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.

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.

A pneumatic spring strut for a vehicle is provided including a hydraulic cylinder having a lower end for connection with a suspension system of the vehicle; a hydraulic piston slidably mounted within the hydraulic cylinder; a piston rod connected with the hydraulic piston; a pneumatic spring mount body connected with the hydraulic cylinder; a pneumatic spring bellows having a lower in connected with the pneumatic spring mount body; a top cap encircling the piston rod and being connected with a top end of the spring bellows, and a closing cover twist lock connected with the top cap.

An air spring unit for a vehicle is described. The air spring unit forms a rolling fold and a cardanic fold. A type of bellows guidance of the air spring, the cardanic fold begins, at the rolling fold side, below that end of the external guide of the air spring unit which is at the air spring cover side. A cardanic fold of axially short construction is realized which, despite a small axial structural space, has the elasticity of a cardanic fold of tall construction.

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.

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.

An air spring comprises a hollow elastic sleeve, an end component for securing the air spring to a first frame, a hollow piston for securing the air spring to a second frame that is movable relative to the first frame, and a cylinder surrounding the hollow elastic sleeve to constrain the diameter of the hollow sleeve. A meniscus loop is formed adjacent the piston to define a major diameter of the air spring and thereby reduce the natural frequency of the air spring.

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.

A damping air spring for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system includes a bellows and a piston. The bellows has a bellows chamber. The piston is operatively connected to the bellows and includes at least two portions forming a continuous piston chamber. One of the portions of the piston is at least partially disposed within the bellows chamber and has a variable volume.