Abstract: An air spring assembly is mounted to a shock absorber to form a strut assembly. The shock absorber includes an outer cylinder with an internal piston and piston rod mounted within the outer cylinder. The piston rod is mounted to a vehicle frame member and the outer cylinder is mounted to a vehicle wheel. The air spring assembly includes a flexible member and an air spring piston that is supported by the outer cylinder. One end of the air spring piston is crimped around the flexible member to form a sealed attachment interface between the outer cylinder and the flexible member.

Abstract: Gas spring includes a cover which works together with a rolling bellows and a bottom part to form a gas-filled spring space, where at least part of the outside surface of the rolling bellows is covered by a sleeve. The sleeve provides a receptacle for at least one sensor which detects the stroke position of the gas spring.

Abstract: An air spring and shock absorber unit for use in vehicle suspension systems or cab suspension systems comprising a shock absorber mounted within an air spring. The lower end of the air spring bellows is attached to the air spring piston in such a manner which enables the lower end of the bellows to be disconnected from the air spring piston without damaging the crimp ring which connects the bellows to the piston.

Abstract: An air spring suspension damper assembly includes a first housing and a second housing which telescope relative to each other. An actuating member such as a cable is connected to a height leveling valve contained in one of the housings and attached to the other housing. The actuating member moves a member such as a rotating cam, a rotating valve plate and/or a rotating valve such that changes in the suspension height rotate the member. Rotation of the member selectively opens inlet and exhaust flow paths to control the air pressure in the damper assembly and maintain air suspension height at a predetermined height.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an air spring and jounce shock assembly for use in an automotive vehicle suspension system. The assembly may include a base adapted to be mounted on one of an axle assembly and a suspension component, a top cap adapted to be attached to a vehicle frame, and a diaphragm disposed between and attached to the base and the top cap, with the diaphragm including an inner surface defining a first portion of a compressed air cavity. A jounce shock reaction surface defines a second portion of the compressed air cavity and is included in a one of the top cap and the base.

Abstract: An air spring assembly is mounted to a shock absorber to form a strut assembly. The shock absorber includes an outer cylinder with a shock piston and piston rod mounted within the outer cylinder. The outer cylinder includes a shock mount that is attached to a vehicle wheel. The air spring assembly includes an upper mount, which is attached to a vehicle body member, and a lower mount that is attached to the outer cylinder. An air spring piston is mounted to the upper mount via a bearing assembly to permit relative rotation between the air spring piston and the vehicle body member. A flexible member extends from the lower mount to a lower end of the air spring piston. The piston rod is mounted at one end to the shock piston and at an opposite end to the air spring piston. An isolator is mounted between the piston rod and the air spring piston to minimize shock loads.

Abstract: A pneumatic front suspension assembly for an industrial vehicle comprises: a front axle linked to a pair of side-members, and a pair of airbags for adjusting the height of the axle relative to the side-members. On each side, there is provided a rigid arm whereof one end is articulated relative to the side-members, and the other end receives the axle and the lower part of the suspension air bags; a pair of connecting rods mutually articulated about a pin substantially parallel to the axle, one of said connecting rods, the upper connecting rod, being articulated relative to the side-member, the other connecting rod, the lower connecting rod, being articulated relative to the rigid arm, and a generally U-shaped additional element, forming an anti-roll bar, and including a transverse rod linked to the lower connecting rods at their articulation points with the rigid arms, and branches located on either side of the transverse rod, and linked to the lower connecting rods.

Abstract: A wheel-guiding forward axle spring strut includes a spring and a shock absorber (6) integrated axially therein. The spring includes two end members (8, 10) and a spring element is disposed between these end members. The shock absorber (6) includes a shock absorber cylinder (20) and a shock absorber rod (18) connected to the chassis (24) via a non-rotatable shock absorber bearing (22) The end member (8) is connected by a rotational bearing (28) to the chassis. The lower spring end member (10) is fixedly connected to the shock absorber cylinder (20) and thereby in common to the forward axle. The upper spring end member is an air spring cover and the lower spring end member is an air spring piston (10) and an air spring flexible member (12) is mounted between the cover (8) and the piston (10) so as to be pressure-tight and tension-tight.

