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US 8,764,029 B2Granted
Gas spring assembly for a vehicle suspension system
AssigneeOshkosh Corporation
InventorsRoy Venton-Walters, Aaron J. Rositch, Jesse L. Knoble, Erik Ellifson, Mark L. Steckling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system includes a cylinder, a rod, and an accumulator. The rod is disposed within the cylinder, and relative movement between the rod and the cylinder changes the volume of a chamber formed between the rod and the cylinder. The accumulator is in gaseous communication with the chamber such that a continuous body of gas extends between the chamber and the accumulator.
Claims16
A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a rod disposed within the cylinder, wherein relative movement between the rod and the cylinder changes the volume of a chamber formed between the rod and the cylinder;
- and
- an accumulator in gaseous communication with the chamber such that a continuous body of gas extends between the chamber and the accumulator, wherein compression of gas in the chamber at least partially provides a first spring rate for deflections of the gas spring below a threshold, wherein compression of gas in the chamber at least partially provides a second spring rate for deflections of the gas spring above the threshold, and wherein the first spring rate is greater than the second spring rate.
1 more element
A gas spring for a vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- a cylinder;
- a rod disposed within the cylinder, wherein relative movement between the rod and the cylinder changes the volume of a chamber formed between the rod and the cylinder;
- an accumulator in gaseous communication with the chamber such that a continuous body of gas extends between the chamber and the accumulator;
- and
- a sensor coupled to at least one of the cylinder an the rod, wherein the sensor is configured to provide a signal indicative of a ride height of the vehicle suspension system based upon the relative position of the rod and the cylinder.
2 more elements
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- a pump;
- a gas spring, comprising:
- a cylinder, wherein the pump provides pressurized gas to the cylinder to change the length of the gas spring for different ride heights of the vehicle suspension system;
- a rod disposed within the cylinder, wherein relative movement between the rod and the cylinder changes the volume of a chamber formed between the rod and the cylinder;
- and
- an accumulator in gaseous communication with the chamber such that a continuous body of gas extends between the chamber and the accumulator;
- a higher-pressure reservoir of gas;
- and
- a lower-pressure reservoir of gas,
- wherein the pump provides the pressurized gas to the gas spring by way of at least one of the higher-pressure reservoir of gas and the lower-pressure reservoir of gas, wherein coupling of the higher-pressure reservoir of gas to the gas spring increases the ride height, and wherein coupling of the lower-pressure reservoir of gas to the gas spring decreases the ride height.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.