AIRSPRING WITH PARTIAL RESTRAINING SLEEVE

摘要

A vehicle suspension strut incorporating an airspring around a hydraulic shock absorber is disclosed. The unique airspring design and orientation relative to the shock absorber axis creates a side acting force which counteracts the bending torque acting on the strut during operation in a vehicle and prevents binding of the shock absorber piston. The horizontal side load is achieved using a partial restraining sleeve which circumferentially shrouds the flexible member of the airspring. The partial restraining sleeve extends less than half way around the circumference of the airspring flexible member and has a radius less than the fully inflated radius of the flexible member therby creating a restraining force on only one side of the flexible member of the airspring.