Airspring with partial restraining sleeve.

摘要

A vehicle suspension strut (10) incorporating an airspring around a hydraulic shock absorber (18) is disclosed. The unique airspring design and orientation relative to the shock absorber axis (12) creates a side acting force (F') which counteracts the bending torque (F) 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 (40) which circumferentially shrouds the flexible member (30) of the airspring. The partial restraining sleeve (40) extends less than half way around the circumference of the airspring flexible member (30) and has a radius (R2) less than the fully inflated radius (R<1>) of the flexible member (30) thereby creating a restraining force (F) on only one side of the flexible member (30) of the airspring.