Pneumatic spring with a vibration damper

• US 6,286,820 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1999
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Kolb, Wolfgang, Raulf, Mathias, Lutz, Dieter, Eichenmüller, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US09/460,947
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 267/64.21, 267/64.23, 267/64.24, 267/64.26, 267/64.27
• US Class Current: 267/64.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/14 the damper being connected to the stub axle and the spring being arranged around the damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/314 The spring being a pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1262 on a damper
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/128 Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/129 Damper mount on wheel suspension or knuckle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/416 Ball or spherical joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 13/002 comprising at least one fluid spring F16F13/005, F16F13/02, F16F13/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/05 the flexible wall being of the rolling diaphragm type

Abstract

A pneumatic spring having a vibration damper and a rolling bellows which defines a spring chamber. The rolling bellows is actively connected at one end to the vibration damper which has a container pipe which possesses a connecting bearing to a motor vehicle chassis. The connecting bearing is arranged in the region of the outer surface of the container pipe. The connecting bearing is of circular design and possesses a sealing ring which seals the spring chamber. Furthermore, the connecting bearing can be designed as a pivot bearing, having at least one universal ball joint in conjunction with a ball socket. Optionally, an air direction device may be assigned to the pneumatic spring, producing a targeted air flow onto the container pipe.

Claims

1. A pneumatic spring, comprising:

a vibration damper having a container pipe;

a rolling bellows which defines a spring chamber, the rolling bellows being actively connected at one end to the vibration damper; and

a connecting bearing for connecting the container pipe to a motor vehicle chassis, the connecting bearing being arranged in a region of an outer surface of the container pipe, the connecting bearing being of circular design and having a sealing ring arranged to seal the spring chamber, the connecting bearing including a radial prestress sleeve having a prestress force active toward the container pipe.

2. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a stop buffer arranged in the spring chamber so as to move relative to the container pipe of the vibration damper, and an impact surface held by the prestress sleeve in a fixed position relative to the connecting bearing.

3. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 2, wherein the impact surface is integral with the prestress sleeve.

4. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 3, wherein the prestress sleeve has a base, the impact surface of the prestress sleeve being formed by a back of the base.

5. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 1, wherein the prestress sleeve has a base which forms an axial prestress surface for the connecting bearing.

6. The pneumatic spring as defined in claim 5, wherein the connecting bearing includes a fixing disk arranged to prestress the sealing ring axially to the base of the prestress sleeve.

7. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 1, wherein the connecting bearing further includes a bearing ring arranged to absorb damping support forces.

8. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 7, and further comprising a support ring connected to the container pipe, the sealing ring and the bearing ring being supported on the support ring.

9. A pneumatic spring, comprising:

a vibration damper having a container pipe;

a rolling bellows which defines a spring chamber, the rolling bellows being actively connected at one end to the vibration damper;

a connecting bearing for connecting the container pipe to a motor vehicle chassis, the connecting bearing being a pivot bearing having at least one universal ball joint in connection with a ball socket, the connecting bearing having a sealing ring arranged to seal the spring chamber, the ball socket being divided in an axial direction of the pneumatic spring to form ball socket shells; and

a prestress sleeve having a prestress active toward the container pipe, the ball socket shells being radially held by the prestress sleeve.

10. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 9, and further comprising a fixing disk arranged to prestress the sealing ring axial to a base of the prestress sleeve, the ball socket shells being axially held by at least one of the base of the prestress sleeve and the fixing disk.

11. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 10, wherein the fixing disk and one of the ball socket shells are integral.

12. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 10, wherein the prestress sleeve is integral with one of the ball socket shells.

13. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 10, wherein at least one of the prestress sleeve and the fixing disk is connectable to the chassis.

14. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 9, wherein the sealing ring is inserted within a running surface of the ball socket.

15. A pneumatic spring as defined in claim 9, wherein the sealing ring is inserted between the ball socket shells.

16. A pneumatic spring, comprising:

a vibration damper having a container pipe;

a rolling bellows which defines a spring chamber, the rolling bellows being actively connected at one end to the vibration damper; and

a connecting bearing for connecting the container pipe to a motor vehicle chassis, the connecting bearing being arranged in a region of an outer surface of the container pipe, the connecting bearing being of circular design and having a sealing ring arranged to seal the spring chamber, the sealing ring including a support ring actively connected to the container pipe and the support ring being axially enclosed by the sealing ring.