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
  • F16F9/05—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
  • 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
  • F16F9/0454—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 assembling method or by the mounting arrangement, e.g. mounting of the membrane
• • 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
  • F16F9/057—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 characterised by the piston
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2202/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of spring, damper or actuator
  • B60G2202/10—Type of spring
  • B60G2202/14—Plastic spring, e.g. rubber
  • B60G2202/143—Plastic spring, e.g. rubber subjected to compression
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2202/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of spring, damper or actuator
  • B60G2202/10—Type of spring
  • B60G2202/15—Fluid spring
  • B60G2202/152—Pneumatic spring
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
  • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
  • B60G2204/45—Stops limiting travel
  • B60G2204/4502—Stops limiting travel using resilient buffer
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
  • Y10T29/49877—Assembling or joining of flexible wall, expansible chamber devices [e.g., bellows]

Definitions

• This invention pertains generally to the art of air spring assemblies and more specifically to the method of attaching a flexible member to a moveable piston.
• An air spring assembly generally comprises a flexible member attached to a piston.
• the piston is able to advance or retreat into the interior of the flexible member thereby changing the internal volume of the assembly.
• the amount of air delivered to the interior of the assembly is adjustable, providing variance in the spring rate.
• the present invention maintains the conventional external dimensions of an air spring assembly while overcoming the foregoing difficulties concerning tensile stress, eliminating the snap-on component, and increasing the internal air reservoir in a way which is simple and efficient, while providing better and more advantageous results.
• a method of attaching a piston of greater internal volume directly to a flexible member of an air spring assembly is provided.
• an air spring assembly comprises a cylindrical flexible member having first and second spaced edges and a torodial region encompassing the second edge whereby the second edge is in the interior of the flexible member.
• the first edge of the flexible member has a first bead surface and the second edge has a second bead surface.
• the first bead surface is seated into a groove in an upper bead plate.
• the air spring assembly further comprises a hollow piston which has a cylindrical surface concentric with the flexible member.
• a first end of the piston is curved to form a channel into which the second bead surface is seated.
• the piston is moveable relative to the flexible member along the central axis.
• a piston plate is attached to the piston at the second end.
• the interior of the air spring assembly creates an air reservoir which is sealed against air leakage.
• the amount of air contained in the air reservoir is adjusted through an air inlet which is positioned in the upper bead plate.
• the air spring assembly can be mounted between two surfaces by pins in the upper bead plate and by at least one pin and a threaded bolt in the piston plate.
• a piston for an air spring assembly is formed from a cylindrical surface having an extension at one end. The extension of the cylindrical surface is curved inwardly to form a channel . A second end of the cylindrical surface is flared to create a surface for the reception of a piston plate.
• the piston plate is hermetically welded to the cylindrical surface.
• Means for mounting the piston to a surface extend through the piston plate.
• the mounting means are sealed against air leakage.
• One advantage of the present invention is the provision of an air spring assembly which has an increased internal volume while maintaining the external dimensions of a conventional air spring.
• Another advantage of the present invention is the elimination of the snap-on component of prior art air spring assemblies. Another advantage of the present invention is the simplicity of manufacture of the piston.
• Another advantage of the present invention is its ability to withstand tensile stress where the piston is joined to the flexible member.
• Another advantage of the present invention is the use of hermetically welded parts which can be bench- tested for leaks.
• FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an air spring assembly according to the invention.
• FIGURE 2 is an exploded cross sectional view of the air spring assembly.
• FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of the air spring assembly.
• FIGURE 4 is a top view of an upper bead plate according to the invention.
• FIGURE 5 is an exploded sectional view of a piston according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 shows an air spring assembly 10 according to the invention.
• the air spring assembly 10 includes a flexible member 12, a moveable piston 14, an upper bead plate 16, and a piston plate 18.
• the flexible member 12 comprises a cylindrical side wall 20 having a central axis 22, a first edge 24, and second edge 26.
