Air spring suspension system
US4712776A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 14, 1986 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 14, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16C2326/05
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A suspension system for a vehicle having a shock absorber strut with a reciprocal piston rod located within a cylinder, and attachments for securing the piston rod and cylinder to spaced parts of the vehicle. An air spring includes a rigid annular canister mounted on the piston rod by a resilient rotatable mount. The canister forms a fluid pressure chamber in conjunction with a flexible diaphragm, one end of which is sealingly connected to the cylinder by an annular rigid sleeve which forms an air spring piston. The flexible diaphragm has inner and outer radially spaced portions connected by a rolling portion. A rigid member resembling a cutaway can is mounted on the rigid canister portion of the air spring and extends about a predetermined portion of the outer portion of the flexible diaphragm and restrains outward expansion of said portion. Restriction of the outward expansion of only a portion of the flexible diaphragm exerts a lateral force on the strut to counteract the unbalanced lateral forces acting thereon due to the offcenter mounting of the strut with respect to the point of contact of the vehicle wheel with the pavement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.