Elastomeric thermal barrier as well as gas spring assembly and suspension system including same

摘要

An elastomeric article and elastomeric thermal barrier system includes an elastomeric article that is at least partially formed from an elastomeric material susceptible to thermal degradation upon exposure to an external thermal energy source. An elastomeric thermal barrier extends around and along at least a portion of the elastomeric article. The elastomeric thermal barrier is spaced apart from the elastomeric article to form a thermal break. The elastomeric thermal barrier is at least partially formed from an elastomeric material having a thermal property that is different from the thermal property of the elastomeric article and is operative to provide at least one of reduced absorption, reduced conductivity, increased reflectance and reduced emissivity to reduce thermal energy transfer into the elastomeric article from the external thermal energy source. A gas spring and thermal barrier system and/or assembly and a suspension system are also included.

主权项

1. A gas spring and elastomeric thermal barrier system comprising:
a gas spring having a longitudinal axis and including a first end member, a second end member and a flexible wall extending peripherally about said axis, said flexible wall extending axially between a first end and a second end opposite said first end with said first end secured in a substantially fluid-tight manner to said first end member and said second end secured in a substantially fluid-tight manner to said second end member such that said flexible wall at least partially defines a spring chamber between said first and second end members, said flexible wall being at least partially formed from an elastomeric material susceptible to thermal degradation upon exposure to an associated external thermal energy source, and said flexible wall having a flexible wall color visible from along at least one surface thereof that at least partially establishes a wall thermal property value of said flexible wall for a first thermal property; and, an elastomeric thermal barrier extending peripherally around and axially along at least a portion of said flexible wall, said elastomeric thermal barrier spaced radially outward from at least said flexible wall of said gas spring such that a gap establishing a thermal disconnect is formed between said elastomeric thermal barrier and at least said flexible wall, said elastomeric thermal barrier including a barrier wall with an exterior surface, said barrier wall being at least partially formed from a flexible barrier material and said barrier wall having a barrier wall color along at least said exterior surface that at least partially establishes a barrier thermal property value of said barrier wall for said first thermal property, said barrier wall color being lighter than said flexible wall color such that said barrier thermal property value for said first thermal property is different from said wall thermal property value for said first thermal property such that said difference in color is operative to reduce transmission of thermal energy from the associated external thermal energy source into said flexible wall through said elastomeric thermal barrier.