Coupler for air suspension and apparatus and method for manufacturing the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11787102-B2
Application number	US-202117487392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2021
Priority date	Sep 28, 2020
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a coupler for an air suspension includes: preparing a topping cord sheet and a rubber band; connecting the topping cord sheet and the rubber band to each other by attaching the rubber band to an outer circumferential surface of the topping cord sheet; and vulcanizing an intermediately formed body made by the connecting of the topping cord sheet and the rubber band to each other.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a coupler for an air suspension, the method comprising:
preparing a topping cord sheet and a rubber band;
disposing the rubber band on an inner surface of a mold;
disposing the topping cord sheet on the inner surface of the mold to cover and the rubber band;
pressing the topping cord sheet in a direction in which an outer circumferential surface of the topping cord sheet comes into contact with an inner surface of the rubber band; and
vulcanizing, in a vulcanization unit, an intermediately formed body made by the connecting of the topping cord sheet and the rubber band to each other.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pressing of the topping cord sheet in the direction in which the outer circumferential surface of the topping cord sheet comes into close contact with the inner surface of the rubber band comprises using a bladder, which is expandable and contractible, to press an inner circumferential surface of the topping cord sheet.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the rubber band is accommodated in an accommodation groove disposed in the inner surface of the mold, and the topping cord sheet is pressed by the bladder in a state in which the topping cord sheet is disposed to cover the accommodation groove.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vulcanizing of the intermediately formed body comprises:
disposing the intermediately formed body on an inner surface of the vulcanization unit;
pressing the intermediately formed body against the inner surface of the vulcanization unit; and
heating the intermediately formed body.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the pressing of the intermediately formed body against the inner surface of the vulcanization unit comprises using a bladder, which is expandable and contractible, to press an inner circumferential surface of the intermediately formed body.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the vulcanization unit has a single inner circumferential surface connected continuously.

Assignees

• Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd
• Sunjin Co Ltd

Inventors

• Seo Kang Won
• Cho Chang Ho
• Kim Jong Hoon

Classifications

• B29C53/581 Primary

  using sheets or strips consisting principally of plastics material (using profiled sheets or strips B29C53/78) · CPC title

• B29C53/583

  for making tubular articles with particular features · CPC title

• B29C53/845

  especially adapted for winding and joining · CPC title

• B29C63/0069

  of tubular articles · CPC title

• B29C65/7841

  Holding or clamping means for handling purposes (clamping means for the purpose of applying pressure on the parts to be joined, in the area to be joined B29C66/81; work holders in general B25B; devices for holding or positioning work for welding metal B23K37/04) · CPC title