Reservoir for airspring applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10272731-B2
Application number	US-201615293328-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2016
Priority date	Oct 14, 2016
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

An air spring assembly for a vehicle having a reservoir which is adaptable to meet different packaging requirements. The air spring assembly includes a damper body, at least one piston connected to the damper body, and a bellow connected to the piston, the bellow having a cavity. A top cap is connected to the bellow, and a fitting is connected to the top cap. A reservoir is connected to the fitting such that the reservoir is in fluid communication with the cavity. Air flows between the bellow and the reservoir as a result of movement of the piston and damper body during travel of the vehicle. The reservoir may be tube-shaped, having a consistent diameter, or a varying diameter. The reservoir may also be spherical-shaped, rectangular-shaped, square-shaped, or may be shaped to fit specific packaging requirements such that the reservoir may be positioned in any area of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A apparatus comprising:
an air spring assembly, including;
a damper body;
at least one piston connected to the damper body;
a bellow connected to the at least one piston;
a cavity disposed inside the bellow;
a top cap connected to the bellow;
a fitting connected to the top cap; and
a reservoir external to the top cap and connected to the fitting, such that the reservoir is in fluid communication with the cavity;
a guide tube connected to the top cap; and
wherein the compression of air in the cavity of the bellow and the reservoir is a result of movement of the at least one piston and damper body and wherein at least a portion of the reservoir surrounds the guide tube.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the reservoir extends along the frame portion.

3. An air spring assembly, comprising: a damper body;
at least one piston connected to the damper body;
a bellow connected to the at least one piston;
a cavity disposed inside the bellow;
a top cap connected to the bellow;
a frame portion, the top cap connected to the frame portion;
a fitting connected to the top cap;
a guide tube connected to the top cap; and
a reservoir connected to the fitting and external to the top cap, such that the reservoir is in fluid communication with the cavity;
wherein the reservoir is located around the bellow, and air flows between the bellow and the reservoir as a result of movement of the piston and damper body and at least a portion of the reservoir surrounds the guide tube in a helical manner.

4. The air spring assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a valve, wherein the valve is opened and closed for selectively providing fluid communication between the cavity and the reservoir.

5. The air spring assembly of claim 4 , wherein the valve is disposed in the fitting.

6. The air spring assembly of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the reservoir extends through the frame portion.

7. The air spring assembly of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the reservoir extends into an engine compartment.

8. The air spring assembly of claim 3 , wherein the reservoir is tube-shaped.

9. The air spring assembly of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the reservoir is attached to the frame portion.

Assignees

• Continental automotive systems inc

Inventors

• Pniewski Garrett Mark
• Manga Kranti Kiran
• Makkar Sunny

Classifications

• F16F9/3214

  of pistons (F16F9/0227 and F16F9/36 take precedence; throttling passages in or on piston body F16F9/3405) · CPC title

• F16F9/082

  characterised by the hydropneumatic accumulator · CPC title

• F16F9/08

  where gas is} in a chamber with a flexible wall {(pressurised fluid system accumulators per se F15B1/04) · CPC title

• B60G17/0521

  the spring having a flexible wall · CPC title

• B60G15/12 Primary

  and fluid damper · CPC title