U.S. patent application number 11/043728 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-27 for rubber bushing.
This patent application is currently assigned to ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC. Invention is credited to Robert Michael Kiddle.
Application Number | 20060163788 11/043728 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36695961 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060163788 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kiddle; Robert Michael |
July 27, 2006 |
RUBBER BUSHING
Abstract
A bushing assembly for a vehicle suspension system includes
first and second bushing components that are fixed to a central
pin. The pin is supported on a suspension component and includes
pin ends that are mounted to an axle housing component. A washer is
supported on the pin between the first and second bushings and
abuts against inboard edges of the first and second bushings. An
outer retaining tube surrounds the first and second bushings and
the washer. The outer retaining tube includes opposing deformed end
portions that directly engage outboard edges of the first and
second bushings to form axial load carrying surfaces for the first
and said second bushings.
Inventors: |
Kiddle; Robert Michael;
(Skipton, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CARLSON, GASKEY & OLDS, P.C.
400 WEST MAPLE ROAD
SUITE 350
BIRMINGHAM
MI
48009
US
|
Assignee: |
ArvinMeritor Technology,
LLC
|
Family ID: |
36695961 |
Appl. No.: |
11/043728 |
Filed: |
January 26, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
267/293 ;
267/141.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60G 2204/44 20130101;
B60G 11/64 20130101; B60G 2202/152 20130101; B60G 2200/315
20130101; F16F 1/3842 20130101; B60G 2202/135 20130101; B60G
2204/41 20130101; B60G 2204/143 20130101; B60G 7/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
267/293 ;
267/141.1 |
International
Class: |
F16F 7/00 20060101
F16F007/00 |
Claims
1. A bushing assembly comprising: a first cylindrical bushing
including a first inner cylindrical sleeve and a first resilient
cylindrical sleeve surrounding an outer circumference of said first
inner cylindrical sleeve; a second cylindrical bushing axially
spaced from said first cylindrical bushing and including a second
inner cylindrical sleeve and a second resilient cylindrical sleeve
surrounding an outer circumference of said second inner cylindrical
sleeve; a washer positioned intermediate said first and said second
cylindrical bushings and wherein said first and said second
cylindrical bushings each include inboard edges facing each other
and outboard edges facing away from each other with said washer
being in direct engagement with said inboard edges; and an outer
retaining tube substantially surrounding said first cylindrical
bushing, said second cylindrical bushing, and said washer wherein
an inner surface of said outer retaining tube is radially spaced
from an outer circumferential edge of said washer to define an
annular space and wherein said outer retaining tube directly
engages an outer circumferential surface of said first and said
second resilient cylindrical sleeves, and wherein said outer
retaining tube includes opposing end portions engaging said
outboard edges of said first and second cylindrical bushings where
said opposing end portions are crimped to from transversely
extending lips that define axial load carrying surfaces.
2-10. (canceled)
11. A bushing assembly comprising: a pin having a central body
extending between pin ends and defining a pin axis; a bracket
having structure for attachment to an axle housing, and wherein
said pin ends comprise a first pin end supported by said bracket
and a second pin end supported by said bracket: a first bushing
having a first inner sleeve fixed to said central body and a first
resilient sleeve fixed to an outer circumference of said first
inner sleeve; a second bushing having a second inner sleeve fixed
to said central body and a second resilient sleeve fixed to an
outer circumference of said second inner sleeve, said second
bushing being axially spaced from said first bushing along said pin
axis; a washer supported by said pin and positioned between said
first and said second bushings along said pin axis; and an outer
sleeve having first and second transversely extending end portions
that directly engage opposing outboard edges of said first and said
second resilient sleeves, respectively, said first and second
transversely extending end portions forming axial load carrying
surfaces for said first and said second bushings.
12. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 wherein said pin
ends are adapted to mount the bushing assembly between an axle
housing and a suspension component.
13. (canceled)
14. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 wherein said first
and said second resilient sleeves have a generally constant outer
diameter that is greater than a diameter of said washer.
15. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 wherein an inner
surface of said outer sleeve is radially spaced from an outer
circumferential edge of said washer to define an annular space.
16-17. (canceled)
18. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 wherein said outer
sleeve, said washer, and said first and said second inner sleeves
are formed from a steel material.
19. A suspension assembly comprising: at least one suspension arm;
and a bushing assembly supported by said at least one suspension
arm, said bushing assembly including a pin having a pair of pin
ends adapted for mounting to an axle housing, a bracket to be fixed
to a housing leg of the axle housing wherein said pair of pin ends
comprises a first pin end supported by said bracket and a second
pin end supported by said bracket, a first bushing fixed to said
pin, a second bushing fixed to said pin and laterally spaced from
said first bushing, a washer supported by said pin and positioned
intermediate said first and said second bushings, and an outer
sleeve engaging an outer circumferential surface of said first and
said second bushings.
