# US 4,392,638 A · Vehicle suspension device

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- Number: US 4,392,638 A
- Document ID: US4392638A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/252,601
- Filed: 1981-04-09
- Granted: 1983-07-12
- Earliest claimed: 1981-04-09
- Assignees: Tokico Ltd.
- Inventors: Tetsuo Kato; Naoki Makita
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4392638A

## CPC

- F16F 9/084: comprising a gas spring contained within a flexible wall, the wall not being in contact with the damping fluid, i.e. mounted externally on the damper cylinder
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION

## Abstract

A vehicle suspension device includes a hydraulic damper including a vertical cylinder and a piston rod slidably extending out of the cylinder through the upper end thereof, and an air spring unit including a flexible tubular wall portion member having an inner wall mounted on the cylinder, an outer wall portion mounted on a tubular support member secured to the extending end of the piston rod and a rolling wall portion. A cylindrical housing is rotatably and sealingly mounted on the upper end of the cylinder and extends along the outer circumference of the cylinder, and the free end of the inner wall portion of the flexible tubular wall is secured to the upper end of the housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle suspension device comprising:
a hydraulic damper including a cylinder and a piston rod extending outwardly of one end of said cylinder;
a cylindrical housing mounted on said one end of said cylinder and surrounding a part of the outer circumference of said cylinder;
a cylindrical support member having a closed end attached to the extending end of said piston rod;
a flexible tubular wall member having a first end connected to said support member and a second end connected to said housing, said wall member, said housing and said support member defining an air chamber; and
means for enabling said housing to rotate relative to said cylinder about a longitudinal axis of said damper, and thereby for preventing twisting of said wall member, said means comprising a bearing supporting said housing on said cylinder.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A vehicle suspension devices as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing is provided between said cylinder and said one end of said housing, and further comprising a seal ring provided between said housing and said cylinder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A vehicle suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said piston rod extends vertically upwardly of said cylinder, and said flexible tubular wall member is connected to the upper end of said housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A vehicle suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing has a smooth cylindrical outer surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A vehicle suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing comprises a needle roller bearing.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A vehicle suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing comprises a ball bearing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A vehicle suspension device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bearing comprises a plane bearing formed of a synthetic resin.