Annular Flange Or Collar Embedded In Resilient Element Patents (Class 267/141.4)
  • Patent number: 7394009
    Abstract: A resilient washer design having an annulus body and a concentric sleeve extending from the annulus with a plurality of ribs extending from the sleeve. The washer may have an opposing sleeve extending from the opposite side of the annulus with a second plurality of ribs in staggered location to the first set of ribs. This staggered position allows the annulus to flex between the ribs on opposing sides and resist compression of the washer when pressure is applied axially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Probe Specialists, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian Thomas Judd
  • Patent number: 7389977
    Abstract: A body mount assembly for reducing vibration between a vehicle body and a frame includes a radial isolator bushing including an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve coaxial with the inner sleeve and having an elastomeric isolation member disposed between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. A bottom retainer is positioned below a first end of the radial isolator bushing. An upper retainer is positioned above a second end of the radial isolator bushing. A flange bracket includes an axial sleeve portion coaxially surrounding the radial isolator bushing and a plate portion extending from an end of the axial sleeve portion and including mounting apertures adapted for mounting the flange bracket to the vehicle frame. A vertical isolator is disposed between the upper retainer and the flange bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: Paul M. Fernandez, Neil S. Cummings, Timothy A. Rogge
  • Patent number: 7261365
    Abstract: A mount assembly having a first carrier and a first insulator disposed about the first carrier for isolating movement of a frame relative to a vehicle body in a first direction. A second carrier engages the first carrier for coupling the second carrier to the first carrier. A second insulator is disposed about the second carrier for further insolating the movement of the frame relative to the vehicle body in the first direction. A sleeve is disposed about both of the first and second carriers and is coupled to the first carrier. The sleeve is formed of an elastomeric material for isolating movement of the frame relative to the vehicle body in a second direction transverse to the first direction such that the isolation of movement about the first and second directions are accomplished by separate and independent components of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel G. Dickson, Anand Huprikar, Thomas E. St. Henry, William G. Dieter
  • Patent number: 7246797
    Abstract: Device for damping vibrations of a vibration surface (21) of the frequency tuned resonance damping kind consisting of one or several elastic damping elements (1–4) and a vibration body (5) supported by the damping elements which together are tuned to damp the vibrations of said surface within a selected frequency range. First mutually co-operating form grip organs give a form grip between said damping elements (1–4) and the vibration surface (21) and second mutually co-operating form grip organs give a form grip between the damping elements and the vibration body. The form grip organs in addition have a recess with gripping surfaces (25–30, 33–35) for transferring vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Trelleborg Forsheda Sweden AB
    Inventor: Bengt-Göran Gustavsson
  • Patent number: 7234693
    Abstract: Bearing for a motor vehicle, with an inner part 1 with an outer surface 7 having a first undulated contour 10 extending in a longitudinal direction L, an outer sleeve 2 surrounding the inner part 1 and having an inner surface 11 with a second undulated contour 14 extending in the longitudinal direction L, an undulated elastomer body 6 disposed between the two corrugated contours 10, 14 and extending in the longitudinal direction L. The elastomer body 6 connects the inner part 1 with the outer sleeve 2. The two undulated contours 10, 14 do not run equidistant relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schnaars, Karl Heuer
  • Patent number: 7219883
    Abstract: An isolation assembly for use with a vehicle. The isolation assembly includes a collar having a continuous wall. A carriage is disposed within a cavity of the wall and is displaceable relative to the collar. A fastener supports the carriage relative to a frame portion of the vehicle. An insulator is disposed between the carriage and the wall of the collar for coupling the carriage to the collar and for isolating the carriage and the fastener from the collar. The insulator has a first portion and a plurality of second portions. The first portion encapsulates one of the second end surface and the peripheral surface of the carriage. The second portions are movable relative to the first portion about a living hinge to encapsulate the other of the peripheral surface and second end surface of the carriage such that the carriage is adequately isolated from the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventor: Anand Huprikar
  • Patent number: 7201367
    Abstract: A resilient mount including a first mounting member and a second mounting member is provided. The mount may include a first plurality of stiffening elements located between the first and second mounting members. At least a first stiffening element may be non-parallel to a second stiffening element. The mount may also include a resilient material located between and coupled to adjacent stiffening elements of the first plurality of stiffening elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventor: Ross Paul Wietharn
