Air spring assembly and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model discloses an air spring assembly and a vehicle, and relates to the technical field of vehicle manufacturing, the air spring assembly comprises an air spring; the swing arm mechanism is connected to the bottom of the air spring; and the spherical hinge structure is connected to the top of the air spring and used for being connected with a vehicle body, or the spherical hinge structure is connected between the bottom of the air spring and the swing arm mechanism. According to the air spring assembly, the air spring and the swing arm mechanism are connected through the spherical hinge, or the air spring and the vehicle body are connected through the spherical hinge, so that the rigidity curve can be more accurately controlled, the deflection phenomenon is absorbed, the cost is reduced, the design is simplified, and the falling risk is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of vehicle manufacturing technology, and in particular to an air spring assembly and a vehicle having the air spring assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Air suspension systems adjust the vehicle's height and suspension stiffness by regulating the internal air pressure of the air springs, thereby better adapting to road conditions and driving dynamics and improving vehicle comfort and handling. In existing split-type air springs, the lower end typically employs a complex push-ring structure design, causing the spring skin to flip outwards. However, this design generally has limited effectiveness in absorbing air spring yaw, suffers from unsatisfactory lateral force distribution, is prone to instability, and is structurally complex and costly, leaving room for improvement. Utility Model Content

[0003] This invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes an air spring assembly that can more accurately control the stiffness curve, absorb sway phenomena, reduce costs, simplify design, and eliminate the risk of detachment.

[0004] An air spring assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an air spring; a swing arm mechanism connected to the bottom of the air spring; and a ball joint structure connected to the top of the air spring and used for connection to a vehicle body, or the ball joint structure connected between the bottom of the air spring and the swing arm mechanism.

[0005] According to the air spring assembly of this utility model embodiment, by engaging the air spring with the swing arm mechanism through a ball joint of the first ball joint and the second ball joint, or by engaging the air spring with the vehicle body through a ball joint of the first ball joint and the second ball joint, it not only helps to absorb the sway phenomenon caused to the air spring during suspension movement, but also absorbs the torsional movement caused to the air spring. Moreover, the ball joint is simple in form, does not require a complex push ring structure, which helps to reduce the installation cost and eliminates the risk of detachment.

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air spring assembly includes a first ball joint portion disposed on the air spring and a second ball joint portion disposed on the swing arm mechanism, wherein the first ball joint portion and the second ball joint portion form a ball joint engagement.

[0007] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the air spring assembly, one of the first ball joint and the second ball joint is configured as a ball pin pair and the other is configured as a spherical pair, wherein at least a portion of the ball pin pair extends into the spherical pair to form a ball joint engagement.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air spring assembly has a first mounting opening facing downward at the bottom, and the first ball joint is detachably mounted in the first mounting opening;

[0009] And / or, the top of the swing arm mechanism has an upward-opening second mounting port, and the second ball joint is detachably mounted in the second mounting port.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air spring assembly includes a piston, a bladder, and a base. The bottom of the piston is connected to the upper part of the bladder, and the piston is adapted to cause at least part of the upper part of the bladder to rotate and deform during movement. The bottom of the bladder is connected to the base, and the first ball joint is disposed on the base.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air spring assembly includes an annular connecting portion and an intermediate mounting portion. The intermediate mounting portion is located in the middle of the annular connecting portion. A reinforcing rib is connected between the intermediate mounting portion and the annular connecting portion. The annular connecting portion is connected to the bottom of the bladder. The first ball joint portion is located in the intermediate mounting portion.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the air spring assembly, the axial length of the intermediate mounting portion is greater than the axial length of the annular connecting portion, and the thickness of the reinforcing rib is configured to gradually increase from the end connected to the intermediate mounting portion to the end connected to the annular connecting portion.

[0013] And / or, the reinforcing ribs are provided in multiples, and the multiple reinforcing ribs are spaced apart around the intermediate mounting portion.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air spring assembly further includes a protective sleeve, which is sleeved outside the bladder, and the piston is adapted to drive the bladder to rotate and deform inside the protective sleeve.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air spring assembly further includes a dust cover, which is sleeved on the outside of the piston. The top of the dust cover is connected to the upper end of the piston, and the bottom of the dust cover is connected to the top of the protective sleeve.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, an air spring assembly is provided, in which a main chamber is formed between the piston and the bladder, and a stiffness switching valve is installed inside the piston. The stiffness switching valve divides the piston into a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber is connected to the main chamber, and the second chamber is connected to the first chamber through the stiffness switching valve.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, in the air spring assembly, the top of the piston is provided with a body connecting portion, which is used to detachably connect to the body;

[0018] And / or, the top of the piston is provided with a flexible buffer, which is adapted to elastically resist the vehicle body.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air spring assembly includes a swing arm body and a connecting bushing. The connecting bushing is installed at the end of the swing arm body and is used to connect to the vehicle frame. The second ball joint is provided on the swing arm body.

