Air Spring Piston Shoulder Attachment for Secure Bellows Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production and installation of air spring pistons with radially inner connections, particularly conical sealing seats, are difficult and complicated, often leading to issues such as slipping of the air spring bellows and the need for additional separation preventers, which complicate the manufacturing process.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a piston shoulder attachment that forms a recessed support shoulder with a sealing seat for the air spring bellows, allowing for a separate and easy installation of the fastening bead, which can be done after the production of the air spring piston, simplifying the manufacturing process and ensuring a secure, pressure-resistant seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conical sealing seat is formed on the air spring piston to secure the fastening bead, then sealing reliability is improved, but production complexity increases due to difficulty in forming and installing radially inner connections
Solution Approach 1:
The air spring piston is divided into two separate components: the piston body and the piston shoulder attachment. The piston shoulder attachment is a separate ring-shaped component that is installed onto the piston body after the piston is manufactured. This segmentation allows the piston body to be produced using standard processes without complex radially inner features, while the separate attachment provides the necessary sealing and fastening functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston shoulder attachment is pre-formed as a separate component with the conical sealing seat and fastening bead support features already integrated. This attachment is then installed onto the piston body in a preliminary assembly step before the air spring bellows is installed. This preliminary action eliminates the need to form complex radially inner connections during piston manufacturing.
2Reliability
If additional separation preventers are added to prevent the bellows from slipping off, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The functions of separation prevention, sealing, and fastening bead support are merged into a single integrated component: the piston shoulder attachment. This ring-shaped attachment combines a shoulder region that prevents axial separation, a conical sealing seat that seals the working chamber, and a radially inner connection region that supports the fastening bead. This merging eliminates the need for multiple separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston shoulder attachment serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a separation preventer by providing an axial shoulder, provides sealing through the conical sealing seat, and supports the fastening bead through the radially inner connection. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of components needed in the air spring assembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enables easy and economical production and installation of air springs with improved end fastening and sealing, allowing for greater spring travel and reduced complexity in manufacturing, while maintaining a secure connection.
Implementation Method 1
a radially inner sealing face of the fastening bead bears against the conical sealing seat of the air spring piston so as to seal the working chamber
Implementation Method 2
the air spring bellows forms a rolling fold which can roll on the air spring piston
Implementation Method 3
at least partially encloses a working chamber filled with compressed air
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an air spring (1a) with an elastic air spring bellows (3a), wherein the air spring bellows is tightly connected to an air spring cover (2) at its first open end and to an air spring piston (6a) at its second open end and thereby at least partially encloses a working chamber (4) filled with compressed air, wherein the air spring bellows forms a rolling fold (5) which can roll on the air spring piston (6a), wherein the air spring bellows has a fastening bead (7a) at least at its one end which faces the air spring piston, wherein a radially inwardly extending shoulder region (10a) is formed at the bellows-side axial end of the air spring piston (6a), wherein a conical sealing seat (9a) is formed radially on the inside at the shoulder region, wherein a radially inner sealing face (13a) of the fastening bead bears against the conical sealing seat of the air spring piston so as to seal the working chamber, and wherein the underside (14a) of the fastening bead pointing towards the air spring piston is pushed axially onto the shoulder region of the air spring piston. It is provided according to the invention that an annular piston shoulder attachment (16a) is arranged at the shoulder region of the air spring piston, that the piston shoulder attachment has a radial inner side (19a) which directly or indirectly adjoins the radial outer side (15a) of the fastening bead of the air spring bellows, and that the piston shoulder attachment has a radial outer side (18a) which, at least in the region of its greatest external diameter, adjoins a radial outer contour (12a) of the air spring piston in a radially flush manner.