  • Patent number: 7188828
    Abstract: A hydraulic bearing includes a supporting bearing, a bearing base, and an annular spring element of elastomeric material interconnecting the supporting base and the bearing base. A working chamber and a compensating chamber are bounded by the supporting bearing and bearing base and filled with damping fluid. A partition having an opening separates the working chamber from the compensating chamber. The opening connects the working chamber and the compensating chamber in a fluid-conducting manner. An annular stop is disposed in the working chamber and is movable relative to the supporting bearing in an axial direction. An inner peripheral edge of the annular stop is received in a receiving portion of the supporting bearing. A ratio of a thickness of the inner peripheral edge in the axial direction and a height of the receiving portion in the axial direction is 0.5 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Rudolf, Arnold Simuttis
  • Patent number: 7185873
    Abstract: In a bracket mounting structure is disclosed for mounting a bracket holding a center bearing of a propeller shaft to a vehicle body member by bolts and nuts. The structure contains a bush collar formed in a cylindrical shape having a flange in an upper end, fitted to the bolts and fixed to the vehicle body member by the bolts and the nuts. It also contains a pair of upper and lower rubber bushes fitted to an outer periphery of the bush collar and gripping the bracket there-between, and a washer provided in a lower end of the lower rubber bush among the rubber bushes. An outer peripheral edge of a lower end of the bush collar extends all through an inner peripheral edge of the washer and is expanded outward in diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventors: Teiji Suka, Masaru Naoi, Kazuhiro Iwano
  • Patent number: 7178796
    Abstract: The present invention provides a rate stiffening jounce bumper assembly, including a cup member having a large-headed mushroom stud which is inserted into the cup-shaped member and overmolded with an elastomeric bumper material. The head portion of the mushroom stud forms a shelf against which the bumper material is compressed such that the head portion effectively shortens the bumper spring thereby providing a stiffer spring rate to be obtained with a taller jounce bumper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: Mickey L. Love, Laurie Jean Schleck
  • Patent number: 7163200
    Abstract: A mount assembly having a first carrier with a first insulator coupled to a first flange of the first carrier. The mount assembly also includes a second carrier and a second insulator coupled to a second flange of the second carrier. A first locking member, which is formed of a polymeric material, is connected to the first carrier. A second locking member, which is also formed of a polymeric material, is connected to the second carrier with the first locking member engaging the second locking member to retain the first carrier in telescoping relationship with the second carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel G. Dickson, Thomas E. St. Henry
  • Patent number: 7159856
    Abstract: A partition member for dividing a fluid chamber into a main fluid chamber and a sub-fluid chamber is provided with an idle orifice passage of which the opening is opened and closed by a seating section provided on part of a diaphragm. A pushing member is provided to control the opening and closing operation. The seating member is formed thick of which the upper and lower surfaces are provided with depressions respectively. The seating member is also provided with a thin section of which the periphery is provided with a hemispheric protrusion and a seal of a substantially right triangle cross section. An elastic body section is also provided at the side surface with a lateral membrane section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Yamashita Rubber Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Satori, Jun Saitoh, Yukimitsu Minamibata
  • Patent number: 7036804
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount having first and second fluid tracks, and a decoupler functioning as an air spring with two remotely selectable settings. The settings allow tailoring of the air spring characteristics to provide mount damping for differing engine operating states, such as engine idle. A solenoid is used to select a smaller or larger air volume to control the characteristics of the air spring and, in turn, the dynamic response of the hydraulic mount. An integral controller provides switched operation of the solenoid and compensates for variations in temperature and input voltage, as well as minimizing electrical noise generated by the solenoid when it is energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark O. Bodie, Mark W. Long, Sanjiv Tewani, Ronald Beer, Bruce A. Heaston, Brandon Fedders
  • Patent number: 7017891
    Abstract: A motor vehicle equipment module having at least first and second components in which first and second fixing zones are designed to be fixed to a structural element of the vehicle with a common fixing element. The module includes links which link together the two components when the module is to be mounted on the vehicle structural element. An elastic element is axially interposed between the links and the second component. The links are interposed between the common fixing element and the structural element when the module is fixed on the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
    Inventor: Vincent Izabel
  • Patent number: 6863269
