A spring-damper assembly includes a damper and an adjustable gas spring system coupled to the damper. The spring-damper assembly can be coupled to a vehicle as part of a suspension thereof. The adjustable gas spring system maintains the ride height of the vehicle while absorbing forces from changes in the terrain. The dampers control unwanted movement of the coil spring and dissipate forces from the suspension.

A clamping plate is dimensioned to secure a flexible spring member to an end member for forming a gas spring assembly. The clamping plate includes a clamping plate wall with an axis and opposing surface portions oriented transverse to the axis. An opening extends into the clamping plate wall from along each of the opposing surface portions. An elongated damping passage extends in a spiral configuration through the clamping plate wall in fluid communication with the openings. A gas spring assembly includes a flexible spring member that defines a spring chamber, and an end member with an end member wall that defines an end member chamber. The clamping plate is secured to the end member and retains the flexible spring member thereon. The elongated damping passage is in fluid communication between the spring chamber and the end member chamber. Gas transfer between the spring chamber and the end member chamber generates pressurized gas damping during use of the gas spring assembly. Suspension systems and methods are also included.

A clamping plate is dimensioned to secure a flexible spring member to an end member for forming a gas spring assembly. The clamping plate includes a clamping plate wall with an axis and opposing surface portions oriented transverse to the axis. An opening extends into the clamping plate wall from along each of the opposing surface portions. An elongated damping passage extends in a spiral configuration through the clamping plate wall in fluid communication with the openings. A gas spring assembly includes a flexible spring member that defines a spring chamber, and an end member with an end member wall that defines an end member chamber. The clamping plate is secured to the end member and retains the flexible spring member thereon. The elongated damping passage is in fluid communication between the spring chamber and the end member chamber. Gas transfer between the spring chamber and the end member chamber generates pressurized gas damping during use of the gas spring assembly. Suspension systems and methods are also included.

An air spring for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system comprising a piston, a bellows, and an intermediate chamber integrally formed with the bellows. The bellows has an upper portion, a top plate, and a bellows chamber and is connected to the piston by a band, a bead-in-groove connection, and/or a bayonet connection. The upper portion is reinforced to prevent the bellows chamber from increasing in volume. The intermediate chamber has an optimally sized top plate and a support structure and extends from the piston into the bellows chamber. The intermediate top plate is formed with means for restricted fluid communication between the bellows chamber and the intermediate chamber. The means for restricted fluid communication is not obstructed when it contacts the bellows top plate during jounce events. The support structure is optimized in relation to the top plate.

A suspension system includes a top mount, a bottom mount, a rigid housing, an air spring, and a linear actuator. The air spring transfers force of a first load path between the top mount and the bottom mount. The air spring includes a pressurized cavity containing pressurized gas that transfers the force of the first load path. The linear actuator transfers force of a second load path between the top mount and the bottom mount in parallel to the first load path. The rigid housing defines at least part of the pressurized cavity and transfers the force of the second load path.

A method for operating a pressure control system having a multi-stage compressor includes providing a multiply compressed pressure medium by the multi-stage compressor for filling a pressure medium reservoir or pressure medium chambers of the pressure control system. Providing the multiply compressed pressure medium includes (i) providing, by a first compression stage, a pre-compressed pressure medium and additionally compressing, at least by a second compression stage, the pre-compressed pressure medium, and/or (ii) introducing an already-compressed charging pressure medium into an intermediate volume between the first compression stage and the second compression stage of the multi-stage compressor and further compressing the charging pressure medium at least by the second compression stage. The charging pressure medium simultaneously passes via a control line to a control input of a shut-off valve that interacts with the first compression stage, such that a charging pressure of the charging pressure medium predefines a control pressure.

An air spring assembly having pressure relief capability, where the air spring assembly includes a single air volume, or a multi-chamber air volume. When the air spring assembly is operating at a stiffer spring rate in combination with a setting to increase ground clearance, during certain road events, the air spring assembly is compressed, and the pressure in the air spring assembly increases. In order to not exceed the safe mechanical limits of the air spring assembly, the pressure is limited to a maximum value when full compression is achieved. The air spring assembly includes at least one valve, which is opened based on a cracking pressure, which is determined based on the mechanical limits of the air spring assembly. This facilitates the operation of the air spring assembly at settings to increase ground clearance of the vehicle, while allowing for pressure relief when the mechanical limit is reached.

An air suspension assembly includes a top and a piston. A bellows connects the top and the piston defining a first chamber. The piston includes an upper portion defining a bore in communication with the first chamber. A body extends outwardly from the upper portion to a proximal end defining a second chamber. A decoupler is disposed in the bore in communication with the first chamber and the second chamber. The decoupler includes a partition member extending across the decoupler isolating the first chamber from the second chamber for changing pressure in response to a pressure applied to the air suspension assembly. The decoupler includes a cap portion disposed in the bore, defining a hole, and an extension portion extending outwardly from the cap portion to a distal end defining a third chamber in communication with the hole, the first chamber, and the second chamber to receive the partition member.

An air spring for a motor vehicle having a rolling bellows filled with gas under pressure, one end of the rolling bellows is connected to a load receiver and the other end is fastened to a roll-off piston. The load receiver and the roll-off piston are moveable relative to one another depending on a force impinging on the load receiver toward the roll-off piston. A sensor device is arranged inside the rolling bellows by which a distance between the load receiver and the roll-off piston is detected. A pressure piece extending in direction of the roll-off piston is arranged at the load receiver and a sensor body is movably drivable along a sensor track of the sensor device by an end region of the pressure piece facing the roll-off piston. The sensor device generates an electric signal corresponding to the position of the sensor body on the sensor track.

An air spring may include a first member, a second member, a flexible bellows, and/or an isolator/bumper. The first member may include a first member axial extension that may extend in an axial direction. The second member may include a second member axial extension that may extend in the axial direction. The flexible bellows may be connected to the first member and the second member. The flexible bellows may define a pressurized fluid volume. The isolator/bumper may include an inner radial portion and an outer radial portion. The inner radial portion may be disposed radially inward of the first member axial extension or the second member axial extension. The outer radial portion may be disposed radially outward of the first member axial extension or the second member axial extension.