Having Flexible Wall Patents (Class 267/64.27)
  • Patent number: 11718135
    Abstract: Provided are an air spring upper support, a vehicle air spring assembly, and a vehicle. The air spring upper support is used for a vehicle air spring. The air spring upper support is configured to be of a split structure having an upper housing and a lower housing, the upper housing and the lower housing are connected to each other and form a receiving space, the air spring upper support further has a bushing, and the bushing is arranged in the receiving space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: NIO TECHNOLOGY (ANHUI) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xinyun Feng, Tian Yang, Qunfei Yao, Zhenqiang Wu
  • Patent number: 11707961
    Abstract: A suspension actuator includes a first housing part, a second housing part, a ball screw actuator that is connected to the first housing part and to the second housing part, and an air spring membrane that is connected to the first housing part and to the second housing part. The air spring membrane includes a flexible material and a reinforcing structure that is disposed within the flexible material to resist torsion loads that are applied to the second housing part by the ball screw actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventor: Troy A. Carter
  • Patent number: 11401994
    Abstract: An assembly for an air spring includes an outer gaiter defined in part by an interior portion, an inner gaiter defined in part by an exterior portion, at least one floating ring extending from a first floating ring end to a second floating ring end, the first floating ring end coupled with the inner gaiter and the second floating ring end is coupled with the outer gaiter, where the at least one floating ring allows the outer gaiter to move relative to the inner gaiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunny Makkar, Joseph Jerisk, Garrett Mark Pniewski
  • Patent number: 11255397
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air spring having: a rolling bellows (1) with an opening which has a bead (2) reinforced by a core (3) and a rolling piston (4) with a seat (5) for the rolling bellows (1) and a support shoulder (7) for the rolling bellows (1), wherein when the rolling bellows (1) is in the mounted state, its end assigned to the rolling piston (4) is connected to the rolling piston (4) in an airtight manner by a clamping fit between the bead (2) and the seat (5) of the rolling piston (4), and the bead (2) of the rolling bellows (1) rests at least partly on the support shoulder (7), wherein the rolling piston (4) is made of a thermoplastic material. The object of the invention is to improve an air spring of the type outlined above such that the bellows (1) can very reliably and simply be prevented from slipping off the piston (4), in particular in view of the use of plastic as the piston material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Janz, Kristian Thiele, Marc Leinemann
  • Patent number: 11148495
    Abstract: An air spring system for a vehicle axle includes a link element which can be pivotably arranged on a vehicle frame for mounting the vehicle axle, an air spring which can be arranged on the link element and has a piston, and an additional reservoir, the link element having an upper side which faces the vehicle frame and a lower side which faces away from the vehicle frame, the additional reservoir being configured to be mounted on the lower side of the link element, and the air spring being configured to be mounted on the upper side of the link element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: SAF-HOLLAND GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Fäth, Stefan Wallmeier, Stephan Dehlwes
  • Patent number: 11110942
    Abstract: A railway vehicle stopper includes a first rigid member, a second rigid member, a rubber elastic body, a third rigid member, an abutting member, and a communication passage. The second rigid member is arranged opposed to the truck frame or the vehicle body with an interval. The rubber elastic body elastically couples the supporting portion of the first rigid member to the second rigid member. The third rigid member is mounted inside the supporting portion of the first rigid member to form an air chamber with the second rigid member. The abutting member is coupled to at least one of mutually opposed surfaces of the second rigid member and the third rigid member. The communication passage is provided on one or both of the first rigid member and the third rigid member to communicate the air chamber with an outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED, KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Motohiro Hatano, Kento Tamaki, Satoshi Ikeda, Kazuo Isomura, Takanori Tojo
  • Patent number: 10369855
    Abstract: A gas spring and gas damper assembly (AS1) includes a first end member (300) and a second end member (400) that is spaced from the first end member (300). A flexible spring member (200) is secured between the first (300) and second (400) end members and at least partially defines a spring chamber (202) therebetween. A first damper reservoir (322) has a substantially-fixed volume. An elongated gas damping passage (306) is connected in fluid communication between the spring chamber (202) and the first damper reservoir (322). A suspension system including such a gas spring and gas damper assembly as well as a method of assembly are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Pradipta N. Moulik, Joshua R. Leonard, Graham R. Brookes
  • Patent number: 10315478