    Abstract: A fluid filled vibration damping device includes an elastic body connecting a first and a second mounting member to close one opening of the second mounting member, and a lid member is fixed caulkwise to a shoulder of the second mounting member to close the other opening of the second mounting member, thereby providing a fluid chamber filled with a noncomporessible fluid. A partition member of outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of the cylindrical caulking portion is formed with engaging projections rising up with a uplift cutout form. The engaging projections is fit into the second mounting member with the partition member superimposed on the shoulder so that the second mounting member is positioned in an axis-perpendicular direction to the second mounting member. Cutout openings left after the engaging projections have been formed are closed by a sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Okumura, Hajime Maeno, Koichi Maeda
  • Patent number: 6749187
    Abstract: A shock-absorbing structure includes an elastic helical body, and an elastic helical curved tube. The elastic helical body is formed with a plurality of loops and a plurality of buffer spaces each defined between any two adjacent loops. The elastic helical curved tube is formed with a plurality of curved convex portions each inserted into a respective buffer space and urged between any two adjacent loops. Thus, the buffer spaces of the elastic helical body provide a cushioning effect. In addition, the elastic helical body and the elastic helical curved tube produce an elastic restoring force, so as to damp and reduce the stress applied on the shoe sole, thereby providing a shock-absorbing effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Inventor: Teng-Jen Yang
  • Patent number: 6749047
    Abstract: In a dust cover mounting structure of a hydraulic shock absorber (10), a spring seat (15) is formed in a non-annular outer shape, a standing-up rib (34) is provided in an outer edge thereof, and a mounting portion (51) of a dust cover (50) is formed in a non-annular outer shape profiling an inner periphery of the rib (34) of the spring seat (15) and is received in the inner periphery of the rib (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Showa Corporation Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidehiko Koyano, Takeshi Murata, Jiro Segawa, Shuichi Kato, Keiichi Sunami, Toshiya Hasegawa, Shigenori Inaba
  • Patent number: 6669182
    Abstract: A fluid-filled vibration-damping device including an elastic body elastically connecting a first and a second mounting member to fluid-tightly close one open-end of the second mounting member, and mutually assembled a movable rubber plate bonded to a first support member and a flexible rubber layer bonded to a second support member are fluid-tightly fixed to the other open-end of the second mounting member by caulking such that the movable rubber plate cooperate with the elastic body to form a primary fluid chamber and the movable rubber plate and the flexible rubber layer cooperate to form an auxiliary fluid chamber, which are filled with a non-compressible fluid and connected together through an orifice passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Hibi, Mitsuhiro Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 6622994
    Abstract: A partition member having a rubber elastic membrane of a liquid filled vibration isolating device is provided. A ring-shaped metal fitting is formed by superimposing a first ring-shaped metal fitting on a second ring-shaped metal fitting. The first metal fitting and the second metal fitting are formed by press molding and are bonded integrally by means of the rubber elastic membrane thereby closing the opening of the ring-shaped metal fitting. Accordingly, the ring-shaped metal fitting of a complex configuration providing an orifice groove for forming the orifice is easily manufactured by simple working.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Yamamoto, Yoshio Ihara, Tsuyoshi Inada
  • Patent number: 6572087
    Abstract: An elastomer spring for supporting an axially arranged coil spring, in particular in an engine mounting is constructed to reduce the radial loads on the coil spring with simultaneous damping and includes a transversely soft composition for the elastomeric spring. The elastomeric spring is provided with a centering projection which may be introduced into the coil spring and a section which may be deformed by the effect of radial forces, with a molded sheet being provided to stabilize the force carrying section of the elastomeric spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: WOCO AVS GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Schleinitz, Eyk Karus, Stefan Nix
  • Patent number: 6557838
    Abstract: A hydraulic engine mount includes a bushing assembly having a core bonded to an inner support structure by an elastomeric material. The inner support structure includes a first ring, a second ring, and a plurality of legs. The first ring includes an annular wall, an outer end wall, and an inner end wall. The second ring includes an annular wall, an outer end wall, and an inner end wall. The legs are integrally formed with and between the first and second rings, so that the first ring, the second ring, and the legs are formed as a one-piece component that does not require a post-forming operation. A housing receives the bushing assembly. Fluid chambers are formed between the bushing assembly and the housing to dampen vibrations as hydraulic fluid is displaced between the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventor: Todd Michael Wirges
  • Patent number: 6533258
