Including Means Connecting Thrust Member To Load Patents (Class 188/321.11)
  • Patent number: 11685213
    Abstract: A top mount assembly includes an insulator coupled to a vehicle body; an upper housing coupled to the insulator; a lower housing coupled to the upper housing; a bearing arranged between the upper housing and the lower housing; an inner seal member comprising a seal frame coupled to the upper end portion of the lower housing in a radially inward direction of the bearing, a seal base portion coupled to the seal frame and a plurality of inner seal lips. The seal frame includes a sleeve coupled to the upper end portion of the upper housing and a flange extending from an upper end of the sleeve in a radially outward direction. The seal base portion is coupled to the flange of the seal frame. The upper end of the inner seal lips is disposed to be spaced apart from the inner sidewall of the upper housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: ILJIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young No Lim, Se Woong Jeong, Eui Mo Jung
  • Patent number: 11649871
    Abstract: A bracket of a cylinder device includes: a tubular portion having a C-shaped cross section, holding an outer periphery of the outer shell, and having a slit in a front portion; and a pair of mounting portions and protruding outward in the radial direction from both ends of the tubular portion in the circumferential direction. The tubular portion includes a hole formed to permit insertion of the protrusion, from at least one side portion to the back portion of the tubular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Shibata, Yasuhiro Inagaki
  • Patent number: 11345206
    Abstract: A suspension thrust bearing device for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle includes a bearing having an upper annular bearing member and a lower annular bearing member configured for relative rotation. The lower annular bearing member has a radial surface and a resilient damper overmolded to the radial surface, which damper has a lower support surface configured to axially support an end coil of the suspension spring. The lower support surface has at least one high portion and at least one low portion that form a waveform, such as a square wave or a sinusoidal wave, in a peripheral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Charles Chambonneau, Francois De Lemps, Christophe Houdayer, Desire Vidot
  • Patent number: 11313412
    Abstract: Provided is a slide bearing capable of retaining strength while achieving weight reduction and cost-cutting. The slide bearing has an upper case (2) to be attached to an upper support for attaching a suspension to a vehicle body, a lower case (3) rotatably combined with the upper case (2), an annular center plate (4) located between the upper case (2) and the lower case (3), and an annular sliding sheet (5) located between the upper case (2) and the center plate (4). The lower case (3) has a lower case body (31) in a substantial cylindrical shape, a flange part (32) projecting radially outward from an outer peripheral surface of the lower case body (31), and hollow sections (321) formed on an outer peripheral surface of the flange part (32). A plurality of the hollow sections (321) are formed at equal intervals in a circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the flange part (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: OILES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yamada, Yoshiteru Igarashi, Kouichi Morishige
  • Patent number: 11300171
    Abstract: A spring apparatus (10), including: a spring (12); an elongated object (18A) disposed within and along the spring (12); and a mode-changing assembly (16), for providing a first mode in which a portion (38) of the spring (12) being along the elongated object (18A) is not springy, and a second mode in which an entire of the spring (12) is springy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Inventors: Gil Zohar, Eyal Eliyahu Ashkenazi
  • Patent number: 11254178
    Abstract: A suspension strut including an air spring unit and a damper unit that are aligned on a common axis is disclosed. The air spring unit includes a rolling tube having a flared terminal end that extends over a damper tube associated with the damper unit. The damper tube has a circumferential groove formed in an outer diameter of the damper tube. A retaining ring has a greater outer diameter than the outer diameter of the damper tube and is positioned in the circumferential groove. A base has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the retaining ring, and an outer diameter smaller than the predetermined diameter of the flared free end, and is supported on the retaining ring. A torsion element fits around the damper tube and within the flared free end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: RB DISTRIBUTION, INC.
