Abstract: An independent rear wheel suspension for a motor vehicle having front wheel drive includes upper and lower transverse control arms pivotally mounted to the wheel support member. The wheel support member includes a spindle for mounting a road wheel. The upper control arm is mounted to the wheel support member at a position forward of the spindle. The lower control arm has a bifurcated outboard end with each bifurcation housing a bushing attaching the control arm to the wheel carrier. The suspension also includes a spring member, a longitudinal strut and a telescoping shock absorber.

Abstract: An encapsulated rubber cushion loaded mostly perpendicularly to its axis, in which two sleeves, one radially inside the other, are bonded together by a resilient body of rubber. The resilient body contains fluid-filled chambers which are connected at least partially by connecting openings. The dividing walls of the resilient body which separate the chambers from one another have from their manufacture a breadth which exceeds their installed breadth. They thus join the ready-to-use encapsulated rubber cushion in a resiliently compressed state.

Abstract: For reducing vibrations having different frequencies and transmitted to a chassis of a vehicle, a vibration-proof apparatus mounted on a support member supporting a vibratory body on the chassis includes a first dynamic damper and a second dynamic damper secured to the support member, such dynamic dampers being arranged to absorb vibrations having different frequencies. The apparatus is particularly applicable to a subframe which undergoes vibrations from a differential device and from a propeller shaft.

Abstract: A power unit mounting structure through which a power unit of an automotive vehicle is supported to a vehicle body. The power unit mounting structure consists of a vehicle body side mount bracket bolted at its one end section to the vehicle body, and a power unit side mount bracket securely connected at its one end section to a transmission case of the power unit. The other end sections of the vehicle body side and power unit side mount brackets are elastically connected through an insulator member with each other. The insulator member is securely disposed inside a rigid support member secured to the other end section of the vehicle body side mount bracket. The insulator member is located lower in level than a joint portion of the vehicle body side mount bracket with the vehicle body. Additionally, a support member is disposed between the insulator support member and a center frame member securely connected to the vehicle body at the joint portion, thereby reinforcing the vehicle body side mount bracket.

Abstract: A vibration isolating mount has a columnar vibration isolating rubber body, an upper retaining plate bonded to an upper end surface of the columnar rubber body, a lower retaining plate bonded to a lower end surface of the columnar rubber body, an upper bracket plate made of nonferrous metal and secured to an upper surface of the upper retaining plate, and a lower bracket plate made of nonferrous metal and secured to a lower surface of the lower retaining plate, and two chemical conversion coating layers formed in a lower surface of the upper retaining plate and an upper surface of the lower retaining plate. Each chemical conversion coating layer is made of one of zinc phosphate and calcium zinc phosphate, and improves the adhesive strength between each retaining plate and the rubber body while preventing each retaining plate from peeling off from the rubber body.

Abstract: A vibration insulating device to be installed between two members of a vibration system of an automotive vehicle. The device consists of an annular elastic member disposed between coaxial inner and outer cylindrical members and located coaxial with the outer cylindrical member. The elastic member is formed at its outer peripheral surface with a deep annular groove coaxial with the outer cylindrical member which groove is covered with the outer cylindrical member to define an annular hollow chamber. A generally cylindrical flexible diaphragm member is secured between the outer cylindrical member and the elastic member in such a manner that its central annular section divides the hollow chamber into a radially outward gas chamber and a radially inward liquid chamber, thereby effectively absorbing even high frequency small amplitude vibration transmitted to the device under deformation of the flexible diaphragm member.

Abstract: A vehicle door whose inside is deformable under energy dissipation. The inside is thereby subdivided into different sections matched in its rigidity to the individual body regions of the passenger. Furthermore, the rigidity can increase toward the rear door frame so that taller vehicle passengers find altogether a more rigid door inside when the seat is displaced toward the rear. The vehicle door is to reduce the injury risks in case of a lateral impact.

Abstract: The spring includes a tubular elastomeric body and an embedded coil spring composed entirely of active coils. The ends of the body are contoured with respect to the ends of the coil spring, and provide for control of the orientation of the composite spring with respect to spring seats. An end seal for composite or other tubular elastomeric springs also is disclosed.

