Gas spring end member as well as gas spring and damper assembly and suspension system including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10113603-B2
Application number	US-201715476239-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2017
Priority date	Apr 1, 2016
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

Gas spring end members dimensioned for securement between an associated flexible spring member and an associated damper housing has a longitudinal axis. The end member includes an end member wall extending between first and second ends. An end wall portion is oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis and a side wall portion extends axially from along the end wall portion to a distal edge. An end member recess is dimensioned to receive the associated damper housing. A securement device removably retains the end member in operative engagement with the associated damper housing. Gas spring and damper assemblies and suspension systems are also included.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gas spring and damper assembly comprising:
a damper assembly having a longitudinally-extending axis and including:
a damper housing including a housing wall extending axially between opposing first and second ends, said housing wall at least partially defining a damping chamber containing a quantity of damping fluid; and,
a damper rod assembly including an elongated damper rod and a damper piston secured along said elongated damper rod, said damper rod assembly operatively interengaged with said damper housing for reciprocal displacement relative thereto with said damper piston disposed within said damping chamber and at least a portion of said elongated damper rod projecting axially-outwardly from said first end of said damper housing; and,

a gas spring assembly including:
a first end member supported on said elongated damper rod in substantially fixed axial relation thereto;
a second end member supported on said damper housing in substantially fixed relation thereto, said second end member including at least one securement feature;
a flexible spring member secured between said first and second end members to at least partially define a spring chamber; and,
at least one securement device operatively engaging said damper housing, said at least one securement device operatively connected with said at least one securement feature of said second end member to retain said at least one securement device in operative engagement with said damper housing and thereby removably secure said second end member in said substantially fixed axial relation with said damper housing;

wherein said gas spring assembly includes a sealing element sealingly disposed between said second end member and said damper housing to fluidically isolate said spring chamber from an external atmosphere;
wherein said at least one securement feature and said at least one securement device are disposed in axially spaced relation to said sealing element such that said at least one securement feature and said at least one securement device are fluidically isolated from said spring chamber by said sealing element;
wherein said second end member includes an end member wall, and said at least one securement feature includes a threaded passage extending through said end member wall; and
wherein a wall thickness of said end member wall is greater proximate said sealing element than proximate said at least one securement feature.

2. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one securement feature of said second end member includes a plurality of securement features disposed in peripherally spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis.

3. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said at least one securement device of said gas spring assembly includes a plurality of securement devices with said plurality of securement devices operatively engaging said damper housing through operative connection with one of said plurality of securement features.

4. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said second end member includes an end member wall having an outer surface, and said at least one securement device is recessed from said outer surface in an assembled condition.

5. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one securement device is a threaded fastener.

6. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said threaded fastener is a set screw-type threaded fastener.

7. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said second end member includes an outer side surface portion, and said flexible spring member forms a rolling-lobe along said outer side surface portion that is displaceable therealong as said gas spring and damper assembly extends and compresses during use.

8. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a restraining cylinder including an annular wall extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and lengthwise between a first end disposed toward said first end member and a second end disposed toward said second end member, said annular wall including an inside surface disposed in abutting engagement with said flexible spring member.

9. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said at least one securement feature and said at least one securement device are disposed in axially spaced relation to said second end of said restraining cylinder such that said at least one securement feature and said at least one securement device are accessible in an assembled condition of said gas spring and damper assembly.

10. A gas spring end member assembly dimensioned for securement between an associated flexible spring member and an associated damper housing, said gas spring end member assembly comprising:
an end member having a longitudinal axis and including an end member wall extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and axially between a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said end member wall including an end wall portion oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis and a side wall portion extending axially from along said end wall portion to a distal edge, said end wall portion and said side wall portion at least partially defining an end member recess dimensioned to receive the associated damper housing, said side wall portion including an outer surface dimensioned for receiving the associated flexible spring member;
at least one securement feature extending through said side wall portion, said at least one securement feature oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis and extending radially inward through said side wall portion; and,
at least one securement device operatively connected with said at least one securement feature of said end member for retaining said at least one securement device in operative engagement with the associated damper housing;
wherein said end member wall has a thickness that tapers from a first thickness to a second thickness along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis, said first thickness being greater than said second thickness.

11. A gas spring end member assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said side wall portion includes an inner surface with at least one annular groove extending into said side wall portion from along said inner surface, said at least one annular groove dimensioned to receive an associated sealing element.

12. A gas spring end member assembly according to claim 11 further comprising said associated sealing element disposed within said annular groove.

13. A gas spring end member assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one securement feature and said at least one securement device are disposed in axially spaced relation to said annular groove in a direction away from said end wall portion of said end member wall.

14. A gas spring end member assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said at least one securement feature includes a plurality of securement features disposed in peripherally spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis.

15. A gas spring end member assembly according to claim 14 , wherein said at least one securement device includes a plurality of securement devices with said plurality of securement devices dimensioned to operatively engage the associated damper housing through operative connection with one of said plurality of securement features.

16. A gas spring end member assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said at least one securement feature includes

Assignees

• Firestone Ind Products Co Llc

Inventors

• Smith Scott A

Classifications

• F16F9/36

  Special sealings, including sealings or guides for piston-rods ({F16F9/325, F16F9/3485 take precedence; arrangements for filling via piston rod sealing or guiding means F16F9/432} ; sealing of moving parts in general F16J15/16 - F16J15/56) · CPC title

• F16F9/057

  characterised by the piston · CPC title

• B60G2204/1262

  on a damper · CPC title

• B60G15/12

  and fluid damper · CPC title

• F16F2232/08

  Linear · CPC title