Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2001-10-23
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S124134
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305701
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The subject invention generally relates to a bracket for a suspension damper of a vehicle. More specifically, the invention relates to connecting the strut of a suspension to a knuckle and to a stabilizer bar.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A conventional vehicle suspension system requires that a reservoir tube of a suspension damper such as a strut be connected to both a knuckle and a stabilizer bar. This has been accomplished by affixing two separate brackets to the damper, one for the stabilizer bar, and one for the knuckle. An example of this is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,728 to Koba. Koba discloses a bracket that wraps around and is welded to a strut for affixing only a knuckle to the strut. A second bracket is required to affix the stabilizer bar to the strut. An additional example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,618 to Brokholc, which also teaches a separate bracket for the stabilizer bar and a separate bracket for the knuckle.
Suspension systems having two brackets affixed to the damper, such as those disclosed hereinabove, have inