Abstract: An air management system for a vehicle having a body and plurality of wheels, including: a reservoir tank for storing compressed air and filling at least one air spring of the vehicle, and a compressed air supply unit for supplying the compressed air, which includes a compressed air port to the reservoir tank and the at least one air spring, a vent port to a venting environment, and a piloted exhaust valve connected to the compressed air port and configured to vent the at least one air spring through the vent port, the piloted exhaust valve having a piloted control port. The reservoir tank is pneumatically connected to the piloted control port of the piloted exhaust valve, and is configured to provide a control pressure to the piloted control port to open the piloted exhaust valve during venting of the at least one air spring.

Abstract: A damper assembly includes a damper tube having a tubular shape defining an inner surface and extending for an axial length. The damper assembly also includes a rod disposed at least partially within the damper tube, and a piston connected to the rod and slidably disposed within the damper tube and configured to contact the inner surface of the damper tube along a stroke region less than the axial length. The inner surface of the damper tube includes a hardened surface including martensite and extending along the stroke region and less than the axial length of the damper tube. A method of treating a damper tube includes directing a laser beam onto an inner surface of the damper tube along a stroke region and less than an axial length of the damper tube and to cause steel of the inner surface of the damper tube to form a hardened surface.

Abstract: A method for forming and installing a retaining ring comprises: feeding a wire in a linear path into a forming die having a circular bore; forming, using the forming die, the wire into a formed ring having a ring shape; transferring the formed ring from the forming die to a transfer puck; and installing the formed ring, as a retaining ring, in a tube of a product assembly. The formed ring is maintained in a constrained state between forming in the forming die and installation in the product assembly. A system for forming and installing a retaining ring into a product assembly includes a forming die configured to form a wire into a formed ring having a ring shape; and a transfer puck to transfer the formed ring from the forming die. The formed ring is maintained in a constrained state from forming through installation.

Abstract: A method for forming and installing a retaining ring comprises: feeding a wire in a linear path into a forming die having a circular bore; forming, using the forming die, the wire into a formed ring having a ring shape; transferring the formed ring from the forming die to a transfer puck; and installing the formed ring, as a retaining ring, in a tube of a product assembly. The formed ring is maintained in a constrained state between forming in the forming die and installation in the product assembly. A system for forming and installing a retaining ring into a product assembly includes a forming die configured to form a wire into a formed ring having a ring shape; and a transfer puck to transfer the formed ring from the forming die. The formed ring is maintained in a constrained state from forming through installation.

Abstract: A bracket comprises a body extending along a center axis between a first end and a second end. The body defines a first groove and a second groove. The first groove, located at the first end and flaring radially outwardly, presents a first slanted surface. The second groove, located at the second end and flaring radially outwardly, presents a second slanted surface. A pair of coupling members including a first and a second coupling member are respectively located in the first and second grooves for engagement with a housing of a hydraulic damper assembly. The first end includes at least one first deformation for retaining the first coupling member. The second end includes at least one second deformation for retaining the second coupling member. A hydraulic damper assembly including the bracket and a method of joining the bracket and the hydraulic damper assembly are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A bracket comprises a body extending along a center axis between a first end and a second end. The body defines a first groove and a second groove. The first groove, located at the first end and flaring radially outwardly, presents a first slanted surface. The second groove, located at the second end and flaring radially outwardly, presents a second slanted surface. A pair of coupling members including a first and a second coupling member are respectively located in the first and second grooves for engagement with a housing of a hydraulic damper assembly. The first end includes at least one first deformation for retaining the first coupling member. The second end includes at least one second deformation for retaining the second coupling member. A hydraulic damper assembly including the bracket and a method of joining the bracket and the hydraulic damper assembly are also disclosed herein.