Rubber Patents (Class 267/153)
  • Patent number: 5008324
    Abstract: A process of using compositions comprising certain thermoplastic elastomeric polymers for damping and damping compositions comprising soft thermoset polymer containing microscopically discrete segments of said thermoplastic elastomeric polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Rohm and Haas Company
    Inventors: Paul C. Killgoar, Jr., Marsha A. Samus, Robert D. Koller, Sr., Carl P. Hemenway
  • Patent number: 5000429
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a body-side mounting for suspension strut (1, 2, 3) or spring shock absorber of a motor vehicle, with a rubber mount (8) effective between the body and suspension strut, predominantly loaded in shear, which is placed between a mount receptacle (7) formed into the body or parts thereof and a spacer (6) joined to the suspension strut, with the mount receptacle and spacer being adjusted to the dimensions of the rubber mount and receiving the latter in the inward spring deflection direction and radially thereto.The object of the present invention is to create a body-side mounting of the aforesaid type in which the rubber mount itself, when radial forces are introduced, for example, as a result of full steering lock, guarantees a largely constant spring rate and therefore stable steering response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Siegfried Wittmar, Ulrich Griesheimer
  • Patent number: 4981287
    Abstract: An upper articulated connecting device for connection between a spring-shock absorber assembly and the chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising: a frame (b 1,2,3) having a connecting piece (3) for securing the upper end of the shock absorber and girdled by a swivel joint (4); a frame (5) having on its lower face a lining (6) supporting the suspension spring and closed at the top by a cover (8); a low rigidity ring (11), secured between the lower portion of the swivel joint (4) and an annular bearing surface (13) integral with the frame (5); a high rigidity girdle whose external peripheral surface extends at a short distance from the internal peripheral surface of the cover, this girdle having two axial abutment surfaces, one adapted to bear against the bottom of the cover, and the other against a peripheral flange of the annular bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventor: Didier Cothenet
  • Patent number: 4962916
    Abstract: An elastomeric spring useful as an automotive shock or strut end-of-travel bumper having at least three distinct spring rates made possible by a series of roughly cylindrical, hollow elastomeric tubes stacked with the axes of the tubes normal to the axis of deflection of the spring. The tubes collapse sequentially to yield multiple spring rates. Non uniform wall thickness tubes, roll axially over the outer peripheral surface of the thicker walls of adjacent tubes during deflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Uniroyal Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Palinkas
  • Patent number: 4958812
    Abstract: A suspension spring system includes a housing, a suspension spring located in the housing and a bistable control spring located in the housing. A load supporting member is positioned at least partially within the housing and is movable with respect to the housing. The control spring is radially compressed within the housing so that the control spring is prestressed. The control spring is shiftable between two stable final positions and is, thus, able to influence and control the spring characteristics of the suspension spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: WOCO Franz-Josef Wolf & Co.
    Inventors: Franz J. Wolf, Hubert Pletsch
  • Patent number: 4958849
    Abstract: A cap having an opening mounted on the upper end of a damper includes an annular wall which encircles the cap opening and projects upwardly from an upper surface of the cap. A plurality of resilient tabs extends radially from the upper end surface of the annular wall. The lateral dimension of the tabs is slightly greater than an opening in support structure of a vehicle, e.g. a mounting tower. To quickly connect the upper end of the damper to the mounting tower, the mounted end cap is forced through the tower opening to compress the tabs. As the tabs clear the tower opening, each tab springs radially outwardly to retain the damper in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1990
    Assignee: Saturn Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Pinch, Douglas A. Dolengowski, R. Kevin Longard, Raj K. Gopwani
  • Patent number: 4954377
    Abstract: A load bearing connective damper for service in tensile, compression, and torsion as a shock and vibration isolation mounting device. Dampers are constructed using a multidimensionally braided textile shape and a viscoelastic material disposed in the interstrand spaces of the textile shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Eugene C. Fischer, Roger M. Crane
  • Patent number: 4946146
    Abstract: In a holding device with a receiving part held on a holder by means of a linear and/or rotary guide means, in particular, for tools for industrial robots, wherein the motion of the receiving part relative to the holder can be damped by means of a restoring damping element which can be subjected to tensile and shear stresses, in order to provide by virtue of a simple arrangement both damping of the motion of the receiving part relative to the holder and a restoring force which ensures reliable maintenance of the middle position, it is proposed that the damping element be arranged so as to be structurally separate from the guide means for the linear and/or rotary motion and that deflection forces acting upon the damping element during motion of the receiving part relative to the holder be exerted essentially perpendicular to its direction of tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: C & E Fein GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Michael Hoepf
  • Patent number: 4942075
    Abstract: An annular resilient body of fiber composite material for vibration-insulating support of drive assemblies includes at least one wound body having a circumferential direction and a loading direction. The at least one wound body includes a plurality of wound concentric layers formed of synthetic resin impregnated fibers extending in the circumferential direction and transverse to the load direction, and at least one layer of fibers extending at an angle relative to the concentric layers. Force-inducing fastening elements are disposed on two opposite sides of the at least one wound body. The fastening elements are formed of metal brackets at least partly encompassing the at least one wound body and elastic rubber layers bracing the metal brackets against the at least one wound body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Assignee: Metzeler GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Hartel, Carl Heynemann, Werner Hundt, Siegfried Muller, Matthias Richter
  • Patent number: 4936558
    Abstract: A variable strength spring includes a tubular body, at whose inner surface is coaxially provided a concave contact seat, a ring made of elastomeric material rigidly engaged in the tubular body and a connection tang rigidly engaged in the elastic ring. The elastic ring has a radial groove that defines, on the longitudinal length of the ring, a first portion rigidly engaged inside the tubular body opposite the contact seat, and a second portion slidably engaged in the tubular body. On the outer circumferential end of the second portion is situated a rigid rabbet edge positioned opposite to a stopping seat inside the tubular body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Pirelli Sistemi Antivibranti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alfredo Orlandi
  • Patent number: 4930758
    Abstract: Support element with movement limiter is provided, in particular for motor vehicle engines, of the type comprising a resilient support (1) with a device (7, 8) for fixing both to the body of the vehicle and to the engine, and a movement limiter (2) also fixed to the body and comprising two flanges (13, 14) enclosing the resilient support () and adapted for limiting the forward and rearward movement thereof, characterized in that it further comprises a closure cross-brace (17) providing a rigid connection between the ends of the flanges (13, 14) of the limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventor: Jean Poirier
  • Patent number: 4925163
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spring element (1) used for elastically supporting large loads. The spring element comprises an elastic rubber block having uniformly distributed spherical cavities (2) which are intersected by clindrical or prismatic channels (3) also formed in the rubber material. The channels (3) form groups of channels defining areas stacked on top of each other in the direction of the vector of a load to be supported, which areas neither intersect nor touch each other. These areas may be three-dimensionally-shaped areas, for example envelopes of a cone or corrugated areas, as well as mutually parallel planes oriented obliquely to the direction of the load vector. When projected onto a horizontal plane, the groups of channels (3) are either radially extending and uniformly angularly spaced if the areas are envelopes of a cone, or are mutually parallel if the areas are obliquely arranged planes. In no way, the channels (3) intersect or touch each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 15, 1990
    Assignee: Woco Franz-Josef Wolf & Co
    Inventors: Franz J. Wolf, Hubert Pletsch
  • Patent number: 4913410
    Abstract: The method of increasing the dampening and attenuation of machinery produced vibrations by interposing between the vibrating machinery and its supporting surface a composite particle pad having elastic and resilient granules or strands of rubber or rubber-like particles of natural, synthetic or elastomeric material bound together to thereby create various sized links of such particles with voids randomly spaced within such particle pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Inventor: Robert L. Marshall
  • Patent number: 4913411
    Abstract: A high-capacity elastomeric combination journal-thrust bearing comprises at least one encapsulated lobe. The encapsulated lobe comprises an outer tubular member having a first ring joined along substantially all of its outer periphery to the inner periphery of the outer tubular member at a first end and having a second ring joined along substantially all of its outer periphery to the inner periphery of the outer tubular member at a second end. The encapsulated lobe further comprises an inner tubular member having the same longitudinal axis of the outer tubular member, and having a third ring joined along substantially all of its inner periphery to the outer periphery of the inner tubular member, spaced between the first and second rings. An elastomer separates and joins the rings to each other and to the tubular members, and the tubular members to each other. As the radial distance from the longitudinal axis increases, the thickness of the elastomer increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: LTV Energy Products Co.
    Inventors: Frederick E. Collins, Gary L. Whightsil, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4901691
    Abstract: A device for mounting an internal combustion engine on a machine frame of a working machine includes grooves formed in internal walls of the machine frame so as to oppose each other and to extend in a direction of axis of a crankshaft of the engine, and projections projecting from both lateral sides of a crank case and extending in the axial direction. The projections are fittingly received by the grooves in the internal walls of the machine frame, whereby the internal combustion engine is located in the internal space of the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: Kioritz Corporation
    Inventor: Akira Nagashima
  • Patent number: 4895355
    Abstract: The invention relates to a spring device capable of softly dissipating the energy of an accelerated mass which is relatively great with respect to the inert mass of a reference system coupled to said spring device. The force deflection curve of said spring device exhibits an abrupt steep rise within the linear working range of the force deflection curve so that the required deflection is reduced. The spring device can include a soft suspension spring coupled to a control spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignee: Woco Franz-Josef Wolf & Co.
    Inventors: Franz Josef Wolf, Hubert Pletsch
  • Patent number: 4887934
    Abstract: A floating impact absorbing device for use in docking two adjacent vessels wherein at least two laterally spaced supports journal the ends of a pair of shafts for movement in a common plane. Torsion springs are journaled on the shafts and each torsion spring has oppositely extending levers that resist their rotation. Impact pads located on opposite sides of the common plane are connected to adjacent levers to provide a reactive force on vessels acting on such impact pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1989
    Assignee: The B. F. Goodrich Company
    Inventor: James H. Kramer
  • Patent number: 4883413
    Abstract: In a rotary-piston displacement machine, to seal the flat sealing planes between the end faces of the displacement body (5), executing a circular motion, and the side faces (20) of the stationary housing (7) which run parallel thereto, the end faces of the displacement body (5) are provided with a groove (13) in which an elastic sealing strip (14) made of slideable material is inserted. The sealing strip is pressed by a silicone tube (15) against the side wall (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1989
    Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Josef Perevuznik, Fritz Spinnler, Jurg Weber
  • Patent number: 4880214
    Abstract: A cushioning and protecting member for cushioning and protecting articles packed in a case is provided that includes a plurality of cushions having a variety of shapes and which can be compressed by pressure. The protecting member further includes a supporting plate which attachably or detachably supports the cushions. The cushions are compressed from a state in which they are in contact with the article or case body and, further, the cushions can be attached and detached from the supporting plate to thereby facilitate re-use of the cushions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Emiko Sukai
  • Patent number: 4871150
    Abstract: The support has a generally annular shape and a fixing device extends axially therethrough. It comprises an annular elastically yieldable mass connected to two frames, a semi-toric membrane fixed between the two frames and defnining with the outer surface of the mass a work chamber (A). This chamber communicates with an expansion chamber (B) through a passageway. The support also includes a device for limiting its axial and radial movements. Such a support has a particularly low natural stiffness both in the radial direction and in the transverse direction, which improves the filtering of high frequency vibrations while affording a good damping of trepidations of low frequency and large amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignees: Automobiles Peugeot, Automobiles Citroen
    Inventors: Le Salver, Domunique Poupard
  • Patent number: 4861007
    Abstract: An element for supporting the suspension-springs of railway wagons including a bottom plate, an intermediate plate and a parallel adjacent supporting plate provided with the interposition of first and second elastic rings which are connected to the plates at their respective contacting surfaces. The second elastic ring has a greater rigidity compared to that of the first elastic ring. The greater rigidity is obtained by forming the second ring to have a lesser height (L") than that (L') of the first ring, or by use of an elastomeric material that is more rigid than the material which is used for forming the first ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Pirelli Sistemi Antivibranti S.p.A.
