Abstract: A suspension system includes a composite leaf spring attachment system having a bracket, a mount and a shear damper mounted therebetween. The mount is rectilinear in cross-section to receive a rearward leaf spring segment of the composite leaf spring. During flexing of the leaf spring, the rearward leaf spring segment of the leaf spring slides within the mount. The shear damper in combination with sliding of the leaf spring through the mount accommodates this longitudinal lengthen during flexing. Also, due to the width of the of the leaf spring segment the shear damper may alternatively be utilized alone to accommodate the flexing of the leaf spring as the significant width of the composite leaf spring provides a large mounting platform for a significantly large shear damper heretofore unavailable with relatively thin conventional steel leaf springs.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an air spring having an elastomeric air spring flexible member with its ends attached to respective attachment components. The ends of the flexible member have respective sealing beads. An elastic peripherally extending sealing lip (41) is formed on the end portion of at least one of the ends of the flexible member and projects beyond the end face of the end portion and lies on the smallest diameter of the flexible member. The sealing lip (41) ensures a reliable sealing between this end of the flexible member and the attachment component. The sealing lip (41) faces toward the pressure space of the air spring in the assembled condition thereof.

Abstract: An air spring has pair of spaced end members for mounting the spring at spaced locations on a structure. A flexible sleeve of elastomeric material is sealingly engaged with the end members and forms a pressurized fluid chamber therebetween. A post is mounted on one of the end members and extends into the fluid chamber. A shock absorbing bumper formed of a high strength plastic is snap-fitted on an enlarged top of the post. A plurality of circumferentially arranged flexible fingers define an opening in a base of the bumper, and are snap-fitted over the enlarged top of the post which extends into the opening and seat into an annular undercut formed in the post beneath the enlarged top. The snap-fitted plastic bumper replaces the heretofore used elastomeric bumper.

Abstract: A novel pneumatic spring-loaded damping apparatus having a piston mounted for reciprocal movement within a cylindrical housing and provided with a piston rod which at extends through a resilient chamber provided by a rolling bellows at one end of the housing, the rolling bellows being mounted for rotation relative to the housing or the piston rod to provide a strut for a steerable front wheel of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension of a type generally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,801,086, especially adapted to dropframe vehicles, wherein a torque beam is formed to straddle the frame of the vehicle and be attached through a resilient bushing to the web of the frame, all of which gives a controlled spring to the vehicle as well as an accommodation for the tilting of the axle about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.