Abstract: A combined spring/damper system for the support of wheel suspensions or axles on a vehicle body, with a tubular concertina which is mounted between an outer bell and a rolling piston and the meniscus of which is guided on a cylindrical inner-wall region of the outer bell and a cylindrical outer-wall region of the rolling piston. The outer bell or the rolling piston of the displacer is supported between the vehicle body and the chassis in at least one articulated support. The concertina space is filled with a fluid and communicates with a hydraulic accumulator mounted on the chassis side or on the vehicle-body side. Thus, a combined spring/damper system is provided, which includes a low-friction and virtually maintenance-free displacer.

Abstract: A vehicle air spring assembly having a pair of spaced end members which sealingly engage a flexible bladder to form an internal air chamber having an internal volume. One of the end members is a bead plate which has an annular outer end portion which is crimped to the bladder to provide an air tight seal therebetween. The end plate has a recessed portion located between the outer end portion which projects into the air chamber to reduce the volume of the air chamber to change the spring characteristic of the air spring. A plurality of reinforcing gussets extend between the recessed portion of the bead plate and a surrounding upstanding wall which extends between the outer end portion and recessed portion to enable the bead plate to be clamped by fasteners against an adjacent vehicle component and resist deformation when subjected to internal pressure.

Abstract: Pneumatic spring with at least one control valve inside the pneumatic spring with control positions for feeding, blocking, and discharging compressed air, which valve is actuated by a control element also installed inside the pneumatic valve. The control element acts on one of the two pneumatic spring assemblies which can move relative to each other, namely, either on the outer tube or on the roll tube, where the control element has a working length which is shorter than the stroke length of the pneumatic spring and is pretensioned by a first spring against one of the pneumatic spring assemblies which can move relative to each other. The control element is supported in a floating manner relative to the pneumatic spring assemblies, and a second spring, the force of which is directed against the first spring, co-determines the position of the control element.

Abstract: A rolling-lobe air spring (2) includes a cover (cover plate, 6-I or 6-II), a roll-off piston (8) and a rolling-lobe flexible member (4). A support bell (16-I or 16-II) is provided in order to solve stability problems. The support bell (16-I or 16-II) is rigidly connected to the cover (6-I or 6-II) in order to provide a guide of high stiffness to the rolling-lobe flexible member. The support bell (16-I or 16-II) is rigidly connected to the cover (6-I or 6-II) and can be arranged within or outside of the cover (6-I or 6-II). For an inner-lying support bell (16-I) the upper end of the rolling-lobe flexible member is attached to the throat region (18-I) of the support bell (16-I) with the aid of a clamp ring (12-I) applied from the outside. For an outside-lying support bell (16-II), the throat region (18-II) of the support bell (16-II) is deformed against the upper end of the rolling-lobe flexible member and against a support ring (12-II) disposed therebelow.

Abstract: A retaining cap includes a sleeve-shaped basic body which has at least one protective bellows retaining segment on which a protective bellows can be supported. A component which is movable with respect to the retaining cap can penetrate into the installation space of the retaining cap, the retaining cap having a plurality of deformation regions which are arranged in the circumferential direction. When in contact with the movable component, these regions make possible a free passage for the movable component.

Abstract: A side load compensating air spring piston having an elliptical cross-section. The side load compensating air spring comprises an air spring sleeve forming a chamber and having a rolling lobe. One end of the sleeve is attached to a tilted end cap for side load compensation. The other end of the sleeve has a rolling lobe engaged with a piston elliptical outer surface. The piston elliptical outer surface is disposed at a 90° angle to an elliptical stress distribution in the sleeve, thereby rendering the stress distribution uniform in the sleeve rolling lobe portion as it rolls on the piston.

