Abstract: An upper support for a suspension system, which includes an inner rigid member having an annular wing portion, and axially opposite coned faces tapered from the wing portion to the axially opposite ends, a pair of annular rigid members disposed radially and axially outwardly of the inner rigid member, so as to face the coned faces of the inner rigid member, a pair of annular sealing rubber members fixed to the annular rigid members, and a pair of connecting rubber blocks for elastically connecting the inner rigid member and the annular rigid members. The rubber blocks partially define therebetween an annular pocket which is closed by an outer rigid member fitted on the annular rigid members via the sealing rubber members. The closed pocket is substantially divided by the wing portion into a pair of fluid chambers which are filled with a non-compressible fluid and which communicate with each other through an annular resonance portion defined between the wing portion and the outer rigid member.

Abstract: An automotive front suspension strut upper mounting arrangement providing a compact low profile design requiring a minimal number of parts. The suspension spring rebound load is placed on a lower rebound stop member of the mount and the suspension jounce load is placed on an upper jounce stop member of the mount. As a result the upper jounce stop member provides an installation pilot for ready assembly while the lower rebound member is fixed to the vehicle body allowing the strut rod freedom to move relative to the strut thrust bearing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a strut mount comprising an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder disposed coaxial with the inner cylinder, an intermediate cylinder coaxially disposed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, a resilient member interposed between the intermediate cylinder and the outer cylinder, a sliding member interposed, between the inner cylinder and the intermediate cylinder a seal member interposed between an inner peripheral surface of one end of the intermediate cylinder and an outer peripheral surface near one end of the inner cylinder, and a lid member for closing the other end of the intermediate cylinder.

Abstract: A McPherson-type suspension unit for motor vehicles, in which the rod is connected to the motor-vehicle body by means of a resilient connection formed so that the plane in which the rod bears against the body is displaced below the free end of the rod. The connection includes an annular block of elastomeric material whose internal surface is joined to an inverted cup-shaped member fixed to the free end of the rod and whose external surface is joined to a hollow body which surrounds the cup-shaped member and the upper end of which carries a member for fixing the connection to the body at a level substantially corresponding to that of the free end of the rod.

Abstract: A shock absorber for automobile vehicle suspension comprises a cylinder containing a hydraulic fluid, a piston defining a first chamber and a second chamber in the cylinder, and a rod which extends through the second chamber and is connected to the piston. A hydraulic fluid reservoir is able to communicate with the first chamber via a restriction during a rapid compression movement. A control valve is capable of opening a fluid passage between the first and second chambers. The control valve is subject on one hand to the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the first chamber tending to open the valve and, on the other hand, to the actions tending to close the valve, of a return spring and of substantially constant pressure of a fluid contained in a reference chamber, one wall of which is movable with the control valve. An external compensation casing, integral with the rod, grips the shock absorber in sealed manner, and the compensation casing is connected by a pipe to an external source of variable pressure.

Abstract: A bumper rubber is disclosed and includes: a bumper rubber body being elastically deformable and having a substantially cylindrical shape, wherein the bumper rubber body is inserted into a rod extending from a top end portion of a cylinder of a shock absorber, a top end surface thereof is brought into contact with a bottom end portion of a suspension insulator disposed on a vehicle body, and a bottom end surface thereof is brought into contact with a top end portion of the cylinder, thereby being elastically deformed and absorbing the excessive displacements of the shock absorber; and a rigid ring integrally insert-molded on an outer periphery surface of the bumper rubber body and having an engagement groove on an exposed outer periphery surface thereof to be engaged with a dust cover, and the engagement groove going round on the exposed outer periphery surface of the rigid ring in a ring-like shape.

Abstract: An upper support for a suspension system, which is interposed between a body of a vehicle and a shock absorber of the vehicle, for elastically connecting the vehicle body and the shock absorber.

Abstract: A device for cushioning impact loads is described as employing unique rolling rubber rings for compressively engaging adjacent conical surfaces of the device as the surfaces come closer together. The ring has a pair of longer toroidal segments which are connected by a pair of shorter toroidal segments which have cross-sections which are substantially smaller than those of the longer segments, such that the ring can be designed to resist different lateral forces imparted to the ring.

Abstract: An insulator device for a strut type suspension system of an automobile includes a rubber member disposed between a bearing case and an insulator housing and having an asymmetrical configuration so as to become a larger outside portion thereof than an inside portion thereof and a smaller spring constant of the inside portion thereof than an outside portion thereof so that the moving centrode of the car wheels relative to the car body can be controlled by the displacements of the bearing case since a camber is increased in the negative direction upon encountering a bumping of the car, thereby increasing the tread.