    Abstract: An air spring includes a bellow at least partially delimiting at least one working chamber that is constructed and arranged to be filled with compressed air. A guide tube surrounds at least a portion of the bellow. A bonding agent solely fixes a portion of the bellow to the guide tube. A piston is associated with the bellow. The bellow is constructed and arranged to roll with respect to an outer surface of the piston and an inner surface of the guide tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Schallmeier
  • Patent number: 10274038
    Abstract: An end closure (260) is dimensioned for securement to a gas spring end member (204). The end closure is dimensioned to form a substantially fluid-tight, friction-fit connection with a flexible spring member (206) that is in an at least substantially-cured condition. The end closure (260) can include an end wall portion (298), a first side wall portion (300) that extends from along the end wall portion (298) and a second side wall portion (304) that is disposed radially inward of the first side wall portion and is axially-offset relative to the end wall portion. The second side wall portion at least partially forms a mounting seat that is dimensioned to form a substantially fluid-tight, friction-fit connection between at least the second side wall portion of the end closure (260) and the flexible spring member (204). A gas spring assembly as well as a suspension system and methods of assembly are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventor: Jason B. Smith
  • Patent number: 10252751
    Abstract: An inflatable tunnel reinforcement for reinforcing a vehicle tunnel structure includes a first wall, a second wall, and at least one fold connecting the first and second walls. The inflatable tunnel reinforcement further includes an inflator adapted to increase a gas pressure between the first and second walls. In an inflated configuration, the inflatable tunnel reinforcement forms a continuous load path between interior walls of the tunnel structure generally orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the tunnel structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, Yijung Chen
  • Patent number: 10250300
    Abstract: A system including a condition monitoring sensor is provided. The condition monitoring sensor including a first near field communication transponder and a memory. The condition monitoring sensor being affixed to and monitoring conditions of a mechanical system. The condition monitoring sensor storing a unique sensor identifier within the first near field communication transponder or the memory. The system including an inspection device comprising a second near field communication transponder. An electronic coupling of the first and second near field communications is implemented based on a tapping operation between the condition monitoring sensor and the inspection device. The inspection device executes a query to the condition monitoring sensor via the electronic coupling to procure the unique sensor identifier. The inspection device executes an inspection operation in response to procuring the unique sensor identifier from the condition monitoring sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventor: Alexander Pinkerton
  • Patent number: 10118453
    Abstract: An air spring with damping characteristics for a suspension assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle includes a first chamber, a second chamber and an intermediate chamber. The intermediate chamber is operatively connected between the first chamber and the second chamber. A first means provides restricted fluid communication between the intermediate chamber and the first chamber. A second means provides restricted fluid communication between the intermediate chamber and the second chamber. The first and second means for providing restricted fluid communication between the intermediate chamber and the first and second chambers, respectively, provide damping characteristics to the air spring during operation of the heavy-duty vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Damon Delorenzis
  • Patent number: 10119590
    Abstract: End member assemblies are dimensioned for securement to an end of a flexible spring member for forming gas spring assemblies. An end member assembly can include an end member body and at least one connector fitting. The end member body includes a base section and a cap section that are secured together at a single flowed-material joint. The base section and the cap section together at least partially define a reservoir chamber within the end member body. The at least one connector fitting is at least partially embedded within the end member body. Gas spring assemblies including at least one end member assembly and suspension systems including at least one gas spring assembly are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventor: Corey S. Hart
  • Patent number: 9879743
    Abstract: A bellows-type air spring, more particularly a folding-bellows-type air spring having two or more bellows sections designed as folds or toroidal parts, which are separated by rings placed around the air spring bellows, more particularly metal rings, wherein the bellows-type air spring is secured between the sprung and the unsprung mass with the aid of connecting parts, more particularly designed as an air spring cap and an air spring rim or piston, and wherein the bellows project outward in the manner of a balloon between the connecting parts, or the folds or toroidal parts of the bellows project outward in the manner of a balloon between or adjacent to the rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: ContiTech France SNC
