Upper Strut Mount Detail Patents (Class 280/124.155)
  • Patent number: 6616160
    Abstract: In a strut mount to be interposed between a shock absorber and a vehicular body in a suspension of a vehicle, a strut mount is provided which can reduce the rigidity in a wrench direction of the rod of the shock absorber. A strut mount 10 has a fixing surface portion 18 vertical to a rod 5, an inner member 12 having an aperture 20 provided at the fixing surface portion 18 to which a tip of the rod 5 is inserted from the below, an outer member 14 surrounding an outer periphery of the inner member 12 and mounted on a vehicular body 3, and an elastic member 16 uniting together the both. On an upper side of the fixing surface portion 18, the elastic member 16 unites together the inner member 12 and the outer member 14, while, on the lower side of the fixing surface portion 18, a gap 28 is secured circumferentially between the inner member 12 and the outer member 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Tadano
  • Publication number: 20030137122
    Abstract: Fastening element for a shock absorber includes a first part which is fixed to the piston rod of the a shock absorber and is provided with an aperture for a bearing bolt and a second part with a bearing surface for a helical spring surrounding the shock absorber. The second part coaxially surrounds the first part and is held relative to the first part at least in an axial direction by a securing ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: ZF Sachs AG
    Inventor: Andreas Tantius
  • Patent number: 6595533
    Abstract: A number of embodiments of reinforcing arrangements for vehicle bodies wherein the suspension forces for the ground engaging element are transmitted to the vehicle body and reinforcement is provided in this area. Rather than providing rigid reinforcement, as with the prior art, various forms of damping arrangements are disclosed including those which permit different damping in one direction from the other and utilizing either elastic or hydraulic viscous type dampers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seiji Sawai, Kouji Sakai
  • Patent number: 6588780
    Abstract: An upper support for a wheel suspension system of a vehicle having a shock absorber, which comprises an inner member connected to a piston rod of the shock absorber, an outer sleeve member disposed radially outwardly of the inner member and fixed to the vehicle body, and an elastic body interposed between the inner and outer sleeve members. The outer member has an upper and lower stop portions formed at axially opposite open-end portions thereof, so as to extend radially inwardly. The elastic body is bonded at its inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface of the inner member, and is held in close contact at its outer circumferential surface with the inner circumferential surface of the outer sleeve member, while being held in abutting contact at its axially opposite end faces with the upper and lower stop portions of the outer sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Hayashi, Kohichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6572089
    Abstract: Mount for a shock absorber includes a cap in working torque-transmitting connection with the entire mount. The twisting surface, which is in working connection with an opposing surface on the vehicle at least during the installation of the shock absorber in a mounting hole in the vehicle. The twisting surface and the opposing surface ensure the rotational alignment of the connecting means on the mount side with the connecting means on the vehicle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventor: Andreas Zietsch
  • Patent number: 6561531
    Abstract: A strut mount structure for a vehicle for supporting a strut of a strut-type suspension is disclosed. Since the strut mount structure does not have any protruded portions with respect to a front hood while maintaining equal distance between the strut mount unit and the front hood, it is possible to freely choose the design of the front hood. Furthermore, the strut mount structure with a satisfactory large distance between the strut mount unit and the front hood absorbs impact well when a pedestrian comes into contact with the vehicle on the front hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Kobayashi, Toshiyuki Matsuki
  • Patent number: 6550755
    Abstract: A coil spring (1) and support bearing (2) arrangement for suspension struts (3) with a shock absorber, supporting a steering knuckle of an automobile has a rolling-contact bearing (7), with an axis (x); a receiving body (6), arranged below the rolling-contact bearing (7) in which the rolling-contact bearing is inserted; and a coil spring (1). The coil spring (1) has a force application line (f), which is offset relative to the axis (x) of the rolling-contact bearing (7) at an angle (a). The coil spring (1) has a first portion (8), which, starting from the winding end (17), winds around the receiving body (6). The first portion (8) abuts the receiving body (6). The winding end (17) of the coil spring (1) is arranged in the area of the plane E1 formed by the force application line (f) and the axis (x).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignees: INA Walzlager Schaeffler OHG, Muhr und Bender KG
    Inventors: Herbert Ehrhardt, Ulrich Grau, Gerhard Meyer, Alexander Zernickel, Vladimir Kobelev, Markus Röhling
  • Publication number: 20030006574
