Airspring assembly

Abstract

An improved airspring assembly that includes a collapsible support member disposed within the pressurizable chamber of an airspring having a flexible sidewall. The support member is configured such that it extends and collapses along a longitudinal axis of the chamber responsive to pressurization and depressurization of the chamber, respectively. The support member also is configured such that it retains a substantially rigid outer perimeter, thereby restricting movement of the chamber's flexible sidewall toward the longitudinal axis when the chamber is depressurized. The support member also is configured such that it does not interfere with the full stroke of the airspring.

1 . An airspring, comprising: 
 a first end member;    a second end member;    a flexible sidewall disposed between said first end member and said second end member to define a chamber therebetween having a longitudinal axis, said chamber configured to expand and contract generally along said longitudinal axis; and    a substantially non-load-bearing collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil, said collapsible member disposed within said chamber and displaceable between an extended state and a collapsed state responsive to expansion and contraction of the chamber;    wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is configured to substantially restrict movement of said flexible sidewall toward said longitudinal axis when said chamber contracts.    
   
   
       2 . The airspring of  claim 1  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil has a substantially uniform diameter within said chamber.  
   
   
       3 . The airspring of  claim 1  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil has a reverse hourglass configuration.  
   
   
       4 . The airspring of  claim 1  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is made of a metallic material.  
   
   
       5 . The airspring of  claim 1  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is made of a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       6 . The airspring of  claim 1  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is longitudinally extendible while retaining a substantially rigid lateral perimeter.  
   
   
       7 . The airspring of  claim 1  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is configured such that when said chamber is fully contracted, said second end member supports said first end member.  
   
   
       8 . The airspring of  claim 7  wherein said second end member has a recessed portion and said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is configured such that it fits within said recessed portion when said collapsible member is substantially collapsed.  
   
   
       9 . The airspring of  claim 1  wherein said collapsible member is attached to said first end member and said second end member.  
   
   
       10 . The airspring of  claim 1  further comprising a bumper mounted to said second end member, said bumper supporting said first end member when said chamber is fully contracted.  
   
   
       11 . The airspring of  claim 10  wherein said bumper is made of a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       12 . The airspring of  claim 10  wherein the height of said bumper is greater than the height of said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil when substantially collapsed.  
   
   
       13 . The airspring of  claim 10  wherein the diameter of said bumper is smaller than the diameter of said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil.  
   
   
       14 . The airspring of  claim 10  wherein said bumper is mounted within said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil.  
   
   
       15 . A method for manufacturing an airspring assembly, said method comprising the steps of: 
 assembling an airspring chamber, said chamber comprising: 
 an upper enclosure member,  
 a lower enclosure member, and  
 a flexible sidewall;  
 wherein said flexible sidewall is disposed between said upper enclosure member and said lower enclosure member to define said chamber therebetween having a longitudinal axis and wherein said flexible sidewall is configured to expand and retract generally along said longitudinal axis between said upper enclosure member and said lower enclosure member;  
   inserting a substantially non-load-bearing collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil into said chamber wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is displaceable between an extended state and a collapsed state responsive to expansion and contraction of said chamber and wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is configured to substantially restrict movement of said flexible sidewall toward said longitudinal axis when said chamber contracts;    attaching first end of said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil to said lower enclosure member; and    attaching second end of said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil to said upper enclosure member.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil has a substantially uniform diameter within said chamber.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil has a reverse hourglass configuration.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is made of a metallic material.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is made of a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil is longitudinally extendible while retaining a substantially rigid lateral perimeter.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of mounting a bumper to said lower enclosure member.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said bumper supports said upper enclosure member when said chamber is fully contracted.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said bumper is made of a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the height of said bumper is greater than the height of said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil when substantially collapsed.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the diameter of said bumper is smaller than the diameter of said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said bumper is mounted within said collapsible member having an arc-shaped coil.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising sealing said chamber so as to make it substantially airtight.  
   
   
       28 . An airspring, comprising: 
 a first end member;    a second end member;    a flexible sidewall disposed between said first end member and said second end member to define a chamber therebetween having a longitudinal axis, said chamber configured to expand and contract generally along said longitudinal axis; and    a substantially non-load-bearing telescopic member comprising two or more telescopic components, said telescopic member disposed within said chamber and displaceable between an extended state and a collapsed state responsive to expansion and contraction of the chamber;    wherein said telescopic member is configured to substantially restrict movement of said flexible sidewall toward said longitudinal axis when said chamber contracts.    
   
   
       29 . The airspring of  claim 28  wherein said telescopic member comprises three or more telescopic components.  
   
   
       30 . The airspring of  claim 28  wherein said telescopic member comprises four or more telescopic components.  
   
   
       31 . The airspring of  claim 28  wherein said telescopic member is made of a metallic material.  
   
   
       32 . The airspring of  claim 28  wherein said telescopic member is made of a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       33 . The airspring of  claim 28  wherein said telescopic member is longitudinally extendible while retaining a substantially rigid lateral perimeter.  
   
   
       34 . The airspring of  claim 28  wherein said telescopic member is configured such that when said chamber is fully contracted, said second end member supports said first end member.  
   
   
       35 . The airspring of  claim 34  wherein said second end member has a recessed portion and said telescopic member is configured such that it fits within said recessed portion when said telescopic member is substantially collapsed.  
   
   
       36 . The airspring of  claim 28  wherein said telescopic member is attached to said first end member and said second end member.  
   
   
       37 . The airspring of  claim 28  further comprising a bumper mounted to said second end member, said bumper supporting said first end member when said chamber is fully contracted.  
   
   
       38 . The airspring of  claim 37  wherein said bumper is made of a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       39 . The airspring of  claim 37  wherein the height of said bumper is greater than the height of said telescopic member when substantially collapsed.  
   
   
       40 . The airspring of  claim 37  wherein the diameter of said bumper is smaller than the diameter of said telescopic member.  
   
   
       41 . The airspring of  claim 37  wherein said bumper is mounted within said telescopic member.  
   
   
       42 . A method for manufacturing an airspring assembly, said method comprising the steps of: 
 assembling an airspring chamber, said chamber comprising: 
 an upper enclosure member,  
 a lower enclosure member, and  
 a flexible sidewall;  
 wherein said flexible sidewall is disposed between said upper enclosure member and said lower enclosure member to define said chamber therebetween having a longitudinal axis and wherein said flexible sidewall is configured to expand and retract generally along said longitudinal axis between said upper enclosure member and said lower enclosure member;  
   inserting a substantially non-load-bearing telescopic member comprising two or more telescopic components into said chamber wherein said telescopic member is displaceable between an extended state and a collapsed state responsive to expansion and contraction of said chamber and wherein said telescopic member is configured to substantially restrict movement of said flexible sidewall toward said longitudinal axis when said chamber contracts;    attaching bottommost telescopic component of said telescopic member to said lower enclosure member; and    attaching topmost telescopic component of said telescopic member to said upper enclosure member.    
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said telescopic member comprises three or more telescopic components.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said telescopic member comprises four or more telescopic components.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said telescopic member is made of a metallic material.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said telescopic member is made of a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 42  wherein said telescopic member is longitudinally extendible while retaining a substantially rigid lateral perimeter.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising the step of mounting a bumper to said lower enclosure member.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein said bumper supports said upper enclosure member when said chamber is fully contracted.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48  wherein said bumper is made of a non-metallic material.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the height of said bumper is greater than the height of said telescopic member when substantially collapsed.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the diameter of said bumper is smaller than the diameter of said telescopic member.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 48  wherein said bumper is mounted within said telescopic member.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 42  further comprising sealing said chamber so as to make it substantially airtight.