[0020] This utility model also proposes a vehicle.

[0021] The vehicle according to the present invention includes the air spring assembly described in any of the above embodiments.

[0022] The vehicle and the aforementioned air spring assembly have the same advantages over the prior art, which will not be repeated here.

[0023] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0024] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this utility model will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram (from one perspective) of the air spring assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a structural schematic diagram of the air spring assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention (from another perspective);

[0027] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the air spring assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a top view of the air spring according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Cross-sectional view at point AA;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a bottom view of the air spring assembly base according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 7This is a top view of the air spring assembly base according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0032] Figure 8 This is a front view of the air spring assembly base according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0033] Figure 9 This is a perspective view (one viewpoint) of the air spring assembly base according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0034] Figure 10 This is a perspective view (another perspective) of the air spring assembly base according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the air spring assembly swing arm according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure label:

[0037] Air spring assembly 100,

[0038] Air spring 1, piston 11, body connecting part 111, piston clamping ring 112, flexible buffer 113, bladder 12, base 13, annular connecting part 131, intermediate mounting part 132, first mounting port 133, reinforcing rib 134, connecting rib 135, first ball joint 136, base clamping ring 137, protective sleeve 14, dust cover 15, first chamber 161, second chamber 162, main chamber 163, stiffness conversion valve 17, limit snap ring 171, limit washer 172, sealing ring 173, support ring 18.

[0039] The swing arm mechanism 2, the swing arm body 21, the second mounting port 22, the second ball joint 23, and the connecting bushing 24. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0041] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "transverse," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model. Furthermore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0042] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0043] The following is for reference. Figures 1-11 The air spring assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention connects the air spring 1 and the swing arm mechanism 2 by means of a ball joint, or connects the air spring 1 and the vehicle body by means of a ball joint. This allows the air spring 1 to more accurately control the stiffness curve, absorb sway phenomena, reduce costs, simplify design, and eliminate the risk of detachment.

[0044] like Figures 1-11 As shown, the air spring assembly 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: an air spring 1, a swing arm mechanism 2, and a ball joint structure.

[0045] The swing arm mechanism 2 is connected to the bottom of the air spring 1, and the ball joint structure is connected to the top of the air spring 1. The ball joint structure is used to connect to the vehicle body, or the ball joint structure is connected between the bottom of the air spring 1 and the swing arm mechanism 2. That is to say, the air spring 1 and the swing arm mechanism 2 are connected by a ball joint, so that the air spring 1 as a whole can swing relative to the swing arm mechanism 2 in multiple directions and angles, or the air spring 1 and the vehicle body are connected by a ball joint, so that the air spring 1 as a whole can swing relative to the vehicle body in multiple directions and angles.

[0046] In actual installation, the top of the air spring 1 can be connected to the vehicle body, and the swing arm mechanism 2 can be connected to the vehicle end and the wheel end. In this way, during vehicle operation, the vibration generated by the wheel end contacting the ground can be transmitted from the swing arm mechanism 2 to the air spring 1. The air spring 1 can use the reciprocating flow of air inside it to achieve the effect of vibration reduction, thereby reducing the vibration transmitted to the vehicle body and improving the user's riding comfort.

[0047] It should be noted that during vehicle operation, the air spring 1 is prone to asymmetrical or irregular deviation in vibration direction, resulting in polarization. In this invention, the bottom of the air spring 1 is connected to the swing arm mechanism 2 via a ball joint, or the top of the air spring 1 is connected to the vehicle body via a ball joint. This allows the ball joint to absorb the swaying phenomenon caused to the air spring 1 during suspension movement, and also absorb the torsional movement caused to the air spring 1 during suspension movement, thereby improving the stability of the vehicle.

[0048] Meanwhile, by directly setting the ball joint structure, compared with the complex push ring structure in the existing technology, the setting method is simpler, which helps to reduce the cost of setting the push ring structure, simplify the structural design, and the ball joint design can make the bottom of the air spring 1 less likely to fall off from the position where it cooperates with the swing arm mechanism 2, or make the top of the air spring 1 less likely to fall off from the position where it cooperates with the vehicle body, thereby improving the stability of the air spring assembly 100 and enhancing driving safety.

