Dual chamber air spring
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorIvan J. Warmuth, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pneumatic spring 10 with inner 20 and outer 22 chambers which may be pressurized independently to give variable spring rates which are independent of load carrying capacity of the spring. The chambers 20, 22 are formed by gas-impervious membranes 16, 18 sealably attached to an axially spaced apart retainer 12 and piston 14. The effective diameter of the inner chamber is greater than the outer chamber allowing the spring to exert compressive or extensive force depending upon pressures in the chambers. The spring 10 may be used as a vehicle suspension component.
Claims11
An air spring with a centerline comprising:
- (a) an upper retainer;
- (b) a piston spaced axially away from the upper retainer;
- (c) an inner gas impervious membrane sealingly attached to the retainer and to the piston to form an inner cavity;
- (d) an outer gas impervious membrane sealingly attached to the retainer and the piston such that the inner membrane is completely encased by the outer membrane and forms an outer cavity between the outer membrane and inner membrane, the outer membrane and inner membrane each form a meniscus in axial cross section as the upper retainer axially approaches the piston, an effective diameter of each membrane equals twice the radial distance from said centerline to the point of the meniscus most axially distal the upper retainer, the effective diameter of the inner membrane being greater than the effective diameter of the outer membrane;
- (e) a means for introducing and exhausting gas pressure to at least one of said inner and outer cavities.
A suspension system comprising:
- a plurality of spring members;
- a plurality of unsprung members;
- and an air spring having a centerline fixedly connected at one end to sprung members and fixedly connected at the opposite end to the unsprung members, said air spring having an upper retainer a piston spaced axially away from the upper retainer, an inner gas impervious membrane sealingly attached to the retainer and to the piston to form an inner cavity, an outer gas impervious membrane of larger diameter than the inner membrane sealingly attached to the retainer and the piston such that the inner membrane is completely encased by the outer membrane, thus forming an outer cavity between the outer membrane and inner membrane, the outer membrane and inner membrane each forming a meniscus in axial cross section as the upper retainer axially approaches the piston, an effective diameter of each membrane equals twice the radial distance from:
- the air spring centerline to the point of the meniscus most axially distal the upper retainer, the effective diameter of the inner membrane being greater than the said effective diameter of the outer membrane, a means for introducing and exhausting gas pressure to at least one of said inner and outer cavities.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.