Gas spring assembly for a vehicle suspension system
AssigneeOshkosh Defense, LLC
InventorsRoy Venton-Walters, Aaron J. Rositch, Jesse L. Knoble, Erik Ellifson, Mark L. Steckling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gas spring includes a cylinder, a rod movable relative to the cylinder, and an accumulator. The rod and the cylinder at least partially define a chamber having a variable volume and contain a first pressurized gas. The accumulator is in communication with the chamber and contains a second pressurized gas. The gas spring provides a variable spring rate based on a pressure of the first pressurized gas relative to a threshold pressure.
Claims20
A gas spring for a vehicle suspension, the gas spring comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a rod movable relative to the cylinder, the rod and the cylinder at least partially defining a chamber having a variable volume and containing a first pressurized gas;
- and
- an accumulator in communication with the chamber and containing a second pressurized gas;
- wherein the gas spring provides a variable spring rate based on a pressure of the first pressurized gas relative to a threshold pressure.
A gas spring for a vehicle suspension, the gas spring comprising:
- a cylinder defining a first chamber;
- a rod movable relative to the cylinder;
- and
- an accumulator coupled to the cylinder, the accumulator including:
- a rigid exterior defining a second chamber;
- and
- a bladder disposed within the second chamber, the bladder separating the second chamber into (a) a first accumulator portion in fluid communication with the first chamber and (b) a second accumulator portion.
A gas spring for a vehicle suspension, the gas spring comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a rod movable relative to the cylinder;
- and
- an accumulator coupled to the cylinder;
- wherein the gas spring provides a multi-stage spring rate;
- and
- wherein the multi-stage spring rate is adjustable by increasing or decreasing an initial gas pressure in the accumulator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.