    Inventors: Tam Van Nguyen, Matthew Robert May
  • Patent number: 11186133
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a suspension thrust bearing device, for use with a suspension spring in an automotive suspension strut of a vehicle. The device comprises a bearing having upper and lower annular bearing members in relative rotation, and a damping element made of resilient material and interposed between the lower annular bearing member and the suspension spring. The damping element comprising at least one deflecting flange for reducing any ingress of water and other pollutants between the upper and lower annular bearing members. The damping element is provided with an annular groove open axially towards the suspension spring, said annular groove radially defining a spring support surface on inner side, and the said deflecting flange on outer side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: SKF KOREA LTD.
    Inventors: Francois De Lemps, Tommy Jullien, Bruno Montboeuf, Heedong Oh
  • Patent number: 11187297
    Abstract: A vehicle strut assembly includes a boot and a coil spring. The boot has a vertical wall, a spring receiving portion and a centering portion projecting from the vertical wall. The coil spring has an end section, a transition section and a main section, the end section being fitted to the spring receiving portion encircling at least a portion of the vertical wall and defining a first radially inner diameter. The transition section has an increasing inner diameter extending from the end section to the main section. The main section defines a second radially inner diameter greater than the first radially inner diameter. The centering portion is positioned to contact a radially inner surface of the transition section of the coil spring restricting movement of the end section of the coil spring relative to the spring receiving portion of the boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel Garrett
  • Patent number: 11046139
    Abstract: A strut mount and bearing assembly includes a strut mount having upper and lower ends, a central bore for receiving a shock absorber end and an annular upper race surface between the upper and lower ends and extending circumferentially about the bore. The upper end is fixedly connectable with a vehicle body and has a flat attachment surface disposeable against a vehicle surface of the vehicle body. A first bearing race is disposed on the mount and a spring seat having a second bearing race is movably coupled with the strut mount. The seat also has a lower end with spring engagement surface and a second bearing race is disposed on the seat spaced axially from the first bearing race. Rolling elements are disposed between the first and second bearing races to form a bearing. The various components are formed and sized to make an axially compact assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Mathieu Hubert, Thomas Lepine, Massimo De Francisco
  • Patent number: 10894698
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cabin lifter for a material transfer unit comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder supported in a damped manner. The present disclosure is further directed to a corresponding damping bush for damping the hydraulic cylinder and to a material transfer unit comprising a corresponding cabin lifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Liebherr-Hydraulikbagger GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Henkel, Phillip Altvater
  • Patent number: 10823249
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston. The piston is configured to partition an internal space of the cylinder into two oil chambers and is capable of sliding in an axial direction of the cylinder. The piston having formed therethrough a communication path configured to bring the two oil chambers into communication with each other. The shock absorber also includes a first rod and a second rod. The first rod extends in a first direction of the axial direction with respect to the piston. The second rod has a diameter larger than a diameter of the first rod, and extends in a second direction of the axial direction, which is opposite to the first direction, with respect to the piston. The shock absorber further includes a rod mounting member, which is provided on the first rod, and a cylinder mounting member, which is provided on the cylinder and arranged as offset from an axis of the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiji Sawai, Takashi Imamura
  • Patent number: 10696116
    Abstract: An air spring connecting device for mounting an air spring strut on a vehicle may include an air spring support bearing having a head bearing receiver, a head bearing having at least one cylindrical outer surface, and a piston rod that is axially guided through the head bearing and is sealed in an airtight manner relative to the head bearing. The head bearing may be positioned in the head bearing receiver of the air spring support bearing positioned coaxially relative to the piston rod. An airtight connection may be formed between the head bearing receiver and the head bearing. A press connection element may be positioned in direct contact with the head bearing receiver and the head bearing. A sealing element may be positioned in a region of the head bearing receiver between the air spring support bearing and the head bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignees: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH, THYSSENKRUPP AG