[0049] According to the air spring assembly 100 of this utility model embodiment, by connecting the air spring 1 to the swing arm mechanism 2 through a ball joint structure, or by connecting the air spring 1 to the vehicle body through a ball joint structure, it is not only beneficial to absorb the sway phenomenon caused to the air spring 1 during suspension movement, but also to absorb the torsional movement caused to the air spring 1. Moreover, the ball joint is simple in form, does not require a complex push ring structure, which helps to reduce the installation cost and eliminates the risk of detachment.

[0050] In some embodiments, the ball joint structure includes a first ball joint portion 136 disposed on the air spring 1 and a second ball joint portion 23 disposed on the swing arm mechanism 2, wherein the first ball joint portion 136 and the second ball joint portion 23 form a ball joint engagement. That is, the air spring 1 and the swing arm mechanism 2 are connected together by the ball joint structure formed by the first ball joint portion 136 and the second ball joint portion 23, respectively.

[0051] like Figure 3As shown, the air spring 1 has a first ball joint 136 at its bottom, and the swing arm mechanism 2 has a second ball joint 23. The first ball joint 136 and the second ball joint 23 form a ball joint fit. At the same time, the air spring 1 and the swing arm mechanism 2 are connected together through the ball joint structure, which can accurately control the stiffness curve of the air spring 1, absorb polarization phenomena, reduce costs, and has a simple structure with no risk of falling off. In some embodiments, one of the first ball joint 136 and the second ball joint 23 is constructed as a ball pin pair and the other is constructed as a spherical pair. At least a portion of the ball pin pair extends into the spherical pair to form a ball joint fit. The first ball joint 136 can be constructed as a ball pin pair and the second ball joint 23 as a spherical pair, or the first ball joint 136 can be constructed as a spherical pair and the second ball joint 23 as a ball pin pair. The specific configuration can be flexibly selected and is not limited to one specific method, which helps to improve the flexibility of the structural configuration.

[0052] Therefore, by setting the ball joint in the form of a ball pin pair and a spherical pair, the two can be connected by the insertion and mating of the ball pin pair and the spherical pair, thus forming a ball joint fit. The structure is simple and easy to install. Furthermore, the spherical fit between the ball pin pair and the spherical pair helps to absorb the polarization phenomenon and torsional motion experienced by the air spring 1.

[0053] like Figure 3 As shown, in a specific construction, the first ball joint 136 can be constructed as a ball pin pair, with the ball pin pair protruding downwards from the bottom wall of the air spring 1, and the lower end of the ball pin pair being constructed as an outer spherical surface. At the same time, the second ball joint 23 can be constructed as a spherical pair, with the spherical pair located on the upper surface of the swing arm mechanism 2, and forming an upward-opening spherical groove. An inner spherical surface is formed inside the spherical groove. In this way, after the lower end of the ball pin pair extends into the spherical groove of the spherical pair, the outer spherical surface and the inner spherical surface form a spherical fit, that is, a ball joint fit structure is formed. The structure is simple and easy to install.

[0054] In some embodiments, the bottom of the air spring 1 has a downward-opening first mounting port 133, and the first ball joint 136 is detachably mounted in the first mounting port 133. That is, the first ball joint 136 can be detached relative to the bottom of the air spring 1. This allows the first ball joint 136 to be removed and replaced relative to the air spring 1. After the first ball joint 136 has undergone significant wear due to long-term contact with the second ball joint 23, the user can disassemble and replace the first ball joint 136 without replacing the entire air spring 1, which helps to reduce the cost of use.

[0055] The first ball joint 136 is installed and fitted with the first mounting port 133, so that at least a part of the first ball joint 136 is disposed in the first mounting port 133 to achieve an insertion fit. This avoids the problem of the first ball joint 136 detaching from the bottom of the air spring 1 during the hinge fit with the second ball joint 23, thereby improving structural stability and safety.

[0056] Specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, the first mounting port 133 is open downwards at the bottom of the air spring 1. The first ball joint 136 is constructed as a ball pin pair. The upper end of the ball pin pair extends into the first mounting port 133 and engages with the bottom of the air spring 1. The lower end of the ball pin pair extends downwards out of the first mounting port 133 to engage with the second ball joint 23. The ball pin pair can be flexibly installed and removed relative to the first mounting port 133. Thus, the ball joint engagement between the air spring 1 and the swing arm mechanism 2 can be realized. The structure is simple and the installation is convenient.

