Air spring assembly with non-threaded connection

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.

1 . A connector fitting adapted for use in securing an associated component of an associated vehicle suspension system on an associated air spring thereof, the associated air spring having an associated spring chamber formed between a spaced-apart pair of associated end members with one of the associated end members having an associated outer wall, an associated inner wall and an associated passage wall defining an associated fitting passage in communication with the associated spring chamber, said connector fitting comprising: 
 a fitting housing dimensioned to be received within the associated fitting passage of the associated end member, said fitting housing including an outer housing wall and an inner housing wall, said inner housing wall at least partially defining a housing passage extending through said fitting housing for supporting the associated component in communication with the associated spring chamber, and said outer housing wall including a radially outwardly extending support surface adapted to engage one of the associated outer wall and the associated passage wall of the associated end member;    a sealing member sealingly supported between said fitting housing and the associated passage wall; and,    a plurality of elongated retaining members extending from said fitting housing, said plurality of retaining members including a first end extending from said fitting housing and a second end capable of resilient deflection, said second end including a projection suitable for engaging one of the associated inner wall and the associated passage wall.    
   
   
       2 . A connector fitting according to  claim 1  further comprising a retaining collet received at least partially within said fitting passage, said retaining collet including a collet wall and a plurality of retaining fingers adapted to engage and retain the associated component within said fitting passage.  
   
   
       3 . A connector fitting according to  claim 2  further comprising an inner support sleeve supported within said fitting passage.  
   
   
       4 . A connector fitting according to  claim 1 , wherein said fitting housing includes a radially outwardly extending flange and said support surface extends along at least a portion of said flange.  
   
   
       5 . A connector fitting according to  claim 4 , wherein said support surface includes a frustoconical portion.  
   
   
       6 . A connector fitting according to  claim 1 , wherein said fitting housing includes an end wall and said first end of said plurality of retaining members extends from along said end wall.  
   
   
       7 . A connector fitting according to  claim 1 , wherein said first end of said plurality of retaining members extends from along said outer housing wall.  
   
   
       8 . A connector fitting according to  claim 7 , wherein said fitting housing includes a plurality of flats, and said retaining members are disposed along said flats in spaced relation to thereto.  
   
   
       9 . A connector fitting according to  claim 8 , wherein said fitting housing includes an outer end wall and an inner end wall, and said first end of said retaining members is disposed along said outer housing wall toward said outer end wall with said support surface being disposed along said fitting housing between said first end of said retaining member and said inner end wall.  
   
   
       10 . An air spring assembly comprising: 
 a first end member including a first side, an opposing second side and a substantially smooth-walled fluid passage extending therethrough;    a second end member in spaced relation to said first end member;    a flexible wall secured between said first and second end members and at least partially defining a fluid chamber in communication with said fluid passage;    a connector fitting for retaining an associated fluid line in communication with said fluid chamber, said connector fitting being supported on said first end member along said fluid passage, said connector fitting including:    a fitting body including a support surface and a body wall, said body wall at least partially defining a body passage, said fitting body being at least partially received in said fluid passage such that said support surface engages at least a portion 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; and,    a second sealing member disposed within said body passage and compressively positioned between said fitting body and the associated exterior surface of the associated fluid line; and,    a retaining member adapted to engage said first end member to retain said connector fitting thereon.    
   
   
       11 . An air spring assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein said fitting body includes a radially outwardly extending flange, and said flange is secured in abutting engagement along said first end member by said retaining member.  
   
   
       12 . An air spring assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein first end member includes a radially outwardly extending groove disposed along said fluid passage adjacent an end wall of said fitting body, and said retaining member extends along a portion of said end wall and at least partially into said groove to retain said connector fitting on said first end member.  
   
   
       13 . An air spring assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said retaining member is a first retaining member and said connector fitting includes a second retaining member circumferentially spaced from said first retaining member on said fitting body, said first and second retaining members including a first end extending from said fitting body and an opposing second end spaced from said fitting body and being capable of resilient deflection.  
   
   
       14 . An air spring assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said first and second retaining members include outwardly extending projections disposed along said second end, said projections being capable of engaging said first end member and retaining said connector fitting thereon.  
   
   
       15 . An air spring assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein said fitting body includes a longitudinally extending groove and one of said first and second retaining members is disposed along said groove.  
   
   
       16 . An air spring assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein said fitting body includes an inner end wall and an outer end wall, and said first end of said retaining members is disposed along said fitting body toward said outer end wall with said support surface longitudinally disposed along said fitting body between said first end of said retaining members and said inner end wall.  
   
   
       17 . An air spring assembly adapted to receive an associated cartridge fitting suitable for securing an associated air line on said air spring assembly, said air spring assembly comprising: 
 a first end member including a first outer wall, an opposing first inner wall and an end member opening extending through said first end member, said first end member having a substantially uniform first end member thickness along said end member opening;    a second end member including a second outer wall and an opposing second inner wall, said second end member being spaced from said first end member and oriented such that said second inner wall is disposed toward said first inner wall;    a flexible wall secured between said first and second end members and at least partially forming a spring chamber between said first and second inner walls thereof;    a cartridge housing secured along said first inner wall of said first end member within said spring chamber, said cartridge housing including a housing passage extending therethrough, said housing passage being accessible through said end member opening for receiving the associated cartridge fitting.    
   
   
       18 . An air spring assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said cartridge housing includes a first side wall, an opposing second side wall and pilot extending outwardly from first side wall, said pilot having a height that is less than or equal to said first end member thickness and that is received into said end member opening such that said pilot extends substantially evenly with or is recessed below said first outer wall.  
   
   
       19 . An air spring assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said pilot is substantially cylindrical and extends substantially coaxially with said housing passage.  
   
   
       20 . An air spring assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said housing passage is formed such that the associated cartridge fitting extends substantially evenly with or is recessed below said first outer wall of said first end member.