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US 9,039,020 B2Granted
End member and gas spring assembly including same
AssigneeFirestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
InventorsMichael E. Ratz, Stephen C. Street, Paul P. Koeske
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An end member for a gas spring assembly is dimensioned to receivingly engage an end of a flexible wall. The end member can be formed from polymeric material and can include a side wall receiving the end of the flexible wall. The end member can also include a base wall extending transverse to the side wall and dimensioned to abuttingly engage a jounce bumper of the gas spring assembly. The end member can include a mounting ridge or a mounting channel for engaging an associated structural component. A gas spring assembly including such an end member is also included.
Claims20
An end member having an axis and dimensioned to receivingly engage an end of an associated flexible wall of an associated gas spring assembly, said end member comprising:
- an end wall extending radially outward in a direction transverse to said axis toward an outer peripheral edge, said end wall including an end wall surface dimensioned to abuttingly engage the associated flexible wall;
- a side wall extending from said end wall in an axial direction and dimensioned to receivingly engage an end of the associated flexible wall;
- a base wall extending radially outward in a direction transverse to said axis, said base wall disposed in axially offset relation to said end wall such that said base wall can abuttingly engage an associated jounce bumper and such that at least one end cavity is formed along said end wall with said at least one end cavity being accessible from along a side of said end wall opposite said base wall;
- and,
- a mounting channel extending into and across said end member and at least partially defining a mounting surface for receivingly engaging an associated structural component with at least said end wall, said side wall and said base wall of said end member being integrally formed from a unitary mass of polymeric material.
2 more elements
A gas spring assembly comprising:
- a flexible wall at least partially formed from an elastomeric material and having a longitudinal axis, said flexible wall extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and longitudinally between opposing first and second ends to at least partially define a spring chamber;
- a first end member secured across said first end of said flexible wall in a substantially fluid-tight manner;
- a jounce bumper disposed within said spring chamber and secured along said first end member;
- and,
- a second end member secured across said second end of said flexible wall in a substantially fluid tight manner, said second end member including:
- an end wall extending radially outward in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis toward an outer peripheral edge, said end wall including an end wall surface dimensioned to abuttingly engage said flexible wall;
- a side wall extending from said end wall in an axial direction and dimensioned to receivingly engage said second end of said flexible wall;
- a base wall extending radially outward in a direction transverse to said axis, said base wall disposed in axially offset relation to said end wall such that said base wall can abuttingly engage said jounce bumper;
- and,
- a mounting channel extending into and across said second end member and at least partially defining a mounting surface for receivingly engaging an associated structural component with at least said end wall, said side wall and said base wall of said second end member being integrally formed from a unitary mass of polymeric material.
7 more elements
A gas spring assembly comprising:
- a flexible wall at least partially formed from an elastomeric material and having a longitudinal axis, said flexible wall extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis and longitudinally between opposing first and second ends to at least partially define a spring chamber;
- a first end member secured across said first end of said flexible wall in a substantially fluid-tight manner;
- and,
- a second end member secured across said second end of said flexible wall in a substantially fluid tight manner, said second end member including:
- an end wall extending radially outward in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis toward an outer peripheral edge, said end wall including an end wall surface dimensioned to abuttingly engage said flexible wall;
- a side wall extending from said end wall in an axial direction and dimensioned to receivingly engage said second end of said flexible wall;
- a base wall extending radially outward in a direction transverse to said axis, said base wall disposed in axially offset relation to said end wall;
- and,
- a mounting channel extending into and across said second end member and at least partially defining a mounting surface for receivingly engaging an associated structural component with at least said end wall, said side wall and said base wall of said second end member being integrally formed from a unitary mass of polymeric material.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.