Gas spring piston with partial bellows support feature and gas spring assembly including same

摘要

A piston for use in forming a gas spring assembly includes a longitudinally extending axis, a first end wall extending approximately transverse to the axis, and an outer side wall extending longitudinally from adjacent the first end wall. The outer side wall includes a first side wall portion that forms a fully circumferential outer surface and a second side wall portion that forms a partially circumferential outer surface that extends longitudinally beyond the fully circumferential outer surface. A gas spring assembly including such a piston is also included.

主权项

1. A gas spring assembly comprising:
a flexible sleeve including a sleeve wall extending between longitudinally-spaced sleeve ends and having a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, said sleeve wall extending circumferentially about said axis to at least partially define a spring chamber; an end member secured along one of said ends of said flexible sleeve such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed with said sleeve wall; and,
a piston secured on the other of said ends of said flexible sleeve such that a substantially fluid-tight seal is formed with said sleeve wall, said piston including a first end wall abuttingly engaging said sleeve wall and an outer side wall extending transverse to said first end wall and suitable for rolling a lobe of said sleeve wall therealong, said outer side wall including: a first side wall portion at least partially defining a fully circumferential support area for abuttingly engaging said flexible sleeve; a second side wall portion extending longitudinally from said first side wall portion in a direction away from said first end wall, said second side wall portion defining a first partially circumferential support area that extends around less than the full circumference of said piston; and, a third side wall portion extending longitudinally from said first side wall portion in a direction away from said first end wall, said third side wall portion disposed in circumferentially spaced relation to said second side wall portion and defining a third partially circumferential support area that extends around less than the full circumference of said piston; said first and second partially circumferential support areas being dimensioned to abuttingly engage corresponding circumferential portions of said flexible sleeve upon longitudinal displacement of said lobe of said sleeve wall beyond said fully circumferential support area.