Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080284072 | GAS SPRING ASSEMBLY - A gas spring assembly that is suitable for use on a vehicle suspension system includes a first end member and a second end member that is spaced from the first end member. A flexible wall is secured between the first and second end members and at least partially defines a first gas chamber therebetween. A confinement at least partially forms a second gas chamber that is in communication with the first gas chamber. A porous flow restrictor is operatively disposed between the gas chambers. A suspension system including such a gas spring assembly as well as a method is also included. | 11-20-2008 |
20080315474 | Jounce bumper assembly and gas spring assembly including same - A jounce bumper assembly includes a jounce bumper and a bumper retainer. The jounce bumper includes opposing end walls and a side wall extending therebetween. The bumper retainer includes a side wall for engaging the side wall of the jounce bumper and thereby restricting radially outward deflection of the jounce bumper. A gas spring assembly and a vehicle suspension system including a jounce bumper assembly are included. A method of utilizing a jounce bumper assembly is also included. | 12-25-2008 |
20090057966 | SPRING BODY FOR GAS SPRING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME - A spring body includes a filament structure formed from at least one length of filament material. An elastomeric wall at least partially defines a spring chamber and includes a first portion of the filament structure. A comparatively-rigid wall includes a second portion of the filament structure. A gas spring assembly that includes such a spring body, as well as a method making a spring body and a method of making a gas spring assembly are also included. | 03-05-2009 |
20090302514 | GAS SPRING ASSEMBLY AND SPACER - A cooperative mounting arrangement for an end member or spacer of a gas spring assembly includes a recess formed into one of the end member and the spacer. A projection is provided on or along an associated structural component. The recess receives the projection such that lateral forces acting on the end member of the gas spring assembly can be transferred to the associated structural component. | 12-10-2009 |
20100289197 | UNREINFORCED ELASTOMERIC SPRING WALL, GAS SPRING AND METHOD - A spring wall for securement between associated end members for forming an associated gas spring assembly includes a first wall portion that extends axially along a longitudinal axis and circumferentially thereabout. The first wall portion is formed from an unreinforced elastomeric material, and the first wall portion has a first nominal stiffness value. A second wall portion extends along the longitudinal axis and circumferentially thereabout. The second wall portion is disposed in longitudinal relation to the first wall portion and has a second nominal stiffness value that is different from the first nominal stiffness value of the first wall portion such that a non-constant stiffness profile is established along a longitudinal length of the spring wall. A gas spring and a gas spring and reservoir assembly utilizing such a spring wall as well as a method of manufacturing a gas spring are also included. | 11-18-2010 |
20110115139 | GAS SPRING AND GAS DAMPER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A gas spring and gas clamper assembly includes a first end member, a second end member, a first flexible wall that at least partially defines a first spring chamber, and a second flexible wall that at least partially defines a second spring chamber. A damper piston and damper rod are operatively connected between the first and second end members and within the first spring chamber. A suspension system that includes a gas spring and gas damper assembly as well as a method of assembly are also included. | 05-19-2011 |
20110115140 | GAS SPRING AND GAS DAMPER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A gas spring and gas damper assembly includes a first end member, a second end member and a flexible wall that at least partially defines a first spring chamber therebetween. A damping chamber wall at least partially defines a damping chamber. A damper piston is received within the damping chamber and is operatively connected between the first and second end members and within the first spring chamber. A suspension system that includes a gas spring and gas damper assembly as well as a method of assembly are also included. | 05-19-2011 |
20120217688 | GAS SPRING PISTON WITH PARTIAL BELLOWS SUPPORT FEATURE AND GAS SPRING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING SAME - A piston for use in forming a gas spring assembly includes a longitudinally extending axis, a first end wall extending approximately transverse to the axis, and an outer side wall extending longitudinally from adjacent the first end wall. The outer side wall includes a first side wall portion that forms a fully circumferential outer surface and a second side wall portion that forms a partially circumferential outer surface that extends longitudinally beyond the fully circumferential outer surface. A gas spring assembly including such a piston is also included. | 08-30-2012 |
