Having Rigid Spacer Plate Between Plural Elastomeric Segments Patents (Class 267/294)
  • Patent number: 11458791
    Abstract: A spring assembly for a vehicle bogie suspension arrangement. The spring assembly includes a set of washers moulded into an elastomer body. The spring assembly has an axial extension in an axial direction and the washers are arranged relative to each other in the axial direction. At least one of the washers is a spring washer including a spring washer body and at least two spring tongues. Each spring tongue has a spring base connected to the spring washer body and a spring tip distal to the spring base. At least a portion of the spring tongue is located at a non-zero distance from the spring base in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation
    Inventors: Binay Agarwal, Ravindra HC, Durga Prasad Cheruvu, Anantha Rama Krishna Lakshmi Narayan Alla
  • Patent number: 11299002
    Abstract: A center link has a bolt portion contact pad extending longitudinally and transversely from the bolt portion, forming a bolt portion contact surface extending transversely, and defining a bolt portion contact surface transverse width that is less than the shaft portion transverse width. The center link also has a mushroom head portion contact pad extending longitudinally and transversely from the mushroom head portion, forming a mushroom head portion contact surface, and defining a mushroom head portion contact surface transverse width that is less than the shaft portion transverse width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ross Paul Wietharn
  • Patent number: 11091255
    Abstract: Dampers (100), assemblies, and methods are provided for lead-lag damping for an articulated rotor and includes a lead-lag damper (100) having a first end connector (102) configured to be coupled to a rotor hub (H), a second end connector (104) configured to be coupled to one of a plurality of rotor blades (B), and a body portion (110) coupled to the first end connector (102) and to the second end connector (104). The body portion (110) includes one or more elastomeric material layers (120) arranged in a lengthwise direction between the first end connector (102) and the second end connector (104), with each of the elastomeric material layers (120) having a substantially chevron-shaped profile in a crosswise direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Jones, Brian McGill
  • Patent number: 10864791
    Abstract: A suspension for a wheeled vehicle include an axle with a mid-section and an end comprising an upper portion and a lower portion defining a space therebetween, a leaf spring having forward and rear ends attached to vehicle structure and a mid-section retained in the space and secured between the upper and lower portions, and a closure element attached to the axle end and at least partially closing an outboard end of the space. The upper and lower axle portions may be formed integrally with the axle mid-section or may be a separately-formed component secured to the axle. The space tapers from a greater vertical dimension at the outboard end thereof to a smaller vertical dimension at an inboard end thereof, and the leaf spring mid-section is wedged into the space. An intermediate element is disposed between the mid-section and at least one of the upper and lower axle portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Gerhards, Alberto Girelli Consolaro, Ralf Hintzen, Daniel Mainz, Rainer Souschek
  • Patent number: 10589962
    Abstract: In an elevator hoisting machine mounting device, an elastic support device includes a supporting elastic body that deforms elastically upon reception of a load from a hoisting machine unit. A buckling suppression device disposed at a remove from the elastic support device in a horizontal direction includes first and second buckling suppression elastic bodies that sandwich, from above and below, a buckling suppression attachment portion provided on a lower portion of the hoisting machine unit, and a holding tool that holds the first and second buckling suppression elastic bodies on a machine base. The buckling suppression device suppresses, by an elastic restoring force of the first and second buckling suppression elastic bodies, buckling of the hoisting machine unit relative to the machine base due to the elastic deformation of the supporting elastic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuo Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10544846
    Abstract: A suspension assembly for a machine is provided. The suspension assembly includes a first suspension structure and a second suspension structure. The first suspension structure includes a first suspension pad and a first support plate coupled to the first suspension pad. The first support plate has a first interlock component formed therein. The second suspension structure includes a second suspension pad and a second support plate coupled to the second suspension pad. The second support plate has a second interlock component formed therein. The second interlock component is complimentary to the first interlock component and configured to engage with the first interlock component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Scott Laban, Jeffrey Lee Thomas, Dennis Earl Roberts
  • Patent number: 10059351