Abstract: Vibration damper, including a damping element and a pneumatic spring, wherein the damping element has a container tube, which is connected to a roll-off piston of the pneumatic spring. The roll-off piston is connected via an air suspension bellows acting as a rolling diaphragm to an external guide mounted concentrically and with freedom of axial movement with respect to the roll-off piston, the air suspension bellows and the roll-over piston forming the boundaries of a space filled with pressurized gas. The container tube is prepared for the installation of the roll-off piston by a non-cutting procedure suitable for mass production, wherein a length of tubing having the diameter of the container tube is mounted on a mandrel and clamped at both ends so that its length cannot change, and a pair of flow-turning/rotary-swaging rolls is pressed against the tubing and advanced toward each other to form an area of squeezed material.

Abstract: An air spring has first and second axially spaced end members with a flexible bellows sealingly clamped to the end members and extending therebetween and forming an intervening air chamber. A flexible elastomeric sleeve having at least one convolution resiliently mounts a rigid restraining cylinder to one of the end members. The cylinder extends co-axially along and outside of the bellows. The flexible sleeve is bonded or snap-fitted to the cylinder.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a damping element and an air spring, the damping element having a container tube, a fixing part and a piston rod. The air spring has a spring bellows acting as a rolling bellows, an outer tube connected to a mass to be held with little oscillation, and a rolling tube bearing a rolling profile. The spring bellows bounds a gas chamber provided with a gas filling under pressure, while the rolling tube seals off the gas chamber with respect to the container tube and is fixed to the latter in the axial direction. Between the container tube and the rolling tube there is arranged a compression stop cap having three webs and thickened ends, which serve as a stop on the container tube for the rolling tube and to dissipate the radial force component acting on the latter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring system (2) having two spring units (4a, 4b) arranged coaxially with respect to each other. Each spring unit essentially includes a flexible member (6a, 6b) and a roll-off piston (8a, 8b). The two flexible members (6a, 6b), the roll-off pistons (8a, 8b) and a common outer jacket (10) enclose a common pressure space (14) filled with compressible gas or with a hydraulic liquid. A contamination flexible member (16) is mounted between the roll-off piston (8) and the outer jacket (10) in order to prevent a contamination of the flexible member roll-off surfaces. The contamination flexible member (16) is clamped, on the one hand, in the region of the roll-off piston (8) and, on the other hand, on the outer jacket (10). The effective length of the contamination flexible member (16) is somewhat less than the effective length of the shorter of the two work flexible members (6a, 6b). In this way, the contamination flexible member (16) functions additionally as an end stop (pull stop).

Abstract: A combined spring-and-shock-absorber system for supporting wheel suspensions or axles on a vehicle body has a tubular roll bellows (U-bellows) arranged between a wheel-bearing or wheel-controlling connection and a connection on the vehicle body side, the bellows being arranged between an outer bell and a rolling piston, the outer bell and the rolling piston, in each case, having at least partially varying diameters over the height of the corresponding component, and having walls that contact the tubular roll bellows. Both ends of the tubular roll bellows being sealingly secured on the rolling piston at segments having different diameters, the lower mounting section having a larger diameter than the upper mounting section. For this purpose, a tubular roll bellows is used, which is configured as a differential roll bellows, whose interior is filled with a fluid and communicates with a hydraulic accumulator supported on the chassis and/or vehicle body.

Abstract: A damping element has a container tube which is connected to a rolling tube of an air spring, the rolling tube being connected via a spring bellows acting as a rolling bellows to an outer tube which is arranged concentrically and such that it can move axially with respect to the rolling tube, the spring bellows and the rolling tube bounding a gas chamber provided with a gas filling under pressure. The rolling tube is sealed off with respect to the container tube by an O ring in a groove in the container tube, while, at another point on the container tube, projections are arranged as a stop for a front end of the rolling tube in order to dissipate the axial component of the gas pressure acting on said rolling tube. The assembly of the rolling tube on the container tube and the associated sealing by means of the O ring are achieved simply in a cost-effective manner by pushing the tubes together, the position of the tubes in relation to each other resulting automatically as a result of the projections.

