Air spring with damping function

Abstract

The utility model provides an air spring with a damping function. The air spring comprises an air bag, a piston assembly and a limiting piece. The air bag is connected with the air pipe connector through the rolling plate assembly, the limiting piece is fixed to the end, facing the air bag, of the piston assembly, and a damping hole is formed in the limiting piece, so that air in the air bag flows into a cavity of the piston assembly through the damping hole when air pressure changes, the damping effect is generated, impact and vibration generated when the air bag stretches out and draws back are relieved, and riding comfort is improved. The piston assembly comprises a shell and a plurality of additional air chambers, the additional air chambers are communicated through first air circulation holes, and the damping holes are connected with one set of additional air chambers. The shell is composed of the upper installation base and the lower installation base, and machining and assembling are convenient. The connecting flange and the mousing hook ensure stable installation of the air bag, and the steel wire ring enhances connection reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model particularly relates to an air spring with a damping function. Background Art

[0002] Air springs are key components of automotive air suspension systems. Compared to conventional suspension systems, air suspension can extend vehicle life, improve overall comfort, reduce dynamic wheel loads, and significantly minimize vehicle damage to the road, thereby lowering highway maintenance costs. Air springs can also adjust the height of specialized vehicles such as airport shuttles and city buses as needed.

[0003] For example, the Mexican invention patent document with publication number "MX237751B" discloses an air spring shock absorber that can withstand extreme impact loads, has multiple configurations to adapt to different load applications, and has a long service life. The air spring shock absorber is mainly composed of an air bag and a piston assembly. The upper end of the air bag is connected to an end plate (corresponding to the number 2) for connecting to the vehicle body. Figure 1 It can be clearly seen that a damper (corresponding to reference numeral 20 ) is installed between the piston assembly and the airbag. The main function of the damper is to reduce the impact between the piston assembly and the airbag when the piston assembly moves upward, thereby protecting the air spring.

[0004] However, the damper does not have any holes for gas flow, so the gas does not flow between the airbag and the piston assembly, let alone through the damper. Therefore, not only does the damper not have the "damping" function, but the damping effect of the air spring is also poor. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to address the deficiencies of the above-mentioned existing technologies and provide an air spring with a damping function. By arranging a damping hole on the limiter, the gas inside the airbag flows through the damping hole to consume energy when the air pressure changes, thereby reducing the impact and vibration of the airbag expansion and contraction, and improving the vehicle ride comfort.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present utility model provides the following technical solutions: an air spring with a damping function, comprising an airbag and a piston assembly, wherein the airbag is connected to a roll plate assembly at the top and to a piston assembly at the bottom, a limiting member is provided between the piston assembly and the airbag, the limiting member is fixed to the end of the piston assembly facing the airbag, the roll plate assembly is connected to an air pipe joint, the air pipe joint is hollow and connected to the interior of the airbag, and is characterized in that a damping hole is provided on the limiting member, one end of the damping hole is connected to the interior of the airbag, and the other end is connected to the chamber of the piston assembly.

[0007] By providing a damping hole in the stopper, the gas inside the airbag flows through the damping hole into the piston assembly chamber according to changes in air pressure. As the gas flows through the damping hole, some damping is consumed. Therefore, the provision of the damping hole helps mitigate the impact and vibration caused by the airbag's expansion and contraction, thereby improving the vehicle's ride comfort. Furthermore, the damping effect can be adjusted to suit different driving conditions by adjusting the size and position of the damping hole. During airbag expansion: As the air pressure inside the airbag increases, the airbag begins to expand. At this time, the gas inside the airbag flows through the damping hole into the piston assembly chamber. Due to the restrictive effect of the damping hole, the gas flow rate is limited, creating a damping effect that helps mitigate the impact and vibration caused by the airbag's expansion. During airbag contraction: As the air pressure inside the airbag decreases, the airbag begins to contract. At this time, gas outside the airbag or in the piston assembly chamber may flow back into the airbag through the damping hole. Similarly, due to the restrictive effect of the damping hole, the flow rate of the gas is restricted, thereby producing a damping effect, which helps to reduce the impact and vibration when the airbag is deflated.

