US 6,604,734 B1 · Method of retaining an air suspension

Abstract

A method of retaining a suspension system includes creating a negative pressure within an air spring such that a longitudinal member is retained in a substantially fixed position relative to a chassis component when the longitudinal member is placed in an unloaded condition. When there is no pressure in the air spring, the air cell is deflated and the suspension is mechanically bottomed out. By further introducing a negative pressure into the air cell with the gas feed, a partial vacuum is formed and the air cell collapses in upon itself. The collapsed air cell grips the piston thereby immobilizing the air spring. Accordingly, when the vehicle is lifted and the air suspension becomes unloaded, the longitudinal member is maintained relative to the chassis component by the immobilized air spring to thereby prevent the air cell from being inverted and damaged.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of retaining an air spring comprising:

(1) attaching an air spring to a moveable member and a fixed member;
and
(2) creating a negative pressure within said air spring such that said moveable member is retained by said air spring in a substantially fixed position relative to said fixed member when said moveable member is placed in an unloaded condition.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of retaining an air suspension

Life of this patent

Method of retaining an air suspension

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12