End mount assemblies as well as gas spring and damper assemblies including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10543729-B2
Application number	US-201615769382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2016
Priority date	Oct 31, 2015
Publication date	Jan 28, 2020
Grant date	Jan 28, 2020

Abstract

End mount assemblies include a mounting bracket dimensioned for securement to an end member of a gas spring and damper assembly. The end mount assembly can include an inner mounting element dimensioned for securement to an elongated damping rod of the gas spring and damper assembly. A first plurality of bushing elements can be operatively disposed between the inner mounting element and the mounting bracket. A second plurality of bushing elements can be operatively disposed between the inner mounting element and the end member. Gas spring and a damper assemblies including such an end mount assembly as well as suspension systems and methods of assembly are also included.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gas spring and damper assembly comprising:
a gas spring including:
a flexible spring member having a longitudinal axis and including a flexible wall extending longitudinally between first and second ends and peripherally about said axis to at least partially define a spring chamber;
a first end member operatively secured to said first end of said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween; and
a second end member disposed in spaced relation to said first end member and operatively secured to said second end of said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween;

a damper assembly operative to dissipate kinetic energy acting on said gas spring, said damper assembly including a damper housing operatively connected to said second end member and a damper rod assembly operatively engaged with said damper housing for reciprocal motion relative thereto, said damper rod assembly including an elongated damper rod; and,
an end mount assembly operatively connecting said elongated damper rod and said first end member and permitting said first and second end members to move at least one of laterally and angularly with respect to one another during extension and compression of said gas spring and damper assembly, said end mount assembly including an inner mounting element that includes a mounting element wall with a connector portion dimensioned for operative securement to said elongated damper rod, a flange portion extending radially outward from along said connector portion, and a first plurality of recesses extending into said flange portion of said mounting element wall in a first axial direction.

2. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of recesses are disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another about said axis along a first side of said flange portion.

3. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said inner mounting element includes a second plurality of recesses extending into said flange portion of said mounting element wall in a second axial direction opposite said first axial direction from along a second side of said flange portion.

4. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 3 , wherein said second plurality of recesses are disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another about said axis along said second side of said flange portion.

5. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 4 , wherein said first and second pluralities of recesses are oriented relative to one another along said flange portion such that each recess of said second plurality of recesses is disposed between adjacent ones of said first plurality of recesses relative to one another about said axis.

6. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said end mount assembly includes a plurality of bushing elements disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis.

7. A gas spring and damper assembly comprising:
a gas spring including:
a flexible spring member having a longitudinal axis and including a flexible wall extending longitudinally between first and second ends and peripherally about said axis to at least partially define a spring chamber;
a first end member operatively secured to said first end of said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween; and,
a second end member disposed in spaced relation to said first end member and operatively secured to said second end of said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween;

a damper assembly operative to dissipate kinetic energy acting on said gas spring, said damper assembly including a damper housing operatively connected to said second end member and a damper rod assembly operatively engaged with said damper housing for reciprocal motion relative thereto, said damper rod assembly including an elongated damper rod; and,
an end mount assembly operatively connecting said elongated damper rod and said first end member and permitting said first and second end members to move at least one of laterally and angularly with respect to one another during extension and compression of said gas spring and damper assembly with said end mount assembly including a first plurality of bushing elements disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis.

8. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 7 , wherein said end mount assembly includes an inner mounting element with a mounting element wall that includes a connector portion dimensioned for operative securement to said elongated damper rod and a flange portion extending radially outward from along said connector portion.

9. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said flange portion has a first side disposed toward said connector portion and a second side facing away from said connector portion and with said inner mounting element oriented within said spring chamber with said first side facing away from said second end member and said second side facing toward said second end member.

10. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 7 , wherein two or more of said first plurality of bushing elements are operatively connected with one another.

11. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 7 , wherein said end mount assembly includes a second plurality of bushing elements disposed in axially-spaced relation to said first plurality of bushing elements and oriented peripherally about said axis in offset relation to said first plurality of bushing elements such that each bushing element of said second plurality of bushing elements is aligned between adjacent ones of said first plurality of bushing elements.

12. A gas spring and damper assembly according to claim 7 , wherein said end mount assembly includes a third plurality of bushing elements that are different from said first and second pluralities of bushing elements with said third plurality of bushing elements disposed in peripherally-spaced relation to one another and positioned radially-inward and axially co-extensive with said first plurality of bushing elements.

13. A gas spring and damper assembly comprising:
a gas spring including:
a flexible spring member having a longitudinal axis and including a flexible wall extending longitudinally between first and second ends and peripherally about said axis to at least partially define a spring chamber;
a first end member operatively secured to said first end of said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween; and
a second end member disposed in spaced relation to said first end member and operatively secured to said second end of said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween;

a damper assembly operative to dissipate kinetic energy acting on said gas spring, said damper assembly including a damper housing operatively connected to said second end member and a damper rod assembly operatively engaged with said damper housing for reciprocal motion relative thereto, said damper rod assembly including an elongated damper rod; and,
an end mount assembly operatively connecting said elongated damper rod and said first end member and permitting said first and second end members to move at least one of laterally and angularly with respect to one another during extension and compression of said gas spring and damper assembly, said end mount assembly including:
a mounting bracke

Assignees

• Firestone Ind Products Co Llc

Inventors

• Leonard Joshua R

Classifications

• F16F2222/126

  using gases · CPC title

• F16F2230/28

  Inclination of a suspension element · CPC title

• F16F9/057

  characterised by the piston · CPC title

• F16F2230/0005

  Attachment, e.g. to facilitate mounting onto confer adjustability · CPC title

• F16F2238/04

  Damper · CPC title