    Inventors: Jens Priess, Matthias Becker
  • Patent number: 10669017
    Abstract: A strut assembly for an aircraft landing gear structure is transitioned between an extended configuration, corresponding to the aircraft being off the ground, and a retracted configuration, in which the strut assembly is shortened along its longitudinal axis with respect to the extended configuration, for stowage during flight. The strut assembly includes an upper bulkhead supported by an upper tubular housing, and a lower tubular housing configured to be longitudinally translated with respect to the upper tubular housing. To transition the strut assembly to the retracted configuration, translation of the upper bulkhead with respect to the upper tubular housing mechanically causes translation of the lower tubular housing to a retracted position, such that the overall length of the strut assembly is reduced. The strut assembly may be an oleo strut assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mark Nicholas Simpson, Mitchell Loren Ray Mellor, James E. Cusworth, Justin Cottet
  • Patent number: 10640169
    Abstract: A bicycle frame includes a main frame (20); a rear frame (30) articulated to the main frame (20); a rocker link (40) articulated to the main frame (20), through a first hinge axis (B), and to the rear frame (30), through a second hinge axis (C) parallel and eccentric to the first hinge axis (B); a damper (50) arranged between the rear frame (30), through the rocker link (40), and the main frame (20); and a displacement element (60) configured to move the first hinge axis (B) that constrains the rocker link (40) to the main frame (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Inventor: Andrea Pedretti
  • Patent number: 10569482
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a strut having a hollow central bore includes the steps of providing a mandrel and a quantity of a filament or fiber material, laying the filament or fiber material about the mandrel to form a strut having a central cylindrical section, two opposing connective end sections, a central bore extending through the strut, the central bore having two reduced diameter portions extending through each end section, and an axis extending centrally through the bore, forming a slot or slots extending inwardly from one of the connective section outer ends and terminating within the connective section or the central section, bending at least a portion of the one connective section along the slot to enlarge the bore reduced diameter section at the one end, and displacing the mandrel along the central axis and through the enlarged bore end section until the mandrel is removed from the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: SKF Aerospace France S.A.S.
    Inventors: Florian Bardy, Eric Deneux, Nicolas Leboss
  • Patent number: 10557514
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a housing; a damper part disposed within the housing and to extend through the housing; a transfer part surrounding the damper part and coupled to the damper part; a damper mount coupled to the transfer part, and disposed between an inner wall of the housing and the transfer part and configured to absorb vibration of the transfer part; a fixing part stacked over the damper mount and fixed to the inner wall of the housing; and an anti-leakage part coupled to the fixing part and configured to prevent an air leakage between the fixing part and the damper mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 10427484
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension support includes a housing including an opening to receive an upper end of a damper and a top mount bushing fixed to an upper surface of the housing, the top mount bushing having an aperture aligned with the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Brett Anderson, Jeffrey Lipa
  • Patent number: 10179491
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strut rod made of composite material for a suspension of a front axle of a vehicle, including: an upper part coupled to a rod and piston assembly connected to a vehicle body; and a U-shaped lower part including two brackets for fixing a knuckle arm of the vehicle. This strut rod includes means for detecting a crack. This detection means includes at least one additional edge positioned so as to project from an outer surface of the U-shaped lower part of the strut rod in a region where a crack possibly occurs in the case of an accidental shock on a wheel of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Marc Allegre, Vincent Hernette
  • Patent number: 10041622
