A sealing apparatus for an air spring device for sealing a primary volume of the air spring device in particular a working volume of the air spring device, with respect to a secondary volume, including a main body, and a sealing element configured on the circumference of the main body, the sealing element configured such that, in a state in which it is mounted in the air spring device, the sealing element is transferred from a sealed position, in which the sealing element seals the primary volume with respect to the secondary volume, into a released position, in which air passes the sealing element, when a pressure difference between the primary volume and the secondary volume, which pressure difference is set with respect to the secondary volume as a negative pressure in the primary volume, exceeds a threshold value.

Support and carrier assemblies are dimensioned for securement along a damper housing and dimensioned to operatively support an end member of a gas spring assembly on the damper housing as well as to form a substantially fluid-tight connected between the end member and the damper housing. The support and seal assembly can include a seal assembly with a seal carrier and at least one sealing element. The seal carrier can be dimensioned for securement along the damper housing. The at least one sealing element can be dimensioned sealingly engage the seal carrier and one of the end member and the damper housing to at least partially form the substantially fluid-tight connection therebetween. End member assemblies including such support and carrier assemblies are included. Gas spring and damper assemblies as well as suspension systems are also included.

A combined air spring system includes an upper cover plate, an air bag, an upper end plate and a lower end plate. An outer periphery of the upper cover plate is connected with an outer periphery of the upper end plate through the air bag. A low-position sand clock elastomer is connected between the upper end plate and the lower end plate . A pressing plate is installed at a bottom portion of the upper cover plate, and a high-position elastomer is connected between the upper cover plate and the pressing plate. A limiting table is arranged at a bottom portion of the pressing plate. A limiting groove is formed in a top face of the upper end plate. The limiting table is located in the limiting groove in a deflated state.

An air spring includes a composite bumper, a composite piston, a flexible bellow and an upper end cap member. The composite piston has a first end which includes a plurality of rigid portions and a plurality of adjacently positioned cantilever snap joints for receiving and securing the composite bumper. The composite bumper includes an inner wall having a surface shape for securely engaging the plurality of rigid portions and the plurality of cantilever snap joints. The first end of the composite piston further includes a piston housing surface upon which an outer surface of the composite bumper nests against. The flexible bellow is sealingly attached to the composite piston and the upper end cap member. The flexible bellow, the upper end cap member, and the composite piston together form a fluid tight chamber, and the composite bumper is contained within the fluid tight chamber.

A method for making an air spring assembly, including the steps of providing a bellow, a support ring, and a guide tube. The support ring is positioned relative to a bellow adapter such that a portion of the bellow adapter extends through the support ring. The bellow is then positioned such that a portion of the bellow extends over the support ring and a portion of the bellow adapter. The guide tube is then positioned relative to the bellow and the support ring, such that a portion of the bellow extends into the guide tube and the guide tube is supported by the bellow adapter, and a portion of the guide tube is supported by a ridge support fixture. The first clamp and second clamp are then moved towards the guide tube, applying force to the guide tube, simultaneously forming a first crimp and a second crimp.

An inertia-actuated valve assembly includes a valve housing, a valve body and a biasing element. The valve housing includes a groove that has an open end fluidically accessible from along one side thereof. The valve housing includes a flow channel extending therethrough in fluid communication with the groove from along an opposing side of the valve housing. The valve body is positioned within the groove of the valve housing such that the valve body and the valve housing are axially co-extensive along at least a portion thereof. The biasing element operatively engages the valve body and generates a biasing force urging the valve body in a first axial direction. The biasing force is greater than a predetermined dynamic gas pressure threshold value multiplied by a pressure area and is less than or approximately equal to a valve body mass multiplied by 2.5 times the nominal acceleration due to gravity.

End mount assemblies include a mounting bracket dimensioned for securement to an end member of a gas spring and damper assembly. The end mount assembly can include an inner mounting element dimensioned for securement to an elongated damping rod of the gas spring and damper assembly. A first plurality of bushing elements can be operatively disposed between the inner mounting element and the mounting bracket. A second plurality of bushing elements can be operatively disposed between the inner mounting element and the end member. Gas spring and a damper assemblies including such an end mount assembly as well as suspension systems and methods of assembly are also included.

Gas spring and gas damper assemblies include a flexible spring member. First and second end members are secured to opposing ends of the flexible spring member to form a spring chamber. The second end member includes an end member wall that at least partially defines a damping chamber within the second end member. A damper piston assembly includes a damper piston and an elongated damper rod. The damper piston separates the piston chamber into first and second chamber portions. A pneumatically-actuated control device is disposed in fluid communication with one of the first and second chamber portions. The control device is selectively operable to alter the functionality of the gas spring and gas damper assembly between spring and damper functionality and actuator functionality. Suspension systems including one or more of such gas spring and gas damper assemblies as well as methods of operation are also included.

An air spring system for a commercial vehicle including an air spring device configured to be arranged in an interface region on a link, the air spring system configured such that, in the case of locking of the air spring device, an engagement element can be introduced into a receiving region, and, by way of an offset movement along an offset direction, the engagement element can be transferred from the receiving region into a positively locking region, in which the engagement element interacts in a positively locking manner with a positively locking element along a positively locking direction which differs from the offset direction.

Support unit for use on an air spring, having a main body and a reinforcement element, wherein the main body has a first contact side for fixing to the chassis of a utility vehicle, wherein the reinforcement element is fixable to a second contact side of the main body and is designed for supporting a plunger of an air spring, wherein the reinforcement element is formed from a material of higher strength and/or hardness than the main body.