Abstract: An airspring end member having an improved trough area on its outer periphery for attaching a flexible tubular sleeve to the end member. The trough area has an inner diameter surface of a predetermined height with a first pair of radially, outwardly, diverging wall surfaces extending therefrom, and extending from the first pair of wall surfaces, a second pair of radially, outwardly, more diverging wall surfaces.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension strut incorporating an airspring around a hydraulic shock absorber is disclosed. The airspring design and orientation relative to the shock absorber axis creates a side acting force which counteracts the bending torque acting on the strut during operation in a vehicle and prevents binding of the shock absorber piston. The horizontal acting side load can be achieved by using an airspring piston eccentrically mounted on the shock absorber. Alternatively the airspring may be mounted offset and/or at an angle to the shock absorber axis. The flexible membrane of the airspring may also be cut in a plane oblique to the shock axis and mounted on the airspring piston to form asymmetric rolling lobes about the circumference of the piston.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a beadless flexible member for an airspring having a fully molded non-tubular shape. An axially segmented mold with tapered circular end bores is used with conically tapered end plugs which sealingly compress an uncured preform of the flexible member between the conical plugs and the tapered circular end bores. Compressed fluid is injected into the interior of the preform to radially expand it to the desired molded shape. At a rate determined by the radial expansion of the preform, the annular segments of the mold are axially moved together to accommodate the axial foreshortening of the preform during its radial expansion. After full axial closure of the mold, heat and pressure are applied to vulcanize the preform. The beadless, fully molded flexible member may be used for airsprings requiring zero pressure roll capability.

Abstract: There is disclosed a rolling lobe fluid spring (10) having a rigid end cap (12) and a piston (14) with a generally tubular air impervious flexible membrane (18) sealingly attached thereto to form the air spring. A fabric restraining cylinder (40) is provided circumferentially around the outer periphery of the flexible membrane. The cylinder is composed of at least two layers of fabric (41, 42) having primary cord reinforcements oriented at opposite bias angles such that the cylinder (40) is radially extensible and supports the rolling lobe (32) of the air spring. It also radially supports the flexible membrane (18) over the axial working stroke (WA).

Abstract: A vehicle suspension strut incorporating an airspring around a hydraulic shock absorber is disclosed. The airspring design and orientation relative to the shock absorber axis creates a side acting force which counteracts the bending torque acting on the strut during operation in a vehicle and prevents binding of the shock absorber piston. The horizontal acting side load can be achieved by using an airspring piston eccentrically mounted on the shock absorber. Alternatively the airspring may be mounted offset and/or at an angle to the shock absorber axis. The flexible membrane of the airspring may also be cut in a plane oblique to the shock axis and mounted on the airspring piston to form asymmetric rolling lobes about the circumference of the piston.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a beadless flexible member for an airspring having a fully molded non-tubular shape. An axially segmented mold with tapered circular end bores is used with conically tapered end plugs which sealingly compress an uncured preform of the flexible member between the conical plugs and the tapered circular end bores. Compressed fluid is injected into the interior of the preform to radially expand it to the desired molded shape. At a rate determined by the radial expansion of the preform, the annular segments of the mold are axially moved together to accommodate the axial foreshortening of the preform during its radial expansion. After full axial closure of the mold, heat and pressure are applied to vulcanize the preform. The beadless, fully molded flexible member may be used for airsprings requiring zero pressure roll capability.

Abstract: A composite piston 40 having a tapered outer sleeve 42 with a separately formed end plug 48 securely fitted into the larger diameter end of the sleeve for use in a rolling lobe airspring 20. Also a method of manufacturing the airspring 20 with a composite piston 40 in which the piston outer sleeve 42 is formed in a mold cavity using a solid inner core. The plug 48 is separately formed and then assembled into the composite piston for a rolling lobe airspring.

Abstract: This invention relates to vehicle air suspensions featuring a hydraulic shock absorber mounted completely within an airspring on a pivotal mount which allows relative motion between the shock and the airspring. The preferred form utilizes a two piece airspring piston which has a removable center portion. The shock absorber is mounted on the removable center which allows easy removal and replacement of the shock absorber without disassembly of the airspring.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring 10 with inner 20 and outer 22 chambers which may be pressurized independently to give variable spring rates which are independent of load carrying capacity of the spring. The chambers 20, 22 are formed by gas-impervious membranes 16, 18 sealably attached to an axially spaced apart retainer 12 and piston 14. The effective diameter of the inner chamber is greater than the outer chamber allowing the spring to exert compressive or extensive force depending upon pressures in the chambers. The spring 10 may be used as a vehicle suspension component.