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US 2024/0157745 A1Published application
Support System With Air Reservoir
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsSamuel G. Fowle, Troy A. Carter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A support system includes an air spring includes an air spring housing, defines an internal working volume, and is configured to support a body structure. The support system also includes an air reservoir that is supported by the air spring housing and defines a reservoir volume that is in fluid communication with the internal working volume of the air spring.
Claims20
A suspension system, comprising:
- an air spring that is configured to support a vehicle body structure with respect to a wheel assembly, wherein the air spring includes a lower housing part, an upper housing part, and an air spring membrane that define an internal working volume of the air spring, wherein the internal working volume of the air spring varies volumetrically in correspondence to movement of the lower housing part with respect to the upper housing part;
- and
- an air reservoir that is supported with respect to the lower housing part of the air spring for movement in unison with the lower housing part of the air spring and defines a reservoir volume,
- wherein the lower housing part of the air spring defines an air passage that extends through the lower housing part and is in fluid communication with the internal working volume of the air spring and the reservoir volume of the air reservoir to allow exchange of air between the internal working volume of the air spring and the reservoir volume in response to contraction and expansion of the air spring.
1 more element
A suspension system, comprising:
- an air spring that is configured to support a vehicle body structure with respect to a wheel assembly, wherein the air spring includes an air spring housing and an air spring membrane that define an internal working volume of the air spring;
- an air reservoir that is supported by the air spring housing with respect to the lower housing part of the air spring and defines a reservoir volume that is in fluid communication with the internal working volume of the air spring;
- and
- a support that is connected to the air spring housing and forms part of a load path between the air spring and the wheel assembly.
1 more element
A suspension system, comprising:
- an air spring that defines an internal working volume;
- an air reservoir that defines a reservoir volume and is in fluid communication with the internal working volume of the air spring so that the internal working volume of the air spring and the reservoir volume of the air reservoir define a total a working volume for the air spring;
- an upper mounting structure that is configured for connection to a vehicle body structure;
- a lower mounting structure that is configured for connection to a wheel assembly;
- and
- a support that defines a load path between the air spring and the lower mounting structure, wherein the air reservoir is fixed to the support.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.