• the first edge 24 comprises a first bead surface 28.
• first bead surface 28 contains an annular tensile member 29.
• Upper bead plate 16 comprises an annular groove 30 which receives first bead surface 28.
• the second edge 26 of the flexible member 12 comprises a second bead surface 32.
• Second bead surface 32 likewise contains an annular tensile member 33.
• the side wall 20 folds over into itself to create a torodial region 34 which encompasses the second edge 26. As is evident in Figure 2, the second edge 26 is located in the interior 36 of the flexible member 12.
• the piston 14 is essentially hollow and comprises a cylindrical surface 38 which is concentric with the side wall 20 of the flexible member 12 about the central axis 22.
• a first end 40 of cylindrical surface 38 comprises an annular channel 42.
• a second end 44 of cylindrical surface 38 is flared to form a lip 46 for the reception of the piston plate 18.
• the air reservoir 50 of the air spring assembly 10 includes the changeable interior volume of the flexible member 12 as well as the internal volume of the piston 14.
• the upper bead plate 16 and the piston plate 18 provide end boundaries for the air reservoir 50.
• first bead surface 28 fits into groove 30 is such a way as to provide an airtight seal 52 between the upper bead plate 16 and the flexible member 12.
• flexible member 12 is secured to the moveable piston 14 by seating the second bead surface 32 into channel 42 to create airtight seal 54.
• An important feature of the inventive air spring assembly 10 is the ability of seal 54 to withstand tensile stress. Because seal 54 is able to withstand tensile stress, the range of motion for the retraction of the piston 14 is increased over prior art air spring assemblies.
• the piston plate 18 is likewise sealed to the piston 14 with an air-tight weld 56 or other fastening means. In the preferred embodiment, the air spring assembly 10 is sealed against air leakage at the junctures of the various parts.
• the flow of air to the air reservoir 50 is controlled via an air inlet 58 which is located in the upper bead plate 16.
• the amount of air contained in the air reservoir 50 is changeable so that the spring rate of the system can be adjusted to meet the requirements of the particular application.
• the upper bead plate 16 and the piston plate 18 are equipped with hardware to permit mounting the air spring assembly 10 between two surfaces, not shown.
• the upper bead plate 16 includes pins 60 having heads 62 to the interior of the assembly 10.
• the piston plate 18 includes at least one pin 64 having a head 66 to the interior of the air spring assembly 10.
• the preferred embodiment further includes a threaded bolt 70 extending from the piston plate 18.
• the head 72 of bolt 70 is in the interior of the air spring assembly 10. Pins 60 are sealed against the upper bead plate 16 to prevent air leakage. Likewise, pin 64 and bolt 70 are sealed against the piston plate 18 to prevent air leakage.
• the piston 14 is formed from sheet metal.
• the cylindrical surface 38 includes an extension 80 at first end 40.
• the extension 80 comprises an inwardly directed sinuous surface 84 which forms channel 42.
• the second bead surface 32 is seated in channel 42 and then sinuous surface 84 is crimped or otherwise narrowed against the second bead surface 32 to create an airtight, tensile stress resistant juncture.
• the second end 44 of the cylindrical surface 38 is flared slightly to create a lip 46 for the reception of an annular edge 90 of the piston plate 18.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid-Damping Devices (AREA)
• Actuator (AREA)
• Sealing Devices (AREA)
• Pistons, Piston Rings, And Cylinders (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=24273329

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (14)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (15)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 1995
  • 1995-12-07 US US08/568,924 patent/US5671907A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1996
  • 1996-10-01 PL PL96327343A patent/PL327343A1/xx unknown
  • 1996-10-01 ES ES96936071T patent/ES2144268T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-10-01 AU AU73809/96A patent/AU7380996A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1996-10-01 JP JP9521244A patent/JP2000501161A/ja not_active Ceased
  • 1996-10-01 CN CN96199771A patent/CN1207799A/zh active Pending
  • 1996-10-01 DE DE69607482T patent/DE69607482T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1996-10-01 WO PCT/US1996/015669 patent/WO1997021045A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1996-10-01 TR TR1998/01005T patent/TR199801005T2/xx unknown
  • 1996-10-01 KR KR1019980704237A patent/KR19990071949A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 1996-10-01 HU HU9902654A patent/HU224474B1/hu not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-10-01 BR BR9611863A patent/BR9611863A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1996-10-01 EP EP96936071A patent/EP0865583B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1998
  • 1998-05-22 MX MX9804078A patent/MX9804078A/es not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (8)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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