[0008] The above-mentioned air spring with damping function can be further configured as follows: the piston assembly includes an internal hollow shell, the interior of the shell is divided into several groups of additional air chambers, a group of inner ring walls is provided between each two adjacent groups of additional air chambers, the inner ring walls are penetrated by a first gas circulation hole, each two adjacent groups of additional air chambers are connected through the first gas circulation hole, and the other end of the damping hole is connected to a group of additional air chambers.

[0009] When the air pressure inside the airbag changes, the airbag expands and contracts. At this point, the gas inside the airbag flows into or out of the additional air chamber through the damping hole. Due to the damping hole, a damping effect is generated as the gas flows through the damping hole. At the same time, the gas within the additional air chamber can also flow between the different air chambers through the first gas flow hole, further adjusting the damping effect of the air spring. The additional air chamber is used to store and regulate the gas between the airbag and the piston assembly. By adjusting the gas pressure and volume within the additional air chamber, the damping effect of the air spring can be further adjusted. The inner ring wall is used to divide the interior of the outer shell into several groups of additional air chambers and, in conjunction with the first gas flow hole, ensures that the gas flows along a stable path. Each group of inner ring walls is provided with a group of first gas flow holes, ensuring that all the additional air chambers are connected.

[0010] The above-mentioned air spring with damping function can be further configured as follows: the outer shell includes an upper mounting seat and a lower mounting seat relatively distributed up and down, and a plurality of groups of upper spacers are provided inside the upper mounting seat, and the plurality of groups of upper spacers are arranged in sequence along the radial direction of the upper mounting seat, and the lower mounting seat is provided with a group of lower spacers corresponding to each group of upper spacers, and the ends of the upper spacers are provided with slots, and the ends of the lower spacers are provided with plugs adapted to the slots, and each group of upper spacers and the corresponding lower spacers form a group of inner ring walls, and the first gas circulation holes are distributed at the lower spacers, and the outer periphery of the upper mounting seat is connected to the outer periphery of the lower mounting seat by welding.

[0011] Using this technical solution, the housing is split into upper and lower mounting blocks, facilitating the machining of the inner ring wall (composed of the upper and lower spacers) and the first gas flow holes, thereby facilitating the fabrication of the additional air chambers. Since gas flow between each set of additional air chambers occurs through the first gas flow holes, the sealing requirements are not high. A slot-and-block connection between the upper and lower spacers suffices, facilitating easy assembly. The outer periphery of the upper and lower mounting blocks is welded together, ensuring both structural strength and sealing performance, preventing leakage from the additional air chambers.

[0012] The above-mentioned air spring with damping function can be further configured as follows: the upper mounting seat is located on the upper end surface facing the interior of the airbag and is provided with a connecting flange surrounding the outer periphery of the limiter, the upper end of the connecting flange is provided with an anti-disconnection hook, the lower end sealing sleeve of the airbag is provided on the connecting flange, and the lower end of the airbag is connected to a steel wire ring.

[0013] The connecting flange's primary function is to provide a flat surface for sealing against the lower end of the airbag, ensuring gas leakage between the airbag and the piston assembly. It also supports and secures the airbag, ensuring a stable installation on the piston assembly. The anti-unhook feature prevents the airbag from falling off the connecting flange due to excessive air pressure or external impact. A wire ring is placed between the airbag and the connecting flange to enhance the reliability of the connection.

[0014] The above-mentioned air spring with damping function can be further configured as follows: the rolling plate assembly includes an end plate, two groups of mounting holes are provided on the end plate, a group of air pipe joints are welded at each group of mounting holes, the outer ring of the end plate is provided with a riveted edge that is rolled toward the airbag, the upper end of the airbag is inserted into the riveted edge and the upper end of the airbag is also connected to a steel wire ring.

