Sealing structure for air spring and air spring

Abstract

The invention provides a sealing structure for an air spring and the air spring. The sealing structure is used for blocking a notch of an electromagnetic valve groove formed in a fluctuating piston of the air spring. The sealing structure comprises an outer sealing part, an inner sealing part and a flexible connecting part, the outer sealing part is configured to be in sealing fit with the notch; the inner sealing part is configured to be in sealing fit with an electromagnetic valve wire harness penetrating through the inner sealing part; the flexible connecting part is connected with the outer sealing part and the inner sealing part; wherein the flexible connecting part is configured to allow the outer sealing part to generate displacement relative to the inner sealing part so as to form an operation space for assembling a wire harness plug connector on the peripheral side of the inner sealing part, and the problems that in the prior art, due to the fact that the height of the internal space of an electromagnetic valve groove is limited, wire harness assembling is difficult, and the reliability is poor can be solved. And therefore, the technical problems that the sealing reliability is insufficient, and a plug connector of the electromagnetic valve wire harness is easily soaked in water are solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle suspension technology, and more particularly to a sealing structure for an air spring and an air spring. Background Technology

[0002] As people's demands for vehicle comfort and handling continue to increase, air springs are being used more and more widely in the passenger car sector due to their superior performance. To better adapt to complex operating conditions and achieve a balance between comfort and handling, dual-chamber air spring technology has emerged. This technology activates a dual-chamber mode at low speeds or on small bumps, effectively filtering vibrations with low stiffness; and switches to a single-chamber mode at high speeds or in emergency situations, ensuring vehicle stability with high stiffness, thereby significantly improving the overall driving and riding quality.

[0003] However, in dual-chamber air springs, especially split-type dual-chamber air springs, moisture on the top of the fluctuating piston can seep in through gaps such as the flat bearing on the piston top or the wiring harness hole, accumulating at the bottom of the solenoid valve slot and potentially causing electrical malfunctions. Therefore, preventing moisture from entering the solenoid valve slot through seals is essential. Due to the limited internal space of the solenoid valve slot, the assembly of the wiring harness connectors is extremely difficult. This difficult assembly process is not only inefficient, but the seals also require repeated movement along the wiring harness to fit, which can easily damage the seals or lead to improper installation, thus reducing sealing reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a sealing structure and an air spring for use in air springs, in order to improve the technical problems in the prior art, such as the difficulty in assembling the wiring harness due to the limited internal space height of the solenoid valve slot, and the resulting insufficient sealing reliability and easy immersion of the connector of the solenoid valve wiring harness in water.

[0005] The present invention provides a sealing structure for an air spring, used to seal the slot of a solenoid valve groove disposed in an air spring undulating piston; the sealing structure includes an outer sealing part, an inner sealing part, and a flexible connecting part; the outer sealing part is configured to seal with the slot; the inner sealing part is configured to seal with a solenoid valve wiring harness passing through the inner sealing part; the flexible connecting part connects the outer sealing part and the inner sealing part; wherein the flexible connecting part is configured to allow the outer sealing part to move relative to the inner sealing part to form an operating space for assembling wiring harness connectors around the inner sealing part.

[0006] In one embodiment of the sealing structure of the present invention, the outer sealing part includes a metal skeleton and a rubber matrix vulcanized with the metal skeleton. The rubber matrix at least partially fills the space between the inner circumferential surface of the metal skeleton and the groove to achieve sealing through elastic deformation.

[0007] In one embodiment of the sealing structure of the present invention, the outer sealing part and the groove are sealed by interference fit.

[0008] In one embodiment of the sealing structure of the present invention, the inner sealing part and the solenoid valve wiring harness are sealed by interference fit.

[0009] In one embodiment of the sealing structure of the present invention, the flexible connection portion includes a stretchable pleated portion.

[0010] In one embodiment of the sealing structure of the present invention, the pleats are wavy structures.