    Abstract: A bi-directional spring member is mounted to a support platform, the bi-directional spring member being coupled to a payload. The bi-directional spring member includes a non-linear spring component having a rigid member enclosing at least a portion of a compliant planar member and a linear spring component. The compliant planar member flexes in a direction opposite a direction of low amplitude vibrational forces acting on the compliant planar member to reduce vibrational forces acting on the support platform and the linear spring member flexes to reduce high amplitude vibrational forces acting on the support platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Andrew L. Bullard, Shane E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10005496
    Abstract: A module bracket device for a suspension system, which is used to mount a shock absorber at a vehicle body side may include a bush cup having an insulator bush mounted therein, a steel bracket disposed at an upper portion of the bush cup with a gap therebetween, and a module bracket injection molded at a lower portion of the steel bracket while surrounding the bush cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, ILJIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Jin Shin, Byeong Su Yu, Tae Sung Kwon
  • Patent number: 10005547
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft undercarriage comprising: a strut (1) for connecting to the aircraft, a slide rod (3) slidably engaged in leaktight manner in the strut via the bottom opening, which rod carries at least one wheel at its bottom end, a diaphragm (7) carried by a support (8) attached to the top wall of the strut to cooperate in leaktight manner with an inside wall of the slide rod so as to define a first chamber (C1) under the diaphragm inside the rod and completely filled with hydraulic fluid, and a second chamber (C2) above the diaphragm and partially filled with hydraulic fluid, a throttle needle (10) secured to the slide rod and penetrating into a calibrated orifice (12) in the diaphragm so as to define a calibrated fluid passage between the first and second chambers, and angular connection means for imposing an angular position on the slide rod relative to the strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventors: Jerome Fraval, David Frank
  • Patent number: 9975390
    Abstract: A head bearing arrangement for connecting a spring strut to a vehicle body includes a head bearing housing and a spring plate on which a load-bearing spring of the spring strut is supported. The spring plate is arranged on the head bearing housing. The spring plate is arranged on the head bearing housing by way of a conical seat, wherein a toothing is inserted in the conical seat between the spring plate and the head bearing housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP BILSTEIN GMBH
    Inventors: Carsten Fox, Christian Noack
  • Patent number: 9662948
    Abstract: A knuckle bracket includes a cylindrical bracket main body that is fixed by welding to an outer periphery of an outer tube of a shock absorber and a pair of gripping pieces that extend along an axial direction of the bracket main body and stand up toward the outside from the bracket main body opposing each other. The bracket main body has a cut-away part formed on one side end and a compression part, the compression part being configured to abut a misassembly detection pin of a misassembly prevention device, the misassembly prevention device being configured to identify a type of the knuckle bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KYB Corporation
    Inventors: Shotaro Asaoka, Kazuhiro Setoguchi, Yuta Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9637196
    Abstract: A vehicle height adjustment apparatus includes a spring, an adjustor, a storage chamber, a pump, and a flow path switching unit. The adjustor includes an accommodation chamber which accommodates liquid, and adjusts the length of the spring according to the amount of liquid in the accommodation chamber. The pump includes a cylinder. The flow path switching unit includes a first communication path through which the inside of the cylinder communicates with the storage chamber, a second communication path through which the inside of the cylinder communicates with the accommodation chamber, and a third communication path through which the accommodation chamber communicates with the storage chamber. The flow path switching unit switches the flow path of the liquid according to an amount of electric current supplied to the flow path switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: SHOWA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke Murakami
  • Patent number: 9566856
    Abstract: A fluid-filled vibration damping device including: a first mounting member; a second mounting member; a main rubber elastic body elastically connecting the first and second mounting members; a pressure-receiving chamber whose wall is partially constituted by the main rubber elastic body; an equilibrium chamber whose wall is partially constituted by a flexible film, the pressure-receiving chamber and equilibrium chamber being filled with a non-compressible fluid; and an orifice passage which connects the pressure-receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber to each other. A turbulence generating part is formed in a middle portion of the orifice passage in a length direction causing turbulence to be generated depending on a flow rate of a flowing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignees: SUMITOMO RIKO COMPANY LIMITED, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoki Furumachi, Takayoshi Yasuda, Takeshi Kuniya
