Abstract: A suspension strut comprising a tube substantially closed at both ends and containing fluid; a piston assembly slidably mounted in the tube and making a sealing fit therewith, the piston assembly separating a compression chamber and a rebound chamber within the tube; a piston rod attached to the piston assembly and extending through the rebound chamber and out of one end of the tube; and a rebound stop mounted on the piston rod between the piston assembly and said one end of the tube, the rebound stop comprising a substantially rigid metallic ring secured to the piston rod and an annular bumper compressible between the metallic ring and the said one end of the tube during a rebound stroke, wherein the rebound stop and/or the one end of the tube is such as to alter the normal compression characteristics of the bumper on initial contact and compression of the bumper.

Abstract: A hydraulic support in the form of a hydraulically damped elastomer support is disclosed. The hydraulic chambers of the support are arranged and designed in such a way that effective damping is achieved both in the case of vibrations in the longitudinal direction and vibrations in the transverse direction and that all the chambers can contribute to dynamic support in the transverse direction.

Abstract: Hydraulically damping rubber bearing including an inner part, an outer part oriented concentrically or eccentrically in relation to the inner part and at some distance from the inner part, and a rubber part inserted between the inner part and the outer part, in which rubber part there are at least two chambers filled with damping medium, whereby at least two chambers are connected to one another by means of a flow connection, whereby the flow connection is located in a rigid element and is contained in the rubber part.

Abstract: A top hydro-pneumatic suspension mount is embodied in a single path preloaded shear compression arrangement achieved by positioning a rate plate between the upper jounce plate and the molding assembly thereby providing a digressive rate performance concurrently providing stiff performance for supporting the vehicle and resilient performance for isolating vertical road input loads.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle suspension shock-absorbing assembly providing a metal-to-metal jounce stop arrangement. The lower extremity of a cylindrical canister, extending downwardly from an upper coil spring seat, defines an upper angular jounce stopper while a striker plate, fixed on the upper end of a shock-absorber unit, is formed with a downwardly off-set annular lower stopper ledge. The arrangement enables maximum jounce travel while limiting compression of the elastomeric jounce bumper, encircling the shock piston rod, to a predetermined axial dimension thereby substantially increasing its service life. Further, the canister shields the bumper during full jounce obviating damage thereto. The canister lower end portion has an inturned shoulder from which an inwardly offset ring depends terminating in an exterior return bent hemmed flange.

Abstract: An adjustable mount for the upper end of a motor vehicle suspension strut located in a bush (12) wherein a flange (22) is located between a clamping plate (13) and a face plate (14) with studs (17) passing from the clamping plate through enlarged apertures (15) in the flange (22), holes (16) in the face plate (14) and aligned holes (18) in the top of the vehicle chassis suspension tower (11), and being secured by nuts (19). Before the nuts (19) are tightened, the flange (22) may be moved in a sliding fashion between the clamping plate (13) and face plate (14) to locate the bush (12) and upper end of the strut into the desired location for correct castor and camber settings. Reference is also made to the provision of screwdriver slots (25) to permit the flange (22) to be levered into the desired location using a screwdriver when the suspension is under load.

Abstract: A single-thrust beating for a shock absorber with a columnar journal projecting in the damping direction and which is sealingly surrounded by a flexible, annular-shaped membrane, whereby the membrane is secured in its rim area, which projects radially to the outside, to a supporting bearing and separates two liquid-filled working chambers from each other. The working chambers are defined in the area of the extremities which mutually oppose each other by hollow-conical bearing springs made of a rubber elastic material. The bearing springs are supported in their base area on the supporting bearing and are braced against one another by means of the journal by way of their tips which are turned away from each other.

Abstract: A quarter car vehicle suspension including a wheel, a bearing having an axis of rotation, the piston rod axis aligned at an acute angle with respect to a spring axis of a coil spring of the suspension, and a spring seat integral with the bearing, wherein the bearing is located between the spring seat and the vehicle body, and wherein the axis or rotation of the bearing is substantially aligned with a spring axis and at an acute angle to the piston rod axis.

