Abstract: An ultrasonic pulse/echo measurement arrangement includes an ultrasonic transducer (12), which is mounted spatially fixed on an air spring cover plate (4). The arrangement further includes a fixedly mounted reference reflector (14), a target reflector (16) mounted on a roll-off piston (8) or on the bumper (18) as well as a transmitter/receiver evaluation electronic circuit (30). The running time as well as the amplitude of the reference signal is evaluated to precisely determine the pressure present in the interior space of the air spring. The ultrasonic transducer (12) has a ?/4-adaptation layer (22), whose impedance does not correspond to the geometric mean of the impedances of the ultrasonic transducer (12) and the ambient air of the interior space (20) of the air spring, but rather, is a mismatch. The evaluation electronic circuit (30) can be calibrated at ambient pressure for the determination of the inner pressure of the air spring.

Abstract: A double rolling-lobe flexible member spring arrangement (2) includes two coaxial spring components (4a and 4b) which are arranged opposed to each other. The spring components essentially each include a rolling-lobe flexible member (6a and 6b) and respective roll-off pistons (8a and 8b). The two rolling-lobe flexible members (6 and 6b) define a common double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) and the two spring components (4a and 4b) have a common outer jacket (10). A reliable effective fixing of the flexible member (6) to the inner side of the outer jacket (10) is ensured. To provide this fixation, the double rolling-lobe flexible member (6) has a support ring (14) lying centrally on the inner side thereof and this support ring has a radial recess (16) on its periphery. The outer jacket (10) has a peripherally-extending raised portion at its inner periphery which engages into the recess (16) of the support ring (14) and defines a clamp contour.

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: 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: The invention relates to a method for tightly attaching a piece of flexible tubing of an elastomeric material to a connecting part, especially for attaching air bellows for pneumatic springs to a connecting part with a clamping ring, which is radially pressed using a pressing tool. The force-displacement characteristic line (16) of the pressing tool is recorded while the clamping ring is being radially pressed, in order to carry out the method. This force-displacement characteristic line (16) is used to determine the lost force that is required in the pressing tool for the plastic deformation of the clamping ring and for overcoming the inner friction of the pressing tool. This lost force is used for adjusting the additional force resulting from the pressing tool being moved together in such a way that it corresponds to a predetermined force between the piece of flexible tubing and the connecting part. The invention also relates to a pressing tool for carrying out this method.

Abstract: A hydraulic spring includes hydraulic volumes (4a, 4b). The hydraulic volumes (4a, 4b) are, on the one hand, closed off by a spring element (6) which is vulcanized into an outer ring (8). On the other hand, the volumes (4a, 4b) are delimited by a compensating membrane (10). The volume (4a, 4b) is subdivided by a partition wall (26) into two chambers (4a, 4b), namely, a work chamber (4a), which is next to the spring element (6), and a compensating chamber (4b), which is next to the compensating membrane (10). The partition wall (26) has at least one connecting channel (28) and the chambers (4a, 4b) alternately change in volume and are filled completely with a hydraulic liquid. The partition wall (26) is configured to be flat in order to achieve a damping element requiring only a low structural elevation. The partition wall plane is orientated transversely to the spring axis. At least one level connecting channel (28) extends within the flat partition wall (26).

Abstract: A device is disclosed for applying individual reinforcing threads onto a tubular layer. The device contains a positioning ring with equidistant holes that lie on a circumferential line, with the positioning ring surrounding and concentric with a rotationally symmetric, funnel-shaped deflection element. The deflection element deflects the reinforcing threads that are guided from radially outward to radially inward through the holes f the positioning ring into an essentially axial direction, wherein all the threads assume an equidistant spacing from one another. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing an unfinished tube consisting of several layers with the aid of the device.

