Spring devices – Resilient shock or vibration absorber – Including energy absorbing means or feature
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-17
2001-04-17
Butler, Douglas C. (Department: 3613)
Spring devices
Resilient shock or vibration absorber
Including energy absorbing means or feature
C188S322210, C188S378000, C267S136000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217011
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fluid or hydraulic mountings include a fluid which augments isolation and/or damping characteristics that may be achieved in elastomer mountings alone. This augmentation may take the form of adding additional damping or added inertial forces. Fluid mountings are generally described in LORD® Technical Article LL-2166 entitled “Understanding Hydraulic Mounts for Improved Vehicle Noise, Vibration and Ride Qualities” by W. C. Flower. Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,919 to Jones describes a fluid mounting which incorporates a volume compensator. Other examples of fluid mountings and dampers may be found in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,413,320 to Herbst, 5,374,039 to Schmidt et al., 5,127,607 to McGuire, and 5,197,692 to Jones et al., 5,540,549, to McGuire and 5,501,434 to McGuire. Fluid mountings are, in essence, tunable passive devices which use a fluid to add additional damping or tuned-fluid “inertia” effects. In all these devices, compensation of fluid expansion, pressurization, and fill to remove gas bubbles is a problem. However, prior art methods of accomplishing these feats have involved utilization of multi-component systems which tend to add unwanted cost and complexity. In particular, it is very important in aggressive fluid mounting applications, such as in fluid pylon isolators, that no gas bubbles are present in the operating chambers. In essence, relative movement between the inner and outer member will cause any bubble present to expand and contract instead of moving the fluid between the chambers. This degrades performance. Further, reliable methods of providing pressurization to minimize cavitation of the fluid at high relative motions is required.
Therefore, there is a recognized need for more effective and cost efficient methods of compensation, pressurization, and fill in fluid mounts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, in light of the advantages and drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention is a fluid mounting adapted for attachment between a vibrating member and a structure for isolating or damping vibration therebetween. Accordingly, the present invention fluid mounting comprises a first and second operating chambers, a fluid passageway interconnecting the first and second operating chambers, a partitionless volume compensator including a compensator chamber separated into a gas-filled portion and a fluid-filled portion. The gas-filled portion overlies the fluid-filled portion and the chamber is devoid of any barrier separating the portions. At least one lock passage interconnects the fluid-filled portion with one of said first and second operating chambers. When operated in its upright orientation, any gas bubbles migrate upward through the lock passageway and into the gas-filled portion of the compensator, yet the fluid-filled portion is dynamically locked at the operating frequency of the mounting.
In another aspect, a bubble trap formed in a wall portion of one of said chambers focuses any bubbles present into said at least one lock passage. Preferably, the bubble trap is an annular groove formed by cooperation between a chamfer formed on a plug hole chamber and a chamfer formed on a plug received within said plug hole. In another aspect, a plurality of lock passages increase the speed at which bubbles enter the compensator chamber. In another aspect, an extension within the volume compensator extends part way into the compensator chamber and includes an opening cooperating with the lock passageway(s). The opening is always covered by the fluid regardless of an orientation of said mounting. This prevents air, once it leaves the operating chambers, from getting back in. In another aspect, the flexible element includes laminated construction which includes at least one rigid shim and at least two elastomer layers. Each of the at least two elastomer layers including a sloping end portion, one of which intersects with an end of said at least one rigid shim and another which intersects with an end of said inner member, thereby preventing gas bubbles from becoming trapped. This aids in fill of the mounting.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the partitionless compensator eliminates one or more components from the fluid mounting.
It is advantage of another aspect of the present invention that gas bubbles can be easily and quickly removed from the operating chambers during fill and during operation.
It is advantage of another aspect of the present invention that once the gas bubbles are removed, it is difficult for them to reenter the operating chambers.
The above-mentioned and further features, advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the accompanying descriptions of the preferred embodiments and attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3651902 (1972-03-01), Peddinghaus
patent: 4103492 (1978-08-01), Sakazume
patent: 4236607 (1980-12-01), Halwes et al.
patent: 4349184 (1982-09-01), Peterson et al.
patent: 4796875 (1989-01-01), Mertens et al.
patent: 4811919 (1989-03-01), Jones
patent: 4817925 (1989-04-01), Sprang et al.
patent: 5174552 (1992-12-01), Hodgson et al.
patent: 5219430 (1993-06-01), Antoine
patent: 5413320 (1995-05-01), Herbst
patent: 5435531 (1995-07-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5501434 (1996-03-01), McGuire
patent: 5540549 (1996-07-01), McGuire
patent: 5735510 (1998-04-01), Takehara et al.
patent: 5788372 (1998-08-01), Jones et al.
patent: 6009983 (2000-01-01), Stamps et al.
patent: 6022600 (2000-02-01), Schmidt et al.
patent: 6032936 (2000-03-01), Redinger
patent: 6092795 (2000-07-01), McGuire
patent: 1.549.300 (1968-12-01), None
patent: 2.060.392 (1971-06-01), None
patent: 9906733 (1999-02-01), None
Butler Douglas C.
Gnibus Michael M.
Lord Corporation
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