| 摘要 |
<p>A top end retainer (78) for an air spring sleeve (54) in an automotive strut suspension system includes a elliptical clamping flange (80) having a perimeter equal to the circumference of the top end of the air spring sleeve (54) so that the sleeve (54) fits over the clamping flange (80) without stretching. A bushing aperture (84) in a centre web (82) attached to the clamping flange (80) is offset to an end of the flange (80). A piston rod (34) of the strut (10) is received in the bushing aperture (84) through an elastomeric bushing (94) and the centre web (82) is connected to the sprung mass (12) for rotation so that the strut (10) and the air spring (46) are rotatable about a steering axis. The geometric centre of the elliptical flange (80) is further offset from the longitudinal axis (28) of the strut (10) than would be the case with a circular flange having a diameter equal to the diameter of the top end of the air spring sleeve (54) so that the top end retainer (78) according to this invention contributes to optimization of the inclination of the line (102) along which the air spring resultant force (F2) is directed.</p> |
