- New
SAE HS 1576
$0.00
SAE HS 1576 1994 Edition, September 1, 1994
SAE Manual for Incorporating Pneumatic Springs in Vehicle Suspension
Designs
Description / Abstract:
This manual has been prepared to assist the engineer and the designer
to have a better
understanding of the basic principles, types, and uses of pneumatic
springs. In addition, it has
been designed to serve as a useful guide in the selection of pneumatic
springs for specific
applications. The need for such a manual has been dictated by the
popularity and growth of
pneumatic spring applications.
The use of pneumatic springs in commercial applications has been a relatively recent development, but the idea of such a spring is not a new concept.
The earliest available records of a practical approach to pneumatic springs is a patent granted to John Lewis in February 1847. Prior to 1910, Benjamin Bell was engaged in experimental work on sleeve-type pneumatic springs with various piston shapes. The work and ideas put forth by these two gentlemen were made possible through the combined efforts of an Irishman and an Englishman some 300 years before that time.
Robert Boyle published a paper in 1660, "New Experiments Touching the Spring of Air," setting forth the law "absolute pressures and volumes are in reciprocal proportion when temperature remains constant." Eighteen years later, Robert Hooke formulated the relationship between force and elongation of elastic solid materials.
The first serious work toward adapting the pneumatic spring to the automotive industry was carried out by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in the early 1930s. By 1935, experimental Buick and Plymouth cars were equipped with pneumatic springs. These were soon followed by installations on other vehicles, such as Studebaker, Chrysler, Ford, Lincoln, etc. In spite of this interest, the pneumatic spring was not adopted in the late 1930s, primarily because of costs and the tremendous improvements being made with steel springs and suspensions in general.
In 1938, General Motors Corporation became interested in a new suspension with pneumatic springs for its buses. Working with Firestone, the first buses were tested in 1944 and first production was realized in 1953. This breakthrough triggered the growth and development of the pneumatic spring into the many new fields and applications that are in use today. In addition, new concepts in pneumatic springs have evolved to meet the requirements of these new and changing needs.
During the mid-50s, Goodyear developed and patented the rolling lobe type air spring. The rolling lobe air spring load vs. deflection characteristics can be greatly influenced by piston contour.
The pneumatic spring has been able to make inroads into applications formerly reserved for, more conventional springs because of some unique characteristics and versatility. The more common and better known advantages of pneumatic springs are:
1. Controllable spring rate
2. Adjustable load capacity
3. Simplicity of height control
4. Reduction of friction
5. Nearly constant frequency with respect to load variations.
Why and how pneumatic springs can offer these advantages and meet the needs of modern industry will be described in the following chapters which cover: basic principles, types, design problems, and special uses of pneumatic springs.
The use of pneumatic springs in commercial applications has been a relatively recent development, but the idea of such a spring is not a new concept.
The earliest available records of a practical approach to pneumatic springs is a patent granted to John Lewis in February 1847. Prior to 1910, Benjamin Bell was engaged in experimental work on sleeve-type pneumatic springs with various piston shapes. The work and ideas put forth by these two gentlemen were made possible through the combined efforts of an Irishman and an Englishman some 300 years before that time.
Robert Boyle published a paper in 1660, "New Experiments Touching the Spring of Air," setting forth the law "absolute pressures and volumes are in reciprocal proportion when temperature remains constant." Eighteen years later, Robert Hooke formulated the relationship between force and elongation of elastic solid materials.
The first serious work toward adapting the pneumatic spring to the automotive industry was carried out by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in the early 1930s. By 1935, experimental Buick and Plymouth cars were equipped with pneumatic springs. These were soon followed by installations on other vehicles, such as Studebaker, Chrysler, Ford, Lincoln, etc. In spite of this interest, the pneumatic spring was not adopted in the late 1930s, primarily because of costs and the tremendous improvements being made with steel springs and suspensions in general.
In 1938, General Motors Corporation became interested in a new suspension with pneumatic springs for its buses. Working with Firestone, the first buses were tested in 1944 and first production was realized in 1953. This breakthrough triggered the growth and development of the pneumatic spring into the many new fields and applications that are in use today. In addition, new concepts in pneumatic springs have evolved to meet the requirements of these new and changing needs.
During the mid-50s, Goodyear developed and patented the rolling lobe type air spring. The rolling lobe air spring load vs. deflection characteristics can be greatly influenced by piston contour.
The pneumatic spring has been able to make inroads into applications formerly reserved for, more conventional springs because of some unique characteristics and versatility. The more common and better known advantages of pneumatic springs are:
1. Controllable spring rate
2. Adjustable load capacity
3. Simplicity of height control
4. Reduction of friction
5. Nearly constant frequency with respect to load variations.
Why and how pneumatic springs can offer these advantages and meet the needs of modern industry will be described in the following chapters which cover: basic principles, types, design problems, and special uses of pneumatic springs.
SAE HS 1576 1994 Edition, September 1, 1994
SAE Manual for Incorporating Pneumatic Springs in Vehicle Suspension
Designs