# US 2014/0191487 A1 · Lateral support elements, gas spring assemblies and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0191487 A1 - Document ID: US20140191487A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/150,093 - Filed: 2014-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC - Applicants: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC - Inventors: Naveen S. Sachan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140191487A1 ## CPC - B61F 5/307: {incorporating fluid springs} - B60G 11/27: wherein the fluid is a gas - B60G 11/28: characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle - B61F 5/10: incorporating fluid springs - F16F 9/0454: {characterised by the assembling method or by the mounting arrangement, e.g. mounting of the membrane (F16F9/0409, F16F9/0445 take precedence)} - B60G 2202/152: Pneumatic spring - B60G 2204/126: Mounting of pneumatic springs - B60G 2206/91: Assembly procedures - B60G 2300/10: Railway vehicles - Y10T 29/49611: for vehicle or clutch - B61F: RAIL VEHICLE SUSPENSIONS, e.g. UNDERFRAMES, BOGIES OR ARRANGEMENTS OF WHEEL AXLES; RAIL VEHICLES FOR USE ON TRACKS OF DIFFERENT WIDTH; PREVENTING DERAILING OF RAIL VEHICLES; WHEEL GUARDS, OBSTRUCTION REMOVERS OR THE LIKE FOR RAIL VEHICLES (for vehicles in general B60; axles or wheels B60B; vehicle tyres B60C) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Lateral support elements for engaging an associated flexible wall of an associated gas spring assembly can be displaceably mounted along an associated end member of the associated gas spring assembly, such as by way of an elastomeric mounting element. The elastomeric mounting element can be formed as an endless annular ring, from an elongated length of elastomeric material wound helically about an axis, a plurality of support element sections disposed in peripherally spaced relation to one another about an axis or from a plurality of concentric element rings formed from elastomeric and comparatively rigid materials. Gas spring assemblies including one or more of such lateral support element as well as suspension systems that includes one or more of such gas spring assemblies and methods of manufacture are also included. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gas spring assembly comprising: a flexible sleeve having a longitudinal axis and extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end spaced axially from said first end, said flexible sleeve including an outer surface and an inner surface least partially defining a spring chamber; an end member disposed across said first end of said flexible sleeve and operatively secured thereto such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed with said end member along said first end of said flexible sleeve; and, a lateral support element disposed along said first end of said flexible sleeve adjacent said end member, said lateral support element including a support surface dimensioned to abuttingly engage said outer surface of said flexible sleeve, said lateral support element displaceably supported along said first end of said flexible wall such that forces generated during lateral displacement of said first end of said flexible sleeve and said end member relative to said second end of said flexible sleeve can induce lateral movement of said lateral support element relative to said end member in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A gas spring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said lateral support element is flexibly secured to said end member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A gas spring assembly according to claim 1 further comprising an elastomeric support element operatively connecting said lateral support element and said end member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A gas spring assembly according to claim 3, wherein said elastomeric support element is at least partially formed from an elastomeric material including at least one of natural rubber, synthetic rubber and thermoplastic elastomer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A gas spring assembly according to claim 4, wherein said elastomeric support element is formed as an endless annular ring extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A gas spring assembly according to claim 4, wherein said elastomeric support element is at least partially formed from an elongated length of elastomeric material wound helically about said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) A gas spring assembly according to claim 4, wherein said elastomeric support element includes a plurality of support element sections disposed in peripherally spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) A gas spring assembly according to claim 4, wherein said elastomeric support element includes a plurality of annular element rings formed from an elastomeric material and at least one annular element ring formed from a comparatively rigid material and disposed between two of said annular element rings formed from said elastomeric material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) A gas spring assembly according to claim 3, wherein said elastomeric support element includes a first side surface portion and a second side surface portion facing opposite said first side surface portion with said first side surface disposed toward said end member and said second side surface portion disposed toward said lateral support element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A gas spring assembly according to claim 9, wherein said elastomeric support element includes a first end surface portion disposed toward said end member and a second end surface portion disposed opposite said first end surface portion and facing away from said end member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A gas spring assembly according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said first side surface portion and said first end surface portion is attached to said end member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A gas spring assembly according to claim 10, wherein at least one of said second side surface portion and said second end surface portion is attached to said lateral support element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A gas spring assembly according to claim 1, wherein lateral support element has a longitudinal axis and includes an element wall extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis, said element wall having a cross-sectional profile including a support profile section that at least partially forms said support surface and an outer profile section that at least partially defines an outer surface of said lateral support element facing opposite said support surface. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A gas spring assembly according to claim 13, wherein said cross-sectional profile of said element wall includes a mounting profile section that at least partially defines a mounting surface extending between said support and outer surfaces. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A gas spring assembly according to claim 14, wherein said cross-sectional profile of said element wall includes a distal profile section disposed radially outward of said mounting profile section that at least partially defines an outer peripheral edge of said lateral support element. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A suspension system comprising: a pressurized gas system including a pressurized gas source and a control device; and, at least one gas spring assembly according to claim 1 disposed in fluid communication with said pressurized gas source through said control device. ### Claim 17 A method of manufacturing a gas spring assembly, said method comprising: providing a flexible sleeve having a longitudinal axis and extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end spaced axially from said first end, said flexible sleeve including an outer surface and an inner surface capable of at least partially defining a spring chamber; providing an end member and positioning said end member across said first end of said flexible sleeve; forming a substantially fluid-tight seal between said end member and said flexible sleeve; providing a lateral support element including a support surface dimensioned to abuttingly engage said outer surface of said flexible sleeve; and, supporting said lateral support element along said first end of said flexible sleeve such that forces generated during lateral displacement of said first end of said flexible sleeve and said end member relative to said second end of said flexible sleeve can induce lateral movement of said lateral support element relative to said end member in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A method according to claim 17 further comprising: providing an elastomeric support element that is at least partially formed from an elastomeric material including at least one of natural rubber, synthetic rubber and thermoplastic elastomer; and, attaching said lateral support element to said end member using said elastomeric support element. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, wherein providing said elastomeric support element includes one of: forming said elastomeric support element as an endless annular ring extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis; forming said elastomeric support element from an elongated length of elastomeric material wound helically about said longitudinal axis; forming said elastomeric support element from a plurality of support element sections disposed in peripherally spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis; and, forming said elastomeric support element from a plurality of annular element rings formed from an elastomeric material and from at least one annular element ring formed from a comparatively rigid material with said at least one annular element ring formed from said comparatively rigid material disposed between two of said annular element rings formed from said elastomeric material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A method according to claim 18, wherein providing said elastomeric support element includes providing said uncured elastomeric material, and attaching said lateral support element to said end member using said elastomeric support element includes positioning said uncured elastomeric material between said lateral support element and said end member and curing said uncured material to form said elastomeric support element.