Patent ID: 6227527
Filing Date: 2001-05-08
Classification: B60G,F16F

Abstract:
A pneumatic suspension system (1) forming a McPherson strut, comprising:a pneumatic suspension pot (2) comprising an integrated strut bearing connected with other structural components;a pneumatic suspension bellows (3) made of elastomeric material comprising an embedded strength carrier, wherein an upper end of said pneumatic suspension bellows is secured to said pneumatic suspension pot (2) by a clamping ring (20), and said pneumatic suspension bellows having an inclined extending loop with an effective diameter (D) defined by upper and lower extremes (3.1, 3.2) extending perpendicular to a force application line (X) caused by a wheel load;an outer guide (6) connected to said pneumatic suspension pot (2) such that said outer guide completely surrounds said inclined extending loop of said pneumatic suspension bellows (3) during rebound and spring deflection;a damping device (7) comprising a container tube (8) connected with a wheel carrier, a piston rod (9), and a piston rod guide, wherein said piston rod (9) is fixedly connected with a strut bearing (13) and is slidingly immersed into a container tube by said piston rod guide during rebound and spring deflection, and a damping axis (Y) extending angularly relative to a force application line (X), forming a point of intersection (S) where said piston rod is attached to said strut bearing (13), the position of said point of intersection shifting during rebound and spring deflection;a pneumatic suspension piston (4) secured to a lower end of said pneumatic suspension bellows (3) by a clamping ring and surrounding said damping device (7), said pneumatic suspension piston (4) having an outer surface having cylindrically and conically extending surface parts forming a not rotationally symmetric roll-off contour (5) with respect to said damping axis (Y), said roll-off contour corresponding to said effective diameter (D) of said inclined extending loop, such that said effective diameter (D) extends substantially parallel with edges (5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4) of said roll-off contour (5);a thin-walled protective folding bellows (10) made of elastomeric material surrounding said outer guide (6) and said pneumatic suspension piston (4), wherein an upper end of said thin-walled protective folding bellows is connected with said outer guide and said pneumatic suspension pot (2), and a lower end is connected with said pneumatic suspension piston (4);a residual pressure valve (18) disposed in one of said pneumatic suspension piston (4) and pneumatic suspension pot (2); anda sealing piston receiver (16) made of rigid material arranged between said pneumatic suspension piston (4) and said container tube (8) of said damping device (7) in the form of a fixed composite.