Dual volume air spring for suspensions
US6386525B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 2000 |
| Grant date | May 14, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60G2500/20
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A dual volume air spring for a truck suspension, which has an air bag chamber providing a variable volume and a fixed volume chamber. The chambers are interconnected by a closable orifice. The air bag is provided with a post-like orifice closer which is pushed into the orifice when the air bag is sufficiently compressed ad withdrawn from the orifice when the air bag is not compressed. In normal operation the orifice is open and the combined volumes of the chambers are available resulting in a low spring rate. The orifice closer has an orifice closing portion which is relatively pliant and a rigid or semi-rigid portion which acts as a bump-stop when the pliant portion is substantially completely compressed. When the orifice is completely closed the spring has a high spring rate.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.