Temperature responsive valve assembly for a pneumatic spring

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The gas spring assembly according to the present invention provides a temperature responsive valve assembly having a valve body, a seal, a bi-metal valve and a locking member.
When temperatures are above a predetermined value, the bi-metal valve will be bowed into engagement with a valve seat and prevent gas flow from an auxiliary chamber into a first chamber.
When the temperature value falls to the predetermined value, bi-metal valve will snap in the opposite bowed or concave condition away from engagement with the valve seat to permit fluid flow between the two adjacent chambers.
The valve body includes a flexible radial member defined along the outer periphery of the valve body.
Each radial member includes a radially inward extending tab which engages the outer diameter of the locking member.
That is, the radial members allows the temperature responsive valve assembly to be essentially "snapped" together.
The locking member further includes axial spring feet which provide axial pressure upon the bi-metal valve to maintain engagement with the valve seat.
The temperature responsive valve assembly of the present invention provides greatly simplified assembly over conventional temperature responsive valves.
Moreover, as all members other than the bimetal valve and seal are preferably of a non-metallic material, the temperature responsive valve assembly is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.