    Inventor: Emilio Morini
  • Patent number: 4858880
    Abstract: Resilient mounting apparatuses are useful for isolating the engine generated vibrations and noise from the frame. The mushroom style resilient mounting apparatuses are generally over designed and add to the cost without any additional benefits. The subject resilient mounting apparatus includes a rebound pad designed to provide high fatigue capacity yet low initial stiffness in a small space and to permit the use of simple manufacturing processes to make it. The primary support includes a skirt which cooperates with the rebound pad to keep foreign material from migrating into an annular space. Thus the subject resilient mounting apparatus meets the functional requirements while avoiding the manufacturing complexity or the extra cost of unneeded material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: James C. Durand
  • Patent number: 4854792
    Abstract: A system and method for bracing and cushioning the impact of movable massive loads during sudden deceleration of a transport vehicle, such as created during humping of railway cars. Resilient elastomeric pads separate adjacent objects of the load with the thickness and density of the elastomeric material chosen to dampen typical impact forces without damage to the objects. The resilent pads are preferably formed with at least one face contoured to envelope the side of an object. Three types of resilient pads are disclosed for use in transporting massive sheet metal coils with one pad adapted for particular use at endwalls, another pad for use between coils, and yet another pad for use between mid-row coils and doorway dunnage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: Cougar Package Designers, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark A. Cottone
  • Patent number: 4854562
    Abstract: An elastic mounting molded from an elastomer compound bonded to two fastening frames, in particular for antivibration isolation of vehicle suspension elements, where the deformation rigidity is blocked in one direction by the tension of a metal cable embedded in the elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: S.A. dite: Caoutchouc Manufacture et Plastiques
    Inventors: de Fontenay: Etienne, Patrick Parisot
  • Patent number: 4842258
    Abstract: A composite engine mount includes first and second members and an elastic member. The second member defines a space into which one portion of the first member extends. A first stopper rubber for providing a front and rear, left and right and rebound stopper is fixed to the one portion of the first member. Due to the structure, an assembly of the mount and brackets to be fixed to the first and second members can be made small. Such a mount is suitable for use in a left-hand and a right-hand engine mount for a transversely mounted engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toru Misaka, Sadafumi Fukumura
  • Patent number: 4840359
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
    Inventors: Arno Hamaekers, Axel Rudolph
  • Patent number: 4826142
    Abstract: A bearing for the elastic support of machines includes a rigid fiber-reinforced plastic frame having a primatic cross section and upper, lower and lateral frame walls. Rubber cushions are each vulcanized onto a respective one of the lateral walls and symmetrically disposed relative to each another. A carrier supports the rubber cushions. A retaining bolt for a machine passes through the upper frame wall. The retaining bolt has an enlarged base and an outer surface disposed in the frame. Plastic material uniformly coats the outer surface of the retaining bolt inside the frame. Vertical supporting walls supported on the enlarged base support the retaining bolt against forces tending to pull the retaining bolt out of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Metzeler Kautschuk GmbH
    Inventors: Carl Heynemann, Werner Hundt
  • Patent number: 4822011
    Abstract: A shock absorber, arranged between bumper and body, possesses elastically deformable elements (2) which support themselves against sliding surfaces (8), whose contact pressure is adjustable across additionally arranged elastic bodies (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hubert Goldbach, Roderich Kammerer
  • Patent number: 4817923
    Abstract: A vibration damper comprising; a main body which is formed from an elastic material into a substantially cubic overall form; and fixtures which are attached to each of two surfaces of the main body which are adjacent each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Kioritz Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikiyo Kamata, Takashi Fukuoka
  • Patent number: 4809960
    Abstract: A bushing assembly for use in a suspension of an automotive vehicle. The bushing assembly is comprised of inner and outer cylinder members which are coaxial and spaced from each other. An elastic member and a rigid sleeve member are disposed between the inner and outer cylinder members. A sliding member is disposed between the inner cylinder member and the rigid sleeve member in order to reduce torsion spring effect of the elastic member. The sliding member is prevented from its axial displacement upon contacting with a radially outwardly extending retainer section formed in the inner cylinder member. Additionally, a generally cap-shaped seal rubber is provided to accomplish seal between the end section of the rigid sleeve member and the end section of the inner cylinder member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kakimoto, Satoshi Osawa
  • Patent number: 4807857