[0015] With the above technical solution, the riveted edge cooperates with the upper end of the airbag to firmly fix the upper end of the airbag to the end plate. The wire ring is arranged between the airbag and the end plate to enhance the connection reliability between the airbag and the end plate.

[0016] The above-mentioned air spring with damping function can be further configured as follows: the limiting part includes a connecting block distributed in the middle and a stop sleeve surrounding the outer circumference of the connecting block, the connecting block and the stop sleeve are integrally formed, a cavity is provided inside the stop sleeve, the connecting block is connected to the outer shell by screws, the stop sleeve is higher than the connecting block and the two constitute an accommodating cavity, the damping hole is distributed on the end face of the stop sleeve facing the airbag and the damping hole is connected to the cavity, the upper end face of the outer shell is provided with a second gas circulation hole, one end of the second gas circulation hole is connected to the cavity, and the other end is connected to the inner cavity of the outer shell.

[0017] By adopting the above technical solution, the limiter can be firmly fixed to the housing by means of screws and connecting blocks. The damping hole is arranged on the stopper sleeve for easy processing, and the cavity inside the stopper block is used to achieve conductive connection with the additional chamber in the housing. The cavity not only enables the conduction between the damping hole and the additional chamber, but also reduces the weight of the limiter, that is, reduces the overall weight of the air spring. The stopper sleeve is higher than the connecting block, and the two form a accommodating cavity, the purpose of which is to prevent the screws from protruding and affecting the limiter's function as an "emergency stop".

[0018] The above-mentioned air spring with damping function can be further configured as follows: the limiting component includes a connecting air nozzle distributed in the middle, a stop sleeve surrounding the outer periphery of the connecting air nozzle, the lower part of the connecting air nozzle is sealed with the outer shell, the inner periphery of the stop sleeve is provided with a barb, the upper part of the air nozzle is provided with a slot adapted to the barb, a cavity is provided inside the stop sleeve, the connecting air nozzle is connected to the outer shell by a screw, the stop sleeve is higher than the connecting air nozzle, the damping hole is distributed in the middle of the connecting air nozzle and passes through the connecting air nozzle, and the upper end face of the outer shell is provided with a second gas circulation hole, one end of the second gas circulation hole is connected to the cavity, and the other end is connected to the inner cavity of the outer shell.

[0019] The above technical solution can securely fix the stopper to the housing by connecting the air nozzle and the barb. The stopper sleeve is higher than the connecting block, and the two together form a receiving cavity. This prevents the air nozzle from protruding and affecting the stopper's function as an "emergency stop."

[0020] The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A partial enlarged schematic diagram in the middle;

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of point B in the middle;

[0024] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of point C in the middle;

[0025] Figure 5 for Figure 1 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of point D in the middle;

[0026] Figure 6 This is an explosion diagram of the second embodiment of the present utility model;

[0027] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A partial enlarged schematic diagram of point E in the middle.

[0028] Label notes: airbag 1, trachea joint 2, damping hole 3, additional air chamber 4, first gas circulation hole 5, upper mounting seat 6, upper spacer 7, lower mounting seat 8, lower spacer 9, slot 10, plug 11, connecting flange 12, wire ring 13, end plate 14, riveted edge 15, second gas circulation hole 16, anti-disconnection hook 17; limiter a, connecting block a1, stop sleeve a2, cavity a3, connecting air nozzle a4, barb a5, slot a6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] Example 1: Figures 1 to 5 The air spring with damping function shown in the figure includes an airbag 1 and a piston assembly. The airbag 1 is connected to a roll plate assembly above and to a piston assembly below. A limiter a is provided between the piston assembly and the airbag 1. The limiter a is fixed to the end of the piston assembly facing the airbag 1. The roll plate assembly is connected to an air pipe joint 2. The air pipe joint 2 is hollow and connected to the interior of the airbag 1. A damping hole 3 is provided on the limiter a. One end of the damping hole 3 is connected to the interior of the airbag 1 and the other end is connected to the chamber of the piston assembly.

