End member assemblies as well as gas spring assemblies, suspension systems and methods including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10465763-B2
Application number	US-201515529913-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2015
Priority date	Nov 26, 2014
Publication date	Nov 5, 2019
Grant date	Nov 5, 2019

Abstract

An end member assembly can include a first end member section and a second end member section that together form an end member volume. A partition section is provided separately and is disposed within the end member volume to separate the end member volume into at least two volume portions. At least one passage extends through the partition section and at least one control device is disposed in fluid communication along the passage. The control device substantially fluidically isolates the two volume portions under conditions of use below a predetermined differential pressure threshold. The control device permits fluid communication between the two volume portions under conditions of use in which the predetermined pressure threshold is exceeded. Gas spring assemblies including such an end member assembly as well as suspension systems and methods of manufacture are also included.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An end member assembly dimensioned to receivingly engage an associated end of an associated flexible spring member, said end member assembly having a longitudinal axis and comprising:
a first end member section including a first section wall extending radially outward to an outer peripheral edge;
a second end member section including a second section wall that has an outer surface dimensioned such that the associated flexible spring member can form a rolling lobe therealong, said second end member section secured to said first end member section such that an end member chamber is defined therebetween;
an end member partition section disposed between said first and second end member sections, said end member partition section separating said end member chamber into at least a first chamber portion disposed toward said first end member section and a second chamber portion disposed toward said second end member section with a passage extending through said end member partition, said end member partition section including an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge with said inner peripheral edge disposed along said first section wall of said first end member section and said outer peripheral edge disposed along said second section wall of said second end member section; and,
a control device disposed in fluid communication along said passage in said end member partition section, said control device operative between:
a first condition in which said first and second end member chambers are fluidically isolated from one another through said passage under differential pressure conditions at or below a predetermined pressure threshold; and,
a second condition in which said first and second end member chambers are disposed in fluid communication with one another through said passage under differential pressure conditions exceeding said predetermined pressure threshold.

2. An end member assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said second section wall of said second end member section includes an end wall portion that at least partially defines a mounting plane of said end member assembly.

3. An end member assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said end wall portion is a first end wall portion and said second section wall includes a second end wall portion spaced longitudinally from said first end wall portion in a direction away from said first end member section such that at least a portion of said end member volume is disposed beyond said mounting plane in a direction away from said first end member section.

4. An end member assembly according to claim 3 , wherein said second section wall includes an outer side wall portion that at least partially defines an outer periphery of said end member volume within said second end member section.

5. An end member assembly according to claim 4 , wherein said second section wall includes an inner side wall portion disposed radially inward of said outer side wall portion and axially co-extensive with at least a portion thereof to define an inner periphery of said end member volume such that an external recess extends into said end member assembly with said end member volume extending peripherally around said recess along at least three sides thereof.

6. An end member assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said control device is a normally-closed, one-way valve actuated and deactuated by differential pressure conditions.

7. An end member assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said first section wall of said first end member section includes at least one vent passage extending therethrough in fluid communication with said second chamber portion of said end member chamber, said at least one vent passage dimensioned to substantially inhibit pressurized gas transfer from said first chamber portion into said second chamber portion under at least said differential pressure conditions exceeding said predetermined pressure threshold.

8. An end member assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said second section wall includes a plurality of intermediate wall portions disposed within said second chamber portion, said plurality of intermediate wall portions including distal edges at least a portion of which are disposed in abutting engagement with said end member partition section.

9. An end member assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said end member partition section includes a partition section wall with a plurality of ribs disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another along said end member partition section in facing relation to said plurality of intermediate wall portions.

10. An end member assembly according to claim 9 , wherein said plurality of ribs are spaced apart in pairs with one of said ribs disposed along opposing sides of one of said intermediate wall portions.

11. An end member assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said end member partition section includes a partition section wall having a cross-sectional profile, and said distal edges of said plurality of intermediate wall portions have a complementary profile.

12. An end member assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said end member partition section is secured to one of said first end member section and said second end member section along at least one of said inner and outer peripheral edges.

13. An end member assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said inner peripheral edge is secured to said first end member section such that a substantially fluid-tight joint is formed therebetween.

14. An end member assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said outer peripheral edge is secured to said second end member section such that a substantially fluid-tight joint is formed therebetween.

15. A gas spring assembly comprising:
a flexible spring member including a flexible wall and extending between opposing first and second ends;
an end member secured across said first end of said flexible spring member; and,
an end member assembly according to claim 1 secured across said second end of said flexible spring member.

16. An end member assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said second section wall includes an outer peripheral edge, and said first and second end member sections are secured together with a substantially fluid-tight joint formed between said outer peripheral edge of said first section wall and said outer peripheral edge of said second section wall.

17. A method of assembling a gas spring assembly, said method comprising:
providing a first end member section that includes a first section wall extending radially outward to an outer peripheral edge;
providing a second end member section that includes a second section wall with an outer peripheral edge;
securing said first and second end member sections to one another along said outer peripheral edges thereof such that an end member volume is defined therebetween;
providing an end member partition section that includes a partition section wall with a passage extending therethrough as well as an inner peripheral edge and an outer peripheral edge;
positioning said end member partition section between said first and second end member sections with said inner peripheral edge disposed along said first end member section and said outer peripheral edge disposed along said second end member section thereby separating said end member volume into at least first and second end member chambers;
providing a control device operatively displaceable between a first operative condition and a second operative condition; and,
connecting said control device in fluid communication along said passage t

Assignees

• Firestone Ind Products Co Llc

Inventors

• Bounds Joseph A
• Koeske Paul P

Classifications

• B60G2202/152

  Pneumatic spring · CPC title

• F16F9/057 Primary

  characterised by the piston · CPC title

• B60G2400/25

  Stroke; Height; Displacement · CPC title

• B60G11/27

  wherein the fluid is a gas · CPC title

• F16F9/5126

  Piston, or piston-like valve elements (F16F9/504 takes precedence) · CPC title