U.S. patent application number 12/267090 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-05 for stabilizer bar assembly for vehicle suspension system.
This patent application is currently assigned to AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC.. Invention is credited to Chad A. Johnson, Jeffrey L. Kincaid.
Application Number | 20090058031 12/267090 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37947449 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090058031 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson; Chad A. ; et
al. |
March 5, 2009 |
STABILIZER BAR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM
Abstract
A suspension system having a stabilizer bar assembly with a
stabilizer bar structure, an intermediate bushing and a resilient
bushing. The stabilizer bar structure includes a center section to
which the intermediate bushing is coupled. The resilient bushing is
mounted on the intermediate bushing. The intermediate bushing
limits relative axial movement of the resilient bushing in along
the center section in a first direction and a second direction
opposite the first direction. A method for forming a stabilizer bar
assembly is also provided.
Inventors: |
Johnson; Chad A.; (Royal
Oak, MI) ; Kincaid; Jeffrey L.; (Clarkston,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HARNESS, DICKEY & PIERCE, P.L.C.
P.O. BOX 828
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48303
US
|
Assignee: |
AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING,
INC.
Detroit
MI
|
Family ID: |
37947449 |
Appl. No.: |
12/267090 |
Filed: |
November 7, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11251369 |
Oct 14, 2005 |
7448636 |
|
|
12267090 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
280/124.152 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60G 21/0551 20130101;
F16F 1/16 20130101; B60G 2204/41 20130101; B60G 2202/135 20130101;
B60G 2202/1424 20130101; B60G 2200/144 20130101; B60G 2202/12
20130101; B60G 2204/1222 20130101; B60G 3/20 20130101; B60G 11/15
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/124.152 |
International
Class: |
B60G 21/055 20060101
B60G021/055 |
Claims
1. A stabilizer bar assembly comprising: a bar having a center
section and first and second end sections disposed on opposite
sides of said center section; a locating collar coupled to said
center section at a first location; a first bushing disposed over
said locating collar such that said locating collar limits
bi-directional axial movement of said first bushing relative to
said center section; and a second bushing disposed for axially
sliding movement on said center section relative to said first
bushing toward a second location.
2. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 1 wherein said locating
collar is fixed to said center section at said first location and
has first and second thrust surfaces, and wherein said first
bushing surrounds said locating collar such that said first thrust
surface inhibits axial movement of said first bushing in a first
direction along said center section and said second thrust surface
inhibits axial movement of said first bushing in a second direction
along said center section.
3. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 2 wherein said first
bushing encloses said locating collar and has an inner surface
engaging an outer surface of said center section.
4. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 2 wherein said locating
collar is molded onto said center section of said bar.
5. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 1 wherein said locating
collar extends outwardly from a tubular member that is coupled to
said center section at said first position, and wherein said first
bushing surrounds said tubular member.
6. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 5 wherein said locating
collar has first and second thrust surfaces such that said first
thrust surface inhibits axial movement of said first bushing
relative to said center section in a first direction and said
second thrust surface inhibits axial movement of said first bushing
in a second direction relative to said center section.
7. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 5 further including a
second locating collar extending outwardly from said tubular member
and which is laterally spaced relative to said first locating
collar, and wherein said first bushing is disposed between said
first and second locating collars such that said first locating
collar inhibits axial movement of said first bushing relative to
said center section in a first direction and said second locating
collar inhibits axial movement of said first bushing relative to
said center section in a second directions.
8. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 7 wherein said first and
second locating collars are formed at opposite ends of said tubular
member, and wherein a first end surface of said first bushing
engages said first locating collar and a second end surface of said
first bushing engages said second locating collar.
9. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 1 wherein said first
bushing has a center aperture, and wherein at least one of said
center aperture, said locating collar and said center section is
formed with a non-circular cross section such that said first
bushing acts as a torsion spring to resist rotation of said center
section.
10. A stabilizer bar assembly, comprising: a bar having a center
section and first and second end sections extending from opposite
ends of said center section; an intermediate bushing coupled to
said center section at a first location and having a tubular member
surrounding a portion of said center section and a locating collar
extending outwardly from said tubular member; a first bushing
disposed over said tubular member such that said locating collar
limits bi-directional axial movement of said first bushing relative
to said center section; and a second bushing disposed for axial
sliding movement on said center section toward a second
location.
11. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 10 wherein said locating
collar has first and second thrust surfaces, and wherein said first
bushing surrounds said locating collar such that said first thrust
surface inhibits axial movement of said first bushing in a first
direction and said second thrust surface inhibits axial movement of
said first bushing in a second direction.
12. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 11 wherein said first
bushing encloses said locating collar and has an inner surface
engaging an outer surface of said tubular member.
13. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 10 wherein said
intermediate bushing further includes a second locating collar
extending outwardly from said tubular member and which is laterally
spaced relative to said first locating collar.
14. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 13 wherein said first
bushing is disposed between said first and second locating collars
such that said first locating collar inhibits axial movement of
said first bushing in a first direction and said second locating
collar inhibits axial movement of said first bushing in a second
direction.
15. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 14 wherein said first and
second locating collars are formed at opposite ends of said tubular
member, and wherein a first end surface of said first bushing
engages said first locating collar and a second end surface of said
first bushing engages said second locating collar.
16. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 13 wherein said first
bushing surrounds and encloses at least one of said first and
second locating collars.
17. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 10 wherein said
intermediate bushing is molded onto said center section at said
first location.
18. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 10 wherein said first
bushing has a center aperture, and wherein at least one of said
center aperture, said locating collar, said tubular member and said
center section is formed with a non-circular cross section such
that said first bushing acts as a torsion spring to resist rotation
of said center section.
19. A stabilizer bar assembly comprising: a bar having a center
section and first and second end sections disposed on opposite
sides of said center section; a locator coupled to said center
section at a first location; a first bushing disposed over said
locator such that said locator limits bi-directional axial movement
of said first bushing relative to said center section; and a second
bushing disposed for axially sliding movement on said center
section relative to said first bushing toward a second
location.
20. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 19 wherein said locator is
a locating collar.
21. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 20 wherein said locating
collar is fixed to said center section at said first location and
has first and second thrust surfaces, and wherein said first
bushing surrounds said locating collar such that said first thrust
surface inhibits axial movement of said first bushing in a first
direction along said center section and said second thrust surface
inhibits axial movement of said first bushing in a second direction
along said center section.
22. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 21 wherein said first
bushing encloses said locating collar and has an inner surface
engaging an outer surface of said center section.
23. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 20 wherein said locating
collar extends outwardly from a tubular member that is coupled to
said center section at said first position, and wherein said first
bushing surrounds said tubular member.
24. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 23 wherein said locating
collar has first and second thrust surfaces such that said first
thrust surface inhibits axial movement of said first bushing
relative to said center section in a first direction and said
second thrust surface inhibits axial movement of said first bushing
in a second direction relative to said center section.
25. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 23 further including a
second locating collar extending outwardly from said tubular member
and which is laterally spaced relative to said first locating
collar, and wherein said first bushing is disposed between said
first and second locating collars such that said first locating
collar inhibits axial movement of said first bushing relative to
said center section in a first direction and said second locating
collar inhibits axial movement of said first bushing relative to
said center section in a second directions.
26. The stabilizer bar assembly of claim 25 wherein said first and
second locating collars are formed at opposite ends of said tubular
member, and wherein a first end surface of said first bushing
engages said first locating collar and a second end surface of said
first bushing engages said second locating collar.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/251,369 filed on Oct. 14, 2005. The
disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by
reference.
INTRODUCTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to stabilizer bars
for vehicle suspensions. More particularly, the present invention
relates to a stabilizer bar mounting system that can improve both
the mounting of the stabilizer bar to the vehicle frame and the
lateral retention of the stabilizer bar.
[0003] Stabilizer bars, also known as sway bars or anti-roll bars,
are employed in a vehicle suspension system to reduce a body roll
in a vehicle during a turn. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a
prior art stabilizer bar can be formed of a solid or tubular
material and includes a center section 110, first and second arms
112 and 114, respectively, that are coupled to the opposite ends of
the center section 110, and first and second bushings 116 and 118,
respectively. The first and second arms 112 and 114 can be
configured to attach to left and right suspension members 120 and
122, respectively, while the first and second bushings 116 and 118
are configured to rotatably mount the center section 110 to the
vehicle frame 124.