Abstract: A spring element comprises an elastomer block (5) interspersed with at least two sets of cylindrical or prismatic channels (1) which in turn intersect cavities (2) formed in the elastomer block (5), the greatest inside cross-section of which cavities in the plane located at right angles to the channel axis is greater than the cross-section of the channels in that plane, said sets of channels mutually crossing at different levels in space without mutually intersecting. By virtue of this mode of interspersing the elastomer spring element with cavities, an optimal distribution of compressive stresses in the spring element combined with an optimum acoustic damping are achieved.

Abstract: An improved MacPherson strut configuration for use in an automobile suspension system is disclosed. The strut includes a strut cylinder and a pressure cylinder having an upper end, and a piston with a piston rod extending from within the pressure cylinder and attached to the body of a vehicle. A jounce bumper is attached about the piston rod between the body and the upper end of the pressure cylinder, and a striker plate is secured about the piston rod between the jounce bumper and the end of the strut cylinder. In the preferred embodiment, the striker plate has a central bore providing an interface fit with a piston rod; it further includes lower parallel surfaces extending radially inward to a concave central portion of the plate that is concentric with and adjacent to the central bore. Also in the preferred embodiment, the striker plate is composed of an elastic polymer.

Abstract: Two support assemblies for respectively supporting the tapered end and the cylindrical end of an elongated tubular elastomeric spring between two opposed spring seats are disclosed. The support assembly for the tapered end is made up of an elongated retaining member which is positionable generally transverse to and entirely inside the tapered end. This retaining member includes two inclined portions which bear down upon the inside of the tapered end when pulled in an outward direction by a bolt threadably secured to a conventional spring seat. The support assembly for the cylindrical end is made up of a second retaining member which is positionable generally transverse to and entirely inside the cylindrical end. The second retaining member includes a plurality of expandable flange portions which engage the inside of the cylindrical portion as the retaining member is pulled in an outward direction by a bolt threadably secured to the second spring seat.

Abstract: An elastic foot for apparatus of consumer electronics, preferably a compact disc player, in which a rubber spherical part is provided with a convex cross-section and with a height which decreases under the weight of a load. In order to maintain the resonance frequency constant even when the foot is subjected to high weight of a series of stacked equipment units on the compact disc player, a protuberance formed inside the rubber part provides for an additional elasticity when the load exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A structure for swingably supporting a lower suspension arm of a vehicle suspension on the chassis of the vehicle through a bracket. The bracket has a main part swingably supporting the lower suspension arm and connected to the chassis, and an extension extending from the main part in the longitudinal direction of the chassis and connected at a position which is vertically spaced from the position at which said main part is connected to the chassis and on the opposite side of the axis of swinging of the lower suspension arm to the position where the main part is connected to the chassis. With this arrangement, displacement of the bracket by any force transmitted through the lower suspension arm and acting in the longitudinal direction is minimized.

Abstract: A battery mounting structure for an automotive vehicle, wherein a battery is held in an elastic relationship with respect to the vehicle body so as to be free to vibrate relative to the vehicle body while being prevented from accidentally coming loose. Thus, the relatively large inertial mass of the battery serves to suppress vibration of the vehicle body, while other parts disposed in the engine compartment near the battery are protected from damage due to unrestrained movement of the battery.

Abstract: A motion snubber comprises layers of elastomeric and substantially inextensible material stacked one on top of the other between a base and mounting plate, and is characterized by a rigid restraining pin disposed in a bore within the stack so as to restrain deformation of the elastomer. In one embodiment the bore is obliquely oriented with respect to the pin. In another embodiment the pin is contoured to accommodate angular motion.

Abstract: A spring element comprising a resilient block interspersed with mutually parallel channels has an especially soft spring characteristic, since the block is interspersed with at least two series of channels mutually crossing in space without intersecting each other.

Abstract: An improved automotive suspension strut isolator and jounce bumper upper mount providing a compact resilient assembly adaptable for a vehicle having a reduced hood line. The assembly comprises a collar member formed with an upstanding collar portion having a radially outwardly extending contact flange. An inverted cylindrical cup member is positioned in spaced relation with the collar separated by an elastomeric isolator. The cup member includes a return bend flange underlying the contact flange in an axially spaced manner. The cup member is sized to telescopically accommodate the upper end of the strut outer support casing at full jounce travel thereby lowering the overall strut height for a given vehicle attachment span. In one form of the invention the strut utilizes a convoluted dust shield as a jounce bumper.

