Patent Publication Number: US-2004056396-A1

Title: Air spring with rolling bellows secured to a rolldown tube

Description:
[0001] The invention relates to an air spring with rolling bellows secured to a rolldown tube of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1.  
       [0002] An air spring such as this is disclosed in DE 100 04 122 A1, for example. A rolling bellows is connected to a rolldown tube. The external surface of the rolling bellows comes in contact with the rolldown tube area by area with increasing compression. The rolldown tube consists of a base element and a jacket serving as a drainage element surrounding the base element. Formation of a film of moisture on the rolling bellows promoting corrosion is prevented by the drainage element. The drainage element consists of recesses or grooves or several openings made in the wall of the rolldown tube and ensures discharge by way of an opening or a plurality of openings arranged in the wall of the rolldown tube.  
       [0003] A generic air spring is disclosed in DE 100 60 824 A1 as well. The exterior of the rolldown tube, which is associated with the exterior of the rolling bellows, which is applied to the outer surface with the increasing compression of the air spring, is grooved, that is, provided with alternating recesses and projections. Reduction of the dead weight of the rolldown tube is achieved as a result of the grooving.  
       [0004] Springs of this type are used as vehicle spring systems chiefly in trucks for example but also in passenger automobiles. The forces exerted radially by the rolling bellows on the pressurized rolldown tube are absorbed by the exterior of the rolldown tube. The rolling bellows rolls up and down more or less on the exterior of the rolldown tube during the spring deflection process.  
       [0005] However, a problem encountered with this type of spring suspension is inadequate rolldown comfort in the area of higher frequency excitation—roughness, harshness behavior—due to dynamically high rigidities of the rolling bellows. Appreciable improvement in the rolldown comfort could be achieved on the basis of the state of the art by having the rolling bellows supported on the outer circumference by a cylinder. Application of this measure makes it possible to employ much softer rolling bellows which do not exhibit the disturbing dynamic rigidification. Disadvantages are represented, of course, by an appreciably greater structural space requirement and the increase in weight due to the cylinder.  
       [0006] The object of the invention is further to develop an air spring with rolling bellows mounted on a rolldown tube as specified in the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that the rolldown behavior is improved and the vibrations occurring over the rolling bellows during compression are reduced while the disadvantages referred to are avoided.  
       [0007] This object is attained by the characteristics specified in claim in connection with the features specified in the preamble of this article.  
       [0008] The dependent claims specify advantageous developments of the invention.  
       [0009] The invention is based on the finding that the vibrations occurring during rolldown can be substantially reduced by provision of a spring element associated with the rolldown surface of the rolling bellows.  
       [0010] It is accordingly claimed for the invention that the air spring has a rolling bellows secured to a rolldown tube, one surface of the rolling bellows, the rolldown surface, comes into contact with an associated surface, the contact surface, of the rolldown tube with area by area with increasing compression of the air spring and the contact surface of the rolldown tube being a spring element. The purpose of this spring element is to press the rolling bellows gently against the rolldown tube in the transverse direction, that is, in the direction of the circular fold, and thereby significantly to reduce the dynamic rigidity of this fold.  
       [0011] In particular, the exterior of the rolldown tube represents the contact surface and the exterior of the rolling bellows represents the rolldown surface.  
       [0012] By preference the spring element acts at least in the radial direction with respect to the rolldown tube. Consequently, the higher frequency vibrations induced by the compression process in the range of approximately 25 to 100 Hz, vibrations which are otherwise transmitted to the vehicle body, are significantly dampened.  
       [0013] In one embodiment of the invention the spring element rests on a base element of the rolldown tube, being detachably connected to the base element. As a result, the spring characteristics for damping the rolling bellows during rolldown, that is, with increase in the compression of the air spring, may be determined by simple means in accordance with the type of material.  
       [0014] In order to permit simple mounting of the spring element on the base element, there is in this base element a recess into which the spring element is form fitted, at least with respect to the axial extent of the base element. Simplicity of assembly and disassembly is thereby ensured.  
       [0015] On the basis of the properties favoring vibration and acoustic insulation of the spring element, preferably polyurethane foam may be selected as the material for this element. Use may also be made, however, of other flexible materials, such as an elastomer, rubber, and the like, for formation of the spring element.  
       [0016] In addition, the damping properties of the spring element may be enhanced by shaping, that is profiling, both of the area of contact with the rolling bellows and that of the area of contact with the base element of the rolldown tube, or of the area of contact of both.  
       [0017] In one embodiment of the invention the base element of the rolldown tube is connected to a base from which it extends vertically upward. In order to shield this base element from mechanical effects, the spring element covers the exterior of the base element in its entirety.  
       [0018] For example, in order that the requirement of better protection from corrosion may be met the spring element is configured as a drainage element which has one or more openings in the lower area for discharge of fluids. The spring element may then have the configuration disclosed in DE 100 04 122 A1. 
     