Abstract: A double rolling-lobe air spring (2) includes an air spring cover (4) and a lower roll-off piston (8). An upper roll-off piston (6) is attached to the air spring cover (4) and the distance between the two roll-off pistons (6, 8) is variable. Respective ends of a double rolling-lobe resilient member (10) are clamped pressure-tight to the lower end of the upper roll-off piston (6) and to the upper end of the lower roll-off piston (8). A foam rubber part (16) is provided between the upper roll-off piston (6) and the rolling-lobe flexible member (10) as a dirt catcher in order to protect the upwardly-directed rolling lobe (10a) of the double rolling-lobe air spring (2) in a simple manner against dirt. The foam rubber part (16) is an insert part between the resilient member (10) and a bracket (18) disposed in surrounding relationship to the resilient member. The bracket (18) is preferably part of a sheet metal assembly of a chassis connection or an roll-off annular member (20).

Abstract: The sleeve-shaped rolling-lobe flexible member (4) of a rolling-lobe spring (2) is made of elastomeric material and is provided with a reinforcement layer. The ends of the sleeve-shaped rolling-lobe flexible member (4) include neither beads nor cores. The rolling-lobe flexible member (4) is attached pressure-tightly to a cover (8) functioning as a connecting part and/or to a roll-off piston (10) of the spring (2). This pressure-tight attachment is achieved in that each clamping region (18, 20) of the connecting part (cover 8 and/or roll-off piston 10) is provided with a drawn-in connecting surface having at least one peripherally-extending raised portion (22, 24). Clamp rings (12, 14) are assigned to corresponding clamping regions (18, 20) of the connecting parts (8, 10). The clamp rings (12, 14) have respective peripherally-extending recesses (26, 28).

Abstract: A module consisting of a shock absorber and an air spring is provided with a control for avoiding an undesirably high temperature within the air spring. In particular, a temperature responsive valve is mounted on the air spring, and is operative when the temperature of the air spring reaches a predetermined level. At that point, the temperature responsive valve opens, allowing flow of air outwardly of the air spring. A source of cooler air is also associated with the air spring. In particular, a leveling valve opens to deliver air into the air spring, when the air volume within the air spring decreases due to opening of the temperature responsive valve. Thus, a cooler air is delivered into the air spring. The control thus automatically maintains an acceptable temperature in the air spring, even when the shock absorber reaches very high temperatures.

Abstract: An air spring includes a flexible member which, on the one hand, is attached to a housing and, on the other hand, to a roll-off piston and which encloses an air volume. The surface of the housing, which faces toward the air volume of the air spring, is charged with the air pressure of the air volume; and, the air spring can be connected to the chassis of a motor vehicle with the interposition of an elastic bearing. The housing includes at least two parts of which a first part serves as the connection of the air spring to the chassis of a motor vehicle and a second part serves as the attachment of the flexible member; and, the elastic bearing is configured to have an annular shape and is mounted between the two parts of the housing.

Abstract: A vehicle air spring assembly having a pair of spaced end members which sealingly engage a flexible bladder to form an internal air chamber having an internal volume. One of the end members is a bead plate which has an annular outer end portion which is crimped to the bladder to provide an air tight seal therebetween. The end plate has a recessed portion located between the outer end portion which projects into the air chamber to reduce the volume of the air chamber to change the spring characteristic of the air spring. A plurality of reinforcing gussets extend between the recessed portion of the bead plate and a surrounding upstanding wall which extends between the outer end portion and recessed portion to enable the bead plate to be clamped by fasteners against an adjacent vehicle component and resist deformation when subjected to internal pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring system (2) having two spring units (4a, 4b) arranged coaxially with respect to each other. Each spring unit essentially includes a flexible member (6a, 6b) and a roll-off piston (8a, 8b). The two flexible members (6a, 6b), the roll-off pistons (8a, 8b) and a common outer jacket (10) enclose a common pressure space (14) filled with compressible gas or with a hydraulic liquid. A contamination flexible member (16) is mounted between the roll-off piston (8) and the outer jacket (10) in order to prevent a contamination of the flexible member roll-off surfaces. The contamination flexible member (16) is clamped, on the one hand, in the region of the roll-off piston (8) and, on the other hand, on the outer jacket (10). The effective length of the contamination flexible member (16) is somewhat less than the effective length of the shorter of the two work flexible members (6a, 6b). In this way, the contamination flexible member (16) functions additionally as an end stop (pull stop).

