US 9,849,745 B2Granted

Vehicle suspension system with reservoir for air spring damping

AssigneeHendrickson USA, L.L.C.

InventorsR. Scott Fulton, John E. Ramsey, Kimm L. Carr, Brett L. Muckelrath, Thomas J. Long, William W. Brewer, Damon Delorenzis, Andrew J. Westnedge

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Abstract

A suspension system can include an air spring, an air reservoir external to the air spring, and a flow control device which variably restricts flow of air between the air spring and the air reservoir. Flow between the air spring and the air reservoir may be permitted in response to compliance of the suspension system, and the air spring can have an internal air volume at least 2½ times as great may permit flow between the air spring and the air reservoir in response to a predetermined pressure differential level across the flow control device. Multiple air reservoirs can be internal to an axle, or other suspension system or vehicle component, and can be isolated from each other.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A suspension assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle comprising:

an air spring;
an air reservoir external to the air spring, said external air reservoir being in fluid communication with said air spring for providing damping characteristics to the air spring;
and
means for restricting air flow from said external air reservoir to said air spring, and from the air spring to the external air reservoir, said means for restricting air flow including an opening having a diameter of from about 0.25 inches to about 1.00 inches and a length of at least about 0.125 inches, wherein said air spring, said external air reservoir and said means for restricting air flow comprise a closed fluid communication system, wherein a ratio of a volume of the external air reservoir to a volume of said air spring is about 1:2.5 or greater.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/187,604Filed 24 Feb 2014 · continuation in part
Priority: 3 Apr 2013
Published: US 2014/0300075 A19 Oct 2014
Granted: 26 Dec 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B60G 11/30
Having fluid springs only, e.g. hydropneumatic springs: having pressure fluid accumulator therefor, e.g. accumulator arranged in vehicle frame
B60G 11/27
Having fluid springs only, e.g. hydropneumatic springs: wherein the fluid is a gas
F16F 9/04
Using gas only or vacuum: in a chamber with a flexible wall
B60G 2202/152
Fluid spring: pneumatic spring

Family

Application13/855,788Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 3 Apr 2013
US 2014/0300076 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Oct 2014
US 9,139,061 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2014/0300075 A1Published application
US 9,849,745 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.