Air spring with lateral restraint and axial control
AssigneeThe Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
InventorMark Guy Trowbridge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The air spring is comprised of a flexible airsleeve, a retainer, and a main piston. The airsleeve is secured at one end by the retainer and at the opposing end by the main piston. A hollow restraining piston extends from the retainer and into the main piston. The restraining piston acts as a lateral stabilizer, over extension restraint and height control. The hollow region in the restraining piston communicates through at least one passage with an air chamber formed between the airsleeve and the outer surfaces of the restraining piston and the main piston. Fluid is admitted to or exhausted from the air spring through a valve which functions relative to the displacement of the restraining piston and the main piston.
Claims8
An improved air spring (10) filled with a compressed fluid, the air spring comprising:
- a retainer (14);
- a main piston (18);
- an airsleeve (12), the airsleeve (12) being secured at one end by the retainer (14) and at the opposing end by the main piston (18);
- a hollow restraining piston (24) extending from the retainer (14) and into the main piston (18), the restraining piston (24) having a hollow region (38) which communicates through at least one passage (68) with an air chamber (42) formed between the airsleeve (12) and the outer surfaces of the restraining piston (24) and the main piston (18), the passage (68) permitting the fluid to flow into and out of the air chamber (42);
- and
- a valve (50) located in the base (46) of the main piston (18), the valve (50) selectively admitting or exhausting a compressed fluid into and out of the air spring (10) as a function of the relative displacement of the restraining piston (24) and the main piston (18).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.