[0011] In one embodiment of the sealing structure of the present invention, the wall thickness of the flexible connection is less than or equal to 1 mm.

[0012] The present invention also provides an air spring, the air spring including an undulating piston, an electromagnetic valve groove provided inside the undulating piston, and the groove opening of the electromagnetic valve groove being provided with any of the above-mentioned sealing structures.

[0013] In one embodiment of the air spring of the present invention, a stepped hole is provided on the inner circumference of the slot near the end. The stepped hole includes a large diameter section and a small diameter section that are connected. The large diameter section transitions to the small diameter section through a stepped surface. The radial direction of the outer sealing part of the sealing structure is matched with the large diameter section, and the axial direction of the outer sealing part is fitted with the stepped surface.

[0014] In one embodiment of the air spring of the present invention, the undulating piston includes a peripheral wall extending from the slot in a direction away from the solenoid valve and surrounding the sealing structure, wherein the peripheral wall is provided with a through hole for the solenoid valve wiring harness to pass through and at least one vent.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention: The sealing structure for air springs proposed in this invention achieves a step-by-step assembly process through an inner sealing part and an outer sealing part connected by a flexible connector. Specifically, the inner sealing part can be reliably sealed and assembled with the wiring harness first. Then, through the deformation of the flexible connector, a relative displacement is generated between the outer sealing part and the inner sealing part, thereby creating a temporary operating space around the inner sealing part. This space provides an operating area for connecting the wiring harness connector to the solenoid valve. After the connector is assembled in place, the outer sealing part is fixed to the slot of the solenoid valve, completing the final seal.

[0016] This design improves upon traditional methods that require the seal to slide on the wiring harness, potentially leading to torsion, wear, or improper installation, thus enhancing the reliability of the seal between the inner seal and the wiring harness. Furthermore, this design reduces the difficulty of insertion within the narrow solenoid valve slot, improves assembly quality issues caused by obstructed vision and insufficient space, and increases assembly efficiency and product yield. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0018] In the attached diagram: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing structure in an air spring according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing structure provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a sealing structure provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the combination of the sealing structure and the undulating piston provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 for Figure 4 A magnified view of a section at point A in the middle; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the sealing structure provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of a sealing structure provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the combination of the sealing structure and the undulating piston provided in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 for Figure 8 A magnified view of a section at point B.

[0019] The attached figures are labeled as follows: 100. Sealing structure; 110. Outer sealing part; 111. First sidewall; 112. Bottom wall; 113. Second sidewall; 114. Top wall; 115. Rubber matrix; 116. Metal skeleton; 1161. First skeleton; 1162. Second skeleton; 1163. Third skeleton; 1164. Fourth skeleton; 120. Inner sealing part; 130. Flexible connection part; 131. Pleated part; 132. Annular groove; 200. Solenoid valve; 300. Undulating piston; 310. Solenoid valve groove; 311. Groove opening; 312. Peripheral wall; 313. Through hole; 314. Ventilation opening; 320. Stepped hole; 321. Large diameter section; 322. Small diameter section; 323. Stepped surface; 400. Wire harness; 500. Connector. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments. Various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0021] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. The drawings only show the components related to the present invention and are not drawn according to the actual number, shape and size of the components in the actual implementation. In the actual implementation, the form, quantity and proportion of each component can be arbitrarily changed, and the layout of the components may also be more complex.

[0022] In the following description, numerous details are explored to provide a more thorough explanation of embodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other embodiments, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form rather than in detail to avoid obscuring embodiments of the invention.