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: 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 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: 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: The invention is directed to an air spring arrangement having a device for making ultrasonic distance measurements. An ultrasonic sensor, which is built into an air spring (2) for making measurements, can be disturbed when high frequency sonic oscillations occur when filling and venting the air spring. An air supply line (8) is disposed between the air spring (2) and a source of compressed air (30). To prevent the above disturbing frequencies, the air supply line (8) includes an air connecting pipe stub (10) which is lined with a net-shaped layer (16) on its inner wall surface. The layer (16) is preferably a plastic mesh. The filaments (18) of the mesh-shaped layer (16) are slightly inclined to the longitudinal center axis (28) of the pipe stub (10).

Abstract: A gas spring/shock absorber unit (2) or so-called gas spring strut includes a gas spring (4) having a gas spring resilient member (6), a gas spring piston (8) and a gas spring cover (10). The gas spring strut also includes a shock absorber (12), which is arranged coaxially within the gas spring (4) and has a damper cylinder (14), a damper piston (16) and a piston rod (18). The gas spring strut is so configured that wear of the mutually movable parts (16, 26) is substantially precluded. For this purpose, an impact disc (20) is disposed within the damper cylinder (14). The impact disc (20) partitions the volume of the damper (12) into two component spaces (22 and 24). Pass-through openings (28, 30) for the piston rod (18) of the shock absorber (12) are provided in the impact disc (20) and in the piston plate (26) of the gas spring piston (18), respectively. The pass-through openings (28, 30) provide respective connecting gaps (32, 34) between the gas and hydraulic liquid spaces (6a, 22 and 24).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an air spring system wherein an adequate carrying off of heat is ensured for a shock absorber (18) which is completely within an air spring (16) which includes a flexible member (4) and a roll-off piston (6). The interior spaces (12, 14) of the flexible member (4) and the roll-off piston (6) communicate with each other. In lieu of a conventional clamping plate, a funnel-shaped insert (22) is disposed between the flexible member (4) and the roll-off piston (6). The insert (22) surrounds the shock absorber (18) in such a manner that an annular nozzle-shaped narrow (23) results between the walls of the shock absorber (18) and the inner surface of the funnel-shaped insert (22). Openings (26) are disposed on the outer region of the insert (22). These openings (26) as well as the nozzle-shaped narrow (23) define a connection between the volume (12) of the flexible member (4) and the volume (14) of the roll-off piston (6).

Abstract: The exact spring height as well as the spring pressure can be determined with a single arrangement for the optimal utilization of the axle loads of a multi-axle air spring suspended vehicle and to control the distance between the chassis and the axle. An air spring (2) is equipped with an ultrasonic pulse/echo measuring system. The air spring (2) includes a transmitter/receiver component (14) arranged on the chassis and a first reference electrode (20) and a reflector component (16) fixed to the axle. The air spring height can be determined in a conventional manner from the relative value of the running times of the ultrasonic pulses which are traversed on the reference path and the measuring path. A second reference reflector (22) is mounted at a different distance to the first reference reflector (20).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an air spring (2) having a flexible member wherein a roll-off piston (8) is connected to a flexible member (6) of the air spring (2) via a threaded fastener assembly. The piston volume (8a) is used to provide a softer spring constant in that the piston volume (8a) and the volume (6a) of the flexible member (6) communicate with each other. The sealing ring configured at the lower edge (6c) of the flexible member (6) is clamped tightly between a clamping plate (12) and the sealing surface (8c) of the piston by utilizing a threaded spindle (10) which is sufficiently long. The clamping plate (12) is provided with holes (14). The clamping plate (12) can be configured as a deep-drawn pot provided with several bores (14).

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for making contactless distance measurements within an air spring of a motor vehicle. With the invention, it is unnecessary to modify the longitudinal support of the motor vehicle for the purpose of integrating an ultrasonic distance measuring device. The arrangement includes a transmitter/receiver component (16) which is fixedly mounted to the chassis and is mounted within the air spring (2) laterally next to the support (10) of the vehicle, that is, the transmitter/receiver component is mounted elastically off-center in a tubular stub (14) arranged as part of the cover plate (4). A reflector component (24) is fixedly mounted on the axle and assigned to the transmitter/receiver component (16). The reflector component (24) is mounted on the roll-off piston (8) and includes a lens-shaped convex surface (26) having a surface normal (28) directed toward the transmitter/receiver component (16).