Abstract: A motor vehicle suspension system with a jounce bumper comprising a rigid support having a rigid cylindrical wall, an outer bumper member having an open end and a substantially closed end, the outer bumper member defining a cylindrical passage bordered by an inner cylindrical wall at its open end, wherein the open end is mounted radially interior of the rigid cylindrical wall, and an inner bumper member of cylindrical shape and size to fit within he cylindrical passage, having a radially exterior surface radially interfering with a predetermined axial length of the inner cylindrical wall, wherein, during compression of the outer bumper member, the inner bumper member cooperates with the rigid cylindrical wall to trap the open end of the outer bumper member, wherein the spring rate of the outer bumper is passively increased by the inner bumper cooperating with the rigid cylindrical wall.

Abstract: A support bearing supporting a shock absorber piston rod at a vehicle frame part is disclosed which includes cup-shaped receptacles attached to both sides of the frame part. Elastic support elements are clamped into the receptacles between respective sides of the frame part and stops on a piston rod extending through the receptacles frame part and elastic support elements. To aid in centering the elastic support elements in the receptacles, ribs are provided on one of the elastic elements and the receptacles side walls, such that no other centering attachment of the elastic elements to the receptacles such as by vulcanization, is required.

Abstract: A quarter car vehicle suspension including a wheel, a bearing having an axis of rotation, a quarter car steer axis about which the wheel steers, a strut with a piston rod and a piston rod axis, the piston rod axis aligned at an acute angle with respect to the quarter car steer axis, and a spring seat, wherein the bearing is mounted between the spring seat and the vehicle body, and wherein the axis or rotation of the bearing is substantially aligned with the quarter car steer axis and at an acute angle to the piston rod axis.

Abstract: A suspension's coil spring insulator provides increased surface area insulation at the top and bottom end coil to vehicle spring seat mating points. Preassembly retention capability and radial location features are provided on the insulator.

Abstract: A vibration damper for a shock absorber strut is described which is arranged on a piston rod above the elastic body-side bearing facing away from the vehicle wheel. The damper comprises a mass element which is connected with a carrier plate, in which case the element is fastened on a centric pot element by way of radially extending elastic arms, the pot element being held on the free end of the piston rod above the elastic bearing.

Abstract: An automotive suspension strut upper mounting arrangement providing a one-piece elastomeric block isolator adapted for enclosure in a two-piece housing comprising upper and lower closure members. The isolator, which has a central generally tubular shape, is molded with an upper jounce collar and a lower rebound collar. A continuous internal radially extending tuning groove is formed in the jounce and rebound collars. By varying the axial dimension of the grooves the mount axial spring rate may be fine tuned to smoothly receive axially imposed suspension loads. Additionally, the isolator body outer surface may formed with a plurality of recesses defining predetermined voids providing selective tuning of laterally imposed suspension loads.

Abstract: An automotive suspension strut upper mounting arrangement providing increased stroke length and enhanced tunability by virtue of the major working area of the mount being located above the tower attachment surface. The mounting assembly comprises an outer housing defined by an upper closure formed with a flanged brim and a lower closure formed with a terminal flange. The housing encloses a composite mount comprising an elastomeric isolator ring surrounding an inner metal cup with the cup upstanding side wall embedded in the ring. The ring has an upper end face which abuts an upper closure internal shoulder and a lower tubular extension sized for press-fit capture in a lower closure annular U-shaped channel. Upon the upper closure flanged brim and the lower closure terminal flange being secured in flatwise contact an axial pre-load is applied to the elastomeric ring.

Abstract: An upper mounting structure for a wheel suspension includes a coil spring and a strut assembly each of which is adapted to be connected at its lower end with a wheel, while an upper end of the coil spring is coupled with a vehicle body through a spring insulator of high stiffness and an upper end of the strut assembly is coupled with the vehicle body through a strut mounting insulator of low stiffness. The structure further includes an additional insulator connecting between the upper ends of the coil spring and the strut assembly, which additional insulator has higher stiffness than the spring insulator within higher frequency range. Therefore, the strut assembly is capable of absorbing a surge vibration of the coil spring within the higher frequency range in spite of low stiffness of the strut mounting insulator.

Abstract: An automotive suspension strut upper mounting assembly providing increased stroke length and enhanced spring rate tunability with the major working area of the mount being located above the body panel attachment surface. The mount comprises a housing including upper and lower closures readily assembled to enclose a composite isolator mount comprising an inner metal cup bonded to an outer elastomeric ring. The composite ring has a concentric sleeve embedded therein defining inner and outer body portions providing an increased spring rate for stiffening lateral vehicle motion caused by handling maneuvers. The inner and outer body portions are each formed with a pair of diametrically opposed fore and aft voids selectively reducing the spring rate thereby softening longitudinally imposed impact loads.

Abstract: A steer-sensitive jounce bumper and bump plate are adapted for use with a steerable hydraulic strut. The jounce bumper is a generally tubular member formed from a compressible material having a pattern of predetermined indentations formed in its lower end. The jounce bumper is mounted about a piston rod of the strut and secured to a mount assembly. A bump plate having a series of alignment pins is mounted to an upper end of the strut. As a wheel assembly is steered, the bump plate is rotated so that misalignment occurs between the pins and the indentations. When misaligned, compression of the jounce bumper is reduced, thereby reducing the compression stroke of the strut.

Abstract: According to an illustrative example of the present invention, an end cap for a container of a vibration damper has a carrier sleeve. This carrier sleeve has an internal surface provided with axially extending ribs. The axially extending ribs have in a section containing the axis of the cap member an apex profile.

Abstract: A vibration damper assembly is provided which includes a first attachment element or bracket for securing the damping mechanism to a first component, the vibrations of which are to be damped. A visco-elastic spacer is secured to the element or bracket at one end, and to a cylinder of a piston/cylinder assembly at its other end. A piston is slidably received in the cylinder with a predetermined clearance between the peripheral surface of the piston and the cylinder wall. A piston rod extending from the piston and the opposite end of the cylinder is received within a housing of a viscous damping device, the piston rod having a plurality of discs mounted thereon in predetermined, spaced relationship. An interior wall of the housing is also formed with a plurality of disc-like surfaces projecting toward the radial center of the housing, with aligned apertures therein to accommodate the piston rod.

Abstract: A radial compression spring having a formed of an elastomer having a ratio of plastic strain to elastic strain that is greater than 1.5 to 1 into a hollow body having oriented wall sections that include a bend as a result of radial precompression. The spring is precompressed to overcome the compression set characteristics of the elastomer and to orient its molecular structure.

Abstract: An upper support for a suspension system manufactured by preparing a first intermediate product including an inner rigid member, a first outer rigid member and a first elastic body for elastically connecting the inner and first outer rigid members. The first intermediate product is then placed within a mass of a non-compressible fluid. A second elastic body and a resonance member are then assembled with the inner and first outer rigid members, so as to prepare a second intermediate product having a fluid chamber filled with the fluid and defined between the first and second elastic bodies. The second intermediate product is then removed from the mass of the non-compressible fluid, and a second outer rigid member having an attaching portion mounted, in the atmosphere on the second intermediate product.

Abstract: A jounce bumper and dust shield subassembly includes a washer having an annular opening for receiving a piston rod of a damper. A jounce bumper includes an axial bore for receiving the piston rod and top and bottom surfaces. A resilient collar is provided on the top surface of the jounce bumper. A dust shield includes a body and a planar end surface having an annular opening for receiving the piston rod. The planar end surface of the dust shield is placed against a lower surface of the washer so that their respective openings are aligned. The collar of the jounce bumper is inserted through the dust shield and the openings of the dust shield and washer to trap the planer end surface between the jounce bumper and the washer, thereby forming a subassembly.

Abstract: An upper mount assembly includes a pair of plates seating at least one Belleville spring. The plates are concentrically mounted about a hydraulic damper so that the Belleville spring is in series with a coil suspension spring. During use, deflection of the Belleville spring provides an additional degree of motion to reduce transmission of vibration to the vehicular body.

Abstract: A fluid-filled cylindrical elastic mount having an inner and an outer sleeve, a pair of intermediate support members axially opposed to each other and having respective cylindrical portions with a predetermined axial spacing therebetween, and an elastic body elastically connecting the inner sleeve and the support members. The elastic body cooperates with the inner sleeve to define an annular recess which is open radially outwardly through the axial spacing between the cylindrical portions of the support member. The outer sleeve is fitted on cylindrical portions of the support members, so as to close the annular recess to thereby form an annular fluid chamber. A spacer is interposed between the cylindrical portions of the support members, to prevent a relative axial movement of the support members toward each other and thereby maintain the predetermined axial spacing between the cylindrical portions.

Abstract: A resilient mount is described as having a special spring steel retainer spring for locking the mount in a frusto-conically shaped opening which is defined by a hollow truncated rigid metal sleeve which has an annular abutment at its free outer edge. The mount has inner and outer rigid metal sleeves to which a resilient rubber insert is bonded. The insert essentially encases the outer sleeve and has a circumferential recess which extends inwardly of the insert adjacent the annular abutment. The recess is designed to receive the retainer spring which has a plurality of radially extending fingers for engaging the annular abutment to limit axial movement of the mount in one direction. The insert is also provided with an integral annular flange for engaging the opposite end of the truncated sleeve to limit axial movement of the mount in the other direction.

Abstract: A controllable elastic connection device for providing antivibration filtering having two different rigidities in a vehicle suspension system includes a piezo-rigid tubular chamber embedded in an elastomer compound block that is elastically connected between two fastening armatures, whereby the piezo-rigid tubular chamber is expandable under the action of a hydraulic pressure to increase the rigidity of the connection and thereby block the transverse deformability by a ratio of at least three.

Abstract: A bound stopper for use in a suspension of a motor vehicle, which is fitted on a piston rod of a shock absorber of the suspension, for elastically limiting a stroke of the piston rod by abutting contact with a cylinder of the shock absorber. The bound stopper includes a cylindrical main elastic body formed of a rubber material and having an engaging portion at one axial end on the side of the cylinder of the shock absorber, and a cylindrical auxiliary elastic body formed of a foam material and having an engaging portion at one axial end remote from the cylinder of the shock absorber, one of the engaging portions of the main and auxiliary elastic bodies having at least one recess while the other of the engaging portions having at least one protrusion. The engaging portion of the auxiliary elastic body is fitted on the engaging portion of the main elastic body such that the protrusion is fitted in the corresponding recess for engagement of the two elastic bodies.

Abstract: An assembly and a method for quickly mounting a damper to a support structure in a vehicle includes an upper mount assembly mounted on a piston rod of a damper prior to assembly of the damper to a mounting tower. As the piston rod is guided through an opening in the mounting tower, a resilient ring is compressed until it passes through the opening. When the ring clears the opening, it expands radially outwardly to a diameter greater than the diameter of the opening, thereby quickly mounting the piston rod and damper to the vehicle.

Abstract: A MacPherson Strut assembly, or the like, with a hydroelastic suspension attachment in which the attachment is formed by two thick membranes of elastomeric composition which enclose a liquid. This unit forms a hydroelastic cartridge in which a sliding flap, provided with sealing joints, can move within a rigid confinement cup. The flap itself is encircled by a liquid passage having a large cross section clearance which causes a high level damping of vibrations which result from the resonant movement between masses between which the suspension attachment is mounted.

Abstract: A strut for a vehicle suspension includes a strut mount insulator including a rod mount bracket, and a shock absorber including a rod mounted to said rod mount bracket. The rod has a longitudinal axis and a sensor mount surface radially extending with respect to the longitudinal axis. The strut further includes means for providing a positive motion connection between the rod mount bracket and the rod. The positive motion connection providing means includes a load sensor pre-loaded between said sensor mount surface of the rod and the rod mount bracket of the strut mount insulator. According to the present invention, the positive motion connection providing means includes a spacer disposed between the sensor mount surface and the rod mount bracket.

Abstract: The hydraulic damper according to the invention has at least one restricted communication passage (47) between its two working chambers (8, 9) whose cross section is controlled by a viscous restriction valve (51) positioned via a control pressure of a fluid of a control damper with at least one secondary chamber (41, 42) delimited in a secondary cylinder (39) by a control piston (40), which cylinder and control piston are integrally attached, one to the main body (1), the other to the damping piston (4) of the damper, such that the damping law of the control fluid positioning said valve (51) is linked to the relative displacements of the main body (1) and damping piston (4).Application to the equipping of elastic-return struts with integral damping, in particular for helicopter rotors and blades. FIG. 2.

Abstract: A motor vehicle spring strut has a separate support on the vehicle body for a coil spring and a shock absorber. The coil spring is supported on a spring pocket held on the body side, and the shock absorber is supported in a vehicle-body-side elastic bearing element. The spring pocket is connected with a stop element by an elastic decoupling member forming a constructional unit and, with the bearing element, is exchangeably fastened to a dome of the vehicle body by screws. This configuration makes the constructional unit and the bearing element exchangeable with respect to the spring strut.

Abstract: The digging apparatus support boom of a continuous excavating machine is vibrated in a directional mode so as to enhance digging efficiency. Directionally compliant mounting of the boom isolates this vibration from the machine proper while allowing unimpaired application of digging torque and crowd forces.

Abstract: A hydraulic anti-vibration sleeve includes two coaxial rigid tubular membvers that are interconnected by an elastomer body (3) which co-operates therewith to form two diametrically opposite watertight pockets that intercommunicate via a narrow channel (Z), both pockets and the channel being filled with a liquid, the axial section of the portion of the body defining one of the pockets being U-shaped or V-shaped and open radially outwards, and being bonded to two rigid annular section members (8, 9) , with the axially central portion of the body forming two radial arms (6). The narrow channel (Z) comprises, in series: two lengths (10, 11) belonging to respective ones of the two annular section members (8, 9); and a connection (12) interconnecting the two lengths and axially disposed at the outside edge of one of the radial arms (6).

Abstract: A sleeve and bushing assembly for mounting a shock absorber to a motor vehicle and reducing road vibration experienced by the motor vehicle, as well as a method of manufacturing the assembly. The sleeve and bushing assembly includes an elastomeric bushing having first and second ends and an axial bore extending therebetween. A tubular cylindrical sleeve extends through the axial bore and terminates in a first shoulder at one end thereof and in a second shoulder and neck portion at the other end thereof. A first retaining washer is mounted on the sleeve adjacent the first shoulder and the first end of the bushing. A second retaining washer is mounted on the sleeve adjacent the second shoulder and its neck portion of the second end of the bushing. A spacer ring is mounted on the sleeve's neck portion adjacent to the second retaining washer.

Abstract: A bellows shaped compression spring having a variable spring rate and formed of an elastomer having tensile characteristics such that the ratio of plastic strain to elastic strain is greater than 1.5 to 1, said spring being particularly adapted for use in the strut assemblies of light weight, low profile automobiles for minimizing noise, vibration and impact forces otherwise transmitted from the wheel to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A supporting mount for the angularly mobile flexible support of a supporting member of a wheel suspension, especially a shock absorber, has a mount core which is vulcanized into an elastomer body and the movements of which are limited in the supporting direction by stops fixed in relation to the housing. The elastomer body is prestressed in the mount housing in the supporting direction and held in a manner which does not involve contact with the stops. The supporting mount makes it possible to introduce small supporting forces comfortably into the vehicle bodywork by a soft characteristic while larger supporting forces are transmitted by the stops via a progressively hardening characteristic.

Abstract: A strut assembly for use in an automotive suspension of a vehicle including a wheel carrier and a chassis includes an outer housing attached to the wheel carrier, a pressure tube disposed within the outer housing, a piston slidably carried within the pressure tube and disposed at the lower end of a piston rod. The outer housing of the strut assembly moves axially relative to the pressure tube under imposition of an axial load upon the strut. The strut assembly can further overcome the static friction forces contained within the strut assembly at a much lower axial input force than in conventional strut designs.

Abstract: The hydraulic damper has at least one restricted communication passage (47) between its two working chambers (8, 9) whose cross section is controlled by a viscous restriction valve (51) positioned via a control pressure of a fluid of a control damper with at least one secondary chamber (41, 42) delimited in a secondary cylinder (39) by a control piston (40), which cylinder and control piston are integrally attached, one to the main body (1), the other to the damping piston (4) of the damper, such that the pressure law of the control fluid positioning said valve (51) is linked to the relative displacements of the main body (1) and damping piston (4).

Abstract: A fluid-filled cylindrical elastic mount including an inner sleeve, an outer sleeve, at least one elastic body disposed between these sleeves for flexible connection therebetween. The elastic mount has at least one fluid chamber extending in a circumferential direction of the mount between the two sleeves. The elastic mount further includes a wing member fixed to one of the inner and outer sleeves so as to protrude toward the other sleeve. Each fluid chamber is divided by the wing member into two axially opposite sections. Between a radial end face of the wing member and an inner wall of each fluid chamber is defined a restricted fluid passage which has a predetermined radial dimension and communicates with the two sections. The elastic mount has at least one rigid protrusion protruding radially from the other sleeve by a radial distance which is larger than the predetermined radial dimension of the restricted fluid passage.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a sensor arrangement of a vibration isolation apparatus has a generally annular sensor plate with a plurality of strain sensing elements mounted on a radially extending portion which is elastically deformable upon application of input load. The sensor plate is elastically deformed upon elastic deformation of the radially extending portion.