    Abstract: A barrel elastomer mount having a first hollow frustum composed of an elastomer and having a first end and a second end with the first end of the first hollow frustum having an interior diameter larger than an external diameter of the second end of the first hollow frustum; and a second hollow frustum composed of an elastomer having a first end and a second end with the first end of the second hollow frustum having an interior diameter larger than an external diameter of the second end of the second hollow frustum. The first hollow frustum is securely attached to the second hollow frustum at the first end of the first hollow frustum and at the first end of the second hollow frustum creating an enclosed cavity whereby the walls of the elastomer mount provide tension and shear resistance to shock and vibrational forces as well as to compressive static forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Robert James Monson, Scott J. Benjamin, Jianhua Yan
  • Patent number: 6523817
    Abstract: A vehicle body mount comprised of a lower rebound mount and an upper load mount provides a method to fasten the rebound mount to the load mount in preparation for accommodation of a vehicle frame and vehicle body which may be radially eccentric mismatched. While continually maintaining the interlock function, the integral rebound mount and flexible interlock feature allows radial float of the rebound mount relative to the load mount, until the securing bolt seeks, engages, and is aligned with the body mounted nut, during assembly of the body to the frame. The rebound mount is defined by an extending interlock which is expandable at its outermost portion in order to engage the central opening of the upper load mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: Joseph Raymond Landry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6511037
    Abstract: An elastomeric mounting (10) suitable for use in the suspension of an off-road vehicle comprises two rigid end members (11, 12) maintained spaced apart by an intervening tubular body (13) of elastomeric material which defines a central chamber (26), and a substantially inextensible connecting means (36) arranged to extend through said central chamber to interconnect said end members and resist more than a predetermined separation of the end members, one (12) of the rigid end members having a cavity member (37) associated therewith and which lies within the axial length of the mounting between the end members to define a location cavity, said one (12) of the rigid end members having a substantially planar axially outwardly facing contact surface (51), a location member (38) positionable in said location cavity captively to engage an end region of the inextensible connecting means (36) and transmit force to the cavity member (37) when the connection means is loaded in tension, said contact surface (51) of an en
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Trelleborg AB
    Inventor: Donald James Newman
  • Patent number: 6491279
    Abstract: In a bracket mounting structure is disclosed for mounting a bracket holding a center bearing of a propeller shaft to a vehicle body member by bolts and nuts. The structure contains a bush collar formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a flange in an upper end, fitted to the bolts and fixed to the vehicle body member by the bolts and the nuts. It also contains a pair of upper and lower rubber bushes fitted to an outer periphery of the bush collar and gripping the bracket there-between, and a washer provided in a lower end of the lower rubber bush among the rubber bushes. Outward protruding projections are provided in an outer peripheral edge of a lower end in the bush collar, and notches through which the projections can pass. Engagement portions with which the projections are engaged due to a relative rotation are provided in an inner periphery of the washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Iwano
  • Publication number: 20020117790
    Abstract: An engine mount has a stopper rubber portion constituted of an outer peripheral flange protruding radially outwardly from the engine side metal fitting and a coating rubber covering an outer periphery of said outer peripheral flange. A radius of curvature of contact parts positioned at one direction of two radial directions orthogonal to each other in a radial plane substantially equals to a radius of curvature of an inner periphery of the body side metal fitting and a thickness of the coating rubber positioned in said one direction is constant in a circumferential direction thereof, whereby the contact parts positioned in said one direction are widely brought into contact with the inner periphery of the body side metal fitting and distorted uniformly. The distortion of the stopper rubber portion is also made uniform when applying a load thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Kentaro Yamamoto, Hironori Kato, Tsuyoshi Inada
  • Patent number: 6394436
    Abstract: A McPherson strut bearing for the upper connection of a McPherson strut in a motor vehicle has an inner part (1) with a central through hole (2) for accommodating the upper end of the McPherson strut. An elastomer body (3) is arranged circularly on the outer circumference of the inner part (1). A cage (4) accommodates the inner part (1) with the elastomer body. An elastic bearing body (5) completely accommodates the cage (4) up to a bilateral opening cross section (6, 7), where at least the cage (4), the bearing body (5) and a circlip (9) surrounding the bearing body are divided in a plane passing through the central longitudinal axis (10) of the McPherson strut bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schnaars, Ulrich Lux, Peter Kainz, Michael Sand