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.

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.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension mechanism including a strut assembly connected with a vehicle body at an upper end portion and with a wheel at a lower end portion, a damper axis along which a shaft of the strut assembly is displaced for a damping effect being extended oblique to a kingpin axis about which the wheel is steered so that the shaft means damper shaft is inclined when the wheel is steered to produce a pivotal movement of the kingpin axis around the damper axis. The improvement comprises conversion member provided at the upper end portion of the strut assembly for converting the inclination of the shaft produced during the steering action of the wheel to a displacement in a transverse direction of the vehicle at the upper end of the strut assembly so that a negative camber angle change is produced in the wheel located outer side of the steering action.

Abstract: A camber control system varies the camber of a wheel of a motor vehicle. The camber control system includes a detector for detecting a direction in which front wheels are steered, a controller for producing a control signal in response to a signal produced by the detector, an actuator operable in response to the control signal from the controller, and a rear wheel camber varying mechanism actuatable by the actuator for varying the camber of rear wheels. The controller is arranged such that the control signal produced thereby enables the actuator to operate the rear wheel camber varying mechanism so that the camber of outer and inner rear wheels with respect to a motor vehicle turning direction corresponding to the direction in which the front wheels are steered, is rendered negative and positive, respectively.

Abstract: A dust shield for use with a damper includes a hollow cylindrical body having first and second ends. A plurality of convolutions are provided in the outer surface of the body between its ends. A plurality of inwardly projecting fingers are provided in the body portion. Each finger includes a centering rib extending to the damper to prevent shifting of the dust shield during use, thereby eliminating contact between the dust shield and a surrounding coil spring or a bump plate mounted on the damper. Additionally, each finger includes a retaining wall. The bump plate engages the retaining wall during rebound of the damper to pull the dust shield to its approximate original length to provide full-time cover of a piston rod of the damper.

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.

Abstract: This is a suspension system for use on a vehicle between an axle and a load carrying body. It includes a plunger tube which is attached to the axle of the vehicle. The plunger tube extends upwardly into the annulus between an outer cylindrical housing, which is secured to the frame of the vehicle, and an interior piston rod. There is a main cavity within the piston rod and an annular cavity between the piston rod and the plunger tube. At least one orifice extends through the piston rod to permit fluid communication between the main cavity within the piston rod and the annular cavity. A second passage therebetween includes a ball check valve which permits flow of fluid only from the main cavity to the annular cavity. A movable orifice metering ring can be raised or lowered from the exterior of the suspension system to vary the size of the orifice between the main cavity and the annular cavity.

Abstract: Rolling lobe air suspension strut having a specialized compliant cover plate assembly that forms the upper end of the air spring and which provides for absorption of jounce energy. This cover plate assembly provides optimization of isolation characteristics through split paths carried into the body through the isolation cushion in the mount assembly and the isolator portion of the compliant cover plate provided by the elastomer jounce bumper.

Abstract: The system includes a hydraulically damped strut and a tubular elastomeric spring. The ends of the spring may be sealed so that the spring can be pressurized internally. An improved bearing, which permits rotative shifting of the spring and strut in response to turning effort, also is disclosed. The suspension is particularly useful in applications which heretofore involved MacPherson struts.

Abstract: An improved deflection jounce bumper assembly for a vehicle suspension strut which dampens and limits the action of the shock absorber in its jounce stroke. The bumper assembly comprises an inverted metal cup-shaped shell member which attaches a molded elastomeric bumper member to the strut upper mount. The bumper member has a lower hollow right cylindrical sleeve portion which surrounds the strut piston rod with the sleeve upper end in turn surrounded by an outer side wall portion of the shell member. The sleeve portion has a predetermined height such that upon its lower end face impacting on the strut support casing upper end closure plate an initially high spring dampening rate is achieved. A control ring is embedded in the sleeve portion adjacent its lower end face which, together with the shell member outer side wall is operative to restrict and control the expansion of the sleeve portion as it undergoes progressive spring rate deformation adjacent the full jounce position.

Abstract: An improved deflection composite jounce bumper for a vehicle suspension strut. The bumper comprises an inverted metal cup-shaped shell insert embedded within a molded elastomeric body. The body defines a hollow elongated sleeve portion which surrounds a piston rod upper end with its upper portion in turn concentrically surrounded by the annular side wall of the shell. The sleeve portion has a predetermined height such that upon its lower end face impacting on the strut support casing upper end cap an initially high spring dampening rate is achieved. The shell outer side wall is operative to restrict the expansion of the sleeve portion as it undergoes progressive controlled deformation and compaction providing a substantially uniform spring rate while obviating over stressing of the jounce bumper.

Abstract: An upper support for a suspension of a vehicle includes load bearing rubber members which are all used in a compression direction. The support includes an elastic member including first, second and third portions which are used in a compression direction. The upper support is improved in durability, ease in obtaining desired load-deformation characteristics in design, and ease in obtaining soft dynamic vibrational characteristics against bound and rebound loads.

Abstract: An engine mount with hydraulic damping has a partition wall penetrated by a throttle port and the partition wall is located between a working chamber and a compensating chamber. The throttle port can have several channel-shaped individual ports of different lengths and/or different cross sections. The partition wall carries an absorption mass mounted by an elastic annular diaphragm which can be moved between the working chamber and the compensating chamber within an area of play limited by stops.

Abstract: A structure for supporting with a car body a suspension having a shock absorber and a coil spring disposed to surround the shock absorber includes a first support having an elastic body and a spherical bearing and fixed to the car body, a spring seat fixed to the first support at the inside thereof for receiving an upper end of the coil spring and a second support fixed to the spring seat at the inside thereof and coupled with a piston rod of the shock absorber.

Abstract: A suspension includes a shock absorber and a bushing. A piston rod of the shock absorber has a bypass path for affording communicating between two liquid chambers partitioned by a piston inside a tube and two paths formed above the bypass path. A bushing inner tube connected to the piston rod has two paths communicating respectively to two paths in the piston rod. A bushing is disposed diametrally outside the bushing inner tube, interposed between the bushing inner tube and a car body and has two fluid chambers communicating respectively to two paths in the bushing inner tube. A valve body for adjusting the damping force of the shock absorber and the spring constant and damping force of the bushing is disposed in the piston rod.

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: A hydraulic damper and air spring unit of the type including a hydraulic damper main body provided with a piston rod slidingly projecting upwards therefrom, a tubular member with the lower end thereof being secured to the outer periphery of the main body and the upper end extending upwards around the main body, and a rolling rubber member being provided between the upper end of the tubular member and a shell secured to the upper end of the piston rod to define an air chamber surrounding the piston rod and the upper portion of the main body.

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.

Abstract: A strut suspension for an automotive vehicle has its upper end connected to a suspension support which allows the upper end of the suspension strut to shift in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis of the strut in response to vertical movement of a vehicle wheel. Shifting of the upper end of the strut is controlled by means of a link member rotatably connected to the upper end of the strut. The link member is rotatably connected to the suspension support. This structure ensures negative camber during roll-steer, anti-dive characteristics, and weak under-steer, and suppresses harshness by providing a suspension geometry which optimizes suspension characteristics depending upon the vehicle driving conditions.

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 hydraulic buffer of the type in which a damping force can be controlled has a piston rod projecting from a cylinder, and a bracket attached to the projecting end of the piston rod. The bracket has at least two claws which are bent inwardly to face each other. A retainer is provided with at least two fitting portions having flukes and the fitting portions are adapted to engage with respective claws of the bracket. An actuator is attached to the retainer to control the damping force of the buffer. A spring device is provided for biasing the retainer to prevent the flukes from being disengaged from the corresponding claws of the bracket, and the spring device supports the retainer on the bracket.

Abstract: A switching valve device in an air suspension system for such vehicles as automobiles, wherein a plurality of primary air chambers are provided above a shock absorber, which are connected or disconnected with each other to adjust the air spring constant for such vehicles as automobiles rotary valve is provided in the course of the path connecting the respective primary air chambers, and a decompression intercommunicating cushioning air chamber is formed between the rotary valve and a flow restriction stopper holding the rotary valve in place, such that the communication of the cushioning air chamber with one primary air chamber is opened and closed or controlled through the rotary valve, on the one hand, and such that its communication with another primary air chamber is through the flow restriction stopper, on the other hand, whereby a swish sound is prevented by the decompressing action of the cushioning air chamber.

Abstract: A construction of a control valve for an air suspension assembly having main and auxiliary air chambers and which include a boundary member disposed between the main and auxiliary air chambers and provided with a path for communicating both air chambers and a valve body disposed in the path. The path or the valve body includes a first path portion and a second path portion having a bore smaller than that of the first path portion. A perforated member is provided in relation with the second path portion of the path or valve body.