    Abstract: A strut suspension system with dual-path top mounts is provided with a first input system and a second input system. In the first input system, an upper part of a piston rod (5a) of a shock absorber (5) arranged on a strut (4) is connected to a vehicle body (7) via an insulator (10c) when the strut suspension system is arranged on an automotive vehicle. In the second input system, an upper part of a coil spring (6) arranged on an outer circumference of the strut (4) is connected to the side of the vehicle body (7) via an upper spring seat (8c) and a bearing (9c) when the strut suspension system is arranged on the automotive vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventors: Nobuo Momose, Yuzo Niina
  • Patent number: 6485223
    Abstract: One embodiment of a caster-camber plate assembly as disclosed herein includes a base plate, a main plate and a strut top mounting plate. The base plate includes four spaced apart main plate fastening members attached thereto. The main plate includes four spaced apart strut top mounting plate fastening members attached thereto. The main plate has the main plate fastening members extending therethrough for attaching the base plate adjacent to a first side of the main plate and is capable of being moved with respect to the base plate along a first translation axis. The strut top mounting plate is positioned adjacent to the main plate with the four strut top mounting plate fastening members extending therethrough. The strut top mounting plate is capable of being moved with respect to the main plate along a second translation axis. The second translation axis extends approximately perpendicular to the first translation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Maximum Motorsports
    Inventors: Ehren W. Van Schmus, Charles G. Schwynoch
  • Publication number: 20020171222
    Abstract: In a strut mount to be interposed between a shock absorber and a vehicular body in a suspension of a vehicle, a strut mount is provided which can reduce the rigidity in a wrench direction of the rod of the shock absorber. A strut mount 10 has a fixing surface portion 18 vertical to a rod 5, an inner member 12 having an aperture 20 provided at the fixing surface portion 18 to which a tip of the rod 5 is inserted from the below, an outer member 14 surrounding an outer periphery of the inner member 12 and mounted on a vehicular body 3, and an elastic member 16 uniting together the both. On an upper side of the fixing surface portion 18, the elastic member 16 unites together the inner member 12 and the outer member 14, while, on the lower side of the fixing surface portion 18, a gap 28 is secured circumferentially between the inner member 12 and the outer member 14.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventor: Hideo Tadano
  • Publication number: 20020163155
    Abstract: The present invention provides a strut mount bolted to a curved outer cylinder attachment plate (6) without enlarging a bolt hole, by inserting a cylindrical portion (13) of a caulking nut (5) into a nut attachment hole (11) of an attachment piece (10) of an outer cylinder (2) and pressurizing and diminishing in diameter the circumference of the nut attachment hole (11) to caulk and stick the nut attachment hole (11) and the caulking nut (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: Michihiro Kawada, Hideo Tadano
  • Publication number: 20020163156
    Abstract: A wheel suspension for land vehicles that is provided with a spring resting against at least one seat, with a dashpot, and with an attachment for a stabilizing rod, whereby one seat can be adjusted axially paralleling the spring. The object of the invention is to allow the stabilizing rod's attachment to be situated in the vicinity of the seat. An attachment (10 or 20) for the stabilizing rod is accordingly directly mounted on or indirectly attached to the spring seat (8), or on or to the mechanism that adjusts it, at a variable distance from the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Sasse
  • Patent number: 6464239
    Abstract: A rear suspension system for a vehicle having a rear axle centrally fixed to the vehicle body and a pair knuckles connected one to each end of the rear axle for mounting rear wheel in a wheel housing formed on left and right sides of the vehicle body, wherein the rear suspension includes upper and lower arms, one end of each respectively connected to upper and lower portions of the knuckles, a suspension mounting bracket fixed to a sidewall of the wheel housing and connected to one end of the upper arm, and a shock absorber inserted into the suspension mounting bracket at its upper portion and connected to the lower arm at its lower portion for absorbing bouncing impacts of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jong-Yup Kim
  • Publication number: 20020113397
    Abstract: A vehicle suspension attachment assembly 10 including a spring 17, a pair of spring seats 16, 18 which are coupled to the spring 17, a bushing 25 which is coupled to seat 16, and an attachment member 24 which is received by the seat 16 and the bushing 25 and which is substantially concentric to the seat 16 and to the bushing 25, thereby reducing the overall packaging requirements of a vehicle suspension 12 incorporating the assembly 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventors: Stefan Svensson, Joseph Lee Buchwitz, Jeffrey Lipa
  • Publication number: 20020113398
    Abstract: A damper mounting, particularly for use in a motor vehicle, for receiving a first end of a damper which in the axial direction damps the movements of a member, such as a wheel carrier, fixed to the other or second end of the damper. The damper mounting includes a mounting housing which can be fixed to a structure, such as the bodywork of a motor vehicle, a mounting core which is arranged in the mounting housing and to which the first end of the damper can be fixed, and one or more individual elastomer elements which are arranged between the mounting core and the inside wall of the mounting housing and co-operatively hold the mounting core in position relative to the mounting housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Ralf Berner