  • Patent number: 9561394
    Abstract: A fitness equipment spring counterweights balancer, comprising hand wheel, lead screw, upper and lower frame beams, upper and lower pulley blocks, spring guiding pillar, upper and lower spring seats, at least one spring, vortex track, big wheel, steel wire rope connecting the pulley block and the vortex track, steel wire rope which connects both the big wheel and fitness equipment. The springs are arranged between upper and lower spring seats. After the spring guiding pillar passes through the springs and the upper and lower spring seats, the both ends of the spring guiding pillar are connected with the upper and lower frame beams. One end of the steel wire rope connecting the pulley block and the vortex track is mounted on one side of the lower pulley block. One end of the steel wire rope connecting the big wheel and fitness equipment is mounted on the big wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Inventor: Jiajia Chen
  • Patent number: 9522421
    Abstract: A tool support structure includes a tool rail that extends in an axial direction, a first mounting portion that is connected to the tool rail, and a second mounting portion that is connected to the tool rail at a location along the tool rail that is spaced from the first mounting portion in the axial direction. The second mounting portion includes a lug and an aperture. The lug has a shaft portion and a head portion that is located outward from the shaft portion. The shaft portion is receivable within a slot on the base and the head portion restrains transverse removal of the lug from the slot when the shaft portion is disposed within the slot. The aperture is adapted to receive a pin on the base to resist rotation of the tool rail with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Norgren Automation Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Corey Chappus, James R. Kalb, Michael A. Filipiak
  • Patent number: 9452651
    Abstract: A suspension mount comprises an inner plate, an elastomer member, a lower case, and an upper plate. A plate includes an extended portion extending from the circular-cylinder portion. An incline portion is integrally formed on the extended portion and clamped by the elastomer member. The elastomer member clamps the incline portion of the extended portion from the outer periphery side. Thereby, when the plate is fixed in a status that the plate and the elastomer member are contained in the case, the input in the axial direction of the mount will be decomposed into a compressive load in an axial direction and a compressive load in an axially-perpendicular direction by the incline portion. Therefore, the elastomer member is held in a status that it is precompressed in the axial direction and the axially-perpendicular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoru Toyota
  • Patent number: 9440505
    Abstract: 1. Objective: Endurance of a dust cover 50 mounted on a suspension device wherein a top spring seat 85 is formed to be inclined to an axis of a shock absorber 10 and disposed rotatably about a top seat axis inclined to an axis of a shock absorber 10 is improved. 2. Means for Solution: The suspension device comprises a rotation prevention portion 100 so that the dust cover 50 cannot rotate relatively a top seat portion 90 about an axis of the top seat portion 90. The rotation prevention portion 100 comprises two convex portions 110 formed in the top seat portion 90 and two concave portions 120 formed in a top connecting portion 60 of the dust cover 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hajime Tsunekawa, Tomohito Enomoto
  • Patent number: 9359801
    Abstract: The invention relates to a damper (1) for furniture, especially hinges, comprising a housing (2) in which a piston (8) is connected to a piston rod (3) and can be displaced. A fluid flows through at least one flow channel (11) on or in the piston (8) during a movement of the piston (8) inside the housing (2). A connecting element (4) having a seat (5) for coupling a drive element thereto is provided on the piston rod (3) on the end section projecting from the housing (2). The seat (5) has a cut-out section (18) on the face of the of the piston rod (3) accommodated therein, said cut-out section allowing the direct mechanical contact of a face (17) of the piston rod (3) and a drive element accommodated in the seat (5) so that there is a direct flux of force in the axial direction from the drive element accommodated in the seat towards the piston rod (3) when pressure is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: DRUCK-UND SPRITZGUSSWERK HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventor: Konrad Weber
  • Patent number: 9346333
    Abstract: An integrated bumper stopper may include a dust cover and a bumper stopper constituting a shock absorber of a vehicle. The bumper stopper may be formed on an upper portion of the dust cover and continuously extend from the upper portion of the dust cover. The dust cover and the bumper stopper may be integrally molded by using a material comprising a thermoplastic ether ester (TPEE) elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jae Sik Seo