  • Patent number: 6364296
    Abstract: A body mount for absorbing compressive and shear forces in a vehicle is disclosed. The body mount includes a retainer member with a radial portion and an axially extending tubular portion. A microcellular bushing has base, a top, and a passageway extending from the top to the base. The axially extending portion of the retainer member is inserted into the passageway of the bushing. An insert is molded into the bushing to form a one-piece member. The insert has an inner diameter. The microcellular cylinder insert is adjacent to the axially extending tubular portion. A microcellular cylinder sleeve is formed between the inner diameter and the tubular portion and in combination with the insert resists lateral forces and does not interfere with the vertical forces from the frame to the body. The microcellular shear mount design provides excellent lateral shake isolation and excellent vertical rate dissipation over prior art rubber shear mounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership
    Inventors: Neil Cummings, Carlos S. Fahroan, Mickey Love, Shahram Tousi
  • Patent number: 6349928
    Abstract: A corrosion-free, weight-reduced, separation-free and rubber-adhesive vibroisolating device for absorbing vibration of radiator. The device includes: a rubber vibroisolating body inserted into and supported by a fixation jig formed on a vehicle body; a support portion integrally formed with the rubber vibroisolating body; and a plastic sheet body integrally injection-molded with the rubber vibroisolating body and provided with an inner protruder to be buried in the support portion and a support curvature for supporting an upper support bracket of the radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyun-Bae Ko
  • Patent number: 6286821
    Abstract: A method of making stabilizer bar pivot bushings (10). At least one length of a substantially plastic material (26, 28) that in transverse cross section has a shape that is arcuate about a central axis passes lengthwise through an extrusion die where an annular elastomeric body (22) is extruded onto the plastic. Then the body is transversely cut, including cutting through the plastic, at locations along the length of the extrusion, thereby creating individual bushings in which the plastic forms at least one shear plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Howard Schaffer
  • Patent number: 6276674
    Abstract: An elastomeric spring (10) comprises a body (11) of elastomeric material which extends between a pair of opposed end regions (12, 13) whereby compression forces acting in a first direction (16) on said end regions are resisted by compression of the elastomeric body, the body (11) of elastomeric material being of a substantially symmetrical shape as considered in cross section about a major axis (16) of the spring extending in said first direction, and substantially hollow in the vicinity of at least one (13) of said end regions, said body (11) of elastomeric material being of progressively increasing external cross-sectional dimension over a first part (21) of the length of the body extending from a first (32) of said end regions and of progressively decreasing external cross-sectional dimension over a second part (22) of the length of the body extending to a second (13) of said end regions, a substantially inextensible reinforcement member (17) embedded in and bonded to said body (11) of elastomeric material
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: BTR Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: William Francis Randell
  • Patent number: 6216833
    Abstract: A vibration damper for mounting on a structure for damping out resonance frequencies on the structure has a bushing assembly consisting of inner and outer coaxial spaced metal sleeves joined together by an intervening elastomeric member. A metal mass is secured to the outer metal sleeve of the bushing assembly and oscillates about the fixed inner sleeve upon flexing of the elastomeric member. A fastener extends through the bore of the inner sleeve for rotatably suspending the damper on the structure. An extension arm is secured to the inner sleeve and extends radially outwardly and passes between a pair of nubs formed on an outer annulus of the elastomeric member to prevent excessive rotation and erratic motion of the mass due to non-translational forces on the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Lefferts, James W. LaFleur
  • Patent number: 6170812
    Abstract: A slipper bushing comprises radially inner, intermediate and outer generally cylindrical members. The intermediate member includes an axial bearing surface at an end thereof. Elastomeric material is disposed between the intermediate and outer members. A generally cylindrical polymeric radial bearing sleeve is disposed between the inner and intermediate members and has a radially inner surface nonrotatably fixed relative to a radially outer surface of the inner member and a radially outer slip surface adapted to rotatably slip relative to a radially inner surface of the intermediate member. An elastomeric seal has an annular portion with opposed first and second axial bearing surfaces. The seal first axial bearing surface sealingly engages the intermediate member axial bearing surface and is nonrotatably fixed relative thereto. An annular polymeric slip ring has opposed first and second axial bearing surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: BTR Antivibration Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory M. Nicoles