    Abstract: A railcar bogie includes: an axle box; a bogie frame; a pair of rubber springs, which are fixed to respective side surfaces of the axle box and the bogie frame; a pair of axle-box-side supporting members provided on respective lower portions of both the side surfaces of the axle box, the axle-box-side supporting members being configured to support the rubber springs when a fixed state between the rubber springs and the bogie frame as well as between the rubber springs and the axle box is released; and a pair of axle-box-side locking members each provided on top of the axle box in a removable manner, the axle-box-side locking members being configured to lock upper portions of the one ends of the rubber springs when the fixed state between the rubber springs and the bogie frame as well as between the rubber springs and the axle box is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: KAWASAKI JUKOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keiichiro Kamura, Naoki Wada, Masahiro Sakahira
  • Patent number: 9919593
    Abstract: A mount device includes an inner rod, a damper made of an elastic material to be mounted to the inner rod, and an outer cover to be mounted to the damper. The damper includes a plurality of projecting portions projecting radially outward from the inner rod and small-thickness portions thinner than the plurality of projecting portions in a radial direction. Spaces are formed radially outward of the small-thickness portions. The outer cover includes a plurality of contact surfaces to respectively come into contact with the plurality of projecting portions. The contact surfaces have a larger curvature than that of a circumscribed circle of the damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kiyohiko Oguri, Kazuhiro Nishihara, Mitsuharu Soma
  • Patent number: 9512894
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for vibration suppression using a granular particle chain. The granular particle chain is statically compressed and the end particles of the chain are attached to a payload and vibration source. The properties of the granular particles along with the amount of static compression are chosen to provide desired filtering of vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Nicholas Boechler, Robert Peter Dillon, Chiara Daraio, Gregory L. Davis, Andrew A. Shapiro, John Paul C. Borgonia, Daniel Louis Kahn
  • Patent number: 8991800
    Abstract: An elastomeric bearing arrangement for the reduction of machine vibrations caused predominantly by externally acting forces. The bearing, due to its special design and construction symmetry, is capable of processing the forces occurring in all spatial directions with optimal material protection. The bearing is preferably suitable for a rotational connection of rotor/gearbox units to the support plate in wind turbines. The bearing has a sandwich element (5), a cone element (3), a cone piece (4) and a cylinder piece (4a) which interact with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Franz Mitsch
  • Patent number: 8888082
    Abstract: A mount bushing of a stabilizer bar for a vehicle includes an insert adapted to be directly molded to a predetermined position of the stabilizer bar, a sliding bearing comprising a pair of bearings and adapted to be coupled to an exterior circumference of the insert, a lubrication layer being formed between the insert and the sliding bearing, a rubber bushing comprising upper and lower rubber members and adapted to be coupled to the sliding bearing such that the rubber bushing encloses an exterior circumference of the sliding bearing, a bracket adapted to enclose the rubber bushing and to be fixed to a vehicle body, and first and second sealing means adapted to prevent foreign materials from flowing into the rubber bushing and to prevent grease in the rubber bushing from flowing out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hee Gon Kang, Daewon Jang
  • Patent number: 8882092
    Abstract: A mount bushing assembly of a stabilizer bar for a vehicle, may include an inner bushing including a rubber member having a tubular shape and coupled to an external circumference of the stabilizer bar, and a pipe enclosing an external circumference of the rubber member, a sliding bearing including a pair of bearings coupled to upper and lower portions of an external circumference of the inner bushing, and a bracket including upper and lower brackets that may be coupled each other, and integrally formed at an interior surface thereof with an upper outer bushing and a lower outer bushing respectively, wherein the bracket may be fixed to a vehicle body in a state of enclosing the sliding bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Daewon Jang
  • Patent number: 8864115
    Abstract: A vibration isolation structure is provided with a stress reduction section that can reduce the hydrostatic stress from tensional load along a stacking direction of portions of a composite laminated member corresponding to a first end side and a second end side in a shear direction orthogonal to the stacking direction to lower than the hydrostatic stress from tensional load along the stacking direction of other portions of the composite laminated member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kawada, Nobuaki Sato
  • Patent number: 8857800
