AIR SPRING ASSEMBLY WITH NON-THREADED CONNECTION
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector fitting and air spring assembly includes a connector fitting supported on an end member of an air spring. The connector fitting is secured on the air spring by a retaining member engaging the end member of the air spring.
28 Citations
42 Claims
-
1-20. -20. (canceled)
-
21. An air spring assembly comprising:
-
a first end member including a first side, an opposing second side and a fitting passage extending therethrough; a second end member disposed in spaced relation to said first end member and in facing relation to said first side thereof such that a longitudinally-extending axis is formed therebetween; a flexible wall secured between said first and second end members and at least partially defining a spring chamber between said first side of said first end member and said second end member; and
,a connector fitting adapted to retain an associated fluid line in communication with said spring chamber, said connector fitting supported on said first end member along said fitting passage therein, said connector fitting including; a fitting body including a body wall and a radially outwardly-extending flange, said body wall at least partially defining a body passage, said fitting body at least partially received within said fitting passage such that said flange is disposed toward said second side of said first end member; a retaining collar received in said body passage and adapted to engage an associated exterior surface of the associated fluid line; an inner support sleeve received in said body passage adjacent said retaining collar and adapted to engage an associated interior surface of the associated fluid line; a first sealing member compressively positioned between said fitting body and said first end member; a second sealing member disposed within said body passage and adapted for compressive engagement between said fitting body and the associated exterior surface of the associated fluid line; and
,first and second longitudinally-extending retaining members circumferentially spaced from one another on said fitting body, said first and second retaining members extending from along said fitting body with a first end disposed toward said fitting body and an opposing second end spaced longitudinally from said first end, said first and second retaining members capable of resilient deflection and adapted to engage said first end member to retain said connector fitting thereon. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. An air spring assembly comprising:
-
a first end member including a first side, an opposing second side and an opening extending therethrough; a second end member disposed in spaced relation to said first end member and in facing relation to said first side thereof such that a longitudinally-extending axis is formed therebetween; a flexible wall secured between said first and second end members and at least partially defining a spring chamber between said first side of said first end member and said second end member; a connector fitting at least partially received within said opening and in fluid communication with said spring chamber, said connector fitting including; a fitting body extending longitudinally between opposing first and second ends; first and second retaining members extending longitudinally along said fitting body in radially outwardly-spaced relation thereto such that a gap is formed between said fitting body and said first and second retaining members, said first and second retaining members including a fixed end and an opposing free end, said fixed end operatively connected to said fitting body toward said first end thereof, and said free end being capable of resilient deflection toward said fitting body and including a radially-outwardly extending projection adapted to interengaging said first end member; and
,a radially outwardly-extending flange formed on at least one of said fitting body, said first retaining member and said second retaining member, said flange being disposed in an intermediate longitudinal position between said fixed end and said free end of said first and second retaining members such that a longitudinally-extending retaining portion of said connector fitting is formed between said flange and said projection and such that an outer portion of said connector fitting is formed longitudinally outwardly of said flange toward said first end of said fitting body; and
,a sealing member sealingly disposed between said connector fitting and said first end member; said connector fitting interengaging said first end member such that said retaining portion is at least partially disposed between said first and second sides of said first end member and said outer portion is disposed outwardly of said first end member opposite said spring chamber such that a radially-inward force can be applied to said first and second retaining members along said outer portion to radially-inwardly displace said free ends for selective removal of said connector fitting from said first end member. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. An air spring assembly comprising:
-
a first end member including a first side, an opposing second side and an opening extending therethrough; a second end member disposed in spaced relation to said first end member and in facing relation to said first side thereof such that a longitudinally-extending axis is formed therebetween; a flexible wall secured between said first and second end members and at least partially defining a spring chamber between said first side of said first end member and said second end member; a connector fitting at least partially received within said opening and in fluid communication with said spring chamber, said connector fitting including; a fitting body extending longitudinally between opposing first and second ends; first and second retaining members extending longitudinally from said fitting body, said first and second retaining members including a fixed end and an opposing free end, said fixed end operatively connected to said fitting body, and said free end being capable of resilient deflection and including a radially-outwardly extending projection adapted to interengaging said first end member, said free end spaced longitudinally inwardly from said second end of said fitting body such that a portion of said fitting body along said second end thereof extends longitudinally outwardly beyond said free end; and
,a radially outwardly-extending flange formed on said fitting body and disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to said free end of said first and second retaining members such that a longitudinally-extending retaining portion of said connector fitting is formed between said flange and said projection; and
,a sealing member sealingly disposed between said connector fitting and said first end member, said sealing member positioned in longitudinally-spaced relation to said free end of said first and second retaining members in a direction generally opposite said flange. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
Specification