20140091506 | ELASTOMERIC THERMAL BARRIER AS WELL AS GAS SPRING ASSEMBLY AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM INCLUDING SAME - An elastomeric article and elastomeric thermal barrier system includes an elastomeric article that is at least partially formed from an elastomeric material susceptible to thermal degradation upon exposure to an external thermal energy source. An elastomeric thermal barrier extends around and along at least a portion of the elastomeric article. The elastomeric thermal barrier is spaced apart from the elastomeric article to form a thermal break. The elastomeric thermal barrier is at least partially formed from an elastomeric material having a thermal property that is different from the thermal property of the elastomeric article and is operative to provide at least one of reduced absorption, reduced conductivity, increased reflectance and reduced emissivity to reduce thermal energy transfer into the elastomeric article from the external thermal energy source. A gas spring and thermal barrier system and/or assembly and a suspension system are also included. | 04-03-2014 |
20140095015 | INDICATOR OF ESTIMATED SPRING LIFE AS WELL AS GAS SPRING ASSEMBLY, SYSTEM AND METHOD - An indicator of an estimated remaining life of an associated spring device can include at least one sensor and at least one processor. The at least one sensor can be operative to generate a signal having a relation to at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition of a spring device. The at least one processor can be communicatively coupled with the at least one sensor and programmed to receive signals from the at least one sensor, derive data from the received signals, and determine an estimated remaining life of at least the spring device using the data and an expression modeling a relationship between an estimated remaining life of the spring device and at least one of a usage condition and an environmental exposure condition. A gas spring and indicator assembly, a suspension system and a method are also included. | 04-03-2014 |
20140155180 | TORSIONAL COUPLERS - A torsional coupler can be dimensioned for securement between a rotational motion source and a rotational motion target. The torsional coupler can include a first end component and a second end component that can cooperatively interengage one another such that such that rotational motion imparted on the first end component is transmitted to the second end component. Interposed between the first end component and the second end component is one or more force-transfer elements through which torque and/or other rotational output is transmitted. The one or more force-transfer elements can include one or more pressurizable elements into and out of which pressurized fluid (e.g., gas and/or liquid) can be transferred. Additionally, or in the alternative, the one or more force-transfer elements can include one or more biasing elements having a positive stiffness and one or more biasing elements having a negative stiffness. A rotary power transmission is also included. | 06-05-2014 |
20140299215 | PRESSURIZED GAS RESERVOIRS INCLUDING AN ELASTOMERIC WALL - A pressurizable gas reservoir can include a first end member and a second end member that is disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to the first end member. A flexible reservoir member can extend between opposing first and second ends. The first end secured to the first end member and the second end secured to the second end member. The flexible reservoir member at least partially defines a reservoir chamber between the first and second end members that is capable of storing a quantity of pressurized gas for an extended duration of time. The first and second end members can be maintained in substantially-fixed axial position relative to one another. A suspension system including such a pressurized gas reservoir and a method of assembly are also included. | 10-09-2014 |
20140345450 | GAS SPRING END MEMBERS AS WELL AS GAS SPRING AND GAS DAMPER ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING SAME - A piston assembly including an integral piston chamber with an increased volume that is maximized by providing a mounting arrangement whereby the piston can be mounted to a structural member such that the piston chamber surrounds at least two sides of the structural member. A gas damping passage is disposed in fluid communication with the piston chamber and is dimensioned such that pressurized gas transferred through the gas damping passage can dissipate kinetic energy acting on the piston assembly. The piston chamber can therefore utilize space adjacent the structural member to which it is mounted thereby resulting in a piston chamber of a greater volume than prior art designs. A gas spring and gas damper assembly utilizing such a piston assembly is also included. | 11-27-2014 |
20140346749 | GAS SPRING AND GAS DAMPER ASSEMBLY AND METHOD - A gas spring and gas damper assembly includes a first end member, a second end member and a flexible wall that at least partially defines a first spring chamber therebetween. A damping chamber wall at least partially defines a damping chamber. A damper piston is received within the damping chamber and is operatively connected between the first and second end members and within the first spring chamber. A suspension system that includes a gas spring and gas damper assembly as well as a method of assembly are also included. | 11-27-2014 |