    Abstract: A tank rubber cushion for providing a vibration-damping support of a fuel tank against a vehicle body, including two divided rubber cylinders inserted onto an inner axial member having flanges at both axial ends and to be inserted through a mounting hole formed in a support portion of the fuel tank. Each of the divided rubber cylinders is provided with an axial vibration-damping rubber portion arranged between opposing surfaces of the flange of the inner axial member and the support portion in an axial direction, and a transaxial vibration-damping rubber portion arranged between opposing surfaces of the inner axial member and the support portion in a transaxial direction. The transaxial vibration-damping rubber portion includes a concave/convex portion wherein a diameter varies in a circumferential direction so that an assembly can be made with a gap between the inner axial member and the support portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuya Kawachi, Hideki Maehashi, Takashi Furusawa, Jun Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8839900
    Abstract: A structure of a roll-rod for a subframe filled with a hydro liquid therein, may include a bracket bar, an inner pipe including a cylindrical pipe and a supporting plate joined with the cylindrical pipe, an endplate joined to the cylindrical pipe, an outer pipe enclosing the inner pipe between the bracket bar and the endplate and including an extension part, where the supporting plate may be disposed with a gap in the extension part having a curved shape, an insulator forming a front liquid chamber and a rear liquid chamber with the supporting plate to receive the hydro-liquid therein, and a housing, wherein the supporting plate may move relative to the outer pipe such that the gap varies while the insulator is elastically transformed according to movement of the bracket bar and the endplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Seung-Won Kim
  • Patent number: 8789806
    Abstract: A vibration isolating device for isolating an object from at least one of vibration and shock from an external source. The vibration isolation device comprises such features as a mounting structure where the object is mounted to, at least a plurality of first springs coupled to the mounting structure to minimize coupling of the at least one vibration and shock to the object, and a shock stop. In addition, the device may include a plurality of stop pins that are separate from the mounting structure and arranged externally to the mounting structure. The stop pins can limit a displacement of the object when the at least one of vibration and shock exceeds a given level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: DRS Tactical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell B. Taylor, Jeremy Hutcherson, Vinson Loos
  • Patent number: 8783670
    Abstract: A compressible spring for at least absorbing and dissipating energy includes a plurality of elastomeric pads disposed coaxially and in series with each other and a plurality of separator plates, with each plate being disposed between a pair of the adjacent pads. A plurality of first prongs are formed integrally with or secured to a first surface of each separator plate for attaching the plate to one pad and a plurality of second prongs are formed integrally with or secured to a second surface for attaching the plate to an opposed pad. An axial aperture is also formed through each plate with prongs positioned in an alternating manner on a peripheral edge of the axial aperture. Projections may be also provided on each surface of the plate and adapted with an axial aperture that continues through the plate for additional attachment of the plate to the pair of pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: WABTEC Holding Corp
    Inventors: Ronald J. Sprainis, Michael E. Ring, Bradley Anderson, Jonathon Marlow
  • Patent number: 8746663
    Abstract: A mechanically adjustable elastomer bearing based on a correspondingly arranged spring element whose spring stiffness can be adjusted or pretensioned individually by deformable elastomer bodies or elastomer layers. The deformation of the elastomer layers, and thus of the spring elements, is achieved by a pressure-generated device which is fully integrated into the spring element. The elastomer bearing are particularly suitable for use as bearings in rotor and gearbox for large wind turbines, but can also advantageously be employed in machine and vehicle construction, and in particular package clutches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: FM Energie GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Mitsch
  • Patent number: 8740200
    Abstract: A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping relative motion between a first structure and a second structure including a housing structure grounded to the first structure and a plurality of elastomer seals coupled to the housing structure, the housing structure and the plurality of elastomer seals defining a fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a fluid. The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly also including one or more piston structures disposed within the housing structure and the fluid-elastomeric chamber, the one or more piston structures grounded to the first structure and driven by the second structure, and the one or more piston structures each including a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber in communication via an orifice, the first substantially fluid-filled chamber and the second substantially fluid-filled chamber also in communication with the fluid-elastomeric chamber through a fluid backfiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventor: Donald D. Russell
  • Patent number: 8651217