    
    
     [0019] Additional advantages and features are set forth in the description of one embodiment of the invention in connection with the drawing, in which  
     [0020]FIG. 1 presents a cross-sectional view of one half of an air spring as claimed for the invention, and  
     [0021]FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of one half of an air spring which is of the state of the art. 
    
    
     [0022]FIG. 1 shows in a cross-sectional view one half of an air spring  10 , while FIG. 2 also shows an air spring  10 , but one based on the state of the art.  
     [0023] Identical reference numbers apply to the same elements of the air springs  10  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The comparison illustrates the difference between the invention and the state of the art.  
     [0024] The air spring  10  is provided with a rolling bellows  12  which is secured on a base element of a rolldown tube  16 . The base element  14  is cylindrical in shape and extends vertically upward from a disk-shaped base  18 .  
     [0025] At its end opposite the base element the rolling bellows  12  is connected to a support  20 .  
     [0026] The base  18  may be secured on the axle or wheel side in the vehicle and the support  20  on the vehicle frame or chassis.  
     [0027] The rolling bellows  12  is rigidly connected to the support  20  by a clamping ring  22 .  
     [0028] The rolldown tube  16  claimed for the invention is provided with a recess  24  in the base element  14  into which is introduced a spring element  26  completely enclosing the base element  14  as a jacket. The recess  24  is formed by an offset of the cylindrical rolldown tube  16 , the offset extending diagonally in the upper area of the recess  24 . The spring element  26  is retained axially in the recess  24  by positive locking.  
     [0029] The spring element  26  is mounted concentrically with the center shaft  28  of the air spring  10  and acts radially outward, especially in the direction of the lower fold  30  of the rolling bellows  12 .  
     [0030] As the compression of the air spring  10  increases, that is, as the support  20  moves in the direction of the base  18 , the rolling bellows  12  rolls by its outer, rolldown, surface down the associated, contact surface of the spring element  26 . Use of the spring element  26  makes it possible, as a result of compression of this spring element  26  and rolling of the rolling bellows  12  down the contact surface, to dampen the vibrations which occur (see FIG. 1).  
     [0031] In contrast to this configuration, the state-of-the-art rolling bellows  12  rolls down the external surface of the rolldown tube  16  without damping. Vibrational disturbance occurs as a result (see FIG. 2).  
     [0032] In one embodiment of the invention not illustrated here the spring element may be configured as a drainage element, to provide the possibility of removing films of moisture formed on the rolling bellows  12 . In addition, the surface of the spring element  26  or the inner contact surface of the spring element  26  down to the base element  14  may be designed to be grooved.  
     [0033] The invention is distinguished by the simple possibility of preventing in advance potential vibrations occurring during compression of the air spring  10 .  
     REFERENCE NUMBER LIST  
     [0034] 10  air spring  
     [0035] 12  rolling bellows  
     [0036] 14  base element  
     [0037] 16  rolldown tube  
     [0038] 18  base  
     [0039] 20  support  
     [0040] 22  clamping ring  
     [0041] 24  recess  
     [0042] 26  spring element  
     [0043] 28  center shaft  
     [0044] 30  fold of rolling bellows