Gas spring assembly for a vehicle suspension system
AssigneeOshkosh Defense, LLC
InventorsRoy Venton-Walters, Aaron J. Rositch, Jesse L Knoble, Erik S. Ellifson, Mark L. Steckling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system includes a cylinder, a rod disposed within the cylinder, the rod and the cylinder at least partially 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.
Claims15
A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a rod disposed within the cylinder, the rod and the cylinder at least partially 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 pressure of gas in the chamber, a deflection associated with at least one of the rod and the cylinder, and a spring force associated with at least one of the rod and the cylinder at or below a threshold, and (b) a second spring rate for at least one of a pressure of gas in the chamber, a deflection associated with at least one of the rod and the cylinder, and a spring force associated with at least one of the rod and the cylinder at or above the threshold.
A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- a cylinder defining an inner chamber;
- a rod disposed within the cylinder, the rod including an end defining an aperture;
- an accumulator in communication with the inner chamber;
- a tubular element having an inner space;
- and
- a sensor coupled to at least one of the rod, the cylinder, and the accumulator, wherein the sensor includes a shaft that is received by the aperture of the rod and the inner space of the tubular element, and wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal relating to a position of the shaft relative to the tubular element that is indicative of a ride height of the vehicle suspension system.
A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a rod disposed within the cylinder, the rod including an end defining an aperture;
- a tubular element having an inner space;
- and
- a sensor disposed within at least one of the cylinder and the rod, wherein the sensor includes a shaft that is received by the aperture of the rod and the inner space of the tubular element, and wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal relating to a position of the shaft relative to the tubular element that is indicative of a ride height of the vehicle suspension system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.