    Abstract: A structure of an engine mount is provided for a vehicle in which an engine is disposed in the front of the vehicle, a front wheel is driven, and the engine is integrally coupled with a transmission to be seated horizontally on a vehicle body in a transverse mounting direction. The structure may include a driveshaft coupled to receive the driving force of the engine through the transmission and penetrate a center bearing through a bearing bracket fixed to the engine, a subframe as a plate shape coupled to the vehicle body in a rear lower part of the engine and coupled to a lower part of the transmission through a main roll rod mounted on the front, and a sub-roll rod having one end connected to the subframe and the other end connected to the bearing bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Yong-Jin Kim, Seung-Won Kim, Kong-Sup Jung, Hyo-Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 8646761
    Abstract: An elastomeric isolator has an elastomeric body which incorporates an inner structural member and an outer structural member. The elastomeric body includes a shear hub extending between radial flanges defined by the inner and outer structural members that undergo shearing stresses during deflection of the elastomeric isolator. The inner and outer structural members are designed to provide a travel stop for the elastomeric isolator in order to avoid compression of the shear hub during high loads. The elastomeric bushing can also include an optional integral elastomeric heat shield which protects the shear hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventor: Troy P. Rodecker
  • Patent number: 8632062
    Abstract: An elastomeric high capacity laminated (HCL) bearing for rotary wing aircraft and method of making is provided. The elastomeric HCL bearing is mold bonded using structural adhesives with a given elastomeric subassembly tensile strength between a first metal first laminate end structural bond shim and a second metal distal laminate end structural bond shim. The structural adhesive has a limited elongation and a first end tensile strength ?elastomeric subassembly tensile strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Frank O. James
  • Patent number: 8474799
    Abstract: A fluid filled type vibration damping device including: a partition member having a communication passage connecting a pressure receiving and equilibrium chambers; an obstructing rubber elastic plate juxtaposed against the communication passage from a pressure receiving chamber side, adapted to obstruct the communication passage, and arranged to be exposed to pressure of the pressure receiving and the equilibrium chamber at both faces; and a constraining member provided for retaining an outer peripheral section of the obstructing rubber elastic plate in contact against the partition member at multiple locations. The constraining member provides an opening/closing control member operated to induce the obstructing rubber elastic plate to push against the partition member and close off the communication passage, and to induce elastic deformation of the obstructing rubber elastic plate to be separated from the partition member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Wakako Michiyama, Kei Okumura
  • Patent number: 8376331
    Abstract: An elastomeric isolator has an elastomeric body which incorporates an inner structural member and an outer structural member. The elastomeric body includes a shear hub extending between radial flanges defined by the inner and outer structural members that undergoes shearing stresses during deflection of the elastomeric isolator. The inner and outer structural members are designed to provide a travel stop for the elastomeric isolator in order to avoid compression of the shear hub during high loads. The elastomeric bushing can also include an optional integral elastomeric heat shield which protects the shear hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventor: Troy P. Rodecker
  • Patent number: 8356807
    Abstract: A dual rate shock absorbing apparatus for a suspension system of a heavy off-road vehicle including a housing having two axially elongated members. A dual rate spring package is disposed in the housing. Such spring package includes a first spring assembly for absorbing, dissipating and returning a first predetermined level of energy imparted to the shock absorbing apparatus. One end of the first spring assembly acts against a closed end of the housing and a second end acts against a spring seat. A second spring assembly absorbs, dissipates and returns a second predetermined level of energy. One end of the second spring assembly acts against an opposed closed end of the housing and a second end acts against the spring seat. An axially elongated guide assembly, extending substantially the cumulative length of the first and second spring assemblies, controls axial compression of the first and second spring assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Miner Elastomer Products Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald W. Kerr, Richard J. Beranek
  • Patent number: 8333269