[0057] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the top of the swing arm mechanism 2 has an upwardly open second mounting port 22, and the second ball joint 23 is detachably mounted in the second mounting port 22. That is, the second ball joint 23 can be detached relative to the top of the swing arm mechanism 2. This allows the second ball joint 23 to be removed and replaced relative to the swing arm mechanism 2. Thus, after the second ball joint 23 has undergone significant wear due to long-term contact with the first ball joint 136, the user can disassemble and replace the second ball joint 23 without having to replace the entire swing arm mechanism 2, which helps reduce usage costs.

[0058] The second ball joint 23 is installed and fitted with the second mounting port 22, so that at least a part of the second ball joint 23 is disposed in the second mounting port 22 to achieve an insertion fit. This avoids the problem of the second ball joint 23 detaching from the bottom of the swing arm mechanism 2 during the hinge fit with the first ball joint 136, thereby improving the structural stability and safety.

[0059] Specifically, such as Figure 3 As shown, the second mounting port 22 is open upward at the top of the swing arm mechanism 2. The second ball joint 23 is constructed as a spherical pair. The lower end of the spherical pair extends into the second mounting port 22 and engages with the top of the swing arm mechanism 2. The upper end of the spherical pair is recessed downward for engagement with the first ball joint 136. The spherical pair can be flexibly installed and removed relative to the second mounting port 22. Thus, the ball joint engagement between the swing arm mechanism 2 and the air spring 1 can be realized. The structure is simple and the installation is convenient.

[0060] In some embodiments, the air spring 1 includes a piston 11, a bladder 12, and a base 13. The bottom of the piston 11 is connected to the upper part of the bladder 12, and the piston 11 is adapted to drive at least part of the upper part of the bladder 12 to rotate and deform during movement. It should be noted that the upper end of the piston 11 can be fixed relative to the vehicle body, while the lower part of the bladder 12 and the swing arm mechanism 2 are fixed relative to the wheel end. The piston 11 can reciprocate up and down relative to the bladder 12, thereby driving the airflow inside the bladder 12 to reciprocate during the up and down reciprocating motion, and causing the bladder 12 to repeatedly rotate with the reciprocating motion of the airflow, thus playing the role of damping the vibration of the air spring 1.

[0061] Specifically, such as Figure 5 As shown, the outer peripheral wall of the lower end of the piston 11 is formed with a piston step surface, which extends into the upper end of the bladder 12. The upper end of the bladder 12 is at least partially flipped and sleeved on the lower end of the piston 11. At the same time, a piston clamping ring 112 can be provided to fix the end of the bladder 12 and the lower end of the piston 11, so that the piston 11 and the bladder 12 are connected as a whole, thereby enabling the piston 11 to drive the bladder 12 to flip.

[0062] The bottom of the bladder 12 is connected to the base 13, which can fix the bottom of the bladder 12 to the base 13, or it can be detachably connected through other structural components, making the structure simple.

[0063] And, such as Figure 5 As shown, at least a portion of the upper end of the base 13 extends into the lower end of the bladder 12, that is, the lower end of the bladder 12 is arranged around the upper end of the base 13. At the same time, a base clamping ring 137 can be provided to fix the lower end of the bladder 12 and the upper end of the base 13, so that the lower end of the bladder 12 and the base 13 are connected as a whole and move relative to the piston 11 together, thereby achieving bottom support of the air spring 1.

[0064] The first ball joint 136 is provided on the base 13, which can fix the first ball joint 136 relative to the base 13, so that the air spring 1 can perform ball joint engagement movement with the swing arm mechanism 2 at the base 13 through the first ball joint 136. And as... Figure 6 As shown, a first mounting opening 133 is formed at the bottom of the base 13. The first mounting opening 133 is configured to be open downward relative to the base 13, so that the first ball joint 136 can be detachably installed in the base 13, which is convenient for installation and allows for quick replacement later.

[0065] In some embodiments, the base 13 includes an annular connecting portion 131 and an intermediate mounting portion 132. The intermediate mounting portion 132 is located in the middle of the annular connecting portion 131. A reinforcing rib 134 is connected between the intermediate mounting portion 132 and the annular connecting portion 131. The annular connecting portion 131 can be constructed as a ring. The intermediate mounting portion 132 is mounted at the center of the annular connecting portion 131. At the same time, the reinforcing rib 134 is provided to connect and fix the intermediate mounting portion 132 and the annular connecting portion 131 to enhance the overall structural strength of the base 13.