    Inventor: Jerome Racine
  • Patent number: 9683870
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to an air spring height measurement arrangement comprising a magnetic field transmitting arrangement (110) and a magnetic field receiving arrangement (120). The magnetic field transmitting arrangement is adapted to adopt a first state and a second state with regard to the magnetic field receiving arrangement. One of the magnetic field transmitting arrangement (110) and the magnetic field receiving arrangement (120) comprises a first coil (141) and a second coil and the other comprises a third coil (143). A first central axis (161) of the first coil and a second central axis (162) of the second coil enclose a first angle (171) and, in the first state, a third central axis (163) of the third coil (143) and the first central axis enclose a second angle (172), which first and second angle cannot be 0°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: STEMCO KAISER INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Lutz May
  • Patent number: 9541150
    Abstract: End members are dimensioned for securement to a flexible wall of a gas spring assembly. The end members can include an end wall, and inner and outer crimp walls that extend from the end wall and are disposed in spaced relation to one another such that gap is formed therebetween. A plurality of connector walls extend between and operatively interconnect the inner and outer crimp walls. Gas spring assemblies including such an end member and suspension systems including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventor: Brian S. DeBruler
  • Patent number: 9511643
    Abstract: An end member for a gas spring assembly is dimensioned to receivingly engage an end of a flexible wall. The end member can be formed from polymeric material and can include a side wall receiving the end of the flexible wall. The end member can also include a base wall extending transverse to the side wall and dimensioned to abuttingly engage a jounce bumper of the gas spring assembly. The end member can include a mounting ridge or a mounting channel for engaging an associated structural component. A gas spring assembly including such an end member is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Ratz, Stephen C. Street, Paul P. Koeske
  • Patent number: 9399379
    Abstract: An air spring for chassis of vehicles, which is clamped with an air spring piston and an air spring cover between the chassis and vehicle body of a motor vehicle, includes an elastomeric air spring bellows which at least partially delimits a compressed air-filled working chamber and which, forming at least one rolling fold, rolls on the air spring piston. The air spring bellows is attached by clamping elements to the air spring cover and the air spring piston, including an external guide attached to the air spring bellows and spaced apart from the air spring cover and attached to the air spring bellows such that a partial piece of the air spring bellows is formed between the air spring cover and the external guide as a cardanic fold which permits deflection of the air spring bellows produced by forces acting perpendicular to the axis of the air spring bellows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Jens Uwe Gleu, Holger Wehaus
  • Patent number: 9381783
    Abstract: An air spring for commercial vehicles includes a rolling-lobe flexible member which is made of an elastomeric material and which at one end thereof is fastened to a first attachment part and at the other end thereof is fastened to a second attachment part in the form of a roll-off piston. The ends of the rolling-lobe flexible member each have a fastening bead which is reinforced in each case by a bead core. At least one of the two bead cores consists of plastic material. In order to achieve greater strength of the fastening bead, the bead core or the bead cores include a multiply-wound, flat profile strip made of glass-fiber-reinforced plastic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Balachonzew, Reinhard Stahmer
  • Patent number: 9334916
    Abstract: A roll-off piston for an air spring rolling-lobe flexible member, the interior of the roll-off piston is connected to the interior of the air spring. The roll-off piston includes two parts, namely, a pot-shaped piston lower part and a piston upper part connected in an air-tight manner to the lower part. A support for a stop buffer is integrated in the roll-off piston. The support includes two interacting parts, of which one part is configured as part of the piston upper part and the other part is configured as part of the pot-shaped lower part and extends from the base thereof. Both support parts interact in order to absorb forces acting substantially axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Eckard Neitzel, Dieter Offermann
  • Patent number: 9309944
    Abstract: An air spring includes an upper surface plate, a lower surface plate, and a diaphragm connecting the upper surface plate and the lower surface plate. The diaphragm has an annular shape having an opening on an inner circumferential side. In the diaphragm, an upper surface plate contact portion, which is a region defining the opening and being in contact with the upper surface plate, includes a deformed portion elastically deformed to protrude toward the lower surface plate side by contact with a support plate. The deformed portion is in contact with a sliding member located on the lower surface plate side when viewed from the deformed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kita, Hirokazu Haraguchi