    Abstract: A soft mounting for insulating body transmitted waves comprises a soft support spring block made of elastic material. The support spring block is disposed between two beaker-type housing parts which serve to transfer load forces into the support spring block. The housing parts are arranged coaxially with respect to one another and are telescopically positioned within one another. Elastomer spring elements having cavities located therein concentrically surround the support spring block. The cavities serve to show the effect of a collapse of a spring restoration force by kinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignees: WOCO Franz-Josef Wolf & Co., Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Franz J. Wolf, Hubert Pletsch, Otto Weber, Volkamr Keck
  • Patent number: 4806437
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yokoi, Yoshihiro Ogawa, Hideyuki Imai
  • Patent number: 4796862
    Abstract: An improved compensating winch (10, 200) is disclosed which incorporates elastomeric elements (20, 118, 202, 204) which are deformable in torsional shear about the rotational axis of the drum of the winch to absorb shock loading of the cable (22) to increase the service life of the cable and winch and resist catastrophic failure. The elastomeric element can comprise a series of alternating elastomeric rings and rigid rings bonded together to form a unitary structure. Concentric elastomeric elements (202, 204) can be connected in a series relationship to provide for greater annular deflection of a drum versus a drive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Lockheed Corporation
    Inventor: George W. Peppel
  • Patent number: 4790729
    Abstract: Brake equipment for a hydraulic vehicle brake system which has an actuating assembly and a feed pump secured elastically thereon. The two communicate with one another via at least one suction and pressure line each. To assure an inexpensive, dependable flexible line connection between component parts that move relative to one another, the suction and pressure lines are embodied as housing bores in the assembly and pump housings and for a liquid-tight connection of two successive housings bores at a time extending in the course of the lines in the assembly housing on the one hand and in the pump housing on the other, at least one connecting tube is disposed in two flush bearing bores in the assembly housing and in the pump housing. The connecting tube rests pivotably and longitudinally displaceably in the bearing bores sealing off the bearing bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Zirps
  • Patent number: 4786100
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kleemann, Bernd Woite, Ludwig Bolte, Franz Guertler
  • Patent number: 4781365
    Abstract: A spring suitable for use in a vehicle suspension comprises a pair of rigid end members and bonded therebetween a body of elastomeric material which is of solid cross-section over a part of the spring in the vicinity of a first end member and hollow in the vicinity of a second end member for between 10 and 80% of the length of the body. The body is of progressively increasing external cross-sectional dimension over a first part of the length of the body as considered in a direction away from the first end member and of progressively decreasing external cross-section over a second part of the length of the spring extending to the second end member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: Dunlop Limited
    Inventor: Reginald Harrison
  • Patent number: 4776573
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1988
    Assignee: Woco Franz-Josef Wolf & Co.
    Inventors: Franz J. Wolf, Hubert Pletsch
  • Patent number: 4771996
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Maremont Corporation
    Inventors: Guillermo Martinez, Jr., Srinath Nandyal
  • Patent number: 4770398
    Abstract: An engine mounting device resiliently supports an engine on a frame including a first plate member for connection to the frame. A second plate member is U-shaped and has flanges at each end of the U-shaped portion for connection to the first plate member and the frame. A tubular member is disposed between and spaced from the first plate member and the second plate member. A resilient member interconnects the tubular member and the first and second plate members for resiliently supporting the tubular member between the first and second plate members. The first plate member includes a plurality of raised ribs laterally spaced one from the other and forms an arch-shaped opening for receiving a first end of the resilient member to prevent lateral movement of the resilient member. The resilient member has a second end arcuate and complimentary to the U-shaped portion of the second plate member to prevent lateral and radial movement of the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: The Standard Products Company
    Inventor: Ping Lee
  • Patent number: 4767105
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Deutsche Thomson-Brandt GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Caspers
  • Patent number: 4767108
    Abstract: An elastic bushing assembly including a rigid sleeve member disposed radially inwardly of an outer sleeve, the sleeve member having a radial flange extending radially outwardly from one axial end thereof, an elastic member interposed between the outer sleeve and the sleeve member, an inner sleeve disposed radially inwardly of the sleeve member, a sliding member interposed between the inner sleeve and the sleeve member and slidable relative to one of the inner sleeve and the sleeve member. A retainer member is located at one axial end of the inner sleeve corresponding to the radial flange of the sleeve member, and a sealing rubber member is in pressed abutting contact with the radial flange of the sleeve member and the retainer member, so as to provide sealing therebetween. The rubber member includes two radially spaced-apart annular sealing lips whose diameters increase in an axially outward direction of the sleeve member away from the radial flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Tanaka, Koji Sawada, Koji Shinohara
