An air spring includes an outer cylindrical member, an inner cylindrical member, a diaphragm, the diaphragm providing an internal space between the outer cylindrical member and the inner cylindrical member, a stopper assembly arranged in the internal space as being pivotable over the inner cylindrical member, a handle for pivoting the stopper assembly over the inner cylindrical member, a guide member attached to the handle as rising from the handle, a positioning member attached by insertion in a guide hole in the guide member for positioning of the handle, a positioning hole provided in the inner cylindrical member which can receive the positioning member, and a holding mechanism in the inner cylindrical member. A position of the stopper assembly with respect to the inner cylindrical member is determined by inserting the positioning member in the positioning hole.

A method controls the height of a floor of a car of a vehicle relative to a platform. The car includes a body provided with a distance sensor, at least one bogie and at least one secondary suspension between the bogie and the body. The method includes measuring the distance between the distance sensor and the platform via the distance sensor, calculating the difference between the height of the platform and the height of the floor from the measured distance, and adjusting the height of the secondary suspension based on the difference.

A main tank storing pressurized air supplied to a pair of air springs; an air supply passage through which the pressurized air flows between the main tank and each of the pair of air springs; a plurality of compressors configured to supply the pressurized air to the main tank; an air discharge passage which is connected to the pair of air springs and through which discharged pressurized air discharged from the air springs flows; and an exhaust tank connected to the air discharge passage and storing the discharged pressurized air discharged from the air springs, the plurality of compressors including at least one first compressor configured to pressurize air introduced from an atmosphere and at least one second compressor configured to operate auxiliarily for an operation of the first compressor and pressurize the discharged pressurized air introduced from the exhaust tank.

A main tank storing pressurized air supplied to a pair of air springs; an air supply passage through which the pressurized air flows between the main tank and each of the pair of air springs; a plurality of compressors configured to supply the pressurized air to the main tank; an air discharge passage which is connected to the pair of air springs and through which discharged pressurized air discharged from the air springs flows; and an exhaust tank connected to the air discharge passage and storing the discharged pressurized air discharged from the air springs, the plurality of compressors including at least one first compressor configured to pressurize air introduced from an atmosphere and at least one second compressor configured to operate auxiliarily for an operation of the first compressor and pressurize the discharged pressurized air introduced from the exhaust tank.

An air spring according to the present disclosure includes: an inner cylindrical member; an outer cylindrical member provided on the inner cylindrical member; a diaphragm coupled with the outer cylindrical member and the inner cylindrical member; and a stopper provided rotatably with respect to a circumferential direction of the inner cylindrical member. The stopper has a raised portion raised towards the outer cylindrical member and moving on the inner cylindrical member in the circumferential direction. The outer cylindrical member has a plurality of raised portions raised toward the inner cylindrical member. The plurality of raised portions of the outer cylindrical member are different in height. At least one of the outer cylindrical member's raised portion and the stopper's raised portion is restorable against circumferential deformation.

An air spring according to the present disclosure includes: an inner cylindrical member; an outer cylindrical member provided on the inner cylindrical member; a diaphragm coupled with the outer cylindrical member and the inner cylindrical member; and a stopper provided rotatably with respect to a circumferential direction of the inner cylindrical member. The stopper has a raised portion raised towards the outer cylindrical member and moving on the inner cylindrical member in the circumferential direction. The outer cylindrical member has a plurality of raised portions raised toward the inner cylindrical member. The plurality of raised portions of the outer cylindrical member are different in height. At least one of the outer cylindrical member's raised portion and the stopper's raised portion is restorable against circumferential deformation.

A lateral support element (304) include an element wall with a first surface facing away from an associated flexible wall (264) and a second surface facing toward the associated flexible wall. The lateral support element is disposed along the associated flexible wall such that an interface (334) is formed between an outer surface of the associated flexible wall and the second surface of the lateral support element. The interface is operative to generate a lateral spring-rate profile in an associated gas spring assembly that varies according to lateral displacement of the associated flexible wall and the lateral support element relative to one another. The interface can include a quantity of friction-reducing material and/or can be at least partially formed by a cross-sectional profile of the lateral support element that includes a convex profile segment. Gas spring assemblies and methods of assembly are also included.

A lateral support element (304) include an element wall with a first surface facing away from an associated flexible wall (264) and a second surface facing toward the associated flexible wall. The lateral support element is disposed along the associated flexible wall such that an interface (334) is formed between an outer surface of the associated flexible wall and the second surface of the lateral support element. The interface is operative to generate a lateral spring-rate profile in an associated gas spring assembly that varies according to lateral displacement of the associated flexible wall and the lateral support element relative to one another. The interface can include a quantity of friction-reducing material and/or can be at least partially formed by a cross-sectional profile of the lateral support element that includes a convex profile segment. Gas spring assemblies and methods of assembly are also included.

Lateral support elements include an element wall with an exterior surface dimensioned to abuttingly engage an associated flexible wall and an interior surface that at least partially defines an element chamber within the lateral supporting element. Gas spring assemblies include a flexible spring member that at least partially defines a spring chamber. The lateral support element is disposed along and operatively connected to the flexible spring member. The element chamber can, optionally and in some cases, be disposed in fluid communication with the spring chamber. The gas spring assembly can include one or more end members operatively connected to the flexible spring member. Suspension systems and methods of assembly are also included.

Lateral support elements include an element wall with an exterior surface dimensioned to abuttingly engage an associated flexible wall and an interior surface that at least partially defines an element chamber within the lateral supporting element. Gas spring assemblies include a flexible spring member that at least partially defines a spring chamber. The lateral support element is disposed along and operatively connected to the flexible spring member. The element chamber can, optionally and in some cases, be disposed in fluid communication with the spring chamber. The gas spring assembly can include one or more end members operatively connected to the flexible spring member. Suspension systems and methods of assembly are also included.