[0066] The annular connecting part 131 is connected to the bottom of the skin 12, thus connecting and fixing the annular connecting part 131 to the bottom of the skin 12. Figure 5 As shown, the outer peripheral wall of the upper end of the annular connecting part 131 forms a base step surface, which extends into the bottom of the bladder skin 12. At the same time, a base clamping ring 137 is fitted on the outer side of the bottom of the bladder skin 12 to press and fix the base 13 and the bladder skin 12. The structure is simple and easy to install.

[0067] The first ball joint 136 is located in the intermediate mounting portion 132, which has a downward-opening first mounting opening 133. The first ball joint 136 is mounted at the first mounting opening 133. Thus, the swing arm mechanism 2 and the air spring 1 can be connected and force transmitted through the intermediate mounting portion 132 of the base 13, allowing the force applied to the wheel end to be transmitted upwards from the bottom center of the air spring 1, reducing the polarization phenomenon of the air spring 1 and improving its reliability.

[0068] In other words, when the air spring 1 and the swing arm mechanism 2 are ball-jointed, the ball-joint engagement between the two can be achieved by setting a first mounting port 133 and a first ball joint part 136 on the base 13, and a second mounting port 22 and a second ball joint part 23 on the swing arm mechanism 2. The structure is simple and does not require a complex push ring structure to realize the ball joint structure, which simplifies the overall structural design, reduces the setting of the push ring structure, and reduces the setting cost.

[0069] In some embodiments, the axial length of the intermediate mounting portion 132 is greater than the axial length of the annular connecting portion 131, such as... Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, the annular connecting part 131 can be constructed as a ring, and the intermediate mounting part 132 can be constructed as a cylinder. The lower end of the intermediate mounting part 132 protrudes downward from the annular connecting part 131, so that the axial length of the intermediate mounting part 132 is greater. Thus, the intermediate mounting part 132 can have sufficient structural length for machining the first mounting port 133, and sufficient structural strength to realize the installation fit with the first ball joint part 136. At the same time, the intermediate mounting part 132 can maintain a stable structural state when the first ball joint part 136 is subjected to force.

[0070] Furthermore, the thickness of the reinforcing rib 134 gradually increases from the end connected to the intermediate mounting portion 132 to the end connected to the annular connecting portion 131. The inner end of the reinforcing rib 134 is fixedly connected to the outer peripheral wall of the intermediate mounting portion 132, while the outer end of the reinforcing rib 134 is fixedly connected to the inner peripheral wall of the annular connecting portion 131. In other words, the reinforcing rib 134 can transmit force between the intermediate mounting portion 132 and the annular connecting portion 131. Therefore, the reinforcing rib 134 not only serves to connect and transmit force but also strengthens the overall structure of the base 13.

[0071] And / or, multiple reinforcing ribs 134 can be provided, and the multiple reinforcing ribs 134 are arranged at intervals around the intermediate mounting part 132, that is, multiple reinforcing ribs 134 can be used together to connect the intermediate mounting part 132 and the annular connecting part 131, so as to jointly play a role in structural reinforcement. In specific settings, the number of reinforcing ribs 134 can be set to 6, 8, 10 or more. Of course, the actual number is not limited to the above examples, and can be set according to the actual strength requirements.

[0072] Among them, such as Figure 6 As shown, a connecting rib 135 can also be provided between two adjacent reinforcing ribs 134 to increase the connection strength between the two reinforcing ribs 134, thereby improving the overall structural strength of the base 13.

[0073] Furthermore, the spacing of the multiple reinforcing ribs 134 in the circumferential direction of the intermediate mounting part 132 can be set to be relatively uniform, so that the structural strength of the base 13 at various positions in the circumferential direction is relatively uniform, thereby helping to overcome the polarization phenomenon and ensuring the structural stability of the base 13.

[0074] In some embodiments, the air spring 1 further includes a protective sleeve 14, which is sleeved over the bladder 12. The protective sleeve 14 may be made of aluminum to give it greater structural strength, thereby protecting the bladder 12 and preventing it from being directly exposed to the outside of the air spring 1, thus improving the safety of the bladder 12.