[0023] In dual-chamber air springs, the air chamber volume needs to be adjusted by opening and closing a solenoid valve. Especially in split-type rear springs, due to space constraints, the solenoid valve is typically vertically positioned in the center of the undulating piston. The solenoid valve is recessed within the piston, creating a groove structure for mounting it, defined as the solenoid valve groove. The undulating piston also includes a peripheral wall extending from the groove opening of the solenoid valve groove in a direction away from the solenoid valve, surrounding the sealing structure. This peripheral wall has a through-hole for the solenoid valve wiring harness to pass through. The wiring harness controlling the solenoid valve connects to the valve via a connector, and the other end of the harness passes through the through-hole in the peripheral wall to communicate with the outside. In this case, moisture can easily seep in at the through-hole through which the wiring harness passes. Furthermore, considering the torsional action of dual-chamber air springs during vehicle operation, a flat bearing is added to the top of some undulating pistons. Moisture can also seep in through the gaps in the flat bearing. This seeping moisture gradually accumulates at the bottom of the solenoid valve groove, posing a risk of water damage to the solenoid valve and wiring harness connector, and in severe cases, even causing electrical malfunctions. To improve the above problems, seals are usually installed at both of the above locations to prevent water from entering. However, there is still a risk of water leakage. Once water leaks in, the seals at the above two locations make it difficult for water to drain, making the problem of water immersion in the wire harness connectors even more serious.

[0024] Therefore, to prevent moisture from entering the solenoid valve slot, the inventors installed a seal at the slot opening. The introduction of the seal, coupled with the limited internal space of the solenoid valve slot, makes the assembly of the wire harness connectors extremely difficult. This difficult assembly process is not only inefficient, but in some assembly processes, to create operating space, the seal needs to be repeatedly moved along the wire harness to accommodate the assembly. This can easily damage the seal or cause improper installation, thus reducing sealing reliability and potentially leading to water immersion problems.

[0025] In view of this, the inventor provides a sealing structure and an air spring for an air spring, in order to improve the technical problems in the prior art, such as the difficulty in assembling the wiring harness due to the limited internal space height of the solenoid valve slot, and the resulting insufficient sealing reliability and easy immersion of the connector of the solenoid valve wiring harness in water.

[0026] Please see Figures 1 to 9 The present invention provides a sealing structure 100 for an air spring, used to seal the slot 311 of the solenoid valve groove 310 disposed in the air spring undulating piston 300. This sealing structure 100 improves the problems of torsion, wear or improper installation that may be caused by the sliding of the seal on the wiring harness 400 in the conventional method, and improves the reliability of the seal between the inner sealing part 120 and the wiring harness 400.

[0027] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 8 The sealing structure 100 includes an outer sealing portion 110, an inner sealing portion 120, and a flexible connecting portion 130. The outer sealing portion 110 is configured to seal with the slot 311. That is, in the air spring, the outer sealing portion 110 can form a sealing fit with the slot 311 to prevent moisture from seeping in from the gap between the outer sealing portion 110 and the slot 311. The sealing fit method is not limited, and includes, but is not limited to, interference fit, axial compression seal, adhesive seal, or a combination of multiple methods. The material and structure of the outer sealing portion 110 are not limited, and can be any structure and material capable of sealing with the slot 311.

[0028] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 3 The inner seal 120 is configured to seal against the solenoid valve 200 wiring harness 400 passing through it. Specifically, within the air spring, the inner seal 120 can form a sealing fit with the wiring harness 400 to prevent moisture from seeping in through the gap between the inner seal 120 and the wiring harness 400. The method of sealing is not limited, and may include, but is not limited to, interference fit, axial compression seal, adhesive seal, or a combination of these methods. The material and structure of the inner seal 120 are not limited; it can be any structure and material capable of sealing with the wiring harness 400.

