Damper for vehicle components

Details Damper for vehicle components Damper for vehicle components

1998-10-09

2001-07-10

Schwartz, Christopher P. (Department: 3613)

Spring devices

Vehicle

Parallel depression

C267S141100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06257563

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a damper for vehicle components, particularly motor vehicle components such as steering tie rods and antiroll bars, having an elastic unit that is loaded in substantially axial direction of the component.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Particularly in the case of motor vehicle steering tie rods and antiroll bars, it is known to provide these chassis components with an elastic unit having a damper function. The elastic unit is loaded in substantially axial direction and thus permits limited axial travel, particularly to reduce or compensate any application of a sudden load. The damping of shocks introduced in the corresponding chassis component substantially reduces wear. Mounting the dampers on steering tie rods reduces steering susceptibility to shocks, reduces or compensates noise transmission, and provides a softer steering response. The market share of hydraulic and electrohydraulic assisted steering systems is increasing. Dampers will substantially reduce wear in the ball-and-socket joints of steering tie rods, racks, pinions, and the entire bearing, irrespective of whether the damper units are used in connection with axial or ball-and-socket joints.
In addition to their use for motor vehicle chassis components, these dampers may be used for general vehicle components such as the elastic suspension of motors and structural components, for example driver's cabs.
The prior art elastic units used as dampers have been formed by rubber-metal elements whose elastic parts are connected with the metal parts in such a way that the elastic parts are essentially subject to thrust loads. These known rubber-metal elements have the disadvantage that increased loads, particularly continuous loads, may cause the connection between metal and elastic parts to be loosened so that the dampers become ineffective.
To exclude these disadvantages as far as possible, the connecting surfaces between the metal and elastic components of the prior art rubber-metal elements must be made correspondingly large, which frequently causes space and installation-related problems. A further disadvantage of the prior art rubber-metal elements is that the application of a protective surface coating such as anode/cathode dip coating is limited because the related high temperatures would destroy the elastic elements and their bond with the metal elements. The coating of the metal parts is also limited because such coatings do not form a suitable bonding base for the elastic element. The bonding surface would therefore have to be reproduced after coating, which would entail additional costs.
The object of the invention is to create a damper of the above described type, which may be modularly assembled from simply designed and inexpensively producible separate parts for different applications and which requires little space and yet is distinguished by high reliability and a long component life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention attains this object by providing a elastic unit comprising at least two elastic elements, which are reciprocally, substantially pressure loaded and arranged inside a housing between the housing and a coupling element that transfers pressure forces in substantially axial direction and which counteract any inclination or coaxial offset of the coupling element with respect to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
This embodiment of the elastic unit according to the invention creates a damper whose modular structure permits simple adaptation to the respective application. The stiffness of the elastic elements may be controlled not only by their dimensions but also by the Shore hardness of the respectively used materials, so that the respective elastic stiffness may be selected over a wide range without changing the geometry of the components. The protective surface coating of the metal parts may be freely selected to meet the respective requirements since there is no prior or subsequent rigid connection between the elastic elements on the one hand and the housing or coupling element on the other hand. The two elastic elements are reciprocally, substantially compressed and thus need not be rigidly connected to the metal parts but may instead be loosely arranged between the housing and the coupling element. Furthermore, the fact that the damper according to the invention lacks a rigid connection between the elastic elements and the housing or coupling element permits a space saving design. Consequently, the dampers are suitable even if space is limited, particularly for chassis components associated with motor vehicle steering systems taking into account the steering geometry. Finally, due to their compact structure, the dampers according to the invention are usable in connection with both axial and ball-and-socket joints.
According to an additional characteristic of the invention, the elastic elements are disposed in form-fitting manner as loose components between housing and coupling element. This permits a modular construction for the damper according to the invention so that it may be adapted to the respective application by selecting the corresponding module, particularly by selecting elastic elements that are made of a specific material.
According to a further characteristic of the invention, each elastic element includes a component that provides radial support of the coupling element in the housing and a component that permits an axial load transfer. In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the elastic element component that provides radial support of the coupling element in the housing is made as a hollow cylinder whose surface fits against a cylindrical bore in the housing into which projects the shank of the coupling element. According to the invention, the component of the elastic element that effects the axial load transfer, via a surface tapered in cross-section fits against a corresponding, opposite housing surface, whereby the cross section may be circular, hyperbolic, parabolic or elliptical. As an alternative to this characteristic of the invention, it is proposed that a tapered surface of the elastic element component that effects the axial load transfer fit against a corresponding, opposite housing surface.
To permit greater manufacturing tolerances and to facilitate assembly, the hollow-cylinder elastic element component according to the invention may be provided with recesses that are preferably made as axially, annularly or helically extending grooves. This increases the compressibility of the elastic element both during assembly and in its mounted position. To prevent dirt from entering the recesses that are preferably formed as grooves, these grooves terminate at a distance from the end face of the elastic element to form an annular sealing lip.
According to an advantageous proposal of the invention, the elastic element comprises at least two parts. One part is preferably a supporting bush made, for example, of steel, aluminum or the like, in which is inserted a rubber element forming the second part. The bush is essentially a hollow cylinder and is provided at one end with an exterior circumferential collar. The rubber element fits tightly against the cylindrical area of the bush and completely overlaps the collar disposed at one end, whereby at least the area of the collar facing away from the rest of the bush in axial direction is overlapped and framed completely by the rubber element. Advantageously, the portion of the rubber-elastic element disposed on the collar in axial direction is formed in the manner of a compression spring, that is, as a thickened rubber area that absorbs compression forces. A distinguishing feature of the elastic element according to the invention is its simple and economical production and its simple application. Using a supporting bush with a cylindrical area and collar makes it possible to realize both the radial support and the axial mounting in a very simple manner so that the housing may also be designed very simply.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupli

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