Abstract: A bush assemblage having an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve disposed around the inner sleeve in co-axial and radially-spaced relation thereto, a rigid sleeve member disposed between the inner and outer sleeves, a cylindrical resilient member interposed between the outer sleeve and the rigid sleeve member, and a cylindrical sliding member interposed between the inner sleeve and the rigid sleeve member, a retainer member located at at least one of axial ends of the inner sleeve to extend radially outwardly, and a sealing device for sealing at least between the inner sleeve and the rigid sleeve member. The sealing device includes a rubber member which is disposed on the retainer member and an axial end of the rigid sleeve member corresponding to the at least one axial end of the inner sleeve, and which abuts against the other.

Abstract: Several embodiments of a marine riser tensioner (10, 100, 200, 300) are disclosed for use in tensioning a marine riser (12) on a tension leg platform (14) by the use of elastomeric elements. In one embodiment, a plurality of elastomeric pads (60) are placed in pad shear to provide tension to the marine riser. In another embodiment, elastomeric disks (124) are placed in torsional shear to provide the tension to the marine riser. In other embodiments (200, 300) elastomeric cones (208) deform in ring shear.

Abstract: A rubber vibration isolator is used as a muffler hanger or muffler mount between a car body and a muffler to hang the latter from the former. The isolator includes a body made of rubber-like elastic material whose damping factor is high, two holes, upper and lower, formed in the center of the body of rubber-like elastic material, and a weight provided between the two holes and supported at opposite sides thereof by rubber-like elastic members. The rubber vibration isolator is advantageous in that coefficients of transfer of vibrations of both high and low frequencies, respectively, are lowered.

Abstract: A track compensator for adjusting tension of an endless track on a track-laying vehicle and for absorbing changes in track tension during vehicle operation. A tension adjuster, connected to an idler wheel, adjusts the distance between a drive wheel, at one end of the track, and the idler wheel at the other end of the track. A shock absorber mounted between the vehicle and the tension adjuster absorbs stress on the track caused by debris between the track and vehicle wheels.

Abstract: A suspension of a vehicle includes a set of suspension arms each supporting a wheel, a subframe pivotably connected on its left and right sides with the respective suspension arms, the subframe having on its each side portions forward and rearward of a rotary axis of the wheel and six elastic mounts. The subframe is coupled on each side thereof with a car body through two of the elastic mounts disposed at lateral interval in one of the portion and one elastic mount disposed in the other of the portions.

Abstract: In a wheel suspension for a motor vehicle which comprises a subframe arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and having a pair of laterally spaced front end portions to be fastened to the vehicle chassis and a pair of laterally spaced rear end portions to be fastened to the vehicle chassis, and a pair of suspension arms each base portion of which has a front end articulated to the respective front end portions of the subframe and a rear end to be articulated to the respective rear end portions of the subframe, a pair of brackets each are preliminarily fastened at their base portions to the rear end portions of the subframe to support each rear end base portion of the suspension arms articulated thereto and fastened at their base portions to the vehicle chassis through the rear end portions of the subframe and at their end portions to the vehicle chassis.

Abstract: An improved shock isolating mount is designed for securing a body part of a vehicle to a support. The shock mount comprises a two-part spool that includes: a spacer formed from an annular flange integral with a tube, the tube projecting through apertures in mating elastically resilient bodies and a mounting part of a vehicle body part disposed between them; a thimble, formed from a flange integral with a tube designed such that the thimble tube can telescope into the spacer tube. The thimble tube is formed into a polygon shape at the tube shoulder adjacent the thimble flange and the spacer tube is formed in a matching polygon shape such that the thimble tube shoulder can mate with the spacer tube. The thimble tube has an enlarged end which is engaged by a plurality of inward protrusions mounted in the spacer tube to prevent the spacer and thimble assembly from accidental disengagement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shock and vibration damping suspension system for mounting a power unit in relation to an engine bed or the like. The power unit comprises a motor or engine and a power transmission arrangement coupled thereto, preferably an inboard-outboard drive for watercraft. The suspension system includes suspension elements which are mounted between the power unit and the engine bed and are provided with damping devices made of resilient material. The invention is characterized in that the suspension elements located in parts of the power unit which, in operation are subjected to lifting forces, are of a first kind where the damping device is subjected to compression and shear forces under the influence of the lifting forces, while the suspension elements located in remaining parts of the power unit are of a second kind where the damping device is subjected to compression and shear forces under the influence of downwardly acting forces.