[0029] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 8 The flexible connecting part 130 connects the outer sealing part 110 and the inner sealing part 120. The material of the flexible connecting part 130 is not limited; it can be a rubber-based material, such as nitrile rubber, neoprene rubber, silicone rubber, fluororubber, or EPDM rubber, or a thermoplastic elastomer-based material, such as thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, polyester thermoplastic elastomer, or styrene thermoplastic elastomer. The flexible material can be the same material as the outer sealing part 110 and the inner sealing part 120 and integrally molded. Alternatively, it can be made of a different material from the outer sealing part 110 and the inner sealing part 120, processed separately, and then assembled. The materials of the outer sealing part 110 and the inner sealing part 120 can be the same or different. Other materials can also be used to create fixing structures on the outer sealing part 110 and / or the inner sealing part 120; these are not limited. In one embodiment, the flexible material and both the outer sealing part 110 and the inner sealing part 120 are made of neoprene rubber. The flexible connection portion 130 is configured to allow the outer sealing portion 110 to be displaced relative to the inner sealing portion 120, so as to form an operating space for assembling the wire harness 400 connector 500 around the inner sealing portion 120.

[0030] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 8 This setup enables a step-by-step assembly process. Specifically, the inner sealing part 120 is first reliably sealed and assembled with the wire harness 400. Then, through the deformation of the flexible connecting part 130, a relative displacement is generated between the outer sealing part 110 and the inner sealing part 120, thereby creating a temporary operating space around the inner sealing part 120. This space provides an operating area for connecting the wire harness 400 connector 500 to the solenoid valve 200. After the connector 500 is assembled in place, the outer sealing part 110 is fixed to the slot 311 of the solenoid valve groove 310, completing the final seal. It should be noted that the flexible connecting part 130 can deform in various ways. For example, it can be deformed by the elasticity of the flexible connecting part 130 itself, or it can be designed with a folded part, which extends to generate deformation. All of the above methods can achieve displacement of the outer sealing part 110 relative to the inner sealing part 120 to form an operating space around the inner sealing part 120 for assembling the wire harness 400 connector 500.

[0031] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 8This design improves upon the problems of torsion, wear, or improper installation that may occur when the seal needs to slide on the wire harness 400 in the traditional method, thus improving the reliability of the seal between the inner seal 120 and the wire harness 400. Furthermore, this design reduces the difficulty of insertion within the narrow solenoid valve slot 310, improves assembly quality issues caused by obstructed vision and insufficient space, and increases assembly efficiency and product yield. Further, by placing the sealing structure 100 at the slot 311 of the solenoid valve slot 310, the seals at the through hole 313 through which the wire harness 400 passes and at the plane bearing can be eliminated, simplifying the assembly process. Moreover, although the amount of water seepage increases due to the elimination of the seals at these two locations, the water accumulates on the sealing structure 100 and is isolated outside the solenoid valve slot 310 due to the introduction of the sealing structure 100. Simultaneously, thanks to the elimination of the seals at these two locations, the accumulated water can be discharged or flung away by the movement of the air spring, thereby reducing the risk of the solenoid valve 200 being submerged in water.

[0032] Please see Figures 3 to 4 and Figures 7 to 8 In one embodiment of the sealing structure 100 of the present invention, the outer sealing part 110 includes a metal skeleton 116 and a rubber matrix 115 vulcanized with the metal skeleton 116. The metal skeleton 116 is fused to the rubber matrix 115 through a vulcanization process. The metal skeleton 116 may be partially or entirely wrapped by the rubber matrix 115, and there is no limitation thereto. The only requirement is that the rubber matrix 115 at least partially fills the space between the metal skeleton 116 and the inner circumferential surface of the groove 311. The metal skeleton 116 ensures the radial support rigidity of the rubber matrix 115 and provides a reliable force application reference for the assembly tool, making the outer sealing part 110 less prone to twisting when pressed into the groove 311. The rubber matrix 115, clamped between the groove 311 and the metal skeleton 116, undergoes elastic deformation under the clamping force, thereby achieving a seal. Furthermore, the partial or complete encapsulation of the metal skeleton 116 by the rubber matrix 115 can mitigate scratches caused by contact friction between the metal skeleton 116 and the slot 311 or other contact elements. It should be noted that the metal skeleton has the advantages of thinness and high hardness. In other embodiments, where material thickness is not a concern, rigid plastic can be used instead of the metal skeleton 116.

