An air-suspension module for a rigid axle including an air-bellows mount and an air-bellows module supported on the air-bellows mount in the operational state of the air-suspension module, the air-bellows module having an air-suspension bellows designed to change its shape and a supporting body connected to the air-suspension bellows, one of the components of the air-bellows mount and the supporting body having a coupling projection protruding along a virtual projection path, which engages with a coupling recess formed at the respectively other component along the projection path, a translatory relative movement of the supporting body being physically limited relative to the air-bellows mount, orthogonally with respect to the projection path and in a direction along the projection path; one of the components of the air-bellows mount and the supporting body having a latching body and the respectively other component of the air-bellows mount and the supporting body having a latching recess such that the latching body is in a form-locking latching engagement with the latching recess, so that a translatory relative movement of the supporting body relative to the air-bellows mount is physically limited in the two opposite directions along the projection path.

A damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems. The damping air spring includes a piston chamber and a bellows chamber and at least one opening between the chambers to provide restricted fluid communication between the chambers. A relationship between a cross-sectional area of the at least one opening in square inches to a volume of the piston chamber in cubic inches to a volume of the bellows chamber in cubic inches to a mean effective area of the air spring in square inches or of the at least one opening in square inches to a volume of the piston chamber in cubic inches to a volume of the bellows chamber in cubic inches to a unitless ratio of the volume of the bellows chamber to the volume of the piston chamber provides damping characteristics to the air spring over a first and second critical range of frequencies.

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.

An end member assembly can include a first end member section and a second end member section that together form an end member volume. A partition section is provided separately and is disposed within the end member volume to separate the end member volume into at least two volume portions. At least one passage extends through the partition section and at least one control device is disposed in fluid communication along the passage. The control device substantially fluidically isolates the two volume portions under conditions of use below a predetermined differential pressure threshold. The control device permits fluid communication between the two volume portions under conditions of use in which the predetermined pressure threshold is exceeded. Gas spring assemblies including such an end member assembly as well as suspension systems and methods of manufacture are also included.

A method for manufacturing a pot-shaped pressure vessel, in particular an air spring pot for a vehicle, comprises the following steps: providing a pot, which comprises a bottom, which comprises at least one aperture, providing at least one screw, which comprises a head and a shank, inserting the shank of the at least one screw through the aperture from an inside of the pot, so that the shank of the screw protrudes from an outside of the bottom, and firmly joining the screw to the bottom of the pot. In the transitional area from the head to the shank at least one screw comprises a connecting section tapering from the head to the shank and extending all round the circumference. In inserting the shank through the aperture the connecting section is brought to bear against the edge of the aperture, and the connecting section is joined to the edge of the aperture along its bearing contact with the latter.

The invention relates to an air spring having: a rolling bellows (1) with an opening which has a bead (2) reinforced by a core (3) and a rolling piston (4) with a seat (5) for the rolling bellows (1) and a support shoulder (7) for the rolling bellows (1),
wherein when the rolling bellows (1) is in the mounted state, its end assigned to the rolling piston (4) is connected to the rolling piston (4) in an airtight manner by a clamping fit between the bead (2) and the seat (5) of the rolling piston (4), and the bead (2) of the rolling bellows (1) rests at least partly on the support shoulder (7), wherein the rolling piston (4) is made of a thermoplastic material. The object of the invention is to improve an air spring of the type outlined above such that the bellows (1) can very reliably and simply be prevented from slipping off the piston (4), in particular in view of the use of plastic as the piston material. This is achieved in that on the seat (5) for the rolling bellows (1), the rolling piston (4) has an axially protruding, substantially cylindrical securing ring (8), which protrudes axially beyond the bead (2) of the rolling bellows (1) after mounting of the rolling bellows (1) on the seat (5), can be plasticized by an at least partial heating process, and in the plasticized state can be deformed radially outwardly over the bead (2) of the rolling bellows (1) by a forming die (9, 10, 11) such that the bead (2) is at least partly surrounded by the deformed securing ring (8).

An air spring with damping characteristics for a suspension assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle includes a bellows chamber, a piston chamber and an asymmetrical orifice. The asymmetrical orifice is in fluid communication with the bellows chamber and the piston chamber of the air spring. The asymmetrical orifice provides asymmetrical damping characteristics to the air spring of the heavy-duty vehicle.

An air spring with damping characteristics for a suspension assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle includes a bellows and a piston. The bellows includes a bellows chamber. The bellows is attached to a main member of the heavy-duty vehicle and to the piston. The piston includes an open bottom that is sealingly closed by a disc attached to the open bottom. The piston and the disc define a piston chamber. The piston is mounted on the suspension assembly of the heavy-duty vehicle. The bellows chamber and the piston chamber are in fluid communication with each other via at least one opening, wherein airflow between the bellows chamber and the piston chamber provides damping to the suspension assembly of the heavy-duty vehicle.

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 molded piston for an air spring for a vehicle suspension has an outer shell, a non-cylindrical central column braced in its relation to the outer shell by outer radial webs, and an upper surface having a recessed lower end closure seating surface. The non-cylindrical central column may have a chordal surface and a mounting stud sleeve and hole for attachment to a vehicle suspension member. The mounting stud sleeve and hole may be braced in its relation to the non-cylindrical central column by inner radial webs. The non-cylindrical central column may further have a locating sleeve and hole. The outer radial webs may be provided with Y-shaped webs connecting the outer radial webs to the outer shell and/or web arches.