[0075] The piston 11 is adapted to drive the bladder 12 to rotate and deform within the protective sleeve 14, that is, the lower end of the piston 11 and the bladder 12 are located within the protective sleeve 14. Figure 5 As shown, the upper part of the bladder 12 is mostly located inside the protective sleeve 14. At the same time, the lower end of the piston 11 is connected to the bladder 12 even inside the protective sleeve 14. In this way, when the piston 11 drives the bladder 12 to move, the outer ring surface of the bladder 12 can be supported by the protective sleeve 14 during the flipping process. That is, the bladder 12 flips inward instead of outward. This not only helps to maintain structural stability, but also shortens the exposed distance of the bladder 12 between the protective sleeve 14 and the base 13, ensuring that the stiffness curve of the air spring 1 is accurately controlled by the piston 11, thus improving driving performance.

[0076] In actual installation, a support ring 18 can be set to support the structure of the casing 14 to improve the structural strength of the casing 14. That is, a support ring 18 can be set at the joint between the bladder 12 and the casing 14 to avoid serious structural deformation caused by the gas pressure inside the bladder 12 acting on the casing 14, and to ensure the structural stability of the casing 14.

[0077] In some embodiments, the air spring 1 further includes a dust cover 15, which is sleeved around the piston 11. The top of the dust cover 15 is connected to the upper end of the piston 11, and the bottom of the dust cover 15 is connected to the top of the protective sleeve 14. Thus, the dust cover 15 can provide dust protection for the mating area between the piston 11 and the bladder 12. In actual use, it not only serves to prevent dust but also prevents external stones, sand, or rainwater from splashing in, improving the reliability of the mating between the piston 11 and the bladder 12, preventing corrosion or damage to the piston 11, and ensuring structural safety.

[0078] Specifically, such as Figure 5 As shown, the dust cover 15 can be constructed in a constricted shape, that is, the outer diameter of the dust cover 15 gradually increases from top to bottom. That is, the upper end of the dust cover 15 is smaller and can be tightly fitted to the piston 11, while the lower end of the dust cover 15 is larger and can be tightly fitted to the sleeve 14. This greatly reduces the motion envelope space of the air spring 1, which is beneficial to the spatial arrangement of the suspension.

[0079] Furthermore, the dust cover 15 can be constructed as a corrugated tube so that the dust cover 15 can be extended and retracted, that is, the length of the dust cover 15 can change with the reciprocating motion of the piston 11, so as to achieve adaptive space occupation and not always occupy a large space.

[0080] In some embodiments, a main chamber 163 is formed between the piston 11 and the bladder 12. A stiffness switching valve 17 is installed inside the piston 11, which divides the piston 11 into a first chamber 161 and a second chamber 162. The first chamber 161 is connected to the main chamber 163, and the second chamber 162 is connected to the first chamber 161 through the stiffness switching valve 17.

[0081] After the piston 11 is connected and fixed to the bladder 12 and the base 13, a sealed volume space is formed inside the air spring 1. This volume space includes a first chamber 161, a second chamber 162, and a main chamber 163. The lower end of the first chamber 161 is connected to the upper end of the main chamber 163, forming a unified lower space. The second chamber 162 is located above the lower space. During vehicle vibration, the piston 11 and the vehicle body move together relative to the wheel end, creating a pressure difference between the lower space and the second chamber 162. At this time, the stiffness switching valve 17 can conduct airflow, allowing airflow between the lower space and the second chamber 162, thereby achieving vibration damping and buffering during airflow.

[0082] In other words, during the operation of the air spring 1, under the action of air pressure, the bladder 12 flips between the working areas of the aluminum sleeve 14 and the piston 11. Based on the compressibility of air, the spring's extension and contraction function is realized under the change of spring load. At the same time, the spring height can be adjusted by changing the inflation and deflation.

[0083] Furthermore, it should be noted that the internal chamber of the air spring 1 in this utility model is not limited to the double-chamber air spring exemplified above, but can also be configured as a single-chamber, triple-chamber, or multi-chamber spring, etc., that is, the stiffness conversion valve 17 can be configured as one, two, or more, such as... Figure 5 As shown, there are two stiffness switching valves 17.

[0084] Furthermore, during actual installation, the stiffness switching valve 17 can be inserted into the piston 11 from one axial end of the piston 11, and axially limited by the limiting snap ring 171 and the limiting washer 172 to ensure that the axial position of the stiffness switching valve 17 is relatively fixed, and the sealing performance can be ensured by the sealing ring 173.