  • Patent number: 8960387
    Abstract: Provided is a damper position adjusting device capable of adjusting a damping force over a wide adjustment range and facilitating the adjustment work of the position of the damper. The damper position adjusting device has a damper base 38 for storing a plurality of dampers 32 in parallel to each other, each of the dampers 32 having a rod 32a that moves relative to a cylinder 32b; and a damper adjusting shaft 40 which is mounted rotatable in the damper base 38 and has a side wall 44 in contact with ends of the dampers 32 in a moving direction. By rotating the damper adjusting shaft 40, the side wall of the damper adjusting shaft 40 pushes at least one of the dampers 32 out in the moving direction of the rod 32a to change a position of the damper 32 relative to the damper base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sugatsune Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koushi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8894079
    Abstract: An upper support for vehicle suspension including: an inner cylindrical member; an outer cylindrical member spaced apart peripherally outward from the inner cylindrical member; a rubber elastic body interposed between the inner cylindrical member and the outer cylindrical member while elastically connecting the two members; and a flange portion extending radially outward from the outer cylindrical member while being adapted to be overlapped and fixed onto a mounting portion of a vehicle body. A fastening seat portion is provided to the flange portion over a prescribed area and has a contact face adapted to be in contact against the mounting portion of the vehicle body. A concave/convex portion is formed on the contact face of the fastening seat portion over a prescribed area thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Matsumura, Yorikazu Nakamura, Satoshi Uchida, Yusuke Washitani
  • Patent number: 8893842
    Abstract: A technique capable of suppressing a rise in the temperature of a shock-absorber. A motorcycle includes a swing arm having a front end swingably supported by a body frame. A shock-absorber includes a rear end supported by the swing arm via a link and an upper end supported by the body frame via a support hole. A cylindrical reserve tank is connected to the shock-absorber for reserving the hydraulic operating fluid flowing into the shock-absorber, the reserve tank is arranged such that an axis thereof is positioned above the axis of the support hole provided in the upper end of the shock-absorber and extends in the width direction of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yotaro Mori, Yusaburo Tani, Akihiko Matsukawa, Tatsuya Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8888081
    Abstract: Disclosed is a strut mount wherein an inclination of an outer circumferential surface of an outer cylinder (2) with respect to the central axis of the outer cylinder (2) is greater than that of an inner circumferential surface of a tapered sidewall (12) of a vehicle body panel (10) which is shaped like an inverted dish. When the strut mount is positioned to be fitted to the vehicle body panel (10), the elastic member (4) is brought into contact with the inner surface of the vehicle body panel (10) only at a portion (4a) of the elastic member (4) that covers the outer circumferential surface of the outer cylinder (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8813924
    Abstract: When manufacturing an upper support which includes a cup piece as an inner piece, an outer piece, and a rubber elastic body integrally vulcanize adhered thereto, the shape of a tubular portion of a cup piece before integral vulcanized adhesion with the rubber elastic body is a shape having a large diameter portion at a top portion continuous with a flanged portion, a small diameter portion at a bottom portion, and a stepped portion therebetween. Following integral vulcanized adhesion with the rubber elastic body, only the small diameter portion is diameter widened by press-fitting a diameter widening jig to impart pre-compression to the rubber elastic body. No roll-back deformation of a flanged portion occurs when integrally vulcanize adhering the cup piece to the rubber elastic body, and also when imparting pre-compression to the rubber elastic body by diameter widening a tubular portion of the cup piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8752812
    Abstract: Conversion assemblies and conversion assemblies combined with automotive shock absorbing assemblies for automotive use, such as shocks and struts. There is disclosed herein, in combination, a conversion assembly and an automotive shock absorbing assembly for automotive use, said automotive shock absorbing assembly being selected from the group consisting of shocks and, struts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventor: Larry J. Verbowski
  • Publication number: 20140138198