  • Patent number: 4757979
    Abstract: An apparatus for regulating tension by the compression of a yieldingly resisting core includes a compressible core, a collapsible modifier arranged in the core and a force transmitting or compressive member which receives a tension that is to be regulated and in response thereto applied a compressive force to the core. The core and modifier combine to initially generate a force in opposition to the compressive force applied to them, and the opposition force as applied to the compressive member causes the apparatus to develop a force in opposition to the applied tension. The modifier also aids the applied tension as the core is flattened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Inventor: Jimmie D. Essex
  • Patent number: 4756516
    Abstract: A resiliently deformable element of elastomeric material having a microcellular structure, suitable for use as an end stop in a motor vehicle suspension comprises a tubular body having a first portion with right circular cylindrical external and internal surfaces and a second portion, coaxial with the first, defined by internal and external conical surfaces converging towards one another away from the first portion. When used in a motor vehicle suspension of the MacPherson strut type the end stop is positioned with the more easily deformed conically tapering second portion defined by the surfaces facing towards the body of a shock absorber, with the rod of the shock absorber passing through the bore in the cylindrical first part of the body. At the junction between the first part and the second part of the body the junction line is defined by an annular groove which assists in the regular deformation of the body in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Polipren S. r. I.
    Inventor: Carlo F. Tondato
  • Patent number: 4756512
    Abstract: A shock absorber strut that includes an inner and an outer tube which slide one over the other. The combination of a keeper ring and a series of key stops secures the tubes while allowing independent motion therebetween. An elastomeric material contained within the tubes functions as the shock absorber material and bearing surfaces allow for easy movement between the tubes. A method is also provided for replacement of one of the bearing surfaces without removal of the entire strut from the vehicle even though the elastomeric material is under preload.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Toms, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4750720
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: WOCO Franz-Josef Wolf & Co.
    Inventors: Franz J. Wolf, Hubert Pletsch
  • Patent number: 4737760
    Abstract: A tire pressure warning device is disclosed which comprises a body adapted to be threaded into the valve stem of the tire, a pressure sensing valve in the body and an elastomeric compression spring acting on the sensing valve to open it when the pressure in the tire is below a predetermined value. In one embodiment an alarm in the body is adapted to produce an audible signal in response to air flow through the sensing valve. In another embodiment the body includes a distendable diaphragm as a pressure sensor and an elastomeric compression spring for closing a switch when the air pressure is below a predetermined value. A radio transmitter in the body transmits a warning signal when the switch is closed. A monitor detects a transmitted audio or radio signal and compares it with a stored reference signal and produces an output signal only when the transmitted signal corresponds to the stored signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Inventors: Chung-Siung Huang, Hsien-Ching Kuo
  • Patent number: 4736487
    Abstract: A force responsive, variable length push rod for connecting the motor and windshield blade of a windshield wiper unit. The variable response push rod includes a pair of members connected at one end to the motor and windshield blades respectfully and overlapped at the other end. Each member includes a plurality of lobes extending to the area between the opposed members and an elastomer adheres to the lobes and fills space between the plurality of lobes to form push rod. Interdigitized lobes and elastomer define the force characteristics of the push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anton Epple, Hans Trube, Martin Pfeiffer
  • Patent number: 4718371
    Abstract: A resilient support is provided for maintaining a pivotally mounted yacht fitting in an upright position. The support is in the form of a conical section made from a resilient polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Vanguard, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter O. Harken, Eugene J. Cramer, Robert A. Whitehouse
  • Patent number: 4712488
    Abstract: In a railway truck, a primary suspension system comprising a pair of elastomeric half-ring members having high wear flexible woven material bonded thereto and on opposite sides thereof; the woven material having high flexibility and wear resistance perpendicular to the plane of the material and rigid within the plane of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: The Budd Company
    Inventor: James M. Herring, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4706946
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Inventors: Richard P. Thorn, Leonard J. Schwemmer