Abstract: A shock absorber mount is described as having two pressed fittings which are mounted in end-to-end relationship. Each insert has two rigid, radially spaced cylindrical sleeves which are separated by a resilient rubber insert. The inner sleeve of the vertically lowermost fitting, when the fittings are properly mounted on, for example, an automobile frame, extends upwardly beyond the associated outer sleeve and is coated with rubber to enter a hollow bore formed by the inner sleeve of the upper fitting. The extension allows the lower fitting to initially absorb an upwardly applied axial force until it moves into shock absorbing relation with the upper fitting. The extension also acts to bolster the radial shock absorbing characteristics of the upper fitting to provide improved shock absorbing characteristics of the mount; namely, low axial shock absorption and high radial shock absorption.

Abstract: A top mount assembly includes a resilient isolator designed to be seated on an upper end of an actuator. A guiding sleeve is seated on the isolator and includes an upstanding annular wall forming a cavity in an upper surface of the guiding sleeve. At least one Belleville spring is mounted in the cavity to permit deflection of the assembly during the operational range of the actuator. A thrust plate is mounted on the Belleville spring and attached to the body.

Abstract: An upper part of a strut is attached throught a rubber bushing to a body side member, and an upper spring sheet is attached to a lower surface of the rubber bushing. By this arrangement, in the loaded condition, the rubber bushing is compressed by the coil spring force so that comfort of ride and cornering stability are improved.

Abstract: A shock absorber mount for an automobile is described as having a pair of concentrically disposed pressed fittings in abutting end-to-end relation. Each fitting includes a pair of radially spaced, cylindrical metal sleeves separated by a rubber insert which has an inwardly directed annular cavity or void which confronts an annular cavity in the opposed pressed fitting.

Abstract: The instantaneous load sensor of a motor vehicle is incorporated in a suspension assembly of the vehicle, and comprises a suspension element (1) fastened via an elastic mechanism (3) to a rod (5) carried by a yoke (7). The rod (5) is a blind hollow tube, in which a slot (12) has been made substantially in the axis of the suspension element (1) and opposite the latter, so as to allow the elastic mechanism (3) to penetrate into the tube (5), a sensor (10) of the pressure prevailing in the tube hermetically closing the open end of the tube.

Abstract: A compression resistor assembly for use with a steerable suspension strut includes a canister mounted on a reciprocating piston rod of the strut. A plurality of longitudinal slots are provided in a cylindrical wall of the canister. An outwardly-projecting flange of the canister provides a camming surface for engaging guide pins of pivotable stoppers mounted on an upper end of the strut. For a predetermined steer angle of the strut, the guide pins are aligned with the slots to permit full compression of the strut. When the preselected steer angle is exceeded, the camming surface engages the guide pins so that the stoppers pivot to limit the compression of the strut.

Abstract: A suspension system includes a shock absorber body, a piston rod that projects upwardly from the upper end of the shock absorber body, and a mount that is provided on the projecting end portion of the piston rod to attach the projecting end portion to a vehicle body. The mount includes a first mounting member that is attached to the piston rod, a second mounting member that is attached to the vehicle body, and a rubber mount member that is provided between the first and second mounting members. The rubber mount member has a pair of thick- and thin-walled diametrically opposing portions. The suspension system further includes engagement members to which a retainer is disengageably attached to retain the thick-walled portion of the rubber mount member in a compressed state.

Abstract: Among two damping devices arranged in series between wheel side members and body side members, while in one damping device spring constant of a spring member is set low and damping coefficient of a damper member is set high, in the other damping device spring constant of a spring member is set high and damping coefficient of a damper member is set low. By this arrangement, difference in damping force between the area of low oscillation frequency and the area of high oscillation frequency can be made large, whereby running stability and comfortableness to ride in can be improved on a high level.