Dual rate air spring
US6698730B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 2001 |
| Grant date | Mar 2, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 4, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60G2206/424
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An air spring has a pair of spaced end members with a flexible sleeve ending therebetween forming an intervening air chamber. A partition is mounted in a hollow interior of one of the end members and forms an auxiliary air reservoir in the end member. A control valve having a moveable plunger is mounted on the one end member and is connected to a source of pressurized air. The plunger extends between the main air chamber and auxiliary reservoir and is controlled by a solenoid for selectively providing air passages between the pressurized air and the main air chamber and between the main air chamber and auxiliary reservoir to change the volume of the main air chamber to change the spring rate of the air spring.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.