Abstract: A strut connecting a transversely mounted engine to an automobile frame component accommodates normal engine oscillation within a limited range of motion, such occurs at idle, while restraining excessive engine motion such as occurs during acceleration. The strut includes a complementary pair of elongate plates slidably mounting therebetween at opposite ends a pair of friction elements each of which is compressed between the plates by attachment means for connecting the strut in place. The attachment means includes a pair of elastomeric blocks bonded to the plates and washers bonded to the blocks and interconnected by a sleeve passing transversely through apertures in the plates and the friciton element. The aperture in the friction element is smaller than the apertures in the plates to provide a gap around the attachment sleeve.

Abstract: A hydraulically damping bearing which includes an inner bushing arranged in an outer bushing and an elastic element inserted therebetween. Chambers are provided within the elastic element which are filled with a damping medium and are connected with each other hydraulically by way of throttling channels extending in the area of the outer bushing. The throttling channels terminate in the chambers which, like the throttling channels, are sealed off against the outside. The bearing consists of two bearing halves adapted to be axially inserted into one another which include elastic bellows halves connected with the outer and inner bushing. The bellows halves include mutually opposite annular beads projecting into the interior of the chamber, between which is arranged an enclosed overflow channel.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly includes a wheel having a central pilot flange sized loosely with respect to a pilot boss on the wheel-carrying hub member but interferingly engageable with circumferentially spaced resiiently deflectable elements projecting from the boss outer surface and operative to substantially center the wheel on the hub.

Abstract: A vibration damper includes a hollow cylindrical member which is formed of an elastic material and to one end of which a fixture is secured a plug-like member which is formed of an elastic material, which has a flanged head portion with another fixture secured thereto, a neck portion to be inserted into the cylindrical member and which is disposed away from the cylindrical member in the axial direction such as to form spaces and an elastic connecting member for integrally connecting the cylindrical member and the plug-like member.

Abstract: A double isolated jounce bumper system comprises first and second shaped members mounted upon the chassis and a control arm of a motor vehicle, respectively. Each shaped member comprises a rigid armature and an elastomeric covering and bears a shape which is complementary to the shape of the other.

Abstract: A hydraulically damped mounting device has two anchor parts, in the form of a sleeve and a tube, connected together by a resilient wall. The resilient wall and the sleeve define a working chamber for hydraulic liquid which is connected to a compensation chamber by a passageway. The passageway may extend directly through the tube or peripherally of the sleeve. The compensation chamber is bounded by a bellows wall, permitting the volume of the compensation chamber to change freely as vibrations of the tube relative to the sleeve change the volume of the working chamber, without the bellows wall being subject to tensile stresses. The sleeve may be formed in two parts which are forced together during manurfacture, enabling a compact construction to be achieved.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring for use in a vehicle suspension has provided within the pneumatic spring an elastomeric spring which is subject to load only in the event of a pressurization failure of the pneumatic spring. The elastomeric spring is secured at one end to the pneumatic spring and is of generally circular cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to the normal direction in which it would be loaded. The spring additionally is of progressively increasing external diameter over a part of its length as considered in a direction from its secured end to the other, free, end whereby both the vertical compression stiffness and horizontal shear stiffness of the spring progressively increase when the spring is subject to an increasing compression loading in the event of a pressurization failure.

Abstract: A torque strut is pivotally connected about pivot axes at opposite ends thereof between a vehicle and its power train for controlling the pitching of the latter. The torque strut has an elastomeric bushing that is supported for angular movement about one of its pivot axes and has a configuration such as to effect a spring rate acting longitudinally of the strut that varies with angular movement of the bushing. The strut additionally has a drive for automatically angularly moving the bushing to vary the spring rate in response to varying power train operating conditions.