (en) | 2011-04-06 | 2016-12-06 | Continental Teves Ag & Co. Ohg | Air spring having hybrid bellows |
| DE102012201104B4 (en) | 2011-04-06 | 2024-05-23 | Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH | Air spring with hybrid bellows |
| WO2015022102A1 (en) * | 2013-08-16 | 2015-02-19 | Contitech Luftfedersysteme Gmbh | Air spring rolling lobe with supporting fabric |
| EP3081827A1 (en) * | 2015-04-16 | 2016-10-19 | ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH | Cushion-type air spring with segment belt |
| KR102212684B1 (en) | 2020-07-30 | 2021-02-04 | 현대자동차주식회사 | Air spring |
| US11473643B2 (en) | 2020-07-30 | 2022-10-18 | Hyundai Motor Company | Air spring |
| DE102022210452A1 (en) | 2022-09-30 | 2024-04-04 | Contitech Luftfedersysteme Gmbh | Air spring with transverse stiffness |
| EP4379232A1 (en) | 2022-09-30 | 2024-06-05 | ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH | Air spring with transverse stiffness |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2456750B (en) | 2012-07-18 |
| GB0722133D0 (en) | 2007-12-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| COOA | Change in applicant's name or ownership of the application | ||
| 732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) |
Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20131128 AND 20131204 |