  • Patent number: 9261156
    Abstract: Flexible spring members can include a flexible spring wall and at least one girdle hoop. The flexible spring wall can include a plurality of convoluted wall portions disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to one another. The girdle hoop can take the form of an annular ring that is at least partially formed from a non-metallic material and can be positioned longitudinally between adjacent ones of the plurality of convoluted wall portions. The girdle hoop can be at least partially embedded within the flexible spring wall and can operate to substantially inhibit radially-outward expansion of the flexible spring wall during inflated conditions and/or use. Gas spring assemblies and methods of manufacture can include one or more of such flexible spring members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Aaron E. Vetor, David D. Jackson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9194453
    Abstract: A gas spring assembly includes an unreinforced flexible wall formed from a polymeric material and an external reinforcing structure extending lengthwise along and around the periphery of the unreinforced flexible wall. The external reinforcing structure is capable of extending and collapsing together with corresponding extension and compression of the flexible wall. The gas spring assembly also includes opposing end members. The external reinforcing structure can be formed from a plurality of interconnecting wall segments that at least partially define a plurality of openings extending through the external reinforcing structure. A suspension system is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventor: James Richard Myers
  • Patent number: 9163689
    Abstract: An air spring having an airsleeve, wherein at least one layer of said airsleeve includes the vulcanization product of a composition that includes an unsaturated chlorinated polymer; and a saturated chlorinated polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventor: Sheel P. Agarwal
  • Patent number: 9156326
    Abstract: A gas spring piston (3) includes an external retention feature (254) that is capable of receivably engaging and retention on an associated structural component (1cs). The gas spring piston (204) includes an outer side wall (228), a base wall dimensioned to abuttingly engage the associated structural component (1cs), and at least one external retention feature (254) disposed along the base wall (228). A gas spring assembly (200), a suspension system, a gas spring piston kit, and a method are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Paul P. Koeske, Stephen C. Street
  • Patent number: 9140327
    Abstract: An end member assembly includes an end member body and an end member insert. The end member body can include an outer side wall, an inner side wall disposed radially inward relative to the outer side wall, and a bottom wall that together with the inner side wall at least partially define a cavity. The end member insert can be supported on the end member body and selectively rotatable relative thereto. A gas spring assembly and a suspension system are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Corey S. Hart, Stephen C. Street, Paul P. Koeske
  • Patent number: 9038994
    Abstract: An air spring for a vehicle suspension includes a resilient spring body that is partially surrounded by a protective cover. The protective cover protects the resilient spring body from rupturing when used in harsh vehicle conditions. The protective cover is comprised of a rigid or flexible armor material that is resistive to munitions, such as projectiles and razor wire, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ARVINMERITOR TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Keeney, Edward J. Eshelman, Christine L. Lutz
  • Patent number: 9039020
    Abstract: An end member for a gas spring assembly is dimensioned to receivingly engage an end of a flexible wall. The end member can be formed from polymeric material and can include a side wall receiving the end of the flexible wall. The end member can also include a base wall extending transverse to the side wall and dimensioned to abuttingly engage a jounce bumper of the gas spring assembly. The end member can include a mounting ridge or a mounting channel for engaging an associated structural component. A gas spring assembly including such an end member is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael E. Ratz, Stephen C. Street, Paul P. Koeske
  • Publication number: 20150122145
    Abstract: End members (202, 204) dimensioned for securement to an associated flexible wall (206) of a rail spring assembly (200) can include an end member body formed from a polymeric material and can have a longitudinal axis (AX). The end member body can include an end wall (232) that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis. An outer side wall (234) can extend longitudinally from along the end wall. An outer peripheral wall (264) can extend from along the outer side wall and can be dimensioned to abuttingly engage the associated flexible wall. A plurality of support walls (272) can extend between and operatively interconnect the outer side wall and the outer peripheral wall and thereby buttress at least the outer peripheral wall against loads applied by the associated flexible wall. Gas spring assemblies including one or more of such end members and suspension systems for rail vehicles including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventor: David D. Jackson, JR.