20. The suspension assembly according to claim 19 wherein said
first and said second bushings each include an inboard edge and an
outboard edge with said washer being in direct engagement with said
inboard edges of said first and said second bushings and wherein
said outer sleeve includes opposing deformed end portions directly
engaging said outboard edges of said first and second bushings to
form axial load carrying surfaces for said first and said second
bushings.
21. (canceled)
22. The suspension assembly according to claim 19 wherein said
first and said second bushings each include an inner cylindrical
sleeve mounted to said pin, and an intermediate cylindrical sleeve
comprised of a resilient material surrounding said inner
cylindrical sleeve with said outer sleeve surrounding said
intermediate cylindrical sleeve.
23. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said
first and said second inner cylindrical sleeves has an inner
surface that engages a pin and an outer surface that engages a
respective one of said first and said second resilient cylindrical
sleeves, said outer surface being defined by a generally constant
diameter extending along a length of said first and said second
inner cylindrical sleeves.
24. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 including a pin
having a central body portion, and first and second pin ends each
including structure for attachment to a suspension component,
wherein said first and said second cylindrical bushings are mounted
on said central body portion with said first and second pin ends
extending outwardly of opposing ends of said outer retaining
tube.
25. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein each of said
first and said second inner cylindrical sleeves is comprised of a
single inner cylindrical sleeve and wherein each of said first and
said second resilient cylindrical sleeves is comprised of a single
intermediate resilient cylindrical sleeve positioned directly
between said single inner cylindrical sleeve and said outer
retaining tube.
26. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 wherein said first
and said second inner sleeves each comprise rigid cylindrical
tubes, and wherein said first and said second resilient sleeves
each comprise resilient cylindrical tubes.
27. (canceled)
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The subject invention relates to a bushing assembly for a
vehicle suspension system that includes a pair of bushing members
separated by a washer and an outer retaining sleeve that surrounds
the pair of bushing members and provides axial load carrying
surfaces for the bushing assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Vehicle suspension systems include bushing assemblies that
are mounted between a suspension beam component and an axle
housing. Typically, each bushing assembly includes an inner sleeve,
an outer sleeve, and a piece of urethane or rubber that is
positioned between the inner and outer sleeves. The inner sleeve is
supported on a pin with the outer sleeve surrounding an outer
circumferential surface of the rubber sleeve.
[0003] In order to accommodate axial loading, the bushing assembly
has traditionally required a large single piece of rubber or
urethane between the inner and outer sleeves. This traditional
configuration is expensive and often does not provide sufficient
conical compliance during vehicle operation. Further, this
configuration has a tendency to experience high pre-loads, which is
undesirable.
[0004] Thus, there is a need for a low-cost bushing assembly that
reduces pre-loads, and which provides sufficient axial loading
while optimizing conical compliance, in addition to overcoming the
other deficiencies in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A bushing assembly includes a first bushing member and a
second bushing member that are separated by a washer. An outer
retaining sleeve surrounds the first and second bushing members and
the washer. The outer retaining sleeve includes opposing end
portions that are deformed over outboard edges of the first and
second bushing members to form axial load carrying surfaces for the
first and said second bushings.
[0006] In one example, the bushing assembly is supported on a
vehicle suspension component, such as a suspension arm. The bushing
assembly includes a pin having a central body extending between pin
ends. The pin ends are adapted to be mounted to an axle component,
such as an axle housing.
[0007] Each of the first and second bushings includes an inner
sleeve fixed to the pin and a resilient sleeve surrounding an outer
circumferential surface of the inner sleeve. The washer is in
direct abutting engagement with inboard edges of the inner sleeve
and the resilient sleeves of both the first and second bushings.
The outer retaining sleeve engages outer circumferential surfaces
of the resilient sleeves. The end portions of the outer retaining
sleeve are deformed over outboard edges of the resilient
sleeve.
[0008] Preferably, the first and second bushings are fixed to the
central body in an interference fit. The washer is supported on the
pin intermediate the first and second bushings. The washer is
rigidly held in place by the first and second bushings at a
generally central position on the pin. The central position of the
washer provides optimal conical compliance, which is controlled by
the extent of roll-over of the opposing end portions of the outer
retaining sleeve.
[0009] These and other features of the present invention can be
best understood from the following specification and drawings, the
following of which is a brief description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of one example of a vehicle
suspension system incorporating the subject invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a bushing assembly as
used in the vehicle suspension system of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an end view of the bushing assembly of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] An axle assembly 10 with a suspension system 12 is shown in
FIG. 1. The axle assembly 10 includes an axle housing 14 that
extends between a pair of wheel ends 16. The suspension system 12
includes a V-rod 18 with a center pivot 20 and a pair of legs 22
that extend outwardly from the center pivot 20. The center pivot 20
is mounted at a center portion 24 of the axle housing 14 and each
leg of the pair of legs 22 is mounted to a vehicle frame 26 as
known.
