Fastener-less spring assembly

• US 6,398,179 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2000
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Soles, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Anita
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAN, KO HUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/487,462
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 248/560, 248/617, 248/310, 248/222.51, 248/222.52, 248/222.41, 248/225.21, 267/122, 267/64.23, 403/348, 403/350, 280/124.157
• US Class Current: 248/617
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/28 characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/30 Rigid axle suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/126 Mounting of pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/43 Fittings, brackets or knuckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/424 Plunger or top retainer construction for bellows or rolling lobe type air springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/91 Assembly procedures
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/057 characterised by the piston

Abstract

A fastener-less spring assembly for a vehicle includes an axle spring seat adapted to be secured to an axle of a vehicle. The fastener-less spring assembly also includes a frame spring seat adapted to be secured to a frame of the vehicle. The fastener-less spring assembly further includes an inflatable air spring having a base for attachment to the axle spring seat and a mounting cap for attachment to the frame spring seat. The frame spring seat has at least one slot extending therethrough and the mounting cap has at least one projection extending through the slot and being rotated relative to the frame spring seat to prevent the projection from exiting the slot to attach the mounting cap to the frame spring seat.

Claims

1. A fastener-less spring assembly for a vehicle comprising:

an axle spring seat adapted to be secured to an axle of a vehicle;

a frame spring seat adapted to be secured to a frame of the vehicle;

a spring having a base for engaging said axle spring seat and a mounting cap for attachment to said frame spring seat wherein said base includes a plurality of clips for attaching said base to said axle spring seat; and

said frame spring seat having at least one slot extending therethrough and said mounting cap having at least one projection extending through said at least one slot and being rotated relative to said frame spring seat to prevent said at least one projection from exiting said at least one slot to attach said mounting cap to said frame spring seat.

2. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one projection comprises a mounting pin having a shaft portion extending axially and a head portion extending radially from said shaft portion.

3. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one projection comprises a center key having a base portion extending axially and opposed key portions extending radially from said base portion.

4. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one slot has a central aperture and opposed key slot portions extending radially from said aperture.

5. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 1 including at least one anti-rotation tab extending upwardly from said mounting cap.

6. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said clips comprise a base portion extending axially and a flange portion extending radially from said base portion.

7. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said axle spring seat includes at least one slot to receive at least one of said clips.

8. A fastener-less spring assembly for a vehicle comprising:

an axle spring seat adapted to be secured to an axle of a vehicle;

a frame spring seat adapted to be secured to a frame of the vehicle;

an inflatable air spring having a base for attachment to said axle spring seat and a mounting cap for attachment to said frame spring seat wherein said base includes a plurality of clips for attaching said base to said axle spring seat; and

said frame spring seat having at least one slot extending therethrough and said mounting cap having at least one projection comprising a first portion extending axially and a second portion extending radially from said first portion and extending through said slot, said mounting cap being rotated relative to said frame spring seat to prevent said at least one projection from exiting said at least one slot to attach said mounting cap to said frame spring seat.

9. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second portion comprises opposed key portions extending radially from said first portion.

10. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said at least one slot has a central aperture to receive said first portion and opposed key slot portions extending radially from said central aperture to receive said key portions.

11. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 8 including at least one anti-rotation tab extending upwardly from said mounting cap.

12. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said clips comprise a base portion extending axially and a flange portion extending radially from said base portion.

13. A fastener-less spring assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said axle spring seat includes at least one slot to receive at least one of said clips.