  • Publication number: 20150108699
    Abstract: An air spring for chassis of vehicles, which is clamped with an air spring piston and an air spring cover between the chassis and vehicle body of a motor vehicle, includes an elastomeric air spring bellows which at least partially delimits a compressed air-filled working chamber and which, forming at least one rolling fold, rolls on the air spring piston. The air spring bellows is attached by clamping elements to the air spring cover and the air spring piston, including an external guide attached to the air spring bellows and spaced apart from the air spring cover and attached to the air spring bellows such that a partial piece of the air spring bellows is formed between the air spring cover and the external guide as a cardanic fold which permits deflection of the air spring bellows produced by forces acting perpendicular to the axis of the air spring bellows.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Jens Uwe Gleu, Holger Wehaus
  • Publication number: 20150102540
    Abstract: A concrete coating composition, containing a thermally stable cement, glass bubbles, porous glass spheres or aerogel or a combination thereof, and glass fibres. Also, disclosed is a coated pipe having the concrete coating composition disclosed herein. The coated pipes disclosed herein can be thermally insulated, impact and abrasion resistant, flexible pipeline that can be used in downhole steam injection operations and for extracting hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Sanjay Shah, Afolabi Lowrie, Eugene Alymov
  • Patent number: 8998184
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air bellows for a pneumatic spring, in particular of a commercial vehicle, the air bellows including an axle-side region and a body-side region, wherein the axle-side region is arranged on a plunger and movable by a compression or extension movement between a first, compressed position and a second, extended position, and further including an interior space adapted to be filled with compressed air via a compressed air opening that is connectable to a compressed air line. The air bellows further comprises a valve connected to the atmosphere for ventilating the interior space, wherein by applying compressed air present in the interior space to the valve the valve is moved to a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: SAF-Holland GmbH
    Inventor: Josef Buttner
  • Patent number: 8991798
    Abstract: A pneumatic spring strut for a vehicle, having a working chamber which is at least partially enclosed by a pneumatic spring bellows and having a centrally arranged telescopic damper, wherein the pneumatic spring bellows is fastened to the pneumatic spring cover and to a pneumatic spring piston connected to the damper cylinder and can roll on the outer side of the pneumatic spring piston, wherein the pneumatic spring piston is connected, at its top end and above the roll fold, to the damper cylinder by an elastic bearing, and the elastic bearing is composed of an elastomer body which is provided between a collar, which is situated on the damper cylinder, and a flange, which is arranged on the pneumatic spring piston, wherein the collar situated on the damper cylinder is arranged below the piston-rod-side end of the damper cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Thomas Eike, Jens Uwe Gleu, Andreas Nessel, Dirk Rosner, Holger Oldenettel
  • Publication number: 20150084248
    Abstract: A flexible sleeve dimensioned for securement to an associated end member for an associated gas spring assembly includes a flexible wall. An annular reinforcement member is embedded within the flexible wall. A retainment element that includes an element surface is disposed along the flexible wall such that at least the element surface is outwardly exposed. At least one gas spring piston, at least one gas spring assembly and at least one method are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Paul P. Koeske, Stephen C. Street
  • Patent number: 8979076
    Abstract: An air spring device having a folding bellows which protects the rolling fold against contaminants, the folding bellows being fastened to that end of the rolling piston which lies opposite the rolling fold, and surrounding the outer guide at least over the length of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventor: Holger Oldenettel
  • Patent number: 8979075
    Abstract: A gas spring assembly includes an end member, a piston assembly and a flexible sleeve secured therebetween. An end closure secures an end of the flexible sleeve to the piston assembly. A connector fitting connects the end closure to a support post of the piston assembly. The connector fitting includes a fitting passage and a first annular groove. A jounce bumper assembly is supported on the connector fitting. The jounce bumper assembly includes a bumper body and a bumper mount. The bumper mount includes securement pin having a second annular groove. A retaining member is received within the first and second annular grooves such that the jounce bumper assembly can freely rotate relative to the connector fitting while substantially restricting axial displacement of the jounce bumper assembly relative to the piston assembly during such rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Street, James D. Boomer
