# US 9,039,020 B2 · End member and gas spring assembly including same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,020 B2 - Document ID: US9039020B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/043,064 - Filed: 2013-10-01 - Published: 2014-04-03 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-10-01 - Assignees: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC - Applicants: Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLP - Inventors: Michael E. Ratz; Stephen C. Street; Paul P. Koeske - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039020B2 ## CPC - B60G 11/62: having both rubber springs and fluid springs - B60G 11/27: wherein the fluid is a gas - B60G 11/28: characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle - B60G 17/0521: {the spring having a flexible wall} - F16F 9/0454: {characterised by the assembling method or by the mounting arrangement, e.g. mounting of the membrane (F16F9/0409, F16F9/0445 take precedence)} - F16F 9/05: the flexible wall being of the rolling diaphragm type - F16F 9/052: {characterised by the bumper} - F16F 9/3207: {Constructional features (F16F9/34 - F16F9/50 take precedence; assembly or repair F16F9/3271)} - F16F 9/54: Arrangements for attachment {(grommet-type rubber mounting springs per se F16F1/3732; construction of cylinder ends F16F9/3242; attachments to vehicles B60G13/001, B60G15/00)} - F16F 13/002: {comprising at least one fluid spring (F16F13/005, F16F13/02, F16F13/04 take precedence)} - B60G 2202/152: Pneumatic spring - B60G 2204/126: Mounting of pneumatic springs - B60G 2204/4502: using resilient buffer - B60G 2206/424: Plunger or top retainer construction for bellows or rolling lobe type air springs - B60G 2206/71: Light weight materials - B60G 2206/7101: Fiber-reinforced plastics [FRP] - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An end member according to claim 1, wherein said mounting channel is dimensioned to receivingly engage an associated structural component and substantially inhibit rotation of said end member relative to the associated structural component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An end member according to claim 1, wherein said mounting channel extends substantially-entirely across said end member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An end member according to claim 1, wherein said mounting channel is at least partially defined by a channel bottom surface extending in a lengthwise direction across said end member, a first side surface extending in said lengthwise direction across said end member, and a second side surface spaced laterally from said first side surface and extending lengthwise across said end member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An end member according to claim 4, wherein said channel bottom surface is disposed in axially-offset relation to said end wall in a direction opposite said base wall. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) An end member according to claim 4, wherein said channel bottom surface, said first side surface and said second side surface are disposed in substantial alignment with one another such that said mounting channel has an approximately constant cross-sectional size and shape in said lengthwise direction across said end member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) An end member according to claim 4 further comprising a plurality of inner connector wall portions projecting axially from along at least one of said end wall and said base wall in an axial direction away from said base wall and toward a distal edge, said channel bottom surface being at least partially defined by said distal edges of said inner connector wall portions. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An end member according to claim 1, wherein said base wall extends radially outward and connects with said side wall. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An end member according to claim 1, wherein said side wall is an outer side wall, and said end member further comprises an inner side wall spaced radially inward from said outer side wall such that at least one base cavity is formed between said inner and outer side walls with said at least one base cavity being accessible from along a side of said end member toward said base wall. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An end member according to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of connector walls extending between and operatively interconnecting said inner side wall and said outer side wall. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A gas spring assembly according to claim 11, wherein said flexible wall includes an end portion disposed along said side wall of said second end member with said end portion terminating at a mounting bead, and said mounting bead received along said side wall of said second end member such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed therebetween. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A gas spring assembly according to claim 11, wherein said second end member includes at least one cavity formed along said end wall with said at least one cavity being accessible from along a side of said end wall opposite said base wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) A suspension system comprising: a pressurized gas system including a pressurized gas source and a control device; and, at least one gas spring assembly according to claim 11 disposed in fluid communication with said pressurized gas source through said control device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) An end member according to claim 11, wherein said side wall is an outer side wall, and said second end member further comprises an inner side wall spaced radially inward from said outer side wall such that at least one base cavity is formed between said inner and outer side walls with said at least one base cavity being accessible from along a side of said second end member toward said base wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An end member according to claim 15 further comprising a plurality of connector walls extending between and operatively interconnecting said inner side wall and said outer side wall. ### Claim 17 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A gas spring assembly according to claim 17 further comprising a plurality of inner connector wall portions projecting axially from along at least one of said end wall and said base wall in an axial direction away from said base wall and toward a distal edge with a bottom surface of said mounting channel at least partially defined by said distal edges of said inner connector wall portions. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A gas spring assembly according to claim 17, wherein said side wall is an outer side wall, and said second end member further comprises an inner side wall spaced radially inward from said outer side wall such that at least one base cavity is formed between said inner and outer side walls with said at least one base cavity being accessible from along a side of said second end member toward said base wall. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) An end member according to claim 19 further comprising a plurality of connector walls extending between and operatively interconnecting said inner side wall and said outer side wall.