Patent ID: 7226044

Claim:
A rolling-lobe air spring defining a longitudinal axis and comprising: a cover plate; a roll-off piston having an upper end portion; a rolling-lobe flexible member having a first end connected to said cover plate and a conically tapered lower portion terminating in a second end; said roll-off piston having a peripherally extending slot formed in said upper end portion thereof for receiving said second end therein; a clamp ring seated outside on said second end for attaching said second end pull-tight and pressure-tight to said roll-off piston in said slot; said roll-off piston having a flange on said upper end portion thereof in spaced relationship to said clamp ring and at least partially overlapping said clamp ring so as to deflect said lower end portion and permit said lower portion of said flexible member to extend outwardly between said clamp ring and said flange; and, said flange, said clamp ring and said conically-tapered lower portion being elements conjointly defining a clamping region and said elements being arranged and configured so as to cause said lower portion of said flexible member to exit radially from between said flange and said clamp ring at said clamping region at an angle of approximately 90° referred to said longitudinal axis including when said air spring is in the pressureless state.