  • Patent number: 8979077
    Abstract: A gas spring end member is dimensioned for securement along an associated suspension member having an associated planar surface and at least an associated first side surface. The gas spring end member can include a base wall disposed transverse to a longitudinal axis and a bracket wall that extends longitudinally-outwardly from the base wall. The bracket wall can be adapted for operative connection to the associated suspension member such that the gas spring end member can be supported thereon with the base wall disposed in longitudinally spaced-apart relation to the associated planar surface of the associated suspension member. A gas spring assembly including such an end member can be included. A suspension system and a method of installation including such a gas spring assembly can also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Street, Paul P. Koeske
  • Patent number: 8967648
    Abstract: An active air suspension system includes an air spring assembly that has a piston airbag and a primary airbag mounted around the piston airbag to provide a variable force and rate dual air spring configuration. The air suspension system is configured to accurately control pressure within the system in a closed-loop manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: John Ashley Peterson
  • Patent number: 8950764
    Abstract: A jounce bumper can include a mounting wall and at least one helical thread. An end member can be at least partially formed from a quantity of polymeric material and can include a base wall and at least one helical thread integrally formed from the quantity of polymeric material. The end member and the jounce bumper can form a gas spring assembly. A method of assembly is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen R. Egolf, Stephen C. Street
  • Patent number: 8950765
    Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly, such as for securing a suspension component to a receiving element of sprung or unsprung mass of a vehicle, can include an internal mounting element. An external mounting element can be secured to the receiving element using a securement element. A suspension assembly for a vehicle and a method of assembly including such a mounting bracket assembly are also included. A mounting bracket kit is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Brad W. Munchel, Joseph A. Bounds
  • Publication number: 20150035211
    Abstract: A gas spring and component assembly includes a flexible wall and an end member secured across an end of the flexible wall. The end member can include an end member wall with a first surface disposed toward the flexible wall and a second surface facing away from the flexible wall. A component can be secured along the the second surface of the end member. An embedded end member and can include a component wall with a first surface disposed along one of the first surface and fastener connection can be formed between the end member and the component and can secure the end member and the component in fixed relation to one another. Methods of assembling a gas spring assembly and methods of assembling a suspension system are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Paul P. Koeske
  • Publication number: 20150035213
    Abstract: A roll-off piston is made of plastic for an air spring rolling-lobe flexible member. The roll-off piston and the air spring rolling-lobe flexible member are arranged between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass. The roll-off piston includes a first piston part; a second piston part connected to the first piston part; and, the first and second piston parts being made of a layered composite material of alternating layers of plastic and elastomeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Reinhard Stahmer, Siegfried Reck
  • Publication number: 20150035212
    Abstract: An end member for a gas spring assembly includes an end member wall with a first wall portion at least partially defining a substantially-flat surface area in a first plane, a second wall portion at least partially defining an outer peripheral extent of the end member wall and a third wall portion at least partially defining a substantially-flat surface area in a second plane. A valley can extend lengthwise along the third wall portion. A gas spring assembly and method of assembly are also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventors: Leonardus J. B. Peeters, Machiel G. A. Wentink, Daniel I. Levy, Daniel P. Steele
