Integral bracket and end mounting plate for air spring

Abstract

An integral one-piece end plate and bracket combination is formed of a high strength plastic and is mounted in an airtight sealing engagement with an open end of a flexible elastomeric sleeve which forms the fluid pressure chamber of an air spring. The end plate includes a semi-circular wall which extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the air spring and a semi-circular opening. The bracket includes an upstanding wall perpendicular to the semi-circular wall of the end plate and a half dome-shaped wall, which together with the upstanding wall, forms an auxiliary fluid chamber which is in fluid communication through the semi-circular opening with the main fluid chamber of the flexible sleeve. The upstanding wall includes attachments for securing the bracket and end plate to a support structure which aligns with a longitudinal axis of the air spring. A fluid inlet conduit extends outwardly from the upstanding bracket wall to provide fluid communication between the auxiliary fluid chamber of the bracket and an external source of pressurized fluid. A plurality of reinforcing ribs are formed on the walls of the bracket and on the end plate to provide a rigid structure.

1 . An air spring including: 
 a) first and second end members adapted to be mounted at spaced locations on first and second structures respectively, at least one of which is moveable in a generally axial direction with respect to the other;    b) a flexible sleeve having a longitudinal axis and first and second open ends sealingly engaged with the first and second end members, respectively, forming a main fluid chamber within the sleeve for containing a pressurized fluid;    c) the first end member being an integral one piece member including an end plate extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible sleeve sealingly connected to the first open end of the flexible sleeve and a bracket extending outwardly from said end plate; said bracket having an upstanding wall generally perpendicular to the end plate and generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the flexible sleeve adapted to abut against the first structure, and a reinforcement extending between the upstanding wall and the end plate; and    d) attachments for attaching said upstanding wall of the bracket to said first structure.    
     
     
         2 . The air spring defined in  claim 1  in which the reinforcement includes a curved wall extending between the end plate and upstanding wall  
     
     
         3 . The air spring defined in  claim 2  in which the curved wall forms a generally half-done shaped wall.  
     
     
         4 . The air spring defined in  claim 3  in which a plurality of reinforcing ribs extend between the half-dome shaped wall and the upstanding wall of the bracket.  
     
     
         5 . The air spring defined in  claim 1  in which the attachments include at least two hollow bosses formed on the upstanding wall for receiving bolts therethrough.  
     
     
         6 . The air spring defined in  claim 1  in which the end wall and bracket are formed as an integral one-piece member of a high strength plastic material.  
     
     
         7 . The air spring defined in  claim 1  in which the end plate includes a semi-circular wall and the reinforcement includes a generally half-dome shaped wall which is connected to the upstanding wall.  
     
     
         8 . In combination, first and second spaced apart support structures and a fluid actuated member having first and second end members and a flexible sleeve extending between said end members forming an internal main fluid chamber, each of said end members being connected to a respective one of said support structures; said first end member including an end plate and a bracket having an upstanding wall extending generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the flexible sleeve, a reinforcement extending between the upstanding wall and the end plate, and an attachment for mounting said upstanding wall on the first support structure.  
     
     
         9 . The combination defined in  claim 8  in which the upstanding wall of the bracket forms a general right angle with the end plate.  
     
     
         10 . The combination defined in  claim 8  in which the attachment includes at least a pair of fasteners extending between the first support structure and the upstanding wall of the bracket.  
     
     
         11 . The combination defined in  claim 10  in which a pair of bosses is formed on the bracket; and in which the pair of fasteners extend through holes formed in the first support structure and through the hollow bosses to form the attachment.  
     
     
         12 . The combination defined in  claim 8  in which the first support structure includes at least an L-shaped portion; and in which the end plate and upstanding wall of the bracket abut against a corresponding part of said L-shaped portion.  
     
     
         13 . The combination defined in  claim 8  in which the end plate is annular and terminates in an outer peripheral edge; and in which the flexible sleeve is sealingly clamped to said outer edge of the end plate.