    Abstract: An insulator for a wheel suspension system of a vehicle is formed of an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material defines a channel that provides increased flexibility to the insulator and defines an increased density about the channel that increases the durability of the insulator. The suspension system includes a support structure adapted to be mounted to the vehicle, a piston rod disposed within the aperture and displaceable relative to the support structure along a line of travel, and a plate mounted to the piston rod. The insulator is compressibly disposed between the support structure and the plate. The exterior channel increases the flexibility of the insulator to distribute localized stress on the insulator by the support structure and the plate. The increased density about the channel increases the durability of the insulator about the channel when the support structure and the plate exert a compressive force on the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel G. Dickson, Anand Huprikar
  • Patent number: 8317173
    Abstract: A vibration damping system includes a laminated body (3) formed by alternately laminating rigid hard plates (4) and viscoelastic soft plates (5), and pair of shoe plates (1, 2) at both ends in the laminating direction of the laminated body (3), to form a vibration damping body (6). The show plates (1, 2) are connected to each other by a displacement restriction member (7), so as to applying a pre-compression to the laminated body. The vibration damping body (6) is divided into a plurality of segments (3A, 3B, 3C) in the laminating direction, for allowing the vibration-proof main body (6) to be separated and displaced at the parting faces (8), without causing an excessive tensile force in the vibration damping system, even if the displacement restriction member (7) has worn to degrade the pre-compression function and a tensile force is applied due to a prying deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Masayoshi Kawada
  • Patent number: 8292312
    Abstract: A stabilizer bushing is provided which effectively reduces a torsional friction between a bushing body and a stabilizer bar. The stabilizer bushing includes a bushing body 16 made of a tubular elastic body, a sliding member 42 fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the tubular elastic body, and two partition members 26, 26 embedded in and bonded to a radially middle area of the bushing body 16. The partition members 26, 26 divide the bushing body 16 into an inner rubber portion 38 that is thin enough not to be elastically-deformed by a load applied thereto and an outer rubber portion 40 that is thicker than the inner rubber portion 38. Further, each of the partition members 26, 26 includes through holes 36a, 36b, 36c that are located so as to divide the partition member into a plurality of sections both in the axial and circumferential directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Kato, Hiroaki Nagai, Hideo Yanagino, Katsuzo Okada, Kouichi Kobayashi, Yuji Homma, Shinji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8210507
    Abstract: The invention relates to spring elements and bearings which contain these spring elements, the spring stiffness of the bearings and spring elements being individually adjustable by deformable elastomer bodies or elastomer layers by prestressing. The deformation of the elastomer layers and hence of the spring elements is achieved by an appropriately designed hydraulic device. The leak-tightness of the spring elements and bearing elements according to the invention is achieved through special hydraulically prestressed sealing elements, use of a pressure membrane and special structural features of the elastomer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: FM Energie GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Mitsch
  • Patent number: 8196912
    Abstract: A cold formed railcar spring including a spring pad formed from a perform of thermoplastic polyester elastomer having a durometer hardness ranging between about 40 and about 45 on the Shore D scale and sandwiched between a pair of metal plates. Each metal plate has a generally centralized bore extending therethrough and includes a plurality of radially spaced mechanical fasteners formed as an integral part of each plate. Each fastener has first and second generally parallel surfaces and a barb extending from a side of the fastener such that, upon axial compression of the preform, the fastener is pressed axially inward of one end of the perform such that the barb on the fastener mechanically interlocks with the spring pad whereby securing the plate to the spring pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Miner Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Carlstedt, Rodney K. Chesley, Erik D. Jensen, David M. Houck
  • Patent number: 8177201
    Abstract: A hydraulic mount has an upper support member and a lower support member. An upper elastomeric spring and a lower elastomeric spring are disposed between the upper support member and the lower support member to define an upper fluid chamber and a lower fluid chamber. A channel extends between the upper and lower chambers. During compression and extension of the hydraulic mount, fluid transfers between the upper and lower chamber to provide a damping force for the hydraulic mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Goudie
  • Patent number: 8167283
    Abstract: A mount assembly having a support structure mounted to a frame of a vehicle and a carrier mounted to a vehicle body. The support structure is displaceable relative to the carrier along a central axis (L). The support structure defines an inverted cup having a bottom with an aperture and a cylindrical skirt on a central axis (L) extending below the frame. A lower insulator is disposed between the support structure and a plate allowing the lower insulator to interact with the bottom and cylindrical skirt of the support structure and the plate to isolate forces in a vertical and/or lateral direction. The interaction with the support structure and the plate improves handling of lateral forces seen in a vehicle during driving events such as braking or corning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Huprikar, William G. Dieter