  • Patent number: 6412798
    Abstract: Disclosed in a coupling attachment for a MacPherson suspension shock strut having an elastic articulation for filtering and uncoupling on a path transmitting the shock absorber rod effects to the body, and a separate elastic block on a path transmitting the spring efforts to the body, wherein the device improves compactness without adversely affecting comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Etablissements Michelin-Michelin & Cie
    Inventors: Etienne De Fontenay, Antoine Ducloux
  • Patent number: 6398202
    Abstract: A mounting for a shock absorber or a pneumatic spring of a wheel suspension at the body of a vehicle is supported by bearing bolts, which are held in a bearing element. The shock-absorber strut is set at an angle and, with its free upper end and with interposing the supporting element, is held in a bearing bushing, which has two bearing bolts, which lie opposite to one another on a swiveling axis and which are supported cardanically and/or pivotably in a support fastened to the vehicle. The air spring is mounted only over the bearing element, the supporting element being omitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG
    Inventor: Walter Schaible
  • Patent number: 6382645
    Abstract: An adjustment offset conical mount for use in combination with motor vehicles equipped with conically shaped strut mount towers formed in the chassis of the vehicle. The offset mount is rotatably and adjustably received within the tower and the arcuate position of the offset mount relocates the strut and its associated wheel assembly to a correct position within the vehicle and particularly within vehicular chassis. Camber and caster parameters are correctable, with camber ranges from at least +1.5° and −0.75° being achieved, while caster correction is available between +−1.12°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Northstar Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen M. Gravelle, Bruce L. Currey
  • Publication number: 20020041075
    Abstract: A strut mount structure for a vehicle for supporting a strut of a strut-type suspension is disclosed. Since the strut mount structure does not have any protruded portions with respect to a front hood with maintaining equal distance between the strut mount unit and the front hood, it is possible to freely choose the design of the front hood. Furthermore, the strut mount structure with a satisfactory large distance between the strut mount unit and the front hood absorbs impact well when a pedestrian comes into contact with the vehicle on the front hood.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Yoshimitsu Kobayashi, Toshiyuki Matsuki
  • Patent number: 6354616
    Abstract: A load carrying vehicle, such as a funeral vehicle, is disclosed having a vibration damper with a first end attached to the vehicle body at a first lateral distance from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body and a second end attached to a suspension member which, in turn, is movably attached to the vehicle body. The load carrying vehicle also includes a load carrying floor mounted to the vehicle body and located above the attachment of the first end of the vibration damper to the vehicle body, the load carrying floor having a side edge located at a second lateral distance from the longitudinal centerline of the body, such that the second lateral distance is greater than the first lateral distance. Thus, the side edge of the load carrying floor extends laterally outwardly of the attachment of the first end of the vibration damper to the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Accubuilt, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Morin, Rick Gullette, Owen Ziessler, Chuck Spees, III
  • Patent number: 6328321
    Abstract: An adjustable mount for the upper end of a vehicle suspension strut allowing the strut to be relocated relative to a vehicle chassis member. The mount comprises a bush adapted to receive and secure the upper end of the strut, a flange extending radially outwardly from the bush, and a clamping plate adapted to abut the lower face of the flange. The flange has upper and lower faces, and the clamping plate has an opening therethrough larger than the perimeter of the bush such that the clamping plate can relatively slide over the lower face of the flange over a limited area. A plurality of studs extend upwardly from the clamping plate. The studs are located outside the periphery of the flange and restrict the sliding movement of the flange relative to the clamping plate by engagement with the periphery of the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Noltec Distribution
    Inventor: Gregory James Nolan
  • Publication number: 20010026057
    Abstract: An upper support for a wheel suspension system of a vehicle having a shock absorber, which comprises an inner member connected to a piston rod of the shock absorber, an outer sleeve member disposed radially outwardly of the inner member and fixed to the vehicle body, and an elastic body interposed between the inner and outer sleeve members. The outer member has an upper and lower stop portions formed at axially opposite open-end portions thereof, so as to extend radially inwardly. The elastic body is bonded at its inner circumferential surface to the outer circumferential surface of the inner member, and is held in close contact at its outer circumferential surface with the inner circumferential surface of the outer sleeve member, while being held in abutting contact at its axially opposite end faces with the upper and lower stop portions of the outer sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Applicant: TOKAI RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Yukio Hayashi, Kohichi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6293572