[0004] Lateral forces exerted on the stabilizer bar during the
operation of the vehicle tend to push the center section 110 in an
axial direction and as such, the center section 110 of prior art
stabilizer bars includes first and second thrust flanges 126 and
128, respectively, that are disposed adjacent the bushings. The
first and second thrust flanges 126 and 128 are employed to retain
the first and second bushings 116 and 118, respectively, in a
desired location. The thrust flanges 126 and 128 can be of a formed
metal (upset) type collar, a plastic injection molded type collar,
a crimp type collar, a multi-piece wedge type collar or a weld-type
collar.
[0005] One drawback associated with this configuration is that the
thrust flanges 126 and 128 must be precisely positioned so as to
inhibit an undesired amount of lateral movement but yet not
interfere with the rotation of the center section 110. Given normal
manufacturing variation with, for example, the location of the
mounting holes in the suspension component, the location of the
mounting holes in the vehicle frame 124, the overall length of the
center section 110, the length of the first and second arms 112 and
114, and the accuracy and repeatability with which the thrust
flanges 126 and 128 may be fixedly secured to the center section
110, it can be challenging to accurately place the first and second
thrust flanges 126 and 128 in a manner that provides satisfactory
performance and yet may be utilized with components across the
broad spectrum of manufacturing tolerances.
SUMMARY
[0006] In one form, the present teachings provide a vehicle
suspension system with a stabilizer bar assembly having a bar
structure, an intermediate bushing, a first bushing and a second
bushing. The bar structure includes a center section and first and
second arms that are disposed on opposite sides of the center
section. The intermediate bushing is coupled to the center section
and has a locating collar. The first and second bushings are at
least partially formed of a resilient material. The first bushing
is disposed over the locating collar and the second busing is
mounted on the center section axially spaced apart from the first
bushing. The locating collar limits movement of the first bushing
along an axis of the center section in a first direction that is
parallel to the axis of the center section and a second direction
that is opposite the first direction.
[0007] In another form, the present teachings provide a vehicle
suspension system with a stabilizer bar assembly having a bar
structure, an intermediate bushing, a first bushing and a second
bushing. The bar structure can include a center section and first
and second arms that are disposed on opposite sides of the center
section. The intermediate bushing is coupled to the center section.
The first bushing is disposed over the intermediate bushing, while
the second busing is mounted on the center section axially spaced
apart from the first bushing. The intermediate bushing limits
movement of the first bushing along an axis of the center section
in a first direction that is parallel to the axis of the center
section and a second direction that is opposite the first
direction.
[0008] In yet another form, the present teachings provide a method
for forming a stabilizer bar. The method can include: forming a bar
structure with a center section; forming an intermediate bushing
onto the center section, the intermediate bushing having at least
one locating collar; and assembling a resilient bushing to the
intermediate bushing such that the at least one collar limits
relative axial movement of the resilient bushing along the center
section in a first direction and a second direction opposite the
first direction.
[0009] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Additional advantages and features of the present invention
will become apparent from the subsequent description and the
appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a vehicle with
a suspension system utilizing a prior art stabilizer bar
assembly;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the stabilizer
bar of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a vehicle with
a suspension system utilizing a stabilizer bar assembly constructed
in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a section view of a portion of the stabilizer bar
of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a
second stabilizer bar assembly constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of a
third stabilizer bar assembly constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of a fourth
stabilizer bar assembly constructed in accordance with the
teachings of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0018] With reference to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a suspension
system 8 is illustrated to have a stabilizer bar assembly 10 that
is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present
invention. In the particular example provided, the suspension
system 8 is an independent front wheel suspension system of the
type having upper and lower control arms and a strut assembly at
each wheel that is suspended from the vehicle frame. It will be
understood that the particular type of suspension system described
herein and illustrated in the drawings is merely exemplary and that
the teachings of the present invention have applicability to other
types of suspension systems, including beam steer axles. Reference
will be made to a vehicle frame in the present disclosure, but
those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many current
vehicles do not have a frame per se, but instead have regions of
the body which act as an integrated frame structure. With this in
mind, the frame 20 is shown to partially include a pair of
longitudinally extending side rails 22 and a cross beam 24.
