SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ATTACHING A CONTROL ELEMENT OF AN AIR SPRING WITH INTERNAL HEIGHT REGULATING VALVE

摘要

The present disclosure relates to an air spring apparatus for use with a cabin of a vehicle. The apparatus has an upper assembly, a lower assembly, a shock absorber, a bladder, a flexible bumper element and a control element. The shock absorber has a piston rod protruding therefrom and extending through the other one of the upper and lower assemblies. The bladder is attached to the upper and lower assemblies. The flexible bumper element is secured to the piston rod adjacent one of the upper and lower assemblies, and secured to the other one of the upper and lower assemblies. The control element is secured to the flexible bumper element at a first end, and to a valve at a second end, and controls operation of the valve. The flexible bumper element can flex in response to torsional or tilting forces experienced by the one of the upper and lower assemblies, to thus help to limit these forces from being imparted to the control element.

主权项

1. An air spring apparatus for use with a cabin of a vehicle, including:
an upper assembly operably associated with the cabin; a lower assembly operably associated with the vehicle; a shock absorber disposed adjacent one of the upper and lower assemblies, the shock absorber having a piston rod protruding therefrom and extending through the other one of the upper and lower assemblies; a bladder attached to the upper and lower assemblies; a flexible bumper element secured to the piston rod adjacent one of the upper and lower assemblies, and secured to the other one of the upper and lower assemblies; a control element operably secured to the flexible bumper element at a first end, and movable slidably relative to a valve at a second end, for controlling opening and closing of the valve depending on a spacing between the upper and lower assemblies; and the flexible bumper element being able to flex in response to at least one of torsional and tilting forces experienced by the one of the upper and lower assemblies adjacent to the flexible element, to thus limit the at least one of torsional and tilting forces experienced by the at least one of the upper and lower assemblies.