  • Patent number: 8157251
    Abstract: A vibration damping mount assembly having a vibration damping mount main body and a tubular bracket. The tubular bracket is made of lightweight material composed of non-ferric metal or synthetic resin, and has an inside peripheral face including an upper tapered face and a lower tapered face that gradually expand in diameter towards openings at either axial end from an axially medial section. A flanged portion of a second mounting member is axially juxtaposed against an open end of the upper tapered face, while the lower tapered face is pressed against a rubber fitting, with the lower tapered face locked in contact against an annular mating face of the rubber fitting thereby providing dislodging of the vibration damping mount main body from the tubular bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignees: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Tetsuya Miyahara
  • Patent number: 8152146
    Abstract: An elastomeric isolator has an elastomeric body which incorporates an inner structural member and an outer structural member. The elastomeric body includes a shear hub extending between radial flanges defined by the inner and outer structural members that undergoes shearing stresses during deflection of the elastomeric isolator. The inner and outer structural members are designed to provide a travel stop for the elastomeric isolator in order to avoid compression of the shear hub during high loads. The elastomeric bushing can also includes an optional integral elastomeric heat shield which protects the shear hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventor: Troy P. Rodecker
  • Patent number: 8070143
    Abstract: A resilient mount including a first mounting member and a second mounting member is provided. The mount includes a first plurality of stiffening elements located between the first and second mounting members. At least a first stiffening element of the first plurality of stiffening elements is non-parallel to a second stiffening element of the first plurality of stiffening elements. Each of the first plurality of stiffening elements has a material thickness and an out-of-plane dimension that is greater than the material thickness. Each stiffening element of the first plurality of stiffening elements is substantially rigid so as to substantially limit the deformation of the stiffening element under load. The mount may also include a resilient material located between and coupled to adjacent stiffening elements of the first plurality of stiffening elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Ross Paul Wietharn
  • Patent number: 8066266
    Abstract: An elastomeric isolator has an elastomeric body which incorporates an inner structural member and an outer structural member. The elastomeric body includes a shear hub extending between radial flanges or end plates of the inner and outer structural members that undergoes shearing stresses during deflection of the elastomeric isolator. The elastomeric body is bonded to the radial flanges or end plates. The inner structural member includes a radial flange which is axially offset from an axial flange of the outer structural member. The outer structural member includes a radial flange which is axially offset from an axial flange of the inner structural member. With this configuration, excessive stresses on the elastomeric body are avoided during high load movements of the elastomeric isolator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventor: Troy P. Rodecker
  • Patent number: 7931258
    Abstract: A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping relative motion between a first structure and a second structure including a housing structure grounded to the first structure and a plurality of elastomer seals coupled to the housing structure, the housing structure and the plurality of elastomer seals defining a fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a fluid. The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly also including one or more piston structures disposed within the housing structure and the fluid-elastomeric chamber, the one or more piston structures grounded to the first structure and driven by the second structure, and the one or more piston structures each including a first substantially fluid-filled chamber and a second substantially-fluid-filled chamber in communication via an orifice, the first substantially fluid-filled chamber and the second substantially fluid-filled chamber also in communication with the fluid-elastomeric chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: LORD Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Russell, Peter Jones, Eric Seitter
  • Patent number: 7922156
    Abstract: A mount has an inner metal and an outer metal with an elastomeric bushing disposed between them. The elastomeric bushing includes a first pair of interconnected passages to control the damping rate during axial motion and a second, separate pair of interconnected passages to control the damping rate during motion orthogonal to the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Pullman Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Goudie