[0019] The suspension system 8 can include a lower control arm 26
and an upper control arm 28, both of which can be pivotally
attached to the frame 20. A strut assembly having a helical coil
spring 30 and a strut damper 32 can be retained between an
intermediate portion of the lower control arm 26 and the frame 20
to support the weight of the vehicle and any loads which are
transmitted through the lower control arm 26. The upper control arm
28 can be connected to the lower control arm 26 by a steering
knuckle 34. A hub and a rotor assembly 36 can be rotatably attached
to a spindle portion (not shown) of a steering knuckle 34 such that
a wheel and a tire may can be mounted thereon.
[0020] With additional reference to FIG. 4, the stabilizer bar
assembly 10 can include a stabilizer bar structure 40, an
intermediate bushing 42 and first and second resilient bushings 44
and 46, respectively. The stabilizer bar structure 40 can include
an elongated central section 50 and a pair of arm members 52 that
can be disposed on opposite sides of the central section 50. The
distal end 54 of each of the arm members 52 can be connected to a
corresponding one of the lower control arms 26 in a conventional
manner. Examples of suitable connection methods are described in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,954,353 entitled "Plug In Direct Acting Stabilizer
Bar Link"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,079 entitled "Direct Acting End Link
For Stabilizer Bar"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,080 entitled "Plug In
Direct Acting Stabilizer Bar Link"; U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,114
entitled "Composite Stabilizer Bar Link"; and U.S. Pat. No.
6,308,972 entitled "Self-Locking Plug-In Stabilizer Bar Link
Mechanism", the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by
reference as if fully set forth herein in their entirety.
[0021] The intermediate bushing 42 can include at least one
locating collar 60 and can be coupled to the central section 50 at
a location where the first resilient bushing 44 is to be placed.
The intermediate bushing 42 can include two distinct thrust
surfaces 62 that can be configured to cooperate to limit relative
axial movement of the first resilient bushing 44 along the central
section 50. In the particular example provided, the thrust surfaces
62 are formed on the opposite lateral surfaces of the locating
collar 60. It will be appreciated, however, that the intermediate
bushing 42a may employ two or more spaced-apart locating collars
60a as is shown in FIG. 5 to limit relative axial movement of the
first resilient bushing 44a. In this regard, each of the locating
collars 60a is employed to restrain relative axial movement of the
first resilient bushing 44a in response to the application of a
thrust load against one set of thrust surfaces, e.g., the thrust
surface 62a is operable for resisting thrust loads in a first axial
direction, while the thrust surface 62b is operable for resisting
thrust loads in a second axial direction opposite the first axial
direction.
[0022] Returning to FIGS. 3 and 4, the intermediate bushing 42 can
be formed of a plastic material, such as an injection moldable
polymer, and in the example provided is molded onto the central
section 50 at a desired location after the formation of one or both
of the arm members 52. The polymer material is advantageous in that
it can provide a smooth and consistent interface with the first
resilient bushing 44.
[0023] The first resilient bushing 44 can be assembled to the
central section 50 (e.g., prior to formation of the arm members 52
and the intermediate bushing 42) and pushed axially over the
intermediate bushing 42 such that the first resilient bushing 44 is
engaged to the at least one locating collar 60. In the example
provided, the first resilient bushing 44 is received over the
intermediate bushing 42 and is configured to engage the opposite
thrust surfaces 62 that are formed on the locating collar 60.
Accordingly, contact between the thrust surfaces 62 and
corresponding surfaces 70 formed on the first resilient bushing 44
can limit relative axial movement of the first resilient bushing 44
along the central section 50.
[0024] The second resilient bushing 46 can also be assembled to the
central section 50 (e.g., prior to formation of the arm members 52
and the intermediate bushing 42) and pushed into a desired
location. Unlike the arrangement for the first resilient bushing
44, the second resilient bushing 46 is "free floating" and can be
translated along the central section 50.
