Patent ID: 7226045
Filing Date: 2007-06-05
Classification: B60G,F16F

Abstract:
1. A vehicle suspension system comprising: first and second spaced apart vehicle components; a damper having a cylinder and a piston rod reciprocally mounted therein; a first attachment securing the cylinder to the first vehicle component and a second attachment securing the piston rod to a first portion of the second vehicle component; an air spring including a piston mounted on the damper cylinder and an end plate attached to a second portion of the second vehicle component that is spaced from the first portion of the second vehicle component to which the piston rod is secured, and a flexible bellows sealingly connected to and extending between the piston and the end plate and forming an air chamber therein for containing a quantity of air, with the piston rod extending through the air chamber and through an end plate opening formed in the end plate; and a flexible seal extending about the end plate opening and the piston rod to retain the air within the air chamber, the flexible seal including an elongated flexible sleeve providing for conical movement of the piston rod during movement of the vehicle components, a retaining collar mounted on an extended end of the piston rod using a slip-fit connection capable of permitting relative movement between the retaining collar and the piston rod, and a clamp ring securing a first end of the elongated flexible sleeve to the collar.