Patent ID: 6691989
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: B60G,F16F

Abstract:
A variable rate air spring assembly comprising:an air spring having first and second spaced end members and a flexible sleeve extending therebetween and forming an internal fluid chamber, said sleeve having a pair of opposed ends at least one of which is open; said first end member being an end plate sealingly connected to the open end of the sleeve to provide an airtight seal therewith; said end plate being formed with an internally threaded centrally located hole; an auxiliary reservoir including first and second spaced end members and an internal auxiliary fluid chamber, said first end member of the auxiliary reservoir having a central opening and an externally threaded coupler having a hollow bore extending from said central opening; and said externally threaded coupler being threadably received in the internally threaded hole of the end plate to rotatably mount the auxiliary reservoir on the end plate of the air spring, with the first end member of the auxiliary reservoir being in an abutting relationship with said end plate of the air spring, and with the hollow bore of the externally threaded coupler being in fluid communication with the central hole of the end plate to provide a fluid path between the internal fluid chamber of the air spring and the auxiliary fluid chamber of the auxiliary reservoir.