[0025] A pair of mounting brackets 74a and 74b can be employed to
rotatably attach the central section 50 to the frame 20. The
mounting brackets 74a and 74b are conventional in their
construction and operation and need not be discussed in significant
detail herein. Briefly, each of the mounting brackets 74a and 74b
can be mounted about an associated one of the first and second
resilient bushings 44 and 46 and thereafter aligned to mating holes
(not specifically shown) in an appropriate structure or structure,
such as the frame 20. As those of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate from this disclosure, the mounting brackets 74a and 74b
can be mounted to any appropriate structure, including control
arms, beam axles, etc., and the mounting brackets 74a and 74b need
not be mounted to the same type of structure (i.e., both mounting
brackets need not be mounted to the frame 20 but rather one could
be mounted to one type of structure, such as the frame 20, and the
other could be mounted to another type of structure, such as a
control arm. Note that when the mounting bracket 74b is to be
aligned to the mating holes in the appropriate structure (i.e., the
frame 20 in the particular example provided), the second resilient
bushing 46 may be readily moved in an axial direction along the
central section 50. Threaded fasteners (not specifically shown) can
be employed to secure the mounting brackets 74a and 74b to the
frame 20 or other structure. As the mounting brackets 74a and 74b
engage the first and second resilient bushings 44 and 46, movement
of the first and second resilient bushings 44 and 46 relative to
the frame 20 is inhibited. Furthermore, as the thrust surfaces 62
of the locating collar 60 are disposed between the corresponding
surfaces 70 formed on the first resilient bushing 44, movement of
the central section 50 in an axial direction relative to the first
resilient bushing 44 and the corresponding structure (i.e., the
frame 20 in the example provided) is limited.
[0026] Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate from this
disclosure that the use of an intermediate bushing permits
additional functionality to be incorporated into the intermediate
bushing/first resilient bushing arrangement. In the example of FIG.
6, the first resilient bushing 44b is configured to sealingly
engage the intermediate bushing 42b at locations outboard of the
locating collar 60b so that a seal 75 is formed therebetween.
Configuration in this manner is advantageous in that it inhibits
ingress of contaminants, such as water, dirt and debris, between
the intermediate bushing 42b and the interior of the first
resilient bushing 44b.
[0027] In yet another embodiment, which is illustrated in FIG. 7,
one or more of the interior surface 80 of the first resilient
bushing 44c, the exterior 82 of all or a portion of the
intermediate bushing 42c and the exterior surface 84 of the central
section 50c may be formed with a non-circular cross-section. In the
particular example provided, the aperture 82 through of the first
resilient bushing 44c is formed such that it has hexagon-shaped
cross-section, while the intermediate bushing 42c has a
correspondingly shaped hexagon-shaped cross-section. Accordingly,
rotation of the central section 50c relative to the first resilient
bushing 44c causes the first resilient bushing 44c to act as a
torsion spring.
[0028] While the intermediate bushing 42 has been described herein
as being formed of plastic and molded onto the central section 50
of the stabilizer bar structure 40, those of ordinary skill in the
art will appreciate that the intermediate bushing 42 may be formed
in numerous other ways. For example the intermediate bushing 42 (or
portions thereof) may be formed of an appropriate metal or plastic
material and bonded (e.g., via an adhesive) to the central section
50, or from an appropriate metal and brazed or welded (e.g., via
arc, TIG, MIG, spot/resistance, laser and/or friction/spin welding)
to the central section 50, or from an appropriate metal or plastic
and press-fit to the central section 50, or formed from an
appropriate metal or plastic and fixedly coupled to the central
section 50 via pins, threads, threaded fasteners, rivets, etc., or
formed from the central section 50 in a forming operation (e.g.,
forging, spinning, rolling, hydroforming).
[0029] While the invention has been described in the specification
and illustrated in the drawings with reference to various
embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for
elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention
as defined in the claims. Furthermore, the mixing and matching of
features, elements and/or functions between various embodiments is
expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the
art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements
and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another
embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above.
Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular
situation or material to the teachings of the invention without
departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is
intended that the invention not be limited to the particular
embodiment illustrated by the drawings and described in the
specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying
out this invention, but that the invention will include any
embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the
appended claims.
* * * * *