Gas spring assembly for a vehicle suspension system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9688112-B2
Application number	US-201514671650-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Aug 31, 2010
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system includes a cylinder, a rod disposed within the cylinder, the rod and the cylinder defining a chamber, and an accumulator in communication with the chamber. The rod and the cylinder are configured such that a relative movement therebetween changes the volume of the chamber. Gas in the chamber and the accumulator are configured to cooperate to at least partially provide a spring rate that varies based on at least one of a deflection and a spring force associated with at least one of the rod and the cylinder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
a cylinder;
a rod disposed within the cylinder, the rod and the cylinder defining a chamber, wherein the rod and the cylinder are configured such that a relative movement therebetween changes the volume of the chamber; and
an accumulator in communication with the chamber, wherein gas in the chamber and the accumulator are configured to cooperate to at least partially provide (a) a first spring rate for at least one of a deflection and a spring force associated with at least one of the rod and the cylinder below a threshold, and (b) a second spring rate for at least one of a deflection and a spring force associated with at least one of the rod and the cylinder above the threshold.

2. The gas spring of claim 1 , wherein the first spring rate is greater than the second spring rate.

3. The gas spring of claim 1 , wherein the accumulator comprises a rigid exterior that defines an accumulator volume and a movable component internal to the rigid exterior.

4. The gas spring of claim 3 , wherein the movable component separates the accumulator volume into a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is in gaseous communication with the chamber and the threshold is a function of a pressure within the second portion.

5. The gas spring of claim 4 , the accumulator further comprising a port in the rigid exterior configured to facilitate changing the pressure within the second portion.

6. The gas spring of claim 5 , wherein the movable component comprises a diaphragm.

7. A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
a cylinder defining an inner chamber;
a rod disposed within the cylinder;
an accumulator in communication with the inner chamber; and
a sensor comprising a linear variable differential transformer, wherein the sensor is coupled to at least one of the rod, the cylinder, and the accumulator, and wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal indicative of a ride height of the vehicle suspension system.

8. The gas spring of claim 7 , wherein the sensor includes a shaft, and wherein the rod includes an end defining an aperture that receives the shaft of the sensor.

9. The gas spring of claim 8 , further comprising a tubular element having an inner space that receives the shaft of the sensor, the signal provided by the sensor relating to an insertion length of the shaft into the tubular element.

10. A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
a cylinder;
a rod disposed within the cylinder; and
a sensor comprising a linear variable differential transformer, wherein the sensor is disposed within at least one of the cylinder and the rod, and wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal indicative of a ride height of the vehicle suspension system.

11. The gas spring of claim 10 , wherein the sensor includes a shaft, and wherein the rod includes an end defining an aperture that receives the shaft of the sensor.

12. The gas spring of claim 11 , further comprising a tubular element having an inner space that receives the shaft of the sensor, the signal provided by the sensor relating to an insertion length of the shaft into the tubular element.

13. The gas spring of claim 12 , wherein the rod includes a sidewall that defines an internal volume, wherein the tubular element is disposed within the internal volume, and wherein the shaft of the sensor extends through a chamber formed by the rod and the cylinder.

14. The gas spring of claim 13 , further comprising an annular piston defining a bore that receives the tubular element.

15. The gas spring of claim 14 , wherein the rod includes a cannular element disposed within the internal volume and at least partially surrounding the tubular element, wherein the annular piston extends between an outer surface of the tubular element and an inner surface of the cannular element.

16. The gas spring of claim 14 , wherein the internal volume of the rod is configured to contain a hydraulic fluid, wherein the chamber defined by the cylinder and the rod is configured to contain gas, and wherein the annular piston is positioned to separate the hydraulic fluid from the gas.

17. The gas spring of claim 14 , wherein the sidewall of the rod defines a port in fluid communication with the internal volume such that a flow of a hydraulic fluid through the port changes an overall length of the gas spring and the ride height of the vehicle suspension system.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Defense Llc

Inventors

• Venton-Walters Roy
• Rositch Aaron J
• Knoble Jesse L
• Ellifson Erik S
• Steckling Mark L

Classifications

• B60G17/0408

  details, e.g. antifreeze for suspension fluid, pumps, retarding means per se · CPC title

• B60G15/12

  and fluid damper · CPC title

• B60G17/00

  Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load {(levelling or stabilising systems for tippers B60P1/045)} · CPC title

• B60G2202/152

  Pneumatic spring · CPC title

• B60G11/30

  having pressure fluid accumulator therefor, e.g. accumulator arranged in vehicle frame {(dampers accumulating utilisable energy B60G13/14)} · CPC title