[0031] The piston assembly includes a hollow housing, which is divided into three groups of additional air chambers 4. An inner wall is located between each group of additional air chambers 4. First gas flow holes 5 extend through the inner wall, connecting each group of additional air chambers 4. The other end of the damping orifice 3 is connected to one of the additional air chambers 4. Gas within the airbag 1 flows into or out of the additional air chambers 4 through the damping orifice 3. Due to the restrictive effect of the damping orifice 3, the flow of gas through the damping orifice 3 produces a damping effect. Furthermore, gas within the additional air chambers 4 can flow between the different air chambers through the first gas flow holes 5, further adjusting the damping effect of the air spring. The additional air chambers 4 are used to store and regulate gas between the airbag 1 and the piston assembly. Adjusting the gas pressure and volume within the additional air chambers 4 further adjusts the damping effect of the air spring. The inner wall divides the interior of the housing into three groups of additional air chambers 4 and, in conjunction with the first gas flow holes 5, ensures a stable gas flow path. Wherein, a group of first gas flow holes 5 is provided on each group of inner ring walls, so that all the additional gas chambers 4 can be connected.

[0032] The housing includes an upper mounting seat 6 and a lower mounting seat 8, which are arranged in a radially spaced relationship. Two sets of upper spacers 7 are located within the upper mounting seat 6. The two sets of upper spacers 7 are spaced radially along the upper mounting seat 6. The lower mounting seat 8 includes a set of lower spacers 9 corresponding to each set of upper spacers 7. The ends of the upper spacers 7 are provided with slots 10, and the ends of the lower spacers 9 are provided with inserts 11 that fit into the slots 10. Each set of upper spacers 7 and the corresponding lower spacer 9 form an inner ring wall. First gas flow holes 5 are located in the lower spacers 9. The outer periphery of the upper mounting seat 6 is welded to the outer periphery of the lower mounting seat 8. Disassembling the housing into the upper mounting seat 6 and the lower mounting seat 8 facilitates the machining of the inner ring wall (formed by the upper spacers 7 and lower spacers 9) and the first gas flow holes 5, thereby facilitating the fabrication of the additional gas chamber 4. Because gas flows between each set of additional air chambers 4 through first gas flow holes 5, the sealing requirements are not high. The connection between the upper and lower spacers 7, 9, is achieved by using slots 10 and inserts 11, which facilitates easy assembly. The outer periphery of the upper mounting seat 6 and the outer periphery of the lower mounting seat 8 are welded together, ensuring both structural strength and sealing performance, preventing leakage from the additional air chambers 4.

[0033] The upper mounting seat 6 is located on the upper end surface facing the interior of the airbag 1 and is provided with a connecting flange 12 that surrounds the outer periphery of the limiter a. The upper end of the connecting flange 12 is provided with an anti-detachment hook 17. The lower end sealing sleeve of the airbag 1 is provided on the connecting flange 12, and the lower end of the airbag 1 is connected to a wire ring 13. The main function of the connecting flange 12 is to provide a plane for sealing connection with the lower end of the airbag 1 to ensure that the gas between the airbag 1 and the piston assembly does not leak. At the same time, the connecting flange 12 also plays a role in supporting and fixing the airbag 1, so that the airbag 1 can be stably installed on the piston assembly. The main function of the anti-detachment hook 17 is to prevent the airbag 1 from falling off the connecting flange 12 when the air pressure is too high or it is subjected to external impact. The wire ring 13 is provided between the airbag 1 and the connecting flange 12 to enhance the connection reliability between the airbag 1 and the connecting flange 12.

[0034] The roll plate assembly includes an end plate 14 with two sets of mounting holes, each welded to a set of air pipe connectors 2. The outer ring of the end plate 14 is provided with a riveted edge 15 that curls toward the airbag 1. The upper end of the airbag 1 is inserted into the riveted edge 15, and a wire ring 13 is also connected to the upper end of the airbag 1. The riveted edge 15 cooperates with the upper end of the airbag 1 to securely fasten the upper end of the airbag 1 to the end plate 14. The wire ring 13 is positioned between the airbag 1 and the end plate 14 to enhance the reliability of the connection between the two.

