GB786845A - Fluid spring - Google Patents

Abstract

786,845. Pneumatic springs. GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO. April 24, 1956 [Oct. 24, 1955], No. 12486/56. Class 108(3) A pneumatic spring comprises a generally tubular flexible member 34 between two opposed spaced supports 26, 29, and having at least one open end terminating in a reinforced head 35 having a seat thereon co-operating with a corresponding seat of the support 26 in such manner that the seats are forced into sealing engagement with each other upon pressurizing the member 34, so as to maintain the sealing engagement without the use of auxiliary clamping means. In the construction shown in Fig. 2, the support 29 forms an intermediate member between two similar springs 34. The seat on each support member (Fig. 6) is formed by two annular sections 39, 41, of different respective inclination to the axis of the members 34. The adjacent beaded end of the member 34 is formed with two correspondingly inclined seats. The seat 41 may be formed with circumferentially extending ribs (not shown). The support may be formed with an annular ridge 42 which serves to retain the member 34 before it has been inflated. In a modified construction (Fig. 1, not shown) the support 29 is dispensed with, there being a single member 34 surrounded at its diameter midway between the supports 21, 26, by a rigid ring which may have a covering of rubber. This ring is of such a diameter as to divide the member 34, when it is under pressure, into two interconnected sections. Conical rubber buffers (Fig. 5, not shown) may be mounted respectively on the supports 21, 26, and extending axially inwards, to engage one another on extreme deflection of the spring. Where it is necessary to mount a spring in a space which has more length than width, a series of springs may be mounted in line and connected by a common air conduit (Fig. 3, not shown). As shown in Fig. 2, the supports 21, 26, are circular in cross section and are formed by rolling or stamping. They may alternatively be of elongated shape in cross-section (Fig. 9, not shown). A ball-joint connection may be provided between the load applying members 1, 2, of the spring and their respective supports 21, 26, (Fig. 10, not shown). In the spring shown in Fig. 8, the member 34 is rendered substantially inextensible by the use of peripherally extending reinforcing wires (mot shown). On relative deflection between the members 1, 2, the member 34 is thus caused progressively to engage the upper support member 50, which is of axially elongated form. The lower support member 56 is formed with an annular groove 57 adjacent the bead-receiving seat 39, 41, in order to facilitate the assembly of the beaded end of the member 34 before inflation of the spring.