Gas spring and gas damper assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9254727-B2
Application number	US-201314404119-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2013
Priority date	May 29, 2012
Publication date	Feb 9, 2016
Grant date	Feb 9, 2016

Abstract

A gas spring and gas damper assembly ( 110; 200; 400 ) can include a gas spring assembly ( 128; 202; 402 ) and a gas damper assembly ( 130; 204; 404 ). The gas spring assembly can include opposing end members ( 206, 208; 406, 408 ) and a flexible spring member ( 210; 410 ) secured there between that at least partially forms a spring chamber ( 212; 412 ). One of the end members ( 208; 408 ) can include an end member chamber ( 268; 468 ) that is separated into a plurality of damping chambers ( 292, 294; 492, 494 ). Damper pistons ( 300, 302; 500, 502 ) are disposed within the damping chambers ( 292, 294; 492, 494 ) and are connected to the other end member ( 206; 406 ) by way of a damping rod ( 276; 476 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gas spring and gas damper assembly comprising:
a flexible spring member having a longitudinal axis and including a flexible wall extending peripherally about said axis and longitudinally between opposing first and second ends to at least partially define a spring chamber;
a first end member extending across said first end of said flexible spring member and secured to said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween;
a second end member extending across said second end of said flexible spring member and secured to said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween, said second end member including an end member wall that at least partially defines an end member chamber having a fixed volume;
a partition wall extending across said end member chamber and secured along said end member wall such that said end member chamber is separated into first and second damping chambers having corresponding first and second fixed volumes;
a damper rod extending longitudinally between opposing first and second ends with said first end operatively connected to said first end member and said second end disposed within said end member chamber of said second end member, said damper rod including a gas transfer passage extending longitudinally therealong, said gas transfer passage disposed in fluid communication between said spring chamber and said end member chamber;
a first damper piston disposed within said first damping chamber; and,
a second damper piston disposed within said second damping chamber;
said first and second damper pistons being secured to said damper rod such that said first and second damper pistons move relative to said second end member and said partition wall upon displacement of said first and second end members relative to one another.

2. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said first damping chamber is substantially fluidically isolated from said spring chamber by one of a portion of said end member wall and a cover wall extending across an open end of said end member wall.

3. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said cover wall includes a passage extending therethrough such that said first damping chamber and said spring chamber can fluidically communicate through at least said passage.

4. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said damper rod includes a plurality of orifices formed therealong in fluid communication with said gas transfer passage placing at least one of said first chamber portion of said first damping chamber, said second chamber portion of said first damping chamber, said first chamber portion of said second damping chamber and said second chamber portion of said second damping chamber in fluid communication with said spring chamber.

5. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a valve assembly is connected through said partition wall and is selectively operable to permit fluid communication between said first damping chamber and said second damping chamber through said valve assembly.

6. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a valve assembly is connected through said first damper piston and is selectively operable to permit fluid communication between said first chamber portion and said second chamber portion of said first damping chamber through said valve assembly.

7. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a valve assembly is connected through said second damper piston and is selectively operable to permit fluid communication between said first chamber portion and said second chamber portion of said second damping chamber through said valve assembly.

8. A gas spring and gas damper assembly comprising:
a flexible spring member having a longitudinal axis and including a flexible wall extending peripherally about said axis and longitudinally between opposing first and second ends to at least partially define a spring chamber;
a first end member extending across said first end of said flexible spring member and secured to said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween;
a second end member extending across said second end of said flexible spring member and secured to said flexible spring member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween, said second end member including an end member wall that at least partially defines an end member chamber having a fixed volume;
a damper rod extending longitudinally between opposing first and second ends with said first end operatively connected to said first end member and said second end disposed within said end member chamber of said second end member;
a partition wall extending across said end member chamber and secured along said end member wall such that said end member chamber is separated into first and second damping chambers having corresponding first and second fixed volumes with said first damping chamber substantially fluidically isolated from said spring chamber by one of a portion of said end member wall and a cover wall extending across an open end of said end member wall;
a first damper piston disposed within said first damping chamber;
a second damper piston disposed within said second damping chamber with said first and second damper pistons being secured to said damper rod such that said first and second damper pistons move relative to said second end member and said partition wall upon displacement of said first and second end members relative to one another; and,
a valve assembly connected through said one of a portion of said end member wall and said cover wall and selectively operable to permit fluid communication between said spring chamber and said first damping chamber through said valve assembly.

9. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said first and second damper chambers are fluidically disposed in series with one another relative to said spring chamber.

10. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said partition wall includes a passage extending therethrough such that said first and second damping chambers can fluidically communicate through at least said passage.

11. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said first damper piston separates said first damping chamber into first and second chamber portions disposed along opposing sides of said first damper piston, and said first damper piston includes a passage extending therethrough such that said first and second chamber portions can fluidically communicate through at least said passage.

12. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said second damper piston separates said second damping chamber into first and second chamber portions disposed along opposing sides of said second damper piston, and said second damper piston includes a passage extending therethrough such that said first and second chamber portions can fluidically communicate through at least said passage.

13. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 8 , wherein a valve assembly is connected through said partition wall and is selectively operable to permit fluid communication between said first damping chamber and said second damping chamber through said valve assembly.

14. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 8 , wherein a valve assembly is connected through said first damper piston and is selectively operable to permit fluid commu

Assignees

• Firestone Ind Products Co Llc

Inventors

• Moulik Pradipta N
• Brookes Graham R
• Bounds Joseph A

Classifications

• B60G2202/242

  Pneumatic damper · CPC title

• B60G15/12 Primary

  and fluid damper · CPC title

• B60G2202/152

  Pneumatic spring · CPC title

• B60G2206/424

  Plunger or top retainer construction for bellows or rolling lobe type air springs · CPC title

• B60G2202/32

  The spring being in series with the damper and/or actuator · CPC title