  • Publication number: 20100270719
    Abstract: A rubber spring (7) for a vehicle axle leaf spring suspension comprises a rubber pillar (8) which at an upper end is attached to a tunnel shaped mounting member (20) having a tunnel (13) with interior upper and lower surfaces (21,22) and adapted to house an end portion of a spring leaf (6) of a leaf spring suspension. The upper and lower surfaces are convex so as to allow tilting of the rubber pillow relative to the spring leaf.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: VOLVO LASTVAGNAR AB
    Inventors: Odd Ranum, Lars Hedlund
  • Publication number: 20100044992
    Abstract: An elastomeric spring suspension is described for supporting a longitudinally extending vehicle frame rail above first and second axles forming a tandem axle configuration. The suspension includes a frame hanger assembly mounted to the vehicle frame rail. The frame hanger assembly has two full spring modules, each of which includes two shear springs, a progressive spring rate load cushion having a pyramidal shape with a flattened top surface and a spring mount for mounting the springs. A saddle assembly is connected to the spring mount, and an equalizing beam is connected to the saddle assembly and further connected to the axles. The spring rate for the suspension increases almost linearly as a function of sprung load, resembling a pneumatic suspension. Accordingly, the suspension exhibits excellent ride quality, without sacrificing roll stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: HENDRICKSON USA, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Shawn D. Noble, Michael P. Robinson, Hormoz Kerendian, Ashley T. Dudding
  • Publication number: 20090315235
    Abstract: An elastomeric isolator has an elastomeric body which incorporates an inner structural member that extends through an outer structural member. The elastomeric body includes an axial shear leg extending between the inner and outer structural members that undergo shearing stresses during deflection of the elastomeric isolator. The inner structural member includes radial flanges which are axially offset from radial flanges of the outer structural member. The axial shear leg extends between the pair of radial flanges and is bonded to them at a position outside of the outer structural member. With this configuration compression of the shear hub during high loads is avoided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: THE PULLMAN COMPANY
    Inventor: Troy P. Rodecker
  • Publication number: 20090224513
    Abstract: An elastomeric spring suspension is described for supporting a longitudinally extending vehicle frame rail above first and second axles forming a tandem axle configuration. The suspension includes a frame hanger assembly mounted to the vehicle frame rail. The frame hanger assembly has two full spring modules, each of which includes two shear springs, a progressive spring rate load cushion having a pyramidal shape with a flattened top surface and a spring mount for mounting the springs. A saddle assembly is connected to the spring mount, and an equalizing beam is connected to the saddle assembly and further connected to the axles. The spring rate for the suspension increases almost linearly as a function of sprung load, resembling a pneumatic suspension. Accordingly, the suspension exhibits excellent ride quality, without sacrificing roll stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: HENDRICKSON USA, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Shawn D. Noble, Michael P. Robinson, Christopher W. Forrest, Ashley T. Dudding, John W. Stuart
  • Publication number: 20090224450
    Abstract: An elastomeric isolator has an elastomeric body which incorporates an inner structural member and an outer structural member. The elastomeric body includes a shear hub extending between radial flanges defined by the inner and outer structural members that undergoes shearing stresses during deflection of the elastomeric isolator. The inner and outer structural members are designed to provide a travel stop for the elastomeric isolator in order to avoid compression of the shear hub during high loads. The elastomeric bushing can also include an optional integral elastomeric heat shield which protects the shear hub.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: The Pullman Company
    Inventor: Troy P. Rodecker
  • Publication number: 20090218740
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayered spring, especially for rail vehicles, having an inner and an outer connecting part and at least two spring layers that are located therebetween and are made alternately of an elastomeric layer and a sheet-metal layer. The elastomeric layers are vulcanized together with the connecting parts and the sheet-metal layers and the elastomeric layers of the spring layer have different thicknesses with respect to each other. Each elastomeric layer is made of the same material. The multilayered spring has a substantially conically contoured support plate which is arranged above the thickest spring layer in the direction in which load is applied. The inner portion of the softest layer initially rests on the support plate when the spring is loaded while the outer portions of the softest layer, followed by the other spring-layers, rest on the support plate in a continually increasing manner as the load increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Volker Gedenk