Abstract: Methods for adjusting the elevation of a vehicle chassis mounted on an air spring are disclosed including supplying pressurized air to the air spring, pressurizing the bellows portion of the air spring in order to adjust the elevation of the vehicle chassis, and pneumatically isolating the bellows from the piston portion of the air spring, whereby the time for adjusting the elevation of the vehicle chassis is minimized by effecting the adjusting and pressurizing only the bellows. Apparatus for adjusting the elevation of a vehicle chassis are also disclosed.

Abstract: An air spring has a pair of end members which are sealingly connected to ends of a flexible sleeve and form an internal fluid chamber. A rigid annular member is located within the fluid chamber and is spaced from one of the end members and clamps the sleeve against a rigid member located outside of the sleeve and fluid chamber. A vibration isolator, such as an annular elastomeric member, is located between the rigid outer member and the adjacent end member to support the sleeve and reduce its tension in order to isolate sleeve vibration from the end member.

Abstract: Pneumatic spring with at least one control valve inside the pneumatic spring with control positions for feeding, blocking, and discharging compressed air, which valve is actuated by a control element also installed inside the pneumatic valve. The control element acts on one of the two pneumatic spring assemblies which can move relative to each other, namely, either on the outer tube or on the roll tube, where the control element has a working length which is shorter than the stroke length of the pneumatic spring and is pretensioned by a first spring against one of the pneumatic spring assemblies which can move relative to each other. The control element is supported in a floating manner relative to the pneumatic spring assemblies, and a second spring, the force of which is directed against the first spring, co-determines the position of the control element.

Abstract: A shock and vibration isolation system for mounting equipment to a base wall uses a semi-active damper in parallel with a spring arrangement to provide optimum isolation with respect to both shock and vibration. The system comprises a load plate configured for attachment of the equipment thereto and a base plate configured for attachment to the base wall. The base plate is substantially parallel to the load plate with a spring arrangement disposed intermediate the load plate and the base plate. The spring arrangement engages the load plate and the base plate to bias the load plate and the base plate in a separated relationship. The system also comprises a damping arrangement disposed intermediate the load plate and the base plate. The damping arrangement is adapted for providing a selectively variable reaction force to the load plate and the base plate responsive to a relative displacement of the load plate with respect to the base plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic spring system which comprises a pneumatic spring cap and pneumatic cushioning bellows, a pneumatic spring piston with a lateral rolling surface and a base surface that is designed such that a multi-chamber system protrudes into the interior of the pneumatic spring piston. The aim of the invention is to provide a pneumatic spring piston that can be subjected to eccentric loads at a reduced weight and without a holding plate. The multi-chamber system and the fastening system are mounted in such a position that there is maximally one mirror plane perpendicular to the base surface of the pneumatic spring piston, in relation to the piston center axis, and that an eccentric rest surface of the pneumatic spring piston directly contacts the spring carrier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic suspension system (1) comprising at least the following parts: pneumatic suspension bellows (4) made of an elastomer material encompassing a volume-variable air chamber (5); a pneumatic suspension lid (7) to which one end of the pneumatic suspension bellows is fixed by means of a clamping ring (10) or the like; a pneumatic suspension piston (3) to which the other end of the pneumatic suspension bellows (4) is also fixed by means of a clamping ring (10) or the like and on whose outer wall the pneumatic suspension bellows can roll (6) by forming a rolling contour; a wheel guide element (9); a hinge (8) serving as steering means in relation to the wheel guide element (9) and a body (2), wherein the pneumatic suspension parts are disposed in such a way that only one hinge (8) is provided as a steering element in relation to the wheel guide element (9) inside the pneumatic suspension system (1) without requiring any centric restricted guidance.