[0035] The limiting member a includes a connecting block a1 distributed in the middle and a stop sleeve a2 surrounding the outer periphery of the connecting block a1. The connecting block a1 and the stop sleeve a2 are integrally formed. A cavity a3 is provided inside the stop sleeve a2. The connecting block a1 is connected to the outer shell by screws. The stop sleeve a2 is higher than the connecting block a1 and the two form an accommodating chamber. The damping hole 3 is distributed on the end face of the stop sleeve a2 facing the airbag 1 and the damping hole 3 is connected to the cavity a3. The upper end face of the outer shell is provided with a second gas flow hole 16, one end of the second gas flow hole 16 is connected to the cavity a3, and the other end is connected to a group of additional air chambers 4. The limiting member a can be firmly fixed to the outer shell by screws and the connecting block a1. The damping hole 3 is arranged on the stop sleeve a2 for easy processing, and the conductive connection with the additional chamber in the outer shell is achieved through the cavity a3 inside the stop block. Cavity a3 not only allows for communication between the damping orifice 3 and the additional chamber, but also reduces the weight of the stopper a, and therefore the overall weight of the air spring. The stopper sleeve a2 is taller than the connecting block a1, and the two together form a receiving cavity to prevent the screw from protruding and affecting the stopper a's function as an "emergency stop."

[0036] The characteristic of the first embodiment is that the damping hole 3 is provided on the stop sleeve a2. When the airbag 1 expands, as the internal air pressure of the airbag 1 increases, the airbag 1 begins to expand. At this time, the gas inside the airbag 1 flows to the additional air chamber 4 through the damping hole 3. Due to the restrictive effect of the damping hole 3, the flow rate of the gas is restricted, thereby generating a damping effect, which helps to mitigate the impact and vibration when the airbag 1 expands. When the airbag 1 contracts, as the internal air pressure of the airbag 1 decreases, the airbag 1 begins to contract. At this time, the gas in the additional air chamber 4 flows back to the inside of the airbag 1 through the damping hole 3. Similarly, due to the restrictive effect of the damping hole 3, the flow rate of the gas is restricted, thereby generating a damping effect, which helps to mitigate the impact and vibration when the airbag 1 contracts.

[0037] Compared with the first embodiment, the second embodiment has the following differences: Figures 6 to 7 As shown, the stopper a in the second embodiment includes a centrally located gas nozzle a4 and a stopper sleeve a2 surrounding the outer periphery of the connecting gas nozzle a4. The lower portion of the connecting gas nozzle a4 is sealed to the housing. The inner periphery of the stopper sleeve a2 is provided with a barb a5, and the upper portion of the gas nozzle is provided with a slot a6 that mates with the barb a5. The stopper sleeve a2 defines a cavity a3 within the stopper sleeve. The connecting gas nozzle a4 is screwed to the housing, with the stopper sleeve a2 positioned higher than the connecting gas nozzle a4. A damping orifice 3 is located in the middle of the connecting gas nozzle a4 and extends through it. A second gas flow hole 16 is provided on the upper end surface of the housing, one end of which communicates with the cavity a3 and the other end with the inner cavity of the housing. The connecting gas nozzle a4 and the barb a5 securely secure the stopper a to the housing. The stopper sleeve a2 is higher than the connecting block a1, and the two together form a receiving cavity to prevent the connecting gas nozzle a4 from protruding and interfering with the function of the stopper a as an "emergency stop." The working principle of the second embodiment is consistent with that of the first embodiment.

[0038] Both the first and second embodiments have the following effects:

[0039] First, the gas inside the airbag 1 flows through the damping orifice 3 into the piston assembly chamber in response to pressure fluctuations. This process consumes some of the damping force. Therefore, the provision of the damping orifice 3 helps mitigate the impact and vibration of the airbag 1 during expansion and contraction, thereby improving vehicle ride comfort. Furthermore, the damping effect can be adjusted by adjusting the size and position of the damping orifice 3 to suit different driving conditions.