    Abstract: A framing structure for support of the rear suspension components of an automotive which includes a pair of generally vertically oriented suspension strut towers spaced laterally with respect to the vehicle and with each strut tower fixedly attached at lower end portions to a lower cross beam and fixedly attached at upper end portions to an upper cross beam and having an isolating structure at the upper end portion of each strut tower to which the upper end portion of a rear suspension component such as a shock absorber or a MacPherson suspension strut is attached in a manner isolating the suspension component from the strut tower and upper cross beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Norman B. Robbins, Max A. Corporon
  • Patent number: 6290218
    Abstract: A spring-strut supporting bearing has at least one rubber bearing and a first fastening part for connecting it to the vehicle body. A second fastening part fixes a piston-cylinder assembly in position relative to the at least one rubber bearing and the first fastening part, the first fastening part being fixedly connected to the vehicle body via a securing ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann Boge GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Mayerböck
  • Publication number: 20010015537
    Abstract: Disclosed in a coupling attachment for a MacPherson suspension shock strut having an elastic articulation for filtering and uncoupling on a path transmitting the shock absorber rod effects to the body, and a separate elastic block on a path transmitting the spring efforts to the body, wherein the device improves compactness without adversely affecting comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventors: Etienne De Fontenay, Anthoine Ducloux
  • Patent number: 6260836
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shock absorber loaded therearound with a compression coil spring so improved that a side force generated by the compression coil spring can be effectively alleviated by making both or any one of an upper sheet 13 mounted to an absorber rod 3 and a lower sheet 16 mounted on an absorber tube 2 so as to be loaded therebetween with the compression coil spring 17 free to rock relatively to each other in a predetermined direction or in any direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Chuohatsujo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiho Aoyama, Takashi Goto
  • Patent number: 6260835
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a vibration damper such as a shock strut for articulated installation between a car body and a wheel guide part in a motor vehicle by a quick connection. For this purpose, the vibration damper on the shock strut, together with an elastic joint and a connection part, forms a constructional unit or assembly unit. The quick connection is formed between the connection part and the body or the wheel guide without a catch connection and in a rigid manner, so that relative movement is prevented between the connection part and the body or wheel guide part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann Sachs AG
    Inventors: Manfred Angles, Günther Handke, Robert Pradel
  • Patent number: 6257605
    Abstract: The invention concerns a suspension strut (1) for automotive vehicles comprising a shock absorber (20) to which a coil spring (21) is associated, the suspension strut (1) being connected to a steering knuckle (5) and a vehicle body (4) at articulation points (2, 3), the upper articulation point (2) comprising a bearing (6) which is associated to carrier elements (10, 11). According to the invention, the bearing (6) comprises bearing rings (7, 8) which are supported directly on carrier elements (10, 11) and centered on radially spaced rims (12, 13), the carrier elements (10, 11) being made of different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Ina Walzlager Schaeffler oHG
    Inventors: Alexander Zernickel, Herbert Erhardt
  • Patent number: 6250659
    Abstract: A vehicle variable height adjustment strut assembly 10 adjusts height of a vehicle 100 and replaces a vehicle strut by being mounted at a vehicle strut mount location. Assembly 10 has a vehicle variable height adjustment system 15, a height adjustment air bag 40, and a shock absorber 50. System 15 includes an air bag strut tower coupler 20 and an air bag control arm coupler 30. Air bag strut tower coupler 20 is mounted to a vehicle strut tower 60, and air bag control arm coupler 30 is coupled to a vehicle control arm 70. Air bag 40 is coupled between the air bag strut tower coupler 20 and the air bag control arm coupler 30. Air bag 40 is inflated and deflated to respectively raise and lower the vehicle 100. An air pressure control system 110 is coupled to the height adjustment air bag(s) 40, and the air pressure control system 110 controls pressure levels of the air bag(s) 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Inventor: Christian C. Morris
  • Patent number: 6179309
    Abstract: In order to reduce a partially concentrated load affecting a spring seat by repulsion of the coil spring, an edge of the upper end of the coil spring is disposed against a portion of the spring seat having a relatively low solidity. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the problem that the coils of the coil spring interfere with each other if a mid-portion of the coil spring in vertical direction is offset to the side to provide a partially concentrated load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaharu Satou, Yutaka Hozumi