Patent ID: 8866591

Claim:
A pneumatic spring comprising: a roll-off piston; a cover; a rolling-lobe flexible member having a predetermined length and having a first end connected to said cover and a second end connected to said roll-off piston; said rolling-lobe flexible member being subject to less stress in terms of deformation of said rolling-lobe flexible member at a location in close proximity to said cover than elsewhere along said predetermined length thereof; said rolling-lobe flexible member having an elastomer matrix; an unencapsulated transmit memory device embedded in said elastomer matrix of said rolling-lobe flexible member while unvulcanized and at said location and being configured as a radio frequency identification transponder (RFID transponder); a read unit operatively connected to said RFID transponder and being configured to generate an electromagnetic field; said RFID transponder being configured to draw energy necessary to supply said RFID transponder from said electromagnetic field; and, said RFID transponder being so configured that when said energy is available to said RFID transponder information is exchanged between said RFID transponder and said read unit.