Gas spring end members as well as gas spring assemblies including same
AssigneeFirestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
InventorAlbert S. Phillips
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Gas spring end members include an end member wall with a longitudinal axis. The end member wall includes an end wall portion and an outer wall portion. The outer wall portion extends peripherally about an axis and is dimensioned to receivingly engage a flexible spring member. Rib wall portions are spaced around the axis with each of the rib wall portions projecting axially from the end wall portion toward a rib end surface portion. The rib wall portions also include a rib edge surface portion spaced inward from an inner side surface portion of the outer peripheral wall portion such that a gap is formed therebetween. Gas spring assemblies including one or more of such end members, and suspension systems including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.
Claims20
A gas spring end member dimensioned for securement to an associated flexible spring member, said gas spring end member comprising:
- an end member wall with a longitudinal axis, said end member wall including:
- an end wall portion oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis;
- an outer wall portion disposed radially outward of said end wall portion, said outer wall portion extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and dimensioned to receivingly engage the associated flexible spring member, said outer wall portion including a first end surface portion, a second end surface portion facing opposite said first end surface portion and an inner side surface portion facing radially inward;
- and,
- a plurality of rib wall portions disposed in spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis with each of said plurality of rib wall portions projecting axially from said end wall portion toward a rib end surface portion oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis and with each of said plurality of rib wall portions including a rib edge surface portion spaced inward from said inner side surface portion of said outer wall portion such that a gap is formed therebetween.
A gas spring assembly comprising:
- a flexible spring member extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and longitudinally between opposing first and second ends such that a spring chamber is at least partially defined therebetween;
- a gas spring end member at least partially received within said first end of said flexible spring member, said gas spring end member including an end member wall including:
- an end wall portion oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis;
- an outer wall portion disposed radially outward of said end wall portion, said outer wall portion extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and dimensioned to receivingly engage said first end of said flexible spring member, said outer wall portion including a first end surface portion, a second end surface portion facing opposite said first end surface portion and an inner side surface portion facing radially inward;
- and
- a plurality of rib wall portions disposed in spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis with each of said plurality of rib wall portions projecting axially from said end wall portion toward a rib end surface portion oriented transverse to said longitudinal axis and with each of said plurality of rib wall portions including a rib edge surface portion spaced inward from said inner side surface portion of said outer wall portion such that a gap is formed therebetween;
- and, a crimp ring positioned coextensively with said gas spring end member and extending peripherally therearound with said first end of said flexible spring member extending coextensively between said crimp ring and said gas spring end member, said crimp ring compressively engaging said first end of said flexible spring member with said gas spring end member such that a substantially fluid-tight connection is formed therebetween.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.