A support ring used as part of an air spring assembly, where the support ring provides support for a top cap against radial forces applied by a clamping ring. The support ring is made of a plastic material which is less costly than a metal support ring. The plastic material is a high creep resistance plastic material, which provides increased strength and improved creep resistance, to withstand the compressive radial forces of the clamping ring. Once the support ring is formed, the top cap, which is also made of plastic, is overmolded such that a portion of the top cap is overmolded around the support ring. The high creep resistance plastic material is oriented during the injection molding process around the entire circumference of the support ring, to provide sufficient strength to withstand the radial forces from the clamping ring.

An end closure (260) is dimensioned for securement to a gas spring end member (204). The end closure is dimensioned to form a substantially fluid-tight, friction-fit connection with a flexible spring member (206) that is in an at least substantially-cured condition. The end closure (260) can include an end wall portion (298), a first side wall portion (300) that extends from along the end wall portion (298) and a second side wall portion (304) that is disposed radially inward of the first side wall portion and is axially-offset relative to the end wall portion. The second side wall portion at least partially forms a mounting seat that is dimensioned to form a substantially fluid-tight, friction-fit connection between at least the second side wall portion of the end closure (260) and the flexible spring member (204). A gas spring assembly as well as a suspension system and methods of assembly are also included.

A flexible spring member and bead guard assembly. A gas spring assembly including a flexible spring member with a mounting bead and a bead guard disposed along the mounting bead. A method of manufacturing a gas spring assembly includes providing bead guard, and securing the bead guard along a flexible spring member.

A gas spring system (10), comprising: an end plate (12); a piston (14) laterally spaced from said end plate (12); a first flexible sleeve (16) having a first end (13) and a second end (15), said first end (13) of the first flexible sleeve (16) sealingly connected to the end plate (12); a second flexible sleeve (18) having a first end (17) and a second end (19), said first end (17) of the second flexible sleeve (18) sealingly connected to the piston (14); and a swage assembly (20) sealingly engaging the respective second ends (15, 19) of said first and second flexible sleeves (16, 18).

An end member is dimensioned to engage an end of a flexible spring member to at least partially form a gas spring assembly. The end member includes an end member wall that has a longitudinal axis. The end member includes a securement wall portion having an outer surface with a surface profile dimensioned to abuttingly engage the end of the flexible spring member. The surface profile includes a plurality of concave profile sections and a plurality of convex profile sections that are dimensioned to generate a progressively increasing compression force along at least a section of the securement wall portion. A gas spring assembly including such an end member is included. A suspension system including one or more gas spring assemblies and a method of assembly are also included.

An end member (202) is dimensioned to engage an end of a flexible spring member (210) to at least partially form a gas spring assembly. The end member (202) includes an end member wall that has a longitudinal axis. The end member includes a securement wall portion (280) having an outer surface with a surface profile dimensioned to abuttingly engage the end of the flexible spring member (210). The surface profile includes a plurality of concave profile sections and a plurality of convex profile sections that are dimensioned to generate a progressively increasing compression force along at least a section of the securement wall portion (280). A gas spring assembly including such an end member (202) is included. A suspension system including one or more gas spring assemblies and a method of assembly are also included.

An air spring includes: a first housing having a first annular supporting unit opening upward; a second housing disposed at a predetermined distance above the first housing and having a second annular supporting unit opening downward; and a diaphragm configured of an elastic tubular member forming an air chamber by upper and lower opening end portions of the elastic tubular member being air-tightly bonded to the first and second annular supporting units respectively, wherein at least one of the first and second housings has a main body unit made of a synthetic resin, at least one of the first and second annular supporting units is a metallic annular member integrated with the main body unit made of the synthetic resin, and one of the opening end portions of the diaphragm is air-tightly bonded to an outer peripheral surface of the annular member.

The present invention discloses an air spring comprising a piston, a top plate, a clamp ring, a snap ring, and a flexible member which is affixed to the piston and the top plate, wherein the piston, the top plate and the flexible member define a pressurizable chamber, wherein the snap ring is affixed to the clamp ring, wherein the clamp ring affixes an upper portion of the flexible member to the top plate, wherein the clamp ring affixes the snap ring to the top plate, and wherein the top plate is affixed between the snap ring and the flexible member.

The invention relates to an air spring (1a) with an elastic air spring bellows (3a), wherein the air spring bellows is tightly connected to an air spring cover (2) at its first open end and to an air spring piston (6a) at its second open end and thereby at least partially encloses a working chamber (4) filled with compressed air, wherein the air spring bellows forms a rolling fold (5) which can roll on the air spring piston (6a), wherein the air spring bellows has a fastening bead (7a) at least at its one end which faces the air spring piston, wherein a radially inwardly extending shoulder region (10a) is formed at the bellows-side axial end of the air spring piston (6a), wherein a conical sealing seat (9a) is formed radially on the inside at the shoulder region, wherein a radially inner sealing face (13a) of the fastening bead bears against the conical sealing seat of the air spring piston so as to seal the working chamber, and wherein the underside (14a) of the fastening bead pointing towards the air spring piston is pushed axially onto the shoulder region of the air spring piston. It is provided according to the invention that an annular piston shoulder attachment (16a) is arranged at the shoulder region of the air spring piston, that the piston shoulder attachment has a radial inner side (19a) which directly or indirectly adjoins the radial outer side (15a) of the fastening bead of the air spring bellows, and that the piston shoulder attachment has a radial outer side (18a) which, at least in the region of its greatest external diameter, adjoins a radial outer contour (12a) of the air spring piston in a radially flush manner.