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US 9,541,150 B2Granted
End members and gas spring assemblies including same
AssigneeFirestone Industrial Products Company, LLC
InventorBrian S. DeBruler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
End members are dimensioned for securement to a flexible wall of a gas spring assembly. The end members can include an end wall, and inner and outer crimp walls that extend from the end wall and are disposed in spaced relation to one another such that gap is formed therebetween. A plurality of connector walls extend between and operatively interconnect the inner and outer crimp walls. Gas spring assemblies including such an end member and suspension systems including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.
Claims20
An end member dimensioned for securement to an associated flexible wall for forming an associated gas spring assembly, said end member comprising:
- an end wall having a longitudinal axis and extending outwardly to an outer peripheral edge;
- an outer crimp wall extending axially from along said end wall and including an outer surface dimensioned to receive a portion of the associated flexible wall;
- an inner crimp wall disposed radially inward from said outer crimp wall such that a gap is formed between said inner crimp wall and said outer crimp wall, said gap having a circumference extending substantially-entirely about said longitudinal axis, said inner crimp wall extending axially from along said end wall in a common direction with said outer crimp wall such that at least a portion of said inner crimp wall is co-extensive with said outer crimp wall;
- and,
- a plurality of pairs of first and second connector walls extending between and operatively interconnecting said outer crimp wall and said inner crimp wall across said gap therebetween, each of said plurality of pairs of first and second connector walls having an associated radial reference line with said first connector wall disposed at a first angle relative to the associated radial reference line and said second connector wall disposed at a second angle relative to the associated radial reference line that is approximately equal but opposite to said first angle such that a first cavity is formed between said first and second connector walls and at least one of said inner and outer crimp walls;
- said plurality of pairs of first and second connector walls disposed in circumferentially-spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis such that a plurality of first cavities are disposed in spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis with a second cavity formed by said first connector wall of one pair and said second connector wall of an adjacent pair together with at least the other one of said inner and outer crimp walls such that a plurality of second cavities are disposed about said longitudinal axis, said plurality of first cavities having an approximately common size and shape and said plurality of second cavities having an approximately common size and shape that is different from said size and shape of said plurality of first cavities with said pluralities of first and second cavities being interleaved with one another about said longitudinal axis and substantially-entirely along said circumference of said gap such that adjacent cavities have alternating sizes and shapes.
3 more elements
A gas spring assembly comprising:
- a flexible wall having a longitudinal axis and extending peripherally about said longitudinal axis between opposing first and second ends and at least partially defining a spring chamber;
- a first end member secured across said first end of said flexible wall such that a substantially fluid tight seal is formed therebetween, said first end member including:
- an end wall extending transverse to said axis and including an outer peripheral edge;
- an outer crimp wall extending axially from along said end wall and including an outer surface abuttingly engaging a portion of said flexible wall;
- an inner crimp wall disposed in inwardly-spaced relation to said outer crimp wall such that a gap is formed between said inner crimp wall and said outer crimp wall, said gap having a circumference extending substantially-entirely about said longitudinal axis, said inner crimp wall extending axially from along said end wall in a common direction with said outer crimp wall such that at least a portion of said inner crimp wall is co-extensive with at least a portion of said outer crimp wall;
- and,
- a plurality of pairs of connector walls extending between and operatively interconnecting said outer crimp wall and said inner crimp wall across said gap therebetween, each of said plurality of pairs of connector walls having an associated radial reference line with a first connector wall disposed at a first angle relative to the associated radial reference line and a second connector wall disposed at a second angle relative to the associated radial reference line such that a first cavity is formed between said first and second connector walls and at least one of said inner and outer crimp walls;
- said plurality of pairs of connector walls disposed in circumferentially-spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis such that a plurality of first cavities are disposed in spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis with a second cavity formed by said first connector wall of one pair and said second connector wall of an adjacent pair together with at least the other one of said inner and outer crimp walls such that a plurality of second cavities are disposed about said longitudinal axis, said plurality of first cavities having an approximately common size and shape and said plurality of second cavities having an approximately common size and shape that is different from said size and shape of said plurality of first cavities with said plurality of second cavities interleaved about said longitudinal axis and substantially-entirely along said circumference of said gap between adjacent ones of said plurality of first cavities;
- and,
- a second end member disposed in spaced relation to said first end member and secured across said second end of said flexible wall such that a substantially fluid tight seal is formed therebetween.
7 more elements
An end member dimensioned for securement to an associated flexible wall for forming an associated gas spring assembly, said end member comprising:
- an end wall having a longitudinal axis and extending outwardly to an outer peripheral edge;
- an outer crimp wall extending axially from along said end wall and including an outer surface dimensioned to receive a portion of the associated flexible wall;
- an inner crimp wall disposed radially inward from said outer crimp wall such that a gap is formed between said inner crimp wall and said outer crimp wall, said gap having a circumference extending substantially-entirely about said longitudinal axis, said inner crimp wall extending axially from along said end wall in a common direction with said outer crimp wall such that at least a portion of said inner crimp wall is co-extensive with said outer crimp wall;
- and,
- a plurality of pairs of connector walls extending between and operatively interconnecting said outer crimp wall and said inner crimp wall across said gap therebetween, said plurality of pairs of connector walls including a first connector wall disposed at a first angle relative to the associated radial reference line and a second connector wall disposed at a second angle relative to the associated radial reference line such that a first cavity is formed between at least said first connector wall, said second connector walls and said outer crimp wall;
- said plurality of pairs of connector walls disposed in circumferentially-spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis such that a plurality of first cavities are disposed in spaced relation to one another about said longitudinal axis with a second cavity formed by at least said first connector wall of one pair, said second connector wall of an adjacent pair and said inner crimp wall such that a plurality of second cavities are disposed about said longitudinal axis with said plurality of second cavities interleaved between adjacent ones of said plurality of first cavities such that said pluralities of first and second cavities are disposed in alternating orientations with respect to one another about said longitudinal axis and substantially-entirely along said circumference of said gap.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.