    Abstract: A damper includes a vehicle-body-side mounting portion, an axle-side mounting portion, and a vehicle height adjusting mechanism for adjusting a distance between the vehicle-body-side mounting portion and the axle-side mounting portion. The vehicle height adjusting mechanism includes a first tubular member formed into a bottomed tubular shape, a second tubular member formed into a bottomed tubular shape and inserted from the bottom side into the first tubular member, and a stopper member having a shaft portion and a locking portion provided at a proximal end of the shaft portion. A distal end of the shaft portion is fixed to the bottom of the first tubular member. The shaft portion is inserted through a hole formed in the bottom of the second tubular member. The locking portion abuts on the bottom of the second tubular member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: KAYABA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kohsuke Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8714321
    Abstract: One example embodiment includes a fluid based shock absorber. The fluid based shock absorber includes a first assembly. The first assembly includes a first compression chamber. The first assembly also includes a first sliding member. At least a portion of the first sliding member is configured to remain within the first compression chamber and the first sliding member is configured to move in a first direction relative to the first compression chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Douglas Hunter Powell
  • Patent number: 8627930
    Abstract: A bushing having a variable and controllable hardness, and a method of restricting movement comprising using such bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventors: S. Gregory Smith, Jeffrey Beitzel
  • Patent number: 8616352
    Abstract: Provided is a height adjustable suspension unit that can smoothly lift and lower a vehicle body without the need to supply fluid to a shock absorber. The height adjustable suspension unit includes: a shock absorber S having a cylinder 1 and an extensible rod 2 disposed in the cylinder 1 to be able to advance and retract, the extensible rod 2 having an end portion that is coupled to a chassis X; a coil spring 4 mounted around the extensible rod 2, the coil spring 4 having a lower end supported on a spring base 3 that is attached to the upper end of the cylinder 1; and a lifting and lowering mechanism D including a gear mechanism A that is rotationally driven by a power source, a power conversion section B that converts power transmitted from the gear mechanism A into power to move the cylinder 1 up and down, and a guide section C that guides the up and down movement of the cylinder 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: ACC, Inc.
    Inventor: Hideyuki Hinouchi
  • Patent number: 8579092
    Abstract: A damper unit which brakes the speed of movement of a moving body by using a piston damper provided with a cylinder and a piston rod which is connected to a piston inside the cylinder, is provided. The damper unit includes a case wherein the above-mentioned piston damper is disposed; a transmitting member slidably provided inside the case and transmitting an external force accompanied by the movement of the above-mentioned moving body; a link member whose one end side is attached to the above-mentioned case so as to become the rotational center, and also whose the other end side is pivotally supported by the above-mentioned transmitting member; and a connecting member connected between both ends of the link member and being in contact with or connected to either the piston rod or the cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nifco Inc.
    Inventor: Motohiko Kimura
  • Publication number: 20130277161
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a suspension bearing device, comprising a rolling bearing forming an axial stop along a main axis and at least one seal adapted for protecting the rolling bearing from ingress of water or of polluting particles. The device is characterized in that it also comprises a bottom cup and a top cup made of plastic, in contact with the rolling bearing, the bottom cup forming a bearing means for a suspension spring, and in that the or each seal is made of thermoplastic overmoulded onto a first element between the cups and comprises a base of substantially annular shape from which extends at least one sealing lip in contact with the second element between the cups. The invention also relates to a strut of a motor vehicle, comprising a damper and a suspension bearing device as mentioned above.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Sylvain Bussit, Christophe Houdayer, Bruno Montboeuf, Adrien Nerriere, Jean-Marc Soudee, Desire Vidot
  • Patent number: 8556281
    Abstract: A bracket is provided to mount a shock absorber to a vehicle body. The bracket is configured to couple a distal end of a piston rod of the shock absorber to a vehicle body. The bracket is molded of a plastic material and includes a body having a recess formed thereon, the recess allowing a bush assembly to be inserted therein, and a flange extending from the body. The bracket is molded integrally with a metal insert.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventors: Yoon Hyun Lee, Myung Hwa Hyun
  • Patent number: 8556047