[0033] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 8In one embodiment of the sealing structure 100 of the present invention, the outer sealing part 110 and the groove 311 achieve sealing through an interference fit. This assembly process can be simplified to a single "press-in" action, easily automated, and with high assembly efficiency. Simultaneously, it eliminates the need for additional parts such as bolts, pressure plates, and retaining rings, reducing material and assembly costs. Once the outer sealing part 110 is pressed into place, the sealing force is immediately established, increasing production speed. Furthermore, when maintenance or replacement is required, the interference-fit sealing structure 100 can usually be directly pulled out or ejected. Compared to other fixed connection methods, disassembly and replacement are more convenient. In other embodiments, if cost and assembly efficiency are not a concern, an adhesive application process or other fixing structures can be added between the groove 311 and the outer sealing part 110 to further improve the sealing effect.

[0034] Please see Figure 1 In one embodiment of the sealing structure 100 of the present invention, the inner sealing part 120 and the solenoid valve 200 wiring harness 400 achieve sealing through an interference fit. This interference fit also has the effect of high assembly efficiency. In addition, when the inner sealing part 120 and the flexible connection part 130 are integrally formed from the same material, the interference fit between the elastic inner sealing part 120 and the wiring harness 400 can adapt to the thermal expansion and contraction of the wiring harness 400 outer sheath caused by temperature changes, as well as the diameter manufacturing tolerances and slight out-of-roundness that may exist in the wiring harness 400 itself. It can always fit the wiring harness 400, compensate for these changes, and maintain the stability of the seal. In some other embodiments, if cost and assembly efficiency are not a concern, metal clamps, cable ties, or other fixing structures can be added outside the inner sealing part 120 to further improve the sealing effect.

[0035] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 7 In one embodiment of the sealing structure 100 of the present invention, the flexible connection portion 130 includes a stretchable pleated portion 131. The structural form of the pleated portion 131 is not limited; for example, it can be a bellows-like shape similar to an accordion, a wave-like shape, or other irregular shapes. On one hand, the pleated portion 131 allows for the stretching and contraction of the flexible connection portion 130. Compared to stretching using elastic deformation, the stretching required for the pleated portion 131 is smaller, resulting in less pulling force on the inner sealing layer. This reduces movement of the inner sealing portion 120 on the wire harness 400, thereby mitigating the reduction in sealing performance caused by relative movement. On the other hand, the peak-valley structure of the pleated portion 131 provides a pre-defined and orderly guide for material deformation. During the stretching and contraction process, the material distributes stress evenly along the waveform of the pleats to prevent unpredictable local bulging or kinking.

[0036] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 8Furthermore, after passing through the inner seal 120, the wiring harness 400 needs to exit through the peripheral wall 312 of the undulating piston 300. To prevent fatigue fracture of the wiring harness 400 at the outlet bend due to an excessively small bending radius, conventional designs typically require additional space in the height direction of the air spring to ensure that the wiring harness 400 can transition with a larger bending radius. The pleated portion 131 in this invention effectively replaces the reliance on this reserved space. After the wiring harness 400 passes through the inner seal 120, the pleated portion 131, located between the wiring harness 400 and the exit point of the wiring harness 400 on the peripheral wall 312 of the undulating piston 300, further folds under pressure, providing sufficient bending radius for the wiring harness 400. This design reduces the space requirements at the bend of the wiring harness 400, thereby reducing the overall height dimension requirements of the air spring and improving space utilization efficiency.

[0037] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 7 In one embodiment of the sealing structure 100 of the present invention, the pleated portion 131 is a wave-shaped structure. The wave-shaped curve (usually a sine curve or a similar variant) has no sharp corners. Compared with the sharp corners of V-shaped or rectangular pleats, its curvature change is continuous and smooth, which can eliminate stress concentration points to the greatest extent. When the pleated portion 131 repeatedly expands and contracts, it is less likely to generate microcracks at the crests and troughs, thus improving the fatigue life of the flexible connection portion 130. In addition, an annular groove 132 is formed at the trough of the wave shape. The bottom of the annular groove 132 is lower than the mating gap between the inner sealing portion 120 and the wire harness 400. When moisture enters, it will accumulate at the bottom of the annular groove 132 as guided by the trough, which can effectively prevent moisture from entering the solenoid valve groove 310 from the mating gap between the inner sealing portion 120 and the wire harness 400, further improving the sealing effect of the sealing structure 100.

[0038] Please see Figure 3 and Figure 7 In one embodiment of the sealing structure 100 of the present invention, the wall thickness of the flexible connection portion 130 is less than or equal to 1 mm. This limited thickness of the flexible connection portion 130 facilitates the formation of a wave-shaped structure, ensuring that the force required for the flexible connection portion 130 to fold and extend is small, and its adaptive deformation is easily controlled.

[0039] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 4 and Figure 8The present invention also provides an air spring (not shown in the figure), which includes an undulating piston 300, a solenoid valve groove 310 disposed within the undulating piston 300, and a sealing structure 100 of any of the above-mentioned features disposed at the groove opening 311 of the solenoid valve groove 310. This sealing structure 100 achieves a step-by-step assembly process through an inner sealing part 120 and an outer sealing part 110 connected by a flexible connecting part 130. Specifically, the inner sealing part 120 can be reliably sealed and assembled with the wire harness 400 first, and then, through the deformation of the flexible connecting part 130, a relative displacement is generated between the outer sealing part 110 and the inner sealing part 120, thereby creating a temporary operating space around the inner sealing part 120. This space provides an operating area for connecting the wire harness 400 connector 500 to the solenoid valve 200. After the connector 500 is assembled in place, the outer sealing part 110 is fixed to the groove opening 311 of the solenoid valve groove 310 to complete the final seal. This design improves upon the problems of torsion, wear, or improper installation that may occur when the seal needs to slide on the wire harness 400 in the traditional method, thereby improving the reliability of the seal between the inner seal 120 and the wire harness 400.

[0040] Please see Figures 4 to 5 and Figures 8 to 9 In one embodiment of the air spring of the present invention, a stepped hole 320 is provided on the inner circumference of the slot 311 near its end. The stepped hole 320 includes a large-diameter section 321 and a small-diameter section 322 that are connected. The large-diameter section 321 transitions to the small-diameter section 322 through a stepped surface 323. The radial direction of the outer sealing part 110 of the sealing structure 100 mates with the large-diameter section 321, and the axial direction of the outer sealing part 110 fits against the stepped surface 323. The stepped surface 323 in the stepped hole 320 serves to limit and position the outer sealing part 110, which can improve assembly efficiency and assembly accuracy.

[0041] Please see Figures 4 to 5 In one embodiment, the outer sealing portion 110 of the sealing structure 100 includes a first sidewall 111 that mates with the large-diameter section 321, and a bottom wall 112 connected to the first sidewall 111 and abutting the stepped surface 323. The first sidewall 111 includes a rubber matrix 115 and a first skeleton 1161 at least partially enclosed therein. The bottom wall 112 includes a rubber matrix 115 and a second skeleton 1162 at least partially enclosed therein. The first skeleton 1161 and the second skeleton 1162 are connected to form the aforementioned metal skeleton 116. The metal skeleton 116 of this structure has higher support rigidity and is not easily deformed. Furthermore, during assembly, an annular press fitting can be used, which can be pressed onto the bottom wall 112 as a whole. Thanks to the support rigidity of the second skeleton 1162, the assembly difficulty of the outer sealing portion 110 is reduced, and the assembly efficiency is improved.

[0042] Please see Figures 8 to 9In another embodiment, the outer sealing portion 110 of the sealing structure 100 includes a second sidewall 113 that mates with the large-diameter section 321, and a top wall 114 connected to the first sidewall 111 and opposite to the stepped surface 323. The second sidewall 113 includes a rubber matrix 115 and a third skeleton 1163 at least partially enclosed therein. The top wall 114 includes a rubber matrix 115 and a fourth skeleton 1164 at least partially enclosed therein. The third skeleton 1163 and the fourth skeleton 1164 are connected to form the aforementioned metal skeleton 116. The metal skeleton 116 of this structure has higher supporting rigidity and is not easily deformed. Furthermore, during assembly, a flat press-fit component can be used, which can be pressed onto the top wall 114 as a whole. Thanks to the supporting rigidity of the fourth skeleton 1164, the assembly difficulty of the outer sealing portion 110 is reduced, and the assembly efficiency is improved.

[0043] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 8 In one embodiment of the air spring of the present invention, the undulating piston 300 includes a peripheral wall 312 extending from the slot 311 in a direction away from the solenoid valve 200 and surrounding the sealing structure 100. The peripheral wall 312 is provided with a through hole 313 for the solenoid valve 200 wiring harness 400 to pass through and at least one vent 314. Due to the arrangement of the sealing structure 100, the arrangement of the vent 314 facilitates the drainage of moisture accumulated in the annular groove 132, thereby improving the technical problem that the connector 500 of the solenoid valve 200 wiring harness 400 is prone to water immersion.

[0044] This invention proposes a sealing structure for air springs, which achieves a step-by-step assembly process by connecting an inner sealing part and an outer sealing part through a flexible connection. This design improves upon the problems of torsion, wear, or improper installation that may occur when the seal needs to slide on the wiring harness in traditional methods, thereby improving the reliability of the seal between the inner sealing part and the wiring harness. Furthermore, this design reduces the difficulty of insertion within the narrow solenoid valve slot, improves assembly quality issues caused by obstructed vision and insufficient space, and enhances assembly efficiency and product yield.

[0045] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and effects of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention. Any person skilled in the art can modify or alter the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent modifications or alterations made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and technical concept disclosed in the present invention should still be covered by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sealing structure for an air spring, used to seal the slot opening of a solenoid valve groove disposed in the undulating piston of the air spring, characterized in that, The sealing structure includes: The outer sealing portion is configured to seal with the groove. The inner seal is configured to seal and engage with the solenoid valve wiring harness passing through the inner seal. A flexible connecting part connects the outer sealing part and the inner sealing part; The flexible connection portion is configured to allow the outer sealing portion to be displaced relative to the inner sealing portion, thereby forming an operating space for assembling wire harness connectors around the inner sealing portion.

2. The sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer sealing part includes a metal skeleton and a rubber matrix vulcanized with the metal skeleton. The rubber matrix at least partially fills the space between the metal skeleton and the inner circumferential surface of the groove to achieve a seal through elastic deformation.

3. The sealing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that, The outer sealing part and the groove are sealed by an interference fit.

4. The sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner sealing part and the solenoid valve wiring harness are sealed by an interference fit.

5. The sealing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible connection includes a stretchable pleated portion.

6. The sealing structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The folded portion has a wavy structure.

7. The sealing structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The wall thickness of the flexible connector is less than or equal to 1 mm.

8. An air spring comprising a undulating piston, wherein a solenoid valve groove is disposed within the undulating piston, characterized in that, The slot of the solenoid valve is provided with a sealing structure as described in any one of claims 1-7.

9. The air spring according to claim 8, characterized in that, A stepped hole is provided on the inner circumference of the groove near the end. The stepped hole includes a large diameter section and a small diameter section that are connected. The large diameter section transitions to the small diameter section through a stepped surface. The radial direction of the outer sealing part of the sealing structure is engaged with the large diameter section, and the axial direction of the outer sealing part is in contact with the stepped surface.

10. The air spring according to claim 8, characterized in that, The undulating piston includes a peripheral wall extending from the slot in a direction away from the solenoid valve and surrounding the sealing structure, the peripheral wall being provided with a through hole for the solenoid valve wiring harness to pass through and at least one vent.

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