# US 9,038,994 B2 · Air spring protector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,994 B2 - Document ID: US9038994B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/172,449 - Filed: 2008-07-14 - Published: 2008-10-30 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2005-03-21 - Assignees: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC - Applicants: Christopher S. Keeney; Edward J. Eshelman; Christine L. Lutz - Inventors: Christopher S. Keeney; Edward J. Eshelman; Christine L. Lutz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038994B2 ## CPC - F16F 9/04: in a chamber with a flexible wall {(producing hollow articles of plastics, e.g. air bellows, B29D22/00)} - F16F 9/38: Covers for protection or appearance - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract An air spring for a vehicle suspension includes a resilient spring body that is partially surrounded by a protective cover. The protective cover protects the resilient spring body from rupturing when used in harsh vehicle conditions. The protective cover is comprised of a rigid or flexible armor material that is resistive to munitions, such as projectiles and razor wire, for example. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An air spring for a vehicle suspension comprising: a resilient spring body to be supported on a suspension component, said resilient spring body defining a central axis extending along a length of said resilient spring body, and said resilient spring body having an outer circumferential surface surrounding said central axis and an inner circumferential surface that defines an interior cavity; a first support adapted to connect said resilient spring body to a vehicle frame member and a second support adapted to connect said resilient spring body to the suspension component; and a protective cover partially surrounding one portion of said outer circumferential surface of said resilient spring body to leave a remaining portion of said outer circumferential surface that is externally exposed, and wherein said one portion of said outer circumferential surface comprises one side of said resilient spring body that is to face away from a vehicle center and wherein said remaining portion of said outer circumferential surface comprises an opposite side of said resilient spring body that is to face inwardly toward the vehicle center, wherein said protective cover has a variable cross-section taken along a direction that is parallel to said central axis; wherein said protective cover comprises an impenetrable rigid cover having an internal surface that faces said outer circumferential surface of said resilient spring body and an external surface that is resistant to penetration by an object exerting an external force against said external surface; and wherein said impenetrable rigid cover includes a first cover portion mounted to said first support and a second cover portion mounted to said second support, said first and second cover portions being separate from each other and positioned in an overlapping relationship such that at least one of said first and second cover portions can slide relative to the other of said first and second cover portions, and wherein said first cover portion is defined by a first shape and said second cover portion is defined by a second shape that is different than said first shape. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein said protective cover is non-symmetrical about said central axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein said first cover portion is defined by a first length extending in an axial direction along said outer circumferential surface and said second cover portion is defined by a second length extending in an axial direction along said outer circumferential surface, said first and said second lengths being different from each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein said impenetrable rigid cover is formed from an impenetrable material comprising at least one of a steel material, an armor material, and a composite material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein the suspension component comprises a control arm for an independent suspension. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein said interior cavity is filled with air. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein said protective cover comprises an armor material that is resistive to penetration by ballistics. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein said protective cover is selectively attachable to and detachable from the air spring without having to disassemble the air spring from a vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein said resilient spring body is subject to a plurality of operating conditions and wherein said protective cover is separated from said outer circumferential surface of said resilient spring body by a gap such that there is no contact between said outer circumferential surface of said resilient spring body and said protective cover during at least one of said plurality of operating conditions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The air spring according to claim 9 wherein said at least one of said plurality of operating conditions comprises one of a no suspension load condition and a normal operating condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein the first cover portion has a wall portion extending from a base portion, the base portion connected to the first support. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The air spring according to claim 11 wherein the first support has a first portion and a second portion, the base portion of the first cover portion being sandwiched between the first and second portions of the first support. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein the second cover portion has a wall portion extending from a base portion, the base portion connected to the second support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The air spring according to claim 13 wherein the second support has a first portion and a second portion, the base portion of the second cover portion being sandwiched between the first and second portions of the second support. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein the first cover portion is bolted to the first support, and the second cover portion is bolted to the second support. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein one of the first and second cover portions has one of a C-shaped cross-section and a U-shaped cross-section, and the other of the first and second cover portions has an L-shaped cross-section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein the first cover portion has an outwardly facing side that is longer than an inwardly facing side. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein the protective cover has a sliding interface between the first cover portion and the second cover portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The air spring according to claim 18 wherein the protective cover further comprises a seal provided between the first cover portion and the second cover portion at the sliding interface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The air spring according to claim 18 wherein the protective cover further comprises a friction bearing provided between the first cover portion and the second cover portion at the sliding interface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein the second cover portion is received within the first cover portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The air spring according to claim 1 wherein the first cover portion is received within the second cover portion.