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 suspension arrangement arranged to be connected between a vehicle axle and a vehicle chassis of a vehicle includes a flexible bellows having an upper portion connectable to the vehicle chassis of the vehicle, and a bumper stop, wherein the air suspension arrangement further includes a polymer member arranged between the bumper stop and the flexible bellows for connecting the bumper stop to the flexible bellows. A method for manufacturing the air suspension arrangement and a vehicle including such an air suspension arrangement are also provided.

A vehicle wheel suspension includes a suspension spring and an additional spring element. The additional spring element is disposed in a working chamber of a hydraulic cylinder. The working chamber, in hydraulic terms, is configured to be completely shut off by a check valve and the volume thereof with an opened check valve while activating a vehicle drive apparatus with braked vehicle wheels being variable by the anti-dive angle and/or the anti-squat angle. For such a volumetric variation of the working chamber, a hydraulic medium is flowable through the opened check valve.

A vehicle wheel suspension includes a suspension spring and an additional spring element. The additional spring element is disposed in a working chamber of a hydraulic cylinder. The working chamber, in hydraulic terms, is configured to be completely shut off by a check valve and the volume thereof with an opened check valve while activating a vehicle drive apparatus with braked vehicle wheels being variable by the anti-dive angle and/or the anti-squat angle. For such a volumetric variation of the working chamber, a hydraulic medium is flowable through the opened check valve.

A longitudinal leaf spring device for suspending a motor vehicle body or chassis on a vehicle axle thereof. Leaf spring device including an elongated leaf spring unit, a coupling device connecting the leaf spring unit to the vehicle axle, and suspension unit arranged in a substantially vertical direction between a chassis and the axle. The suspension unit including suspension elements providing a spring-back force in the vertical direction and producing an active connection between the chassis and the axle when the distance between the chassis and axle exceeds a predetermined first deflection depth.

A jounce bumper assembly dimensioned for securement on or along an associated end member of an associated gas spring assembly. The jounce bumper assembly includes a bumper mount dimensioned for securement to the associated end member. A jounce bumper supported on the bumper mount for axial displacement therealong. A biasing element is disposed peripherally about the bumper mount and positioned axially between the jounce bumper and the associated end member. The biasing element has a fully-compressed, solid height that is operative to maintain the jounce bumper assembly in axially-spaced relation to the associated end member under a full jounce load condition. Gas spring assemblies including such a jounce bumper assembly, and suspension systems including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.

A jounce bumper assembly dimensioned for securement on or along an associated end member of an associated gas spring assembly. The jounce bumper assembly includes a bumper mount dimensioned for securement to the associated end member. A jounce bumper supported on the bumper mount for axial displacement therealong. A biasing element is disposed peripherally about the bumper mount and positioned axially between the jounce bumper and the associated end member. The biasing element has a fully-compressed, solid height that is operative to maintain the jounce bumper assembly in axially-spaced relation to the associated end member under a full jounce load condition. Gas spring assemblies including such a jounce bumper assembly, and suspension systems including one or more of such gas spring assemblies are also included.

A method for forming an air spring for a vehicle including a frame coupled to the air spring includes heating an elastomeric base material to a melting point of the elastomeric base material, thereby forming a melted elastomeric base material, forming a sleeve from the melted elastomeric base material, the sleeve being substantially free of textile reinforcing fibers, and engaging the sleeve with end components, the sleeve and the end components defining a deformable pressure vessel, where the deformable pressure vessel supplies a supporting force.

A method for forming an air spring for a vehicle including a frame coupled to the air spring includes heating an elastomeric base material to a melting point of the elastomeric base material, thereby forming a melted elastomeric base material, forming a sleeve from the melted elastomeric base material, the sleeve being substantially free of textile reinforcing fibers, and engaging the sleeve with end components, the sleeve and the end components defining a deformable pressure vessel, where the deformable pressure vessel supplies a supporting force.

A bushing for use in an axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle. A beam supports an axle for pivotal movement with a hanger of the heavy-duty vehicle at a pivot connection. A bumper is fixed to the beam and contacts an engagement member of the heavy-duty vehicle to limit the relative pivotal movement of the beam and axle in one direction. A force is applied to the pivot connection in a force application direction that is angularly spaced from horizontal and vertical planes. The pivot connection includes a bushing to connect the beam and the hanger. The bushing includes an elastomeric bushing body with at least one void for decreasing rigidity of the bushing body in a substantially vertical direction. The one void is located in the bushing body angularly spaced from the force application direction. The bushing body is substantially solid along the force application direction.