US 12,188,540 B2
Method of assembling a bellows accumulator for suspension dampers
Jan Vochten, Sint-Truiden (BE); Stefan Peerenbooms, Sint Truiden (BE); Tom Daniels, Testelt (BE); Gunter Vandenborne, Sint-Truiden (BE); and Kenny Berwaerts, Gingelom (BE)
Assigned to DRIV Automotive Inc., Northville, MI (US)
Filed by DRiV Automotive Inc., Southfield, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/726,760.
Prior Publication US 2023/0341022 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
Int. Cl. B23P 11/00 (2006.01); F16F 9/02 (2006.01); F16F 9/32 (2006.01); F16F 9/43 (2006.01)
CPC F16F 9/3271 (2013.01) [F16F 9/0281 (2013.01); F16F 9/43 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of assembling an accumulator for a suspension damper, the method comprising the steps of:
forming an outer shell of an accumulator where the outer shell includes a distal end with an end wall and an open end opposite the distal end;
assembling a bellows assembly by connecting a distal plate and a proximal plate to opposite ends of an annular bellows wall;
inserting the bellows assembly into the open end of the outer shell with the distal plate of the bellows assembly facing the end wall of the outer shell; and
coupling the distal plate of the bellows assembly to a stem of a gas charging port on the end wall of the outer shell of the accumulator at a fixed axial position using a fixation component that engages the stem of the gas charging port.