Abstract: A motor vehicle air spring has an air volume subdivided into an air spring volume and an ancillary volume. The two volumes (4, 6) are connected to each other by a line (8) having a cross section which can be switched or continuously adjusted by a valve (12). The valve (12) has two roll membranes (56, 58) which are arranged in mutual opposition. The intermediate space (60) between the roll membranes (56, 58) preferably communicates with the atmosphere. The two mutually opposingly mounted roll membranes (56, 58) can be joined to form a single double roll membrane (76). Preferably, the valve body (34) as well as the bore (62) of the valve housing (36) is configured so as to be cylindrical so that the constant effective diameter (Dw) of the roll membranes (56, 58) results which is independent of the deflection of the valve body (34).

Abstract: An improved composite air spring with a simplified construction is disclosed. The piston is has a series of internal floating ribs. The ribs extend from the underside of the piston platform to the lower end of the piston. Circumferential forces acting on the piston when the sleeve rolls down onto the piston are absorbed by the piston and the floating ribs.

Abstract: A strut includes a shock absorber and an air spring. The air spring is positioned around and concentric with the shock absorber. A sealing system is employed which seals the pressurized air chamber of the air spring. The sealing system utilizes an elastomeric seal located between the air spring and the shock absorber. The elastomeric seal can be a rectangular annular seal, an O-ring seal or an elastomeric seal bonded to a metal plate.

Abstract: A rolling-lobe air spring (2) has a flexible member (4), a cover plate (6) and roll-off piston (8). The bead (12) at the piston end is configured so that a contact of the bent-over edge portion (30) with the resilient member (4) takes place as late as possible to avoid an escape of the bead (12) downwardly into the free space. This is done to facilitate the attachment of a bead (12) of the flexible member at the piston end with a bent-over edge portion (30). The gap formed by bending over the edge portion when catching the bead (12) should already be closed so far that the bead (12) can no longer slip out. The bead (12) when grasped, should lie in a clamping manner against the inner surface of the contact wall.

Abstract: The air spring is comprised of a flexible airsleeve, a retainer, and a main piston. The airsleeve is secured at one end by the retainer and at the opposing end by the main piston. A hollow restraining piston extends from the retainer and into the main piston. The restraining piston acts as a lateral stabilizer, over extension restraint and height control. The hollow region in the restraining piston communicates through at least one passage with an air chamber formed between the airsleeve and the outer surfaces of the restraining piston and the main piston. Fluid is admitted to or exhausted from the air spring through a valve which functions relative to the displacement of the restraining piston and the main piston.

Abstract: An air spring of the type with a sleeve having a first rolling lobe connected at an end to a first piston, a second rolling lobe connected to an end to a second piston, and where the first piston is substantially frustoconical and the second piston is substantially cylindrical and where the minimum effective area of the first piston is less than the minimum effective area of the second piston and where the maximum effective area of the first piston is greater than the maximum effective area of the second piston. The frustoconical first piston allows the air spring to accommodate large angular suspension motion without degrading durability.

Abstract: An air spring has a piston formed of a high strength plastic material consisting of a main shell and a bottom end sealing plate extending between a pair of concentric inner and outer annular walls. A pair of internal auxiliary reservoirs or subchambers are formed within the piston and are in fluid communication with each other and with the main air chamber formed by a flexible bellows extending between the piston and an end plate. A plurality of radially extending reinforcing ribs extend between the inner and outer annular walls of the shell and a rigid central post. A central planar support surface having an area approximately 20% than that of the piston base area provides a reduced surface area for mounting the piston on a smaller support surface.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a spring system for a vehicle including a two-wheel vehicle. The spring system includes first and second spring units mounted coaxially to each other. The first spring unit includes a first roll-off piston and a first rolling-lobe resilient member coacting with the first roll-off piston during operation of the spring system. The second spring unit includes a second roll-off piston and a second rolling-lobe resilient member coacting with the second roll-off piston during operation of the spring system.