  • Patent number: 8915508
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to an air spring height sensor. The air spring height sensor of this invention comprises a height measuring signal transmitter (102) and a receiver (101). The height measuring signal transmitter is adapted for transmitting a height signal. The receiver is adapted for sensing the height signal transmitted by the height measuring signal transmitter. The height signal indicates a distance between the height measuring signal transmitter and the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Veyance Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lutz May
  • Publication number: 20140333016
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an air spring sleeve comprising: an outer layer, at least one reinforcing layer, and an inner layer that form the sleeve; the outer layer and the inner layer are formed of an elastomeric composition, with the proviso that the elastomeric composition does not comprise epichlorohydrin; and the at least one reinforcing layer comprises a plurality of reinforcing elements disposed between a layer of the elastomeric composition, wherein the elastomeric composition of the at least one reinforcing layer is identical to the elastomeric composition of the outer layer and the inner layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: Michael C. HOWARD, Hao WANG, Sheel AGARWAL, John D. RENSEL
  • Patent number: 8882087
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a pneumatic spring device (3) of a rail vehicle (1). The device includes a pneumatic spring bellows (5), which is provided on both ends with a bead ring (6, 7), wherein the bead ring (6, 7) has a core made of two core rings (10, 11, 13, 14) positioned separately in the bead ring and the reinforcement elements (12) are guided in an S shape between the core rings and loop around the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Gedenk, Bernd Hesse
  • Patent number: 8864113
    Abstract: An end member for a gas spring assembly includes an end member wall with a first wall portion at least partially defining a substantially-flat surface area in a first plane, a second wall portion at least partially defining an outer peripheral extent of the end member wall and a third wall portion at least partially defining a substantially-flat surface area in a second plane. A valley can extend lengthwise along the third wall portion. A gas spring assembly and method of assembly are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
    Inventors: Leonardus J.B. Peeters, Machiel G.A. Wentink, Daniel I. Levy, Daniel P. Steele
  • Publication number: 20140306388
    Abstract: The present invention reveals a distance sensor comprising: a signal receiving unit, an electromagnetic wave transmitting unit, and a magnetic signal transmitting unit; wherein the signal transmitting unit is adapted to transmit to the signal receiving unit a sensed distance between the signal receiving unit and the magnetic signal transmitting unit, wherein the magnetic signal transmitting unit further comprises an electromagnetic wave receiving unit and an electromagnetic wave-to-electric power converter, and wherein the electromagnetic wave receiving unit receives electromagnetic waves transmitted from the electromagnetic wave transmitting unit to operate the magnetic signal transmitting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: VEYANCE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Lutz May
  • Patent number: 8844911
    Abstract: The invention relates to an air spring having an air spring flexible member (1) whose wall (5) of elastomeric material has at least one reinforcement layer (19) and bead (3) with a reinforcement core. The reinforcement layer surrounds the reinforcement core in the form of a loop (20). The flexible member wall, which projects from the bead, does not lie flush on the piston but forms an arc projecting away from the piston when viewed in cross section. The core loop can thus terminate inside the piston diameter thereby improving the roll-off characteristics of the flexible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Axel Szyszka, Matthias Hlawatczek
  • Patent number: 8844912
    Abstract: A shock absorber for a vehicle, having a bellows piston, bellows, and a fluid as the damping medium. The shock absorber has a first partition wall, which is situated on the bellows piston, and is implemented to separate a volume area of the bellows piston from a volume area of the bellows. The first partition wall has a first opening, which is implemented to limit a fluid flow between the volume area of the bellows piston and the volume area of the bellows. The shock absorber further has a sprung mass, which is situated inside the shock absorber to influence the fluid flow inside the shock absorber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Naber