    Abstract: An automobile hydraulic shock absorber includes a cylinder body, a piston, an upper support, a piston rod, a volume adjustment mechanism, first and second communicating passages, and a pressure-applying mechanism. The piston rod is attached to the upper support via a rubber cushion. The volume adjustment mechanism includes a free piston. The first and second communicating passages communicate the first oil chamber and second oil chamber with each other in the cylinder body via a diaphragm. The pressure-applying mechanism is disposed outside the cylinder body, movement thereof is restricted by the upper support, and the pressure-applying mechanism pushes the piston rod downward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Kondou, Masashi Maeda, Yutaka Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8544620
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to improve utility in a suspension apparatus for a vehicle having an electromagnetic actuator and a hydraulic damper. In the suspension apparatus, a hydraulic damper is disposed between an electromagnetic actuator and a wheel-holding portion, and a cover tube is provided for accommodating a seal provided between a piston rod and a housing of the hydraulic damper. In the suspension apparatus according to the present invention wherein the hydraulic damper is disposed between the wheel-holding portion and the electromagnetic actuator, it is possible to effectively mitigate not only transmission of vibrations to the vehicle body from the wheel via the electromagnetic actuator but also transmission of vibrations to the electromagnetic actuator. Further, owing to the presence of the cover tube, entry of dust and the like into the hydraulic damper through the seal can be effectively prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirofumi Inoue, Takuhiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 8534433
    Abstract: An elastic connection element with variable rigidity for coupling together components that are spaced from each other. The connection element is a tubular component with coupling points which fix the components to the element. The rigidity of the element, in the state of maximum rigidity, is determined substantially by the coupling points. These are formed by a receiving eyelet and an elastomeric bush bearing press-fit therein. The region located between the coupling points forms a piston/cylinder unit, the interior of which comprises at least two chambers that are separated by the piston and which receive a hydraulic or a pneumatic medium. The chambers are interconnected with one another by a connection line containing a controllable valve. By at least partially opening the valve, the rigidity of the connection element can be reduced in relation to the state of maximum rigidity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Klaus Kramer
  • Publication number: 20130216351
    Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for damping vibration in a rotor supported by primary bearings are provided. The system includes a magnetic coupling configured to magnetically engage a rotor supported by one or more primary bearings, and a piston coupled to the magnetic coupling. The system also includes a damper engaging the piston and configured to damp the rotor, wherein the damper is substantially non-load bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: DRESSER-RAND COMPANY
    Inventor: Timothy R. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8474846
    Abstract: The suspension bump thrust device for a motor vehicle comprises a lower supporting cover 20, an upper elastic bearing seat 18 designed to be attached to the chassis of the motor vehicle, and a rolling bearing 22 forming an axial thrust placed axially between the supporting cover and the bearing seat. The bearing comprises a lower ring, an upper ring and at least one row of rolling elements placed between the said rings. The bearing seat comprises an axial retention means 34d for the supporting cover arranged on a skirt 34c of the said seat and interacting with a complementary axial retention means 50e for the said cover. A cup 36 for reinforcing the bearing seat forms the upper ring of the rolling bearing. The reinforcing cup 36 comprises an axial portion 36a resting against the skirt of the bearing seat and a radial portion 36b radially extending the axial portion inwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Jérôme Dubus, Richard Corbett, Samuel Viault
  • Patent number: 8474845
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel suspension having a shock absorber (1) with a piston rod (2) and a spring element (7), the spring element (7) being mounted between a lower spring retaining plate (4) and an upper spring retaining plate (6) and the head of the shock absorber (1) being fastened to a vehicle body (8). An intermediate element system (9, 11, 12; 9, 26) is arranged and embodied between the upper spring retaining plate (6) and the vehicle body (8) in such a manner that a compensating moment (23) is generated during final installation of the shock absorber (1) on the vehicle body (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Rainer Souschek, Wolfgang David, Michael Johannes Frantzen, Edmund Halfmann, Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim