Elastomeric Patents (Class 267/292)
  • Patent number: 6588533
    Abstract: An antivibration support has a first strength member which includes a limit finger and two parallel support fingers, a second strength member which includes a cage surrounding the limit finger in part, and an elastomer link device interposed between the outside of the cage and the support fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventors: Franck Larmande, Jacques Dandre, Pascal Petit
  • Patent number: 6561718
    Abstract: A mounting assembly for a rotating arm, such as a control arm of an independent suspension. The mounting assembly includes a pin which passes through a cylindrical bore in one end of the arm. The pin is gripped at each end by a clamping block. Each block has a main pin-gripping opening for one end of the pin, and the opening has an initial size which allows the end of the pin to pass easily through the opening. However, when the clamping block is tightened, such as by mounting the block to a support, the opening is made smaller so as to grip the end of the pin. The arrangement allows easy removal of the pin and therefore easy replacement of the control arm of a vehicle suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Oshkosh Truck Corporation
    Inventors: David W. Archer, Brian K. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20030080484
    Abstract: A dynamic damper includes a cylindrical mass metal element, a cylindrical elastic-body attachment portion, a cylindrical elastic-body connection portion, and an elastic-body covering portion. The elastic-body attachment portion is formed from a rubber elastic body and coaxially disposed inside the mass metal element while a predetermined radial distance is maintained therebetween. The elastic-body connection portion is formed from a rubber elastic body and disposed between the mass metal element and the elastic-body attachment portion so as to connect them. The elastic-body covering portion covers the outer circumferential surface of the mass metal element. The elastic-body connection portion and the elastic-body covering portion are not bonded to the mass metal element. A plurality of protrusions are formed and arranged circumferentially on the inner circumferential surface of the mass metal element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Applicant: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kato, Seiya Asano
  • Patent number: 6554112
    Abstract: A vibration-damping device for damping vibrations of a vibrative member of a vehicle, including: a mass member disposed in the vibrative member such that the mass member is non-adhesive to and is displaceable independent of and relative to the vibrative member; the mass member and the vibrative member being brought into impact against with each other at their abutting portions. At least one of the abutting portions of the mass member and the vibrative member is formed of an elastic member adapted to undergo shear deformation in a direction in which the mass member and vibrative member are brought into impact against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rentaro Kato, Koichi Hasegawa, Hajime Maeno, Masaaki Hamada, Yuushi Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20030057622
    Abstract: A slipper bushing includes a series of coaxially disposed cylindrical components. The slipper bushing has an outer sleeve, a resilient member coaxially disposed within and secured to the outer sleeve, a rigid, self-lubricating bearing coaxially disposed within the resilient member and an inner sleeve coaxially disposed within the bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Vincent G. Bovio, Paul D. Cottrell
  • Publication number: 20030057623
    Abstract: A vibration-damping device includes a housing member and a pillar-shaped mass member housed within an accommodation space of the housing member with a slight spacing therebetween so that the mass member is freely displaceable within the accommodation space to come into impact on the housing member. A rubber buffer and an abutting rubber member integrally formed with each other and fixed to at least one of axial end portions of the mass member such that the rubber buffer covers an outer circumferential surface of the end portion of the mass member, and the abutting rubber member disposed over an end face of the axial end portion of the mass member. A void is formed between the abutting rubber member and the end portion of the mass member so that the abutting rubber member undergoes shear deformation upon an impact of the mass member on the housing member at the abutting rubber member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hajime Maeno, Koichi Maeda
  • Patent number: 6523815
    Abstract: A liquid-filled vibration-proof device constructed so that the positioning and supporting function of a partition is performed firmly and a port opening of an orifice passage in the partition is not obstructed to ensure a sufficient opening area of the port opening. To that end, a diaphragm and a partition located inwardly thereof are hermetically fixed to a cylindrical fitting at a side opposing a vibration-isolating base thereby partitioning an enclosure between the vibration-isolating base and the diaphragm into two liquid chambers, the both liquid chambers being put in communication with each other through the orifice passage; the vibration-isolating base is provided at a marginal part of its inner face with protruding portions for positioning, with which an upper marginal portion of the partition is in opposed contact, disposed circumferentially at intervals at plural positions so as not to impede the flow of the port opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020190454
    Abstract: A molded or non-molded elastomeric shock cell having a base with legs extending from each side of the base with each of the legs having a foot that extends laterally outward from the legs to provide a unitary elastomeric shock cell that can be individually mounted to support plates or a plurality of elastomeric shock cells can be ganged, or stacked together to produce a composite isolator with different shock isolation characteristics. The elastomeric shock cell if mountable in one axis provide tension resistance and if mounted in a bias axis or right angle axis provide tension and compression resistance to shocks to the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Trevor J. McCollough, Wesley Eugene Revely, Brian Scott Leininger, Robert James Monson
  • Patent number: 6494444
    Abstract: Vibration damping device for vehicles includes: a rigid housing member having an accommodation space and fixed to a vibrative member; and an independent mass member having a rigid mass body and an elastic body layer bonded on the outer surface of the rigid mass body. The independent mass member is non-adhesively disposed in the accommodation space such that an outer surface of the independent mass member is opposed to the inner surface of the housing member with a predetermined gap distance therebetween, to thereby permit displacement of the independent mass member relative to the housing member. The independent mass member and the housing member is brought into elastic impact against each other, upon application of a vibrational load, at respective abutting surfaces thereof which are opposed to each other in a vibrational input direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20020153646
    Abstract: An air spring has a pair of axially spaced end members and an intervening elastomeric flexible sleeve extending therebetween which forms a fluid pressure chamber. A plurality of axially spaced ribs and intervening grooves are formed on an inner surface of a ring which align with corresponding ribs and grooves formed on an axial sealing surface of one of the end members to form a fluid tight seal with the elastomeric sleeve clamped therebetween. An annular radially extending projection is formed on each of the ring and end member which cooperatively mate with each other to provide a mechanical interlock therebetween which is free of intervening elastomeric material, to securely retain the ring in position with respect to the end member sealing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Publication date: October 24, 2002
    Inventor: David A. Weitzenhof
  • Patent number: 6419215
    Abstract: A bushing is disclosed with a sleeve. The sleeve member has an inner surface and a cavity. A core member is disposed in the cavity. A pair of elastomeric members are disposed in the cavity. One of the pair of elastomeric members is adjacent to the core. The other of the pair of elastomeric members is adjacent to the inner surface. The one of the pair of elastomeric members has a modulus that is greater than the other of the pair of elastomeric members so that one of said pair of elastomeric members absorbs low frequency vibration and the other of the pair of elastomeric members absorbs high frequency vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Freudenberg-Nok General Partnership
    Inventors: David H. Johnson, Patrick T. Kolb
  • Publication number: 20020063369
    Abstract: A rubber shock absorber, comprising a shock absorbing device body. The shock absorbing device body is made of elastic material, mounted in a shock absorbing device and absorbs pressure to which said shock absorbing device is exposed. The shock absorbing device body consisting of a plurality of sections with different diameters and different elastic coefficients. Peripheral grooves are cut into the shock absorbing device body at interfaces between the sections thereof. The shock absorbing device body has an elastic coefficient that varies in several stages, so that during an absorption process stages of different absorption characteristics are gone through.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventor: Kou-Ming Huang
  • Publication number: 20020038928
    Abstract: A body mount for coupling a vehicle body to a vehicle frame is disclosed. The body mount includes a first member disposed on one side of the frame. The first member includes an elastomeric member with a plurality of pads formed about the periphery of the first member for defining a side to side and a fore/aft cushioning rate. The body mount also includes a second member disposed on an opposite side of the frame and operably coupled to the first member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventors: Bernie W. Rice, Edward Sayej, Robert Bender
  • Patent number: 6361030
    Abstract: An antivibration mount to damp vibration in a main vibration direction, comprises first and second rigid strength members interconnected by an elastomer body. The first strength member includes first and second fingers which are substantially perpendicular to the main vibration direction and which extend outwards in opposite directions. The second rigid strength member includes first and second folded tabs which are perpendicular to the fingers and pierced by windows, the two fingers of the first rigid strength member passing through the windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Hutchinson SA
    Inventors: Timothy Rogge, Robert Goudie
  • Patent number: 6357732
    Abstract: An resilient member for a side bearing assembly includes a first rigid element extending in a linear direction and having a first end and a second end. A second rigid element extends in the linear direction of the first rigid element spaced from the first rigid element to provide a space between the two. The second element also has a first end. The first end of the second element is displaced along the linear direction away from the first end of the first rigid element. Resilient or elastomeric material fills the space between the first rigid element and the second rigid element with a substantially concave profile connecting the first ends of the two elements. The resilient material includes at least one weakened region along the substantially concave portion thereof as a result of assembly, which is located where the resilient material is subjected to the relatively lower stresses and strains when used in a side bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Etzel, Troy P. Herbst, Philip A. Jones
  • Patent number: 6357731
    Abstract: A vibration damping device is disclosed, which includes: a first mounting member and a second mounting member including a cylindrical portion; an elastic body elastically connecting the first and second mounting member such that the elastic body is bonded at a central portion thereof to the first mounting member and at a peripheral portion thereof to an inner circumferential surface of the second mounting member. The second mounting member includes a constricted part which is integrally formed in the open end portion of the cylindrical portion thereof so as to protrude radially inwardly of the cylindrical portion and so as to extend circumferentially over an entire circumference of the cylindrical portion, and which has the maximum outer diameter not larger than that of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Tanahashi
  • Patent number: 6343782
    Abstract: A vibration canceller having an inertial mass that is nonpositively joined to at least one spring element. The spring element is made exclusively of elastomeric material, is configured in substantially rod-shaped fashion, and is equipped on at least one of its end faces with a plug-shaped enlargement, the enlargement being arranged, under elastic preload, in a congruently configured opening of the inertial mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Herwig Hönlinger, Günter Zeis
  • Patent number: 6328294
    Abstract: An elastomeric spring system having non-linear force-deflection characteristics and low rebound is provided. The system comprises a housing and a plurality of first and second spring members movably disposed in alternating relationship within a bore defined by the housing. The first and second spring members are preferably formed from polyurethane such as the two part castable urethanes made from polyether-isocyanate or polyester-isocyanate prepolymers cured with organic diamine or polyol materials. When subject to a force along the axis of deflection, the first spring member is adapted to expand and progressively envelope the second spring members until the hemispherical ends of two of the first spring members meet within the first spring member, thereby causing the force-deflection characteristics of the spring to be nonlinear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: CK Witco Corporation
    Inventor: Richard L. Palinkas
  • Publication number: 20010042950
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing unit (1) for receiving add-on parts and vehicle components on supporting parts of vehicles. The bearing unit (1) comprises at least one elastically deformable elastomeric component (3, 13) which is supported on a support (9). The support (9) has received elastomeric spring components (3, 13; 17, 18, 19, 20), not connected to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Thomas Burlage, Martin Hoerauf, Frank Friedrich, Jan Wucherpfennig
  • Publication number: 20010026039
    Abstract: Vibration damping device for vehicles includes: a rigid housing member having an accommodation space and fixed to a vibrative member; and an independent mass member having a rigid mass body and an elastic body layer bonded on the outer surface of the rigid mass body. The independent mass member is non-adhesively disposed in the accommodation space such that an outer surface of the independent mass member is opposed to the inner surface of the housing member with a predetermined gap distance therebetween, to thereby permit displacement of the independent mass member relative to the housing member. The independent mass member and the housing member is brought into elastic impact against each other at respective abutting surfaces thereof in at least one vibrational input direction. The elastic body layer has a spherical outer surface so as to facilitate bouncing displacement of the independent mass member within the accommodation space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Koichi Hasegawa, Rentaro Kato
  • Patent number: 6296237
    Abstract: A bump stopper for elastically limiting an amount of operation of a suspension system of a vehicle, including a rigid holding member which includes a hollow holding portion opening toward the other suspension member, a spring member which is formed of a foamed elastic material and which includes a base end portion held by the hollow holding portion of the holding member and also includes a free end portion projecting away from the holding portion toward the other suspension member, and a stopper rubber which projects from an end surface of the hollow holding portion of the holding member toward the other suspension member such that a free end surface of the stopper rubber is more distant from the other suspension member than a free end surface of the spring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Nagai
  • Patent number: 6274211
    Abstract: The deformable element for absorbing kinetic energy is a plastic pipe section (1) having interior surfaces at opposite ends thereof. The plastic pipe section (1) initially deforms elastically under an applied axial force (F) and, when a yield stress limit is exceeded by the applied axial force (F), the plastic pipe section (1) deforms or collapses with an approximately equal deforming force over a work stroke until adopting a physically deformed shape in which the interior surfaces at the opposite ends contact each other. The device for absorbing kinetic energy is also described including several plastic pipe sections stacked in a column with an intermediate plate between each adjacent pair of pipe sections. The plastic pipe sections and engaged around a tubular round body for support and guidance. An inner screw bolt can also be provided for pre-tensioning the plastic pipe sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Ringfeder VGB GmbH
    Inventor: Friedhelm Detzner
  • Patent number: 6254072
    Abstract: The present invention provides a combination isolator and jounce bumper. The combination isolator and jounce bumper is disposed on a spring seat of a suspension system and includes a locating member in the form of a projection extending therefrom. The projection is inserted into an aperture in the spring seat so that the isolator assumes a preselected orientation relative to the spring seat when positioned thereon. A coil spring is secured to a spring retaining portion of the combination isolator and jounce bumper. An orientation member in the form of a second projection is provided at a pre-selected location on the spring retaining portion. The second projection engages an end of the coil spring so that the coil spring assumes a preselected orientation relative thereto. The jounce bumper portion of the isolator projects upwardly from the spring retaining portion so as to be coaxially aligned with the coil spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Bono, Timothy S. O'Bryan
  • Patent number: 6250613
    Abstract: A spacer for an air spring assembly includes a substantially cylindrical body having a substantially planar mounting surface. The body includes a central hub, an outer rim, and a plurality of structural arms connecting the outer rim to the central hub. The central hub includes a pair of concentric hub walls with a plurality of spoke ribs disposed between the hub walls. The outer rim includes an annular groove in its upper surface as well as a plurality of support ribs. Each of the structural arms has a T-shaped cross section. The spacer has five bolt holes that are configured to work with a single center mount, two point, three point, or a four point mounting pattern. The spacer is fabricated from a non-metallic material such as a high strength, lightweight plastic or fiber reinforced plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul P. Koeske, Mohamad Taghizadeh, Pradipta N. Moulik, Todd M. Ziems, Andreas Peickert
  • Patent number: 6241225
    Abstract: A rubber bearing, especially for the bearing support of a stabilizer bar in a motor vehicle, comprises two rubber half-shells. A thin rubber connecting piece connects the longitudinal side of one of the half-shells with the longitudinal side of the other one of the half-shells. The rubber connecting piece is arranged at the radial outer region of the half-shells to enable 180° of rotation of one of the half-shells with respect to the other one of the half-shells about the area of connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann Boge GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfram Krause
  • Patent number: 6237901
    Abstract: A suspension for a vehicle wheel includes at least one helicoidal spring and at least one flexible retaining and connecting armoring, which in working position, stresses a portion of the spring by maintaining it compressed to obtain two different stiffness curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Mauro Bianchi S.A.
    Inventor: Mauro Bianchi
  • Patent number: 6224047
    Abstract: An elastomeric bearing. The bearing which may be used to support a railway car body includes first and second members and an elastomeric member interposed in a cavity defined between the first and second members. The second member has a recess formed therein which communicates with the cavity. The elastomeric member includes a working section positioned in the cavity and a non-working section integral with the working section and disposed in the recess. The non-working section serves as a sprue location site during the molding process to avoid locating surface defects associated with the sprue in the working section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: James T. Gwinn
  • Patent number: 6209858
    Abstract: A shock absorber for mounting between a first frame member and a second frame member of a bicycle includes a first member adapted to couple to the first frame member and a second member disposed within the first member and adapted to couple to the second frame member. The first and second members rotate relative to each other, and an elastic member is disposed between the first member and the second member so that the elastic member expands and contracts in response to relative rotation of the first member and the second member. A linking mechanism couples the first member with the second member so that the first member and the second member are axially and radially immovable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Shimano, Inc.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Fujii
  • Patent number: 6196531
    Abstract: To provide a compression spring formed of an elastic body made from a resin or rubber which is capable of maintaining its shape upon deformation without the use of any supporting member, thereby always ensuring a specific load-deformation characteristic. A compression spring of the present invention includes a cylindrical spring main body, wherein compression energy generated when the compression spring is pressed in the radial direction is absorbed by elastic deformation of the cylindrical spring main body. In this compression spring, a base having a flat bottom surface swelled along a plane perpendicular to the pressing direction is formed on the pressing force receiving side of the spring main body. Furthermore, a reinforcing wall for connecting the swelled portion of the base to a side portion of the cylindrical spring main body is formed integrally with the spring main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroki Makino, Tsutomu Tomizawa
  • Patent number: 6186486
    Abstract: A jounce bumper plate for a damping module of a type commonly employed automotive suspension system having a hydraulic cylinder with an upper end cover, a piston rod slidably extending from the upper end of the cylinder and ajounce bumper mounted upon the piston rod. The jounce bumper plate mounted on an upper end of the cylinder and includes a central bore therethrough to allow slidable passage of the piston rod, and includes a series of arches extending about the outer periphery of the plate. The arches increase in curvature from the central bore to the outer periphery, thereby forming gaps between the jounce bumper plate and the associated hydraulic cylinder to facilitate the expulsion of moisture and contaminants from the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder during compression and extension cycles of the associated cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph M. Gutman, David Adolph Bobinger, Douglas H. Markwood
  • Patent number: 6158726
    Abstract: A novel elastic bumper assembly put on an automotive vehicle or the like which includes an elastic bumper member adapted for repetitive cushioning against impacts, wherein the elastic bumper member is formed of a material selected from at least one of the group consisting of solid and foamed elastomeric materials. The elastic bumper member assembly further includes an insert member generally having a cup shape, the insert member having locking holes and dimples. The insert member is molded within the elastic bumper member. The insert member includes a locator projection which extends from the elastic bumper member. A fastener extends from the insert member through the elastic bumper assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Freudenberg NOK-General Partnership
    Inventors: John F. Coleman, Mark E. Robertson
  • Patent number: 6147154
    Abstract: A chloroprene rubber composition which contains carbon black and of which the breaking elongation A and the static modulus in shear B of the vulcanizate satisfy the following formula:A.gtoreq.-36.4.times.B+1090 (1)where A is the breaking elongation (%) and B is the static modulus in shear (kgf/cm.sup.2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Fujii, Mitsuyuki Nakada, Kazuomi Aoki
  • Patent number: 6113084
    Abstract: A jounce bumper assembly for cushioning the impact between two components of an automotive suspension system is provided. The jounce bumper assembly includes a mounting plate with at least one, but preferably two, substantially tubular proturbances protruding from a face thereof. A bumper is molded from a microcellular polymeric material around the mounting plate such that the ends of the proturbances extend out from the bumper. The bumper is disposed within a mounting cup having a recess sized and shaped to receive the bumper. The recess has holes passing therethrough corresponding to the proturbances such that the ends of the proturbances pass through the holes. The ends of the proturbances passing through the holes are deformed radially outwardly such that the bumper is fixed within the recess of the mounting cup. A method of manufacturing such a jounce bumper assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works
    Inventors: James F. Norkus, William J. Curley, Jr
  • Patent number: 6105944
    Abstract: A bonded component (126) adapted for insertion in a housing (120) thus forming a mount (118). The bonded component (126) includes an inner member (128) including a outer periphery (129) having a preferably non-planar profile along its width and an elastomer (130) bonded thereto. The elastomer (130) includes a first arcuate section (142) extending through a first arc (.theta..sub.1) and having first and second lateral faces (150a-c), a second arcuate section (142') extending through a second arc (.theta..sub.2) also having first and second lateral faces (150b-d), notches (148a-d) formed in first and second lateral faces of each of said first and second arcuate sections, the notches only extending part way across each of said sections. In another aspect, the location of the notches (148a-d) are vertically and/or angularly offset from said fore-and-aft axis (146).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas A. David
  • Patent number: 5996981
    Abstract: An air-ride beam-type axle suspension system for tractor-trailers and other heavy-duty wheeled vehicles having a brake chamber of an air brake assembly mounted on the beam, wherein the beam is tapered. Specifically, each beam of the axle suspension system tapers from a narrower width at its end that is pivotally attached to a frame rail of the trailer, to a wider width at its opposite end. The tapered beam provides easier mounting of the suspension system on existing trailer frame rails and incorporation of a reduced-size pivot bushing at the narrower end of the beam, and optimizes the weight of the axle suspension system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: The Boler Company
    Inventor: Scott Allen Dilling
  • Patent number: 5988614
    Abstract: A substitute for a lubricated metal-on-metal bushing for mounting the spring eye of a heavy over-the-road truck includes a sleeve part and a pin, the pin having bonded to it a polyurethane elastomer with a 65 D Shore hardness. Similar bushings are substituted for other metal-on-metal bushings in the suspensions and brakes of heavy over-the-road vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Atro Engineered Sytems, Inc.
    Inventor: George R. Sturmon
  • Patent number: 5979884
    Abstract: A vibration isolating apparatus mainly used for supporting an engine for a compact vessel which is structured such as to securely perform a stopper operation and to widely improve a durability at a time when a large load is given, without changing a fastened position, a height and a mounting operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Sato, Ikuo Takeuchi, Masashi Takaoka, Yukio Takashima, Yosei Kodama
  • Patent number: 5957441
    Abstract: A compression spring formed from an elastomer member having a ratio of plastic strain to elastic strain that is greater than 1.5 to 1 is disclosed. The elastomer spring member defines an elongated axis between opposed ends of the spring and has a molecular structure. A periphery of the elastomer member has a series of axially spaced annular portions of increased cross-sectional area with an annular waistline portion disposed between adjacent annular portions of increased cross-sectional area to provide the elongated member with a series of axially spaced hourglass configurations arranged in end-to-end relation relative to each other. The hourglass configurations along the periphery of the elastomer member allowing the elastomeric spring to collapse upon itself during compression thereof while maintaining a substantially constant outside diameter for the areas of increased cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin B. Tews
  • Patent number: 5890738
    Abstract: A rollover protection device for a motor vehicle has at least one rollover bar which is disposed on a vehicle-fixed structure with a deformable bearing permitting limited movement of the rollover bar relative to the vehicle-fixed structure. In particular, the bearing is elastically deformable and may have at least one deformable, particularly elastically deformable, absorber element which disposes legs of the rollover bar in receiving tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Lothar Heiner, Jens Loemker
  • Patent number: 5884902
    Abstract: A double-mass type dynamic damper mounted on a rod-shaped oscillating member, which includes a first damper system and a second damper system that are tuned to two different frequency ranges. Each of the damper systems includes a cylindrical mass member disposed radially outwardly of the oscillating member, and an elastic support member for elastically supporting the mass member with respect to the oscillating member. The elastic support members of the two damper systems are disposed in series and connected to each other in the axial direction. The dynamic damper further includes an elastic connector formed by adjacent parts of the two elastic support members, for elastically connecting axially opposed faces of the two mass members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Hamada, Takahiro Aoi, Tetsuya Kohgo, Masaaki Mishima
  • Patent number: 5873565
    Abstract: An elastic support for a vibrating mass includes at least a first fixture, a second fixture and a block of elastic material bonded between the fixtures. The fixtures are capable of being subjected, as a result of excitation vibrations exerted on at least one of them, to relative vibrational displacements. At least one oscillator is fixed to one part of the block which is subjected to vibrations in phase opposition with those of one of the two fixtures. The "oscillator" function can be improved by incorporating a flexible circular comb in the block of elastic material, as well as by associating a decoupling slot in the block and a retaining ring preventing radial expansions of this block. The support is appropriate for fastening shock absorbers for vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventor: Pierre Allaire
  • Patent number: 5791637
    Abstract: A tubular compression spring body made of a thermoplastic elastomeric material has stepped internal and external wall surfaces that are designed so that when the body is compressed, it absorbs a large amount of the compression energy and has a low rebound force. Also, when compressed again after rebound, the compression spring body exhibits excellent repeatability in its force-displacement performance. In different embodiments, the compression spring body may be designed to exhibit various force-displacement performance curves in order to meet various criteria desired by the user, such as maximum energy absorption and/or minimum rebound force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Iso Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: James Kermit Reichelt, Richard Keith Reichelt
  • Patent number: 5782461
    Abstract: An elastomeric bumper restricts movement of large objects such as diesel engines to .+-.0.5" along the bumper's axis. The bumper includes a solid elastomeric button, an elastomeric sleeve spaced therefrom by a gap, and a rigid, tight fitting cup which surrounds the sleeve and limits the outward bulging of the elastomer. The button has an axial length which exceeds the length of the sleeve by an amount which defines a first volume of elastomer. That volume is designed to be equal to the volume of the gap. When the movement of the large object has caused the equivalent of the first volume of elastomer to flow into the gap, additional movement of the object is resisted by bulk loading of the elastomer which behaves as an incompressible fluid and resists additional motion with the full weight of the support to which the bumper is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: James T. Gwinn
  • Patent number: 5762324
    Abstract: An elastomeric mounting comprising a pair of rigid members (2, 3), an annular element (4) of elastomeric material sandwiched between confronting surfaces (6,7) of said members and a pillar (5) which extends centrally through the annular elastomeric element (4) into association with each of said rigid members, said pillar (5) being non-rigidly associated with at least one (2) of the rigid members whereby it is operative to prevent unlimited free separation of the rigid members (2,3) but allows the rigid members to move one towards the other to compress the elastomeric element (4) therebetween when the mounting is subject to applied compression load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Dunlop Limited
    Inventor: Robert Cecil Wilbourn
  • Patent number: 5725203
    Abstract: An jounce bumper apparatus has an elastomeric body (18) bonded directly to a head (30) of a threaded fastener (20) for providing controlled impact of a second member 46, such as a lower control arm of a vehicle suspension, with an adjacent first member (48), such as a vehicle frame. Bonding strength may be enhanced by the use of an enlarged head (30) combined with forming circumferential grooves thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David Bowman Lloyd
  • Patent number: 5704626
    Abstract: A shock vibration transmission reducing suspension device includes an outer tube for mounting to a bicycle frame, a lower guide element having a rectangular bore and stationarily secured in the outer tube between and spaced from an open top end and closed bottom end thereof, an upper guide element having a circular opening and fixedly secured in the outer tube adjacent to its open top end, an inner shaft disposed within the outer tube and extending upwardly through the open top end thereof to support a bicycle seat mounting assembly above the bicycle frame and being received through the lower and upper guide elements such that the inner shaft is disposed and guided to undergo sliding movement axially along the outer tube such that an upper portion of the inner shaft can progressively extend from and retract into the open top end of the outer tube, and a stack of resiliently compressible elastomeric elements disposed in the outer tube below a lower end of the inner shaft so as to support the inner shaft and ab
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: Donald A. Kesinger
  • Patent number: 5691037
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration damped laminate articles having improved force (torque and/or pressure and/or stress) retention, a method of making one article type and novel tools used to make the one article type. The first laminate comprises at least one layer of damping material between at least two substrate layers. At least one deformation area is present in the laminate wherein the substrate(s) are plastically deformed such that they are closer than non-deformed areas of the substrate and wherein the damping material has less mass than in a non-deformed area of the article; the deformation areas providing the areas of good force retention, for an attachment device attached thereto. The second laminate, which is not deformed, contains an additive of sufficient modulus, diameter and loading, in a vibration damping layer to provide improved force retention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. McCutcheon, Donald T. Landin
  • Patent number: 5634652
    Abstract: A suspension member for a bicycle is set forth which includes a strut telescopically received into a cylinder. A head assembly extends from the cylinder through a piston defined at the end of the strut and into the strut. Mounted to the assembly is a valve member which forms between it and the piston a volume which increases and decreases as the suspension telescopes. In response to a bump, the suspension collapses against a bias. The bias urges the member to rebound. When rebounding the valve member acts to define a restriction to exhaust air from the volume to dampen removed. Also set forth are elastomer pads and couplers which can be removed from the suspension member as a unit for replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Inventor: Chin-Sung Tsai
  • Patent number: 5607178
    Abstract: A floor scrubber is disclosed including a frame including a drive wheel, rear wheels, brushes, vacuum squeegee system, batteries, solution tanks, and an operator seat. The rear wheels are rotatably mounted on the opposite ends of a steel rod. Arms are attached rigidly to the axle and each include a cylindrical pivot in which an elastomer bushing is press fit. Pivot pins extend through first and second pairs of first and second plates and the elastomer bushing for pivotably mounting the arms to the frame while isolating any transmitted vibrations. Elastomeric isolator mounts are provided each including a frusto-conical shaped body and each having a nut embedded in the lower end for threadable receipt of a bolt passing through an attachment plate attached to the axle. The upper ends of the elastomeric isolator mounts each include a plate secured thereto and secured to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Advance Machine Company
    Inventors: Donald J. Legatt, Jerome A. Gunn
  • Patent number: 5575461
    Abstract: This invention relates to an inexpensive and easily recyclable elastic suspension system for suspending dynamically stressed parts. A flexible spring element is attachable to a support such as exhaust systems in vehicles. The spring element has an elastic compact structure and is made of a closed-cell foamed material. The closed-cell foamed material may be rubber material having a desired volume. Adjusting the degree of foaming, foam structure and hardness of the foam material allows for adjustments of the area of linearity as well as the gradient of the spring characteristic to accommodate difference in stresses caused by the performance part embedded in the spring element. A retainer for at least partially enclosing the spring element is provided. The retainer may be a flexible and elastic strap enveloping the circumference of the spring element. The retainer may also be a rigid support plate with connectors to connect the retainer to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Saar-Gummiwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Erich Ihle