[0085] In some embodiments, the piston 11 has a body connecting portion 111 at its top, which is used to detachably connect to the body. That is, the piston 11 can be selectively connected to the body via the body connecting portion 111, allowing the top of the piston 11 to be fixed or detached relative to the body. When the body connecting portion 111 is fixed relative to the body, the piston 11 can move synchronously with the body, preventing the air spring 1 from automatically detaching from the body and improving the stability of the air spring 1. Furthermore, when disassembling the air spring 1, the body connecting portion 111 can be separated from the body using a tool to achieve the disassembly process.

[0086] In actual installation, the body connecting part 111 can be configured as a snap-fit, such as... Figure 1 and Figure 4As shown, multiple clips can be configured, and these multiple clips can be distributed around the axis of the piston 11 on the top of the piston 11, so that multiple clips can be simultaneously engaged with the vehicle body, thereby improving the connection stability between the air spring 1 and the vehicle body.

[0087] Of course, the body connection part 111 is not limited to being constructed as a snap-fit; it can also be constructed as a bolt or other types of connectors, all of which can be used to connect to the body.

[0088] Specifically, such as Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the buckle has a snap-fit ​​protrusion, which protrudes horizontally and is suitable for snapping against the vehicle body.

[0089] And / or, in some other embodiments, the top of the piston 11 is provided with a flexible buffer 113, which is adapted to elastically resist the vehicle body. That is, the flexible buffer 113 can play an elastic buffering role between the piston 11 and the vehicle body to avoid rigid impact between the piston 11 and the vehicle body, thereby avoiding structural damage after repeated impacts.

[0090] In practical design, the flexible buffer 113 can be constructed as a soft rubber pad, such as... Figure 5 As shown, a soft rubber pad is fitted onto the top of the piston 11. When the piston 11 moves upwards to engage with the vehicle body, the soft rubber pad provides elastic cushioning, preventing excessive damage to the top surface of the piston 11 or the bottom surface of the vehicle body, thus ensuring structural safety. In some embodiments, the swing arm mechanism 2 includes a swing arm body 21 and a connecting bushing 24. The connecting bushing 24 is installed at the end of the swing arm body 21 and is used to connect to the vehicle frame. Figure 3 and Figure 11 As shown, the main body 21 of the swing arm is rod-shaped, and there are two connecting bushings 24. That is, there is a connecting bushing 24 at each end of the main body 21 of the swing arm. One of the two connecting bushings 24 is used to connect with the vehicle end, and the other is used to connect with the wheel end, so that the main body 21 of the swing arm can be fixedly connected to the wheel end and the vehicle end respectively.

[0091] And, the second ball joint 23 is provided on the swing arm body 21, such as Figure 3 and Figure 11 As shown, the second ball joint 23 is constructed as a spherical pair, and the middle part of the swing arm body 21 is provided with a second mounting port 22. The second mounting port 22 is open upwards, and the second ball joint 23 can be installed in the second mounting port 22, that is, in the middle part of the swing arm body 21. Thus, the middle mounting part 132 of the base 13 and the middle part of the swing arm body 21 can be connected by a ball joint through the cooperation of the first ball joint 136 and the second ball joint 23, which is beneficial for absorbing polarization phenomena.

[0092] This utility model also proposes a vehicle.

[0093] The vehicle according to the embodiments of the present invention includes an air spring assembly 100 of any of the above embodiments. The vehicle of the present invention, by providing this air spring assembly 100, has the following advantages: The push ring structure of the base 13 is eliminated, so the air spring 1's bladder 12 does not need to be flipped outwards; the exposed distance of the bladder 12 between the aluminum sleeve 14 and the lower base 13 is shortened, ensuring that the stiffness curve of the air spring 1 is accurately controlled by the piston 11. Furthermore, a ball joint is used instead to absorb the sway phenomenon of the air spring 1 caused by suspension movement, while also reducing the material of the air spring 1's push ring and lowering costs; the use of the ball joint can also directly absorb the sway phenomenon caused by suspension movement. The torsional motion caused by the air spring 1 eliminates the need for a planar bearing design, further simplifying the structure of the split air spring 1, reducing materials, and lowering costs. Simultaneously, the top of the air spring 1 features a snap-fit ​​structure for secure fastening to the vehicle body, or a ball joint structure for connection, preventing the split air spring 1 from detaching from the suspension even when the air suspension system is de-inflated. Furthermore, the lower end of the air spring 1 eliminates the need for a dust cover 15, and the upper dust cover 15 can be tapered, significantly reducing the space occupied by the air spring 1's motion envelope, which is beneficial for suspension space arrangement. This, in turn, improves overall vehicle performance.

