Air spring heat sink

An air spring of a vehicle suspension operating at frequencies greater than 1 hertz, comprising:

• first and second end members adapted to be mounted at spaced apart locations;
• a flexible sleeve having first and second open ends sealingly engaged with the first and second end members, respectively, thereby forming a main chamber within the sleeve for containing a pressurized gas;
• and a heat sink occupying a portion of the main chamber, wherein the heat sink is configured to transfer heat between the pressurized gas and the heat sink when the air spring is operated at frequencies greater than 1 Hz, thereby reducing the spring rate of the air spring, wherein the heat sink is comprised of a first and a second fiberfill, the first fiberfill being formed from a material different than the second fiberfill.

A method for reducing the spring rate of an air spring having an operational frequency greater than 1 hertz, comprising:

• obtaining an air spring defining a working chamber for containing a pressurized gaseous medium;
• and
• disposing a heat sink within the working chamber of the air spring, the heat sink being comprised of a plurality of polymeric fibers, wherein at least one of the polymeric fibers includes a longitudinally extending core having a plurality of bores disposed along the longitudinal axis of the core and opening at opposite ends thereof, the heat sink being operable to exchange heat between the spring medium of the air spring and the heat sink when the air spring is operated at frequencies greater than 1 Hz.

A method for reducing the spring rate of an air spring having an operational frequency greater than 1 hertz, comprising:

• obtaining an air spring defining a working chamber for containing a pressurized gaseous medium;
• and
• disposing a heat sink within the working chamber of the air sprint, the heat sink operable to exchange heat between the spring medium of the air spring and the heat sink when the air spring is operated at frequencies greater than 1 Hz, wherein the heat sink is composed of a first and a second fiberfill, the first fiberfill being formed from a material different an the second fiberfill.

A method for reducing the spring rate of an air spring, comprising:

• obtaining an air spring defining a working chamber for containing a pressurized gaseous medium;
• and
• disposing a heat sink within the working chamber of the air spring, the heat sink comprising a plurality of fibers, wherein at least one of the polymeric fibers includes a longitudinally extending core having at least one bore disposed along the longitudinal axis of the core and opening at opposite ends thereof, the heat sink being operable to exchange heat between the spring medium of the air spring and the heat sink.