[0014] The suspension system 12 also includes first 28 and second
30 trailing arms that are mounted to suspension hanger brackets 32
at one end, and which include spring seats 34 for supporting air
springs 36. A stabilizer bar assembly 38 extends laterally between
the first 28 and second 30 trailing arms. The suspension hanger
brackets 32 are mounted to the vehicle frame 26. Shock absorbers 40
are also mounted between the vehicle frame 26 and the first 28 and
second 30 trailing arms.
[0015] A bushing assembly 42 is supported on each of the first 28
and second 30 trailing arms. The bushing assemblies 42 are mounted
to brackets 44 fixed to housing legs 46 of the axle housing 14.
[0016] An example of the bushing assembly 42 is shown in FIGS. 2
and 3. The bushing assembly 42 includes a pin 50 with a center body
portion 52 that extends between pin ends 54 defining a pin axis A.
The central body portion 52 is preferably a solid steel component,
however, other similar materials could also be used. Each pin end
54 includes an opening 56 that corresponds to an opening 58 (FIG.
1) in the brackets 44 mounted to the axle housing 14. Fasteners 60
(FIG. 1) extend through the openings 56, 58 in the pin ends 54 and
brackets 44 to secure the bushing assemblies 42 to the axle housing
14.
[0017] The bushing assembly 42 includes a first bushing member 62
and a second bushing member 64. Each of the first 62 and second 64
bushing members includes an inner sleeve 66 that is press fit onto
an outer circumferential surface 68 of the center body portion 52
of the pin 50 to achieve an interference fit. The inner sleeves 66
are preferably formed from steel, however, other similar materials
could also be used. Each of the first 62 and second 64 bushing
members also includes a resilient sleeve 70 that surrounds an outer
circumferential surface of each inner sleeve 66. The resilient
sleeves 70 are preferably formed from rubber, however, other
similar materials could also be used.
[0018] A washer 72 is positioned between the first 62 and second 64
bushing members. Each of the first 62 and second 64 bushing members
include an inboard edge 74 and an outboard edge 76. The inboard
edges 74 face each other and the outboard edges 76 face away from
each other. The washer 72 is preferably a single piece washer that
directly abuts against the inboard edges 74 of the first 62 and
second 64 bushing members. The washer 72 serves as a restraining
component that provides additional lateral resistance in a
direction parallel to the pin axis A. The washer 72 is supported on
the pin 50 and is rigidly held in place by the first 62 and second
64 bushing members. The washer 72 is preferably made from steel,
however, other similar materials could also be used.
[0019] An outer retaining tube or sleeve 78 substantially surrounds
the first 62 and second 64 bushing members and the washer 72. The
outer retaining sleeve 78 includes opposing sleeve end portions 80
that are deformed over the outboard edges 76 of the first 62 and
second 64 bushing members. Preferably, the opposing sleeve end
portions 80 are deformed over outboard edges of the resilient
sleeves 70, with outboard edges of the inner sleeves 66 extending
axially outwardly from the resilient sleeves 70 in opposing
directions along the pin axis A. Preferably, the outer retaining
sleeve 78 is formed from a steel material and the opposing sleeve
end portions 80 are crimped over the outboard edges 76, however,
other similar materials and deforming methods could also be
used.
[0020] The outer retaining sleeve 78 is a single piece component
that has an inner surface 82 that directly engages outer
circumferential surfaces 84 of each of the resilient sleeves 70 of
the first 62 and second 64 bushing members. The inner surface 82 is
defined by radial distance from pin axis A that is greater than the
diameter of the washer 72 at an outer circumferential edge. This
forms an annular space 86 between the inner surface 82 of the outer
retaining sleeve 78 and the washer 72. Further, the annular space
86 is between the first 62 and second 64 bushing members.
[0021] While the bushing assembly is shown as being installed in a
suspension system configured as shown in FIG. 1, it should be
understood that the bushing assembly could be used in other
suspension applications. Thus, the suspension system of FIG. 1 is
merely one example of a suspension system that benefits from the
invention.
[0022] The washer 72 is preferably centrally positioned on the pin
50. In one example, the washer 72 is positioned generally equal
distances from each of the pin ends 54 and/or opposing sleeve end
portions 80. As discussed above, the opposing sleeve end portions
80 are deformed or rolled over the outboard edges 76 of the first
62 and second 64 bushing members. The opposing sleeve end portions
80 are crimped to form transversely extending lips that define
axial load carrying surfaces 88 for the first 62 and second 64
bushing members. The axial load carrying surfaces 88 provide
lateral resistance in addition to the lateral resistance provided
by the washer 72. The central location of the washer 72 is critical
as the configuration provides optimal conical compliance, which can
be controlled by the extent of roll-over of the opposing sleeve end
portions 80. Further, this unique configuration also reduces
pre-loads on the bushing assembly 42.
[0023] Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been
disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize
that certain modifications would come within the scope of this
invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied
to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
* * * * *