[0094] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0095] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An air spring assembly (100), characterized by, The air spring (1) comprises: a swing arm mechanism (2) connected to the bottom of the air spring (1); a ball joint structure connected to the top of the air spring (1) and used for being connected with a vehicle body or connected between the bottom of the air spring (1) and the swing arm mechanism (2). The ball joint structure comprises a first ball joint part (136) arranged on the air spring (1) and a second ball joint part (23) arranged on the swing arm mechanism (2), and the first ball joint part (136) and the second ball joint part (23) form a ball joint cooperation.

2. The air spring assembly (100) of claim 1, wherein, One of the first ball joint part (136) and the second ball joint part (23) is configured as a ball pin pair and the other is configured as a spherical pair, and at least part of the ball pin pair extends into the spherical pair to form a ball joint cooperation.

3. The air spring assembly (100) of claim 2, wherein, The bottom of the air spring (1) is formed with a first mounting opening (133) which is open downward, and the first ball joint part (136) is detachably mounted in the first mounting opening (133); 4. The air spring assembly (100) of claim 3, wherein, and / or, the top of the swing arm mechanism (2) is formed with a second mounting opening (22) which is open upward, and the second ball joint part (23) is detachably mounted in the second mounting opening (22). The air spring (1) comprises a piston (11), a bladder skin (12) and a base (13), the bottom of the piston (11) is connected to the upper part of the bladder skin (12), and the piston (11) is adapted to drive the upper part of the bladder skin (12) to at least partially overturn and deform during movement, the bottom of the bladder skin (12) is connected with the base (13), and the first ball joint part (136) is arranged on the base (13).

5. The air spring assembly (100) of any of claims 2-4, wherein, The base (13) comprises an annular connecting part (131) and an intermediate mounting part (132), the intermediate mounting part (132) is located in the middle of the annular connecting part (131), a reinforcing rib (134) is connected between the intermediate mounting part (132) and the annular connecting part (131), the annular connecting part (131) is connected with the bottom of the bladder skin (12), and the first ball joint part (136) is arranged on the intermediate mounting part (132).

6. The air spring assembly (100) of claim 5, wherein, The axial length of the intermediate mounting part (132) is greater than the axial length of the annular connecting part (131), and the thickness of the reinforcing rib (134) is gradually increased from one end connected with the intermediate mounting part (132) to the other end connected with the annular connecting part (131); 7. The air spring assembly (100) of claim 6, wherein, and / or, the reinforcing rib (134) is provided in a plurality, and the plurality of reinforcing ribs (134) are arranged at intervals around the intermediate mounting part (132). The air spring (1) further comprises a sleeve (14) sleeved outside the bladder skin (12), and the piston (11) is adapted to drive the bladder skin (12) to overturn and deform in the sleeve (14).

8. The air spring assembly (100) of claim 6, wherein, ​ 9. The air spring assembly (100) of claim 8, wherein, The air spring (1) further comprises a dust cover (15) sleeved outside the piston (11), a top of the dust cover (15) is connected with an upper end of the piston (11), and a bottom of the dust cover (15) is connected with a top of the sleeve (14).

10. The air spring assembly (100) of claim 5, wherein, A main chamber (163) is formed between the piston (11) and the bladder skin (12), a stiffness conversion valve (17) is installed in the piston (11), the stiffness conversion valve (17) divides the piston (11) into a first cavity (161) and a second cavity (162), the first cavity (161) is communicated with the main chamber (163), and the second cavity (162) is communicated with the first cavity (161) through the stiffness conversion valve (17).

11. The air spring assembly (100) of claim 5, wherein, A top of the piston (11) is provided with a vehicle body connecting part (111) for detachably connecting with a vehicle body. And / or, a top of the piston (11) is provided with a flexible buffer (113) adapted to be elastically abutted against the vehicle body.

12. The air spring assembly (100) of any one of claims 2-4, wherein, The swing arm mechanism (2) comprises a swing arm body (21) and a connecting bush (24) installed at an end of the swing arm body (21), the connecting bush (24) is used for connecting with a vehicle frame, and the second spherical hinge part (23) is arranged on the swing arm body (21).

13. A vehicle characterized by comprising: The air spring assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1-12. The air spring assembly (100) according to any one of claims 1-12.

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