Adjustable rate air spring

摘要

An air spring for providing a variable spring rate for a suspension system has an auxiliary fluid reservoir formed within a hollow interior of one of the spaced end members of the air spring. A flexible elastomeric sleeve extends between the end members and forms a main air chamber therebetween which is in communication with the auxiliary fluid reservoir. A fluid supply line communicates with the auxiliary fluid reservoir for changing the volume of fluid within the reservoir. In one embodiment, one end of the flexible sleeve is closed and forms a flexible membrane which extends across an entrance of the auxiliary reservoir and separates the air chamber from the auxiliary reservoir. In another embodiment, a separate inflatable bladder is mounted in the hollow interior of the end member and provides the flexible membrane which separates the air chamber from the auxiliary reservoir. Upon changing the volume of fluid within the auxiliary reservoir, the fluid membrane moves into and out of the hollow interior of the end member thereby changing the volume of the air chamber to change the spring rate of the air spring.