Gas spring and gas damper assembly and method

A gas spring and gas damper assembly comprising:

• a first end member;
• a second end member disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to said first end member such that a longitudinal axis is at least partially defined therebetween, said second end member including an end wall and a side wall extending longitudinally from along said end wall in a direction away from said first end member, said end wall including at least one gas transfer passage extending therethrough, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and said end wall and said side wall together at least partially defining an end member cavity;
• a third end member disposed within said end member cavity of said second end member, said third end member including an end wall and a side wall extending longitudinally from along said end wall in a direction away from said first end member, said side wall of said third end member having an outer surface;
• a mounting plate including an outer peripheral wall and being disposed within said second end member cavity, said mounting plate secured along said end wall of said second end member such that said mounting plate is positioned axially between said end wall of said second end member and said third end member with at least a portion of said outer peripheral wall extending axially away from said end wall in radially inwardly-spaced relation to said side wall of said second end member;
• an elongated rod secured between said first and third end members and operative to maintain said third end member in a substantially fixed axial position relative to said first end member;
• a first flexible wall extending peripherally about said axis and longitudinally between first and second ends, said first end of said first flexible wall secured to said first end member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween, said second end of said first flexible wall secured to said second end member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween, said first flexible wall at least partially defining a first pressurized gas chamber between said first and second end members, and said first flexible wall forming a first rolling lobe along said outer surface of said side wall of said second end member;
• a second flexible wall extending peripherally about said axis and longitudinally between first and second ends, said first end of said second flexible wall disposed along said outer peripheral wall of said mounting plate, and said second end of said second flexible wall secured to said third end member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween, said second flexible wall at least partially defining a second pressurized gas chamber between said second and third end members, and said second flexible wall forming a second rolling lobe between said inner surface of said side wall of said second end member and said outer surface of said side wall of said third end member;
• and,
• a retaining ring extending peripherally around said first end of said second flexible wall and axially along said outer peripheral wall of said mounting plate such that said first end of said second flexible wall is secured along said outer peripheral wall of said mounting plate with a substantially fluid-tight seal formed therebetween;
• said second pressurized gas chamber in fluid communication with said first pressurized gas chamber through said at least one gas transfer passage in said end wall of said second end member such that upon displacement of said first and second end members relative to one another in an axial direction, said first rolling lobe being displaceable along said outer surface of said side wall of said second end member and said second rolling lobe being displaceable along said inner surface of said side wall of said second end member and along said outer surface of said side wall of said third end member and such that pressurized gas transfer is generated between said first and second pressurized gas chambers to thereby dissipate kinetic energy acting on said gas spring and gas damper assembly.

A method of assembling a gas spring and gas damper assembly, said method comprising:

• a) providing a first end member;
• b) providing a second end member and positioning said second end member in longitudinally-spaced relation to said first end member such that a longitudinal axis is at least partially defined therebetween, said second end member including an end wall and a side wall extending longitudinally from along said end wall in a direction away from said first end member, said side wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and said end wall and said side wall together at least partially defining an end member cavity;
• c) providing a third end member and positioning said third end member within said end member cavity of said second end member, said third end member including an end wall and a side wall extending longitudinally from along said end wall in a direction away from said first end member, said side wall of said third end member having an outer surface;
• d) providing a mounting plate that includes an outer peripheral wall;
• e) positioning said mounting plate within said end member cavity, and securing said mounting plate adjacent said end wall of said second end member such that at least a portion of said outer peripheral wall extends axially away from said end wall in radially spaced relation to said side wall of said second end member;
• f) providing an elongated rod and securing said elongated rod between said first and third end members and operative to maintain said third end member in a substantially fixed axial position relative to said first end member;
• g) providing a first flexible wall extending peripherally about a longitudinal axis and longitudinally between first and second ends;
• h) securing said first end of said first flexible wall to said first end member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween and securing said second end of said first flexible wall to said second end member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween such that said first flexible wall at least partially defines a first pressurized gas chamber between said first and second end members and such that said first flexible wall forms a first rolling lobe along said outer surface of said side wall of said second end member;
• i) providing a second flexible wall extending peripherally about a longitudinal axis and longitudinally between first and second ends;
• j) securing said first end of said second flexible wall to said outer peripheral wall of said mounting plate such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween and securing said second end of said second flexible wall secured to said third end member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween such that said second flexible wall at least partially defines a second pressurized gas chamber between said second and third end members and such that said second flexible wall forms a second rolling lobe between said inner surface of said side wall of said second end member and said outer surface of said side wall of said third end member;
• k) providing at least one gas transfer passage between said first and second pressurized gas chambers such that said first and second pressurized gas chambers are in fluid communication with one another whereby upon displacement of said first and second end members relative to one another in an axial direction, said first rolling lobe can be displaced along said outer surface of said side wall of said second end member, said second rolling lobe can be displaced along said inner surface of said side wall of said second end member and along said outer surface of said side wall of said third end member, and pressurized gas transfer can be generated between said first and second pressurized gas chambers to thereby dissipate kinetic energy acting on said gas spring and gas damper assembly.