Air Spring Cover Guiding Portion for Crane Loading Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air springs for commercial vehicles are unsuitable for crane loading as they tend to fold or tilt due to negative pressure when the axle weight is extended, leading to potential damage during loading and unloading operations.
Innovation Solution
An air spring design featuring a plunger piston with a guiding portion at its circumferential edge that extends beyond the fixing portion, providing additional support to the axle-side region of the air bellows, ensuring reliable unrolling and unfolding even under low internal pressure, eliminating the need for tensioning devices or divided plunger pistons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the air bellows is completely extended during crane loading, then the spring range is maximized, but the air bellows folds or tilts due to negative pressure
Solution Approach 1:
A guiding portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the cover and the axle-side region of the air bellows. This guiding portion provides mechanical guidance and support, preventing the air bellows from folding or tilting during complete extension in crane loading operations, while allowing the full spring range to be utilized.
2Reliability
If tensioning devices are used to limit spring range, then air bellows stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding function is merged into the existing cover structure by forming a guiding portion at the circumferential edge of the cover. This integration eliminates the need for separate tensioning devices or gripping mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining air bellows stability during crane loading.
3Reliability
If the air bellows is supported by additional devices, then air bellows stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex support devices throughout the air spring structure, a localized guiding portion is formed at the circumferential edge of the cover. This localized feature provides the necessary support and guidance function with minimal additional manufacturing complexity, as it can be integrated into the existing cover molding or fabrication process.
Data Source
AI summary
Air spring, in particular for a commercial vehicle, comprising a plunger piston, an air bellows, and a cover, said air bellows being movable between a first compressed position and a second extended position by a compressing or extending movement, wherein the air bellows has an axle-side region with a fixing portion for fixing on the plunger piston, and a body-side region, wherein the fixing portion is fixed between the cover and the plunger piston, and wherein the cover has at least one guiding portion on the cover circumferential edge, said guiding portion extending away from the body-side region and outwards over or beyond the fixing portion and being used as a support for the axle-side region.