  • Patent number: 7540478
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydroelastic joint that is used to assemble two pieces. The inventive joint comprises an external reinforcement (1) and an internal reinforcement (3), each having a longitudinal axis, and one of which is disposed around the other. Moreover, said joint comprises a first assembly (5) forming a hydroelasctic spring which is disposed between said reinforcements. The aforementioned first assembly comprises a first elastically-deformable element (6) which is shaped in such a way as to define, between the reinforcements, at least one sealed volume (9) that contains a damping fluid (8). A second elastically-deformable element (24) is disposed between the first assembly and the first of said external and internal reinforcements. The invention is characterized in that the second elastically-deformable element (24) is provided with a longitudinal dimension which is smaller than the corresponding longitudinal dimension of the first elastically-deformable element (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: WOCO AVS SAS
    Inventors: Etienne de Fontenay, Philippe Souyri
  • Publication number: 20090085267
    Abstract: The inventive compression spring comprises a cylinder (6) which is made of thermoplastic elastomer and is surrounded with an composite assembly comprising n alternating sleeves (4?, 5, 17, 18, 19) made of thermoplastic elastomer and (n?1) substantially nondeformable collars (3, 14, 15, 16), wherein each nondeformable collar is sandwiched between two sleeves and encompasses said cylinder and the sleeves are embodied in the form of rings whose lateral faces centred inside the spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: Bureau Mertens
    Inventor: Rudy Mertens
  • Patent number: 7503552
    Abstract: A mount assembly having a support structure mounted to a frame of a vehicle and a carrier mounted to a vehicle body. The support structure is displaceable relative to the carrier along a central axis (L). The support structure defines an inverted cup having a bottom with an aperture and a cylindrical skirt on a central axis (L) extending below the frame. A lower insulator is disposed between the support structure and a plate allowing the lower insulator to interact with the bottom and cylindrical skirt of the support structure and the plate to isolate forces in a vertical and/or lateral direction. The interaction with the support structure and the plate improves handling of lateral forces seen in a vehicle during driving events such as braking or cornering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventors: Anand Huprikar, William G. Dieter
  • Patent number: 7380775
    Abstract: The invention is to permit a bushing main body of rubber elastomer to be adhered to a bar member while retaining a necessary contact pressure for adhering and after adhering, to permit a further compressive force to be imparted. The bushing main body (10) having a bore (11), through which the bar member (B) passes, and a bracket (20) holding the former are longitudinally split into two, respectively, the resulting split rubber bodies (10a)(10b) are vulcanization bonded to inner peripheral surfaces of the resulting half bracket members (20a)(20b). The inside diameter (D1) of both split rubber bodies as molded is made smaller than the outside diameter (D2) of the bar member, and inner peripheral surfaces (11a)(11b) at the bore are formed to be eccentric on mutually opposite sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Toyo Tire Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Niwa, Kazushi Nishiyama, Hiroyuki Masuda, Yasuhiro Teranishi
  • Patent number: 7354248
    Abstract: An elastomeric bearing element having an outer race, an inner race, and at least two elastomeric segments secured between the inner and outer races is provided. The elastomeric segments are spaced from one another by a corresponding number of expansion segments. The elastomeric segments provide a first spring rate when a first force applied to the outer race places the elastomeric segments in compression and a second spring rate when a second force applied to the outer race places the elastomeric segments in shear. The second spring rate is lower than the first spring rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Zinni
  • Patent number: 7270321
    Abstract: A fluid-elastomeric damper assembly operable for damping relative motion between a first structure and a second structure including a housing structure grounded to the first structure and a plurality of elastomer seals coupled to the housing structure, the housing structure and the plurality of elastomer seals defining a fluid-elastomeric chamber operable for containing a fluid. The fluid-elastomeric damper assembly also including one or more piston structures disposed within the housing structure and the fluid-elastomeric chamber, the one or more piston structures grounded to the first structure and driven by the second structure, and the one or more piston structures each including a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber in communication via an orifice, the first substantially fluid-filled chamber and the second substantially fluid-filled chamber also in communication with the fluid-elastomeric chamber through a fluid backfiller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventor: Donald D. Russell