US 12,291,064 B2
Damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems
Damon Delorenzis, Plainfield, IL (US); and Jeff R. Zawacki, Channahon, IL (US)
Assigned to Hendrickson USA, L.L.C., Schaumburg, IL (US)
Filed by Hendrickson USA, L.L.C., Schaumburg, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/884,752.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/237,825, filed on Aug. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0069043 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B60G 15/12 (2006.01); F16F 9/04 (2006.01); F16F 9/05 (2006.01)
CPC B60G 15/12 (2013.01) [B60G 2202/30 (2013.01); B60G 2206/40 (2013.01); B60G 2800/162 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An air spring for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system comprising:
a bellows including a bellows chamber;
a piston including a piston chamber, said bellows chamber being operatively connected to said piston chamber;
at least one opening disposed between the bellows chamber and the piston chamber for restricted fluid communication between said bellows chamber and said piston chamber;
wherein a ratio of a cross-sectional area of said at least one opening in square inches to a volume of the piston chamber in cubic inches to a volume of the bellows chamber in cubic inches to an estimated effective area of said air spring in square inches, is from about 1:600:1200:120 to about 1:14100:23500:1200; and
wherein said air spring provides acceptable damping in a first critical frequency range of from about 0.8 Hz to about 2.0 Hz and in a second critical frequency range of from about 8.0 Hz to about 15 Hz.