[0040] Secondly, they are all equipped with a limiter a to prevent the piston assembly from colliding with the rolling plate assembly and protect the piston assembly.

Claims

1. An air spring with a damping function, comprising an airbag and a piston assembly. The airbag is connected to a roll plate assembly above and to a piston assembly below. A stopper is provided between the piston assembly and the airbag, the stopper being fixed to the end of the piston assembly facing the airbag. The roll plate assembly is connected to a hollow air pipe connector that communicates with the interior of the airbag. The air spring is characterized by: The limiting member is provided with a damping hole, one end of the damping hole is communicated with the interior of the airbag, and the other end is communicated with the chamber of the piston assembly.

2. The air spring with damping function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The piston assembly includes an outer shell with a hollow interior, and the interior of the outer shell is divided into several groups of additional air chambers. A group of inner ring walls is provided between each two adjacent groups of additional air chambers, and the inner ring walls are penetrated by a first gas circulation hole. Each two adjacent groups of additional air chambers are connected through the first gas circulation hole, and the other end of the damping hole is connected to a group of additional air chambers.

3. The air spring with damping function according to claim 2, characterized in that: The outer shell includes an upper mounting seat and a lower mounting seat that are relatively distributed up and down. Several groups of upper spacers are provided inside the upper mounting seat. The several groups of upper spacers are arranged in sequence along the radial direction of the upper mounting seat. The lower mounting seat is provided with a group of lower spacers corresponding to each group of upper spacers. The ends of the upper spacers are provided with slots, and the ends of the lower spacers are provided with plugs that are adapted to the slots. Each group of upper spacers and the corresponding lower spacers form a group of inner ring walls. The first gas circulation holes are distributed at the lower spacers. The outer periphery of the upper mounting seat is connected to the outer periphery of the lower mounting seat by welding.

4. The air spring with damping function according to claim 3, characterized in that: The upper end surface of the upper mounting seat facing the inside of the airbag is provided with a connecting flange surrounding the outer periphery of the limiter, the upper end of the connecting flange is provided with an anti-disengagement hook, the lower end sealing sleeve of the airbag is provided on the connecting flange, and the lower end of the airbag is connected to a wire ring.

5. The air spring with damping function according to claim 4, characterized in that: The rolling plate assembly includes an end plate, which is provided with two groups of mounting holes. A group of air pipe joints are welded at each group of mounting holes. The outer ring of the end plate is provided with a riveted edge that is rolled toward the airbag. The upper end of the airbag is inserted into the riveted edge and the upper end of the airbag is also connected to a steel wire ring.

6. The air spring with damping function according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The limiting member includes a connecting block distributed in the middle and a stop sleeve surrounding the outer circumference of the connecting block. The connecting block and the stop sleeve are integrally formed. A cavity is provided inside the stop sleeve. The connecting block is connected to the outer shell by screws. The stop sleeve is higher than the connecting block and the two constitute an accommodating cavity. The damping hole is distributed on the end face of the stop sleeve facing the airbag and the damping hole is connected to the cavity. The upper end face of the outer shell is provided with a second gas circulation hole, one end of the second gas circulation hole is connected to the cavity, and the other end is connected to the inner cavity of the outer shell.

7. The air spring with damping function according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: The limiting component includes a connecting gas nozzle distributed in the middle and a stop sleeve surrounding the outer periphery of the connecting gas nozzle. The lower part of the connecting gas nozzle is sealed with the outer shell, the inner periphery of the stop sleeve is provided with a barb, and the upper part of the gas nozzle is provided with a slot adapted to the barb. A cavity is provided inside the stop sleeve, and the connecting gas nozzle is connected to the outer shell by a screw. The stop sleeve is higher than the connecting gas nozzle. The damping hole is distributed in the middle of the connecting gas nozzle and passes through the connecting gas nozzle. The upper end face of the outer shell is provided with a second gas circulation hole, one end of the second gas circulation hole is connected to the cavity, and the other end is connected to the inner cavity of the outer shell.

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