End member assemblies and travel-restraint assemblies as well as gas spring assemblies including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10005333-B2
Application number	US-201414894053-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2014
Priority date	May 28, 2013
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

An end member assembly (EMI) includes an end member body ( 400 ) and a support column ( 500 ). The end member body ( 400 ) includes an outer side wall and an inner side wall that together at least partially define an end member reservoir. The inner side wall at least partially defines a passage through the end member body. The support column ( 500 ) extends into the passage and is accessible from along opposing ends of the passage. A sealing element can be disposed in fluid communication between the end member body and the support column. An elongated gas damping passage can extend through the end member assembly in fluid communication with the end member reservoir. A gas spring assembly can include a flexible spring member ( 200 ) that at least partially defines a spring chamber with an end member ( 900 ) and the end member assembly (EMI) on opposing ends thereof. A restraining assembly ( 1000 ) can be secured within the spring chamber.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
a flexible spring member having a longitudinal axis and including a flexible wall extending peripherally about said axis and longitudinally between a first end and a second end opposite said first end;
an end member operatively connected to said flexible wall across said first end thereof such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed between said end member and said flexible spring member; and,
an end member assembly operatively connected to said flexible wall across said second end thereof such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed between said end member assembly and said flexible spring member, said end member assembly including:
an end member body extending longitudinally between opposing first and second body ends, said end member body including an end member wall that at least partially defines an end member chamber and a passage extending axially through said end member body between said first and second body ends with said end member chamber substantially surrounding said passage;
a support column extending longitudinally between opposing first and second column ends, said support column including a column wall with a first wall portion extending from along said first column end toward said second column end and a second wall portion extending radially outward beyond said first wall portion along said second column end, said support column received within said passage of said end member body such that said first column end is accessible from within said spring chamber and along said first body end of said end member body and such that said second wall portion along said second column end is disposed outwardly of said end member assembly;
a retainer assembly operatively attached to said first column end of said support column and operatively securing said end member body and said support column to one another; and,
an elongated gas damper passage extending in fluid communication between said spring chamber and said end member chamber, said elongated gas damper passage operative to dissipate kinetic energy acting on said assembly during displacement of said assembly between extended and compressed conditions;
wherein said support column includes a column passage extending axially therethrough and in fluid communication with said spring chamber and said end member chamber such that said elongated gas damper passage includes said column passage.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said end member body includes a recess formed along said passage adjacent said second end wall, and said support column includes a base wall extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and a column wall projecting axially from said base wall, said support column oriented such that said base wall is at least partially received within said recess along said second end wall of said end member body and said column wall projects into said passage of said end member body.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a sealing element disposed between said end member body and said support column, said sealing element operative to at least partially form a substantially fluid-tight seal between said end member body and said support column.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said end member wall includes one or more openings extending therethrough in fluid communication with said end member chamber to at least partially form said elongated gas damper passage.

5. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said end member assembly includes a chamber formed between said end member body and said support column, said chamber at least partially forming said elongated gas damper passage.

6. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said end member wall of said end member body includes an outer side wall portion extending longitudinally between said first and second body ends and an inner side wall portion disposed radially inward from said outer side wall portion and extending longitudinally between said first and second ends, said outer side wall portion at least partially defining an outside surface of said end member body, and said inner side wall portion at least partially defining said passage extending through said end member body.

7. An assembly according to claim 6 , wherein said end member wall includes a first end wall portion disposed between and operatively connecting said inner and outer side wall portions along said first body end and a second end wall portion disposed between and operatively connecting said inner and outer side wall portions along said second body end such that said end member chamber is at least partially defined by said outer side wall portion, said inner side wall portion and said first and second end wall portions.

8. An assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said end member body includes a first body section that includes a first portion of said end member wall and a second body section that includes a second portion of said end member wall, said first and second body sections attached to one another by way of first and second flowed-material joints extending peripherally about said axis with said first flowed-material joint disposed radially inward from said second flowed-material joint.

9. An assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said first flowed-material joint is disposed along said passage extending through said end member body and said second flowed-material joint is disposed along an outer peripheral surface of said end member body.

10. An assembly according to claim 1 , further comprising a restraining assembly operatively connected between said end member and said end member assembly, said restraining assembly disposed within said spring chamber and operative to provide resistance to extension of said assembly beyond a predetermined height.

11. An assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said restraining assembly includes at least one endless annular band operatively connected between said end member and said end member assembly.

12. A suspension system comprising:
a pressurized gas system including a pressurized gas source and a control device; and,
at least assembly according to claim 1 , disposed in fluid communication with said pressurized gas source through said control device such that pressurized gas can be selectively transferred into and out of at least said spring chamber.

13. An assembly comprising:
a flexible spring member having a longitudinal axis and including a flexible wall extending peripherally about said axis and longitudinally between a first end and a second end opposite said first end;
an end member operatively connected to said flexible wall across said first end thereof such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed between said end member and said flexible spring member; and,
an end member assembly operatively connected to said flexible wall across said second end thereof such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed between said end member assembly and said flexible spring member, said end member assembly including:
an end member body extending longitudinally between opposing first and second body ends, said end member body including an end member wall that at least partially defines an end member chamber and a passage extending axially through said end member body between said first and second body ends with said end member chamber substantially surrounding said passage;
a support column extending longitudinally between opposing first and second column ends, said support column including a column wall with a first wall portion extending from along said first column end toward said second column end

Assignees

• Firestone Ind Products Co Llc

Inventors

• Leonard Joshua R
• Brookes Graham R
• Moulik Pradipta N
• Street Stephen C
• Hart Corey S
• Steele Daniel P

Classifications

• F16F2230/007

  with, or used as an end stop or buffer; Limiting excessive axial separation · CPC title

• F16F9/05

  the flexible wall being of the rolling diaphragm type · CPC title

• B60G2500/2014

  Closed systems · CPC title

• B60G11/27 Primary

  wherein the fluid is a gas · CPC title

• F16F9/057

  characterised by the piston · CPC title