Michael G Crabtree

US Patent:

6386523, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Jun 5, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/587602

Inventors:

Michael L. Crabtree - Arvada CO
Richard F. Stieg - Boulder CO

Assignee:

The Gates Corporation - Denver CO

International Classification:

F16F 904

US Classification:

267 6421, 267 6424, 267122

Abstract:

An air spring of the type with a sleeve having a first rolling lobe connected at an end to a first piston, a second rolling lobe connected to an end to a second piston, and where the first piston is substantially frustoconical and the second piston is substantially cylindrical and where the minimum effective area of the first piston is less than the minimum effective area of the second piston and where the maximum effective area of the first piston is greater than the maximum effective area of the second piston. The frustoconical first piston allows the air spring to accommodate large angular suspension motion without degrading durability.

US Patent:

6902155, Jun 7, 2005

Filed:

Sep 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/666651

Inventors:

Michael L. Crabtree - Arvada CO, US

Assignee:

Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership - Plymouth MI

International Classification:

F16F009/04

US Classification:

267 6424, 267 6421, 267 6427

Abstract:

A side load compensating air spring piston having an elliptical cross-section. The side load compensating air spring comprises an air spring sleeve forming a chamber and having a rolling lobe. One end of the sleeve is attached to a tilted end cap for side load compensation. The other end of the sleeve has a rolling lobe engaged with a piston elliptical outer surface. The piston elliptical outer surface is disposed at a 90 angle to an elliptical stress distribution in the sleeve, thereby rendering the stress distribution uniform in the sleeve rolling lobe portion as it rolls on the piston.

US Patent:

7588234, Sep 15, 2009

Filed:

Jul 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/627034

Inventors:

Michael L. Crabtree - Arvada CO, US

Assignee:

Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership - Plymouth MI

International Classification:

F16F 9/04

US Classification:

267 6424, 267 6427, 267 6421

Abstract:

An air spring sleeve. The sleeve comprises an elastomer body having two plies. Each ply comprises a cord embedded in the elastomer body. Each cord is wound about the sleeve in an opposing direction from the other and each having a helix angle. The first cord helix angle and the second cord helix angle comprise a cord differential helix angle. The first or inner cord helix angle is greater than a second or outer cord helix angle. The cord differential helix angle is in the range of approximately 0 to 2. 5.

US Patent:

7967280, Jun 28, 2011

Filed:

Oct 24, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/552397

Inventors:

Michael L. Crabtree - Arvada CO, US

Assignee:

Vibracoustic North America, L.P. - Plymouth MI

International Classification:

F16F 9/04

US Classification:

267 6427, 267 6423

Abstract:

An air spring including a spring seat, and a flexible sleeve connected to the spring seat. The flexible sleeve forms a compression chamber and includes a lobe that rolls along a surface of the spring seat during compression of the flexible sleeve. An annular barrier is disposed on the spring seat between the lobe of the flexible sleeve and the surface of the spring seat to deflect debris and ice from becoming lodged or trapped in the spring seat that may damage the flexible sleeve.

US Patent:

20120098173, Apr 26, 2012

Filed:

Oct 26, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/912415

Inventors:

Michael L. Crabtree - Arvada CO, US

Assignee:

VIBRACOUSTICS NORTH AMERICA, L.P. - Plymouth MI

International Classification:

F16F 9/05

US Classification:

267124

Abstract:

An air spring including a piston, and a flexible sleeve connected to the piston. The flexible sleeve forms a compression chamber and includes a lobe that rolls along a surface of the piston during compression of the flexible sleeve. The flexible sleeve is connected to the piston by an inverted crimp connection. A crimp ring used providing the inverted crimp connection includes a rebound travel limiter around which the lobe is formed.

US Patent:

57526923, May 19, 1998

Filed:

Jan 6, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/779875

Inventors:

Michael L. Crabtree - Arvada CO
Richard F. Stieg - Boulder CO

Assignee:

The Gates Corporation - Denver CO

International Classification:

F16F 904

US Classification:

267 6424

Abstract:

A telescopic strut for a vehicle suspension of the airspring type with a flexible sleeve forming a chamber portion and a rolling lobe portion. The chamber portion is attached to a tilted closure and the rolling lobe portion of the airsleeve is attached to a piston that is transversely moved which introduces a shear force into the airsleeve and increases a surface area on an upward tilted side of the sleeve so as to provide side load compensation and where the axial length of the rolling lobe is substantially equalized to enhanced flexural life.

US Patent:

49541943, Sep 4, 1990

Filed:

May 23, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/197376

Inventors:

Michael L. Crabtree - Arvada CO

Assignee:

The Gates Rubber Company - Denver CO

International Classification:

B65H 5402
B29D 2300

US Classification:

156175

Abstract:

A method for making an Airspring and Sleeve that each have a chamber portion and rolling lobe portion reinforced with successive layers of embedded cord by winding cord in one layer at opposite helical angles from cord of a second successive layer and winding cord at inconstant helical angles in an annular band portion of at least one of the sleeve portions.

US Patent:

47638834, Aug 16, 1988

Filed:

Mar 30, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/032212

Inventors:

Michael L. Crabtree - Arvada CO

Assignee:

The Gates Rubber Company - Denver CO

International Classification:

F16F 904
F16J 300
B65M 8100
B29D 2800

US Classification:

267 6427

Abstract:

An airspring sleeve and airspring that each have a chamber portion and rolling lobe portion reinforced with successive layers of embedded cord where cord in one layer is wound at opposite helical angles from cord of a second successive layer and where the cord is wound at inconstant helical angles in an annular band portion of least one of the sleeve portions.