Gas spring and gas damper assembly and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9296272-B2
Application number	US-201113879875-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2011
Priority date	Oct 18, 2010
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A gas spring and gas damper assembly can include a gas spring and a gas damper. The gas spring can include a first end member, a second end member and a flexible wall that at least partially form a spring chamber. The gas damper can include first, second and third damper elements that are telescopically interconnected with one another. At least one of the first and third damper elements can be operatively connected to the first and second end members by way of a low-profile misalignment mount capable of undergoing resilient angular deflection. The second damper element can be operatively supported between the first and third damper elements. A method of assembling a gas spring and gas damper assembly is also included.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gas spring and gas damper assembly comprising:
a gas spring assembly having a longitudinal axis and including:
a first end member;
a second end member spaced longitudinally from said first end member; and,
a flexible wall extending circumferentially about said longitudinal axis and being operatively connected between said first and second end members such that a spring chamber is at least partially defined therebetween; and,

a gas damper assembly disposed within said spring chamber and operatively connected between said first and second end member, said gas damper assembly including:
a first damper element disposed within said spring chamber and including a first side wall at least partially defining a first damping chamber;
a second damper element extending longitudinally between a first end of said second damper element and a second end of said second damper element opposite said first end of said second damper element, said second damper element including an end wall and a second side wall at least partially defining a second damping chamber with at least one of said first and second damping chambers in fluid communication with said spring chamber, said end wall disposed transverse to said second side wall and at least partially forming a second element piston, said second damper element being oriented such that said second element piston and at least a portion of said second side wall are disposed within said first damping chamber, said second damper element being slidably supported within said first damping chamber such that said end wall is displaceable relative to said first side wall of said first damper element; and,
a third damper element extending longitudinally between a first end of said third damper element and a second end of said third damper element opposite said first end of said third damper element, said third damper element including a damper rod and a third element piston, said damper rod extending from said first end of said third damper element toward said second end of said third damper element, said third element piston disposed along said damper rod toward said second end of said third damper element, said third damper element being oriented such that said third element piston and at least a portion of said damper rod are disposed within said second damping chamber, said third damper element being displaceable relative to said second side wall of said second damper element;

a first mount capable of undergoing resilient angular deflection and operatively connecting one of said first damper element and said third damper element to said first end member of said gas spring assembly, said first mount including a retainer plate supported on said first end member in axially spaced relation thereto such that a mounting cavity having an open outer periphery is formed therebetween; and,
a second mount operatively connecting the other of said first damper element and said third damper element to said second end member of said gas spring assembly.

2. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said first mount includes an end plate, a first bushing element and a second bushing element, said end plate having a first surface, a second surface opposite said first surface and being operatively connected to said one of said first damper element and said third damper element, said first bushing element disposed in abutting engagement with said first surface of said end plate, and said second bushing element disposed in abutting engagement with said second surface of said end plate.

3. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said first and second bushing elements are formed from an elastomeric material that will permit said first and second bushing elements to deform as said first end member and said one of said first damper element and said third damper element undergo angular displacement relative to one another.

4. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 3 , wherein said deformation of said first and second bushing elements permit said first end member and said one of said first damper element and said third damper element to undergo an angular displacement within a range of from approximately 2 degrees to approximately 15 degrees.

5. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said retainer plate supports said end plate, said first bushing element and said second bushing element along said first end member.

6. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said retainer plate includes an inner side wall that at least partially defines a passage extending through said retainer plate, said one of said first damper element and said third damper element extends through said passage and abuttingly engages said end plate.

7. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 6 , wherein at least said second bushing element includes an inner side wall at least partially defining an opening extending through said second bushing element with said one of said first damper element and said third damper element extending through said opening and abuttingly engaging said end plate.

8. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said retainer plate is secured along said first end member such that said end plate is compressively captured between said first and second bushing elements.

9. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said first bushing element is compressively captured between said end plate and said first end member, and said second bushing element is compressively captured between said end plate and said retainer plate.

10. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 8 , wherein said first end member includes a plurality of mounting studs extending therefrom into said spring chamber, and said retainer plate is secured to said plurality of mounting studs in spaced relation to said first end member.

11. A gas spring and gas damper assembly according to claim 5 , wherein said first mount includes a bumper secured along said retainer plate opposite said second bushing element, said bumper dimensioned to abuttingly engage said second damper element upon relative displacement of said first end member and said second damper element toward one another.

12. A method of assembling a gas spring and gas damper assembly, said method comprising:
providing a first damper element including a first side wall at least partially defining a first damping chamber;
providing a second damper element extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end opposite said first end, said second damper element including an end wall and a second side wall at least partially defining a second damping chamber, said end wall disposed transverse to said second side wall and at least partially forming a second element piston;
positioning said second element piston and at least a portion of said second side wall within said first damping chamber such that said second damper element is slidably supported within said first damping chamber and said second element piston is displaceable relative to said first side wall of said first damper element;
providing a third damper element including a damper rod and a third element piston disposed along said damper rod;
positioning said third damper element such that said third element piston and at least a portion of said damper rod are disposed within said second damping chamber;
providing a first end member, a second end member and a flexible wall;
providing a first mount capable of undergoing resilient angular deflection, said first mount incl

Assignees

• Leonard Joshua R
• Firestone Ind Products Co Llc

Inventors

• Leonard Joshua R

Classifications

• F16F13/002

  comprising at least one fluid spring (F16F13/005, F16F13/02, F16F13/04 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60G2202/314

  The spring being a pneumatic spring · CPC title

• F16F9/0472

  characterised by comprising a damping device (with plastic deformation of members F16F7/12; delay devices or arrangements F15B21/10) · CPC title

• B60G15/12 Primary

  and fluid damper · CPC title

• B60G2204/41

  Elastic mounts, e.g. bushings · CPC title