AIR SUSPENSION

• Air suspension
• is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an
electric or engine-driven air pump
or compressor. This compressor pumps the
air into a flexible bellows, usually made from
textile-reinforced rubber. The air pressure
inflates the bellows, and raises the chassis
from the axle.
• Air suspension is used in place of conventional steel springs in
heavy vehicle applications such as buses and trucks, and in
some passenger cars. It is widely used on semi
trailers and trains (primarily passenger trains).
• The purpose of air suspension is to provide a smooth,
constant ride quality, but in some cases is used for sports
suspension. Modern electronically controlled systems in
automobiles and light trucks almost always feature self-
leveling along with raising and lowering functions. Although
traditionally called air bags or air bellows, the correct term
is air spring (although these terms are also used to describe just
the rubber bellows element with its end plates).
• Shock absorbers and coil springs help absorb and direct road force,
maintaining wheel oscillation, jounce and rebound.
• However, every time you add or take away weight to a vehicle, speed up or
slow down, or turn left or right, this challenges what the shock absorbers
and springs are capable of. Traditional stock shocks and springs are
designed and installed with only a fixed set of situations in mind.
• Air suspension systems essentially replace a vehicle's coil springs with air
springs. The air springs are simply tough rubber and plastic bags inflated to
a certain pressure and height to mimic the coil springs. But the similarities
end there. By adding in an on-board air compressor, sensors and electronic
controls, today's air suspension systems provide several advantages over
all-metal, conventional springs, including near-instant tuning, and the
ability to adapt handling to different situations and vary load capability.
• A solenoid valve manifold is similar to a solenoid valve in
that it controls the flow of liquids or gasses. ... Each of
the solenoid valves contains the necessary coil windings,
spring and plunger that stops and directs the flow of media
through the manifold.
• An air bellow is a single-acting pneumatic actuator made of
reinforced elastomeric material. Each end is attached to a
metallic cover containing mounting holes and air inlet
ports.
A-Diaphragm
B-Laminated rubbers
C-Aperture holes
D-Under the face plate
E-Top plate
• Air fitting: A tapped hole allowing for the spring to be fed from the air compressor
• Nut/bolt/mount: The method for attaching the air spring to the component. Some
air springs incorporate a bolt and air fitting combination device.
• Bead plate: Crimped metal plate enclosing the spring and allowing attachment.
This is typically forged steel, cast zinc alloy or cast aluminum.
• Bellows: The physical, multi-layer material withholding the compressed gas. Usually
made of neoprene or rubber.
• Girdle: Only found in air springs of convoluted design, separating the bellows
chambers.
• Bumper: An optional layer of padding protecting the piston from damage if the air
spring fails.
• Piston: The component attached to the machinery requiring suspension, which is in
turn supported by the enclosed air. The piston housing is typically attached with
further hardware.
Types of Air Springs
• Outside of custom fabricated air springs, there are three available types
of market-ready air springs.
• Crimped, convoluted bellows, which attach the bellow to the bead plate
by a permanent crimp in the plate. These provide good vibration
isolation and linear/angular actuation, but are not for vehicle
suspensions.
• Sleeve bellows, which attach the bellows to the bead plate by an
external clamp. This air spring type provides good vibration isolation,
but only linear actuation. They are not typical in suspensions.
• Rolling lobe bellows, which incorporate a piston at one end of the
bellows, rather than a bead plate. This is most commonly found in
vehicle suspensions, and is generally not recommended for vibration
isolation.
 Air spring Specifications
• Air Spring Specifications
• Installation
• Though they have comparable capabilities, air springs are much cheaper than pneumatic
cylinders and other springs. When deflated, air springs have a small footprint, making them
easy to manipulate and connect to machinery.
• Maintenance
• Air springs tend to have low maintenance routines and some manufacturers state their air
springs are maintenance-free (set and forget). Air springs do not require lubrication, nor do
they have seals or guides that may become misaligned or damaged like with other
springs. Indeed, the bellows of air springs are prone to dry rot, though this could take years
to develop. Air springs should be stored in dry, dark areas at room temperature.
• Environment
• Due to its durability and simplicity, air springs are good for most industrial and commercial
applications. Rubber and neoprene are susceptible to dry rot, so dehumidified conditions
could shorten the service life of an air spring. Both rubber and neoprene are suitable for
use in high/low temperature applications, but have considerably less heat tolerance than
metal spring options. While usable up to 65°C, neoprene should not be used below -40°C,
and rubber shouldn't be used in sites below -60°C.