Abstract: An air lift shock absorber for an automotive suspension system includes a damping piston slidable within a housing, a piston rod extending from the housing to a top mount assembly including a rigid top mount housing and a force absorbing member within the housing for transferring damping forces from the piston to the top mount housing. A jounce bumper absorbs impact forces from the housing. An air lift mechanism includes an inflatable sleeve and a pressure retainer connecting the inflatable sleeve with a flexible force receiving member that is bonded to the pressure retainer and to the top mount housing. The flexible force receiving member allows the pressure retainer to flex relative to the top mount during normal operation of the suspension system and also provides a force transmitting path for transferring forces from the air lift mechanism and the jounce bumper to the top mount housing independent of the resilient force absorbing member within the top mount housing that transfers damping forces.

Abstract: A gas spring for a steerable vehicle wheel includes bellows that are supported at one end on a roll-off surface on a wheel carrier, a suspension element, or a part connected therewith, and are fastened at another end on a spring can. The spring can has an inlet opening to which a pressure hose or a pipe is connected. The pressure hose or pipe is arranged in a loop at least in an area above the bottom of the spring can and, during rotating movements of the spring can, is elastically deformed at least in that area.

Abstract: An air-suspension system has at least one air spring arranged between a chassis and a vehicle component mounted relative to said chassis for movement along an oscillatory path. A control valve is arranged inside the air spring and has control positions for feeding, blocking and discharging compressed air in the air spring. The control valve is activated via a control element also arranged inside the air spring. A guideway of the control element acts on one of an outer tube air-spring subassembly and a rolling tube air-spring subassembly which are movable relative to one another. The control valve is designed as a rotary-slide valve and is activated via the guideway and a rotary-slide valve body. The guideway of the control element is shorter than the stroke length of the air spring, the one of the subassemblies which actuates the control element being in releasable operative connection with the control element.

Abstract: The present invention 10 disclosed a shock-absorbing member for attachment to the frame 18 of a bike 12. The variable resistance pneumatic spring is mounted on an existing coil spring shock body 56 comprising a cylindrical, substantially vertical body having a threaded exterior 24 to accept a spring preload adjuster nut 32, a central recess to receive a strut 62 into the superior end and a means 64 for attachment to the wheel assembly or bicycle frame 18 on the inferior end. The strut 62 has a first end slidably secured within the central recess of the body member 56 and a second end with a means 66 for attachment to the bicycle frame 18 assembly or to the wheel assembly. The progression cone 22 slides over the body member 56 and is held in place by the preload adjustment nut 32, the progression cone 22 being substantially cylindrical with a conical upper portion 34.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring having a vibration damper and a rolling bellows which defines a spring chamber. The rolling bellows is actively connected at one end to the vibration damper which has a container pipe which possesses a connecting bearing to a motor vehicle chassis. The connecting bearing is arranged in the region of the outer surface of the container pipe. The connecting bearing is of circular design and possesses a sealing ring which seals the spring chamber. Furthermore, the connecting bearing can be designed as a pivot bearing, having at least one universal ball joint in conjunction with a ball socket. Optionally, an air direction device may be assigned to the pneumatic spring, producing a targeted air flow onto the container pipe.

Abstract: Shock absorber device comprising a shock absorber combined with an air spring, which shock absorber device is arranged for active suspension/shock absorbing in a wheel suspension of a vehicle. The shock absorber is surrounded by the air spring, and in the annular interspace between the shock absorber and the air spring there is arranged a piston and cylinder device likewise surrounding the shock absorber and which on the inside is connected to the shock absorber and on its outside is connected to the air spring. The piston of the piston and cylinder device is an annular piston which via an axial extension part is connected to a stabilizer joined to the wheel suspension.