Air spring system
AssigneeContinental Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsStefan Wode, Gerhard Thurow, Bernhard Kirsten, Joachim Jeischik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a system having an air spring flexible member (6) which is clamped between a cover plate (4) and a rolloff piston (10). The movement of the rolloff piston (10) is pregiven by a curved path (16). The rolloff piston (10) is curved with the curvature being at least segmentwise of the same orientation as the curvature of the curved path (16). Because of the curvature of the rolloff piston (10), a lateral offset of the flexible member (6) to the cover plate (4) can be substantially avoided when the rolloff piston (10) plunges into the flexible member (6). The formation of a rolling lobe (20) having a different width over its periphery is also avoided.
Claims6
An air spring system comprising:
- a flexible member;
- a cover plate;
- a rolloff piston;
- clamping means for clamping said flexible member between said cover plate and said rolloff piston;
- means for moving said rolloff piston relative to said plate through a pregiven curved path so as to cause said flexible member to form a rolling lobe as said flexible member rolls up and down on said rolloff piston;
- said rolloff piston being curved so as to have a curvature which has the same orientation as the curvature of said oath at least over a segment thereof;
- said curved path having a start segment and said curved path having a specific curvature along said start segment;
- said rolloff piston having an end portion facing toward said cover plate;
- and,
- said curvature of said rolloff piston at said end portion being significantly less than said specific curvature of said curved path.
A rolloff piston mounted so as to be movable relative to the flexible member of an air spring and the movement of said rolloff piston being pregiven over a curved path so as to cause said flexible member to form a rolling lobe as said flexible member rolls up and down on said rolloff piston, said rolloff piston comprising:
- said rolloff piston being curved to have a curvature of the same orientation as the curvature of said curved path at least over a segment thereof;
- said air spring including a cover plate and clamping means for clamping said flexible member between said cover plate and said rolloff piston;
- said curved path having a start segment and said curved path having a specific curvature along said start segment;
- said rolloff piston having an end portion facing toward said cover plate;
- and,
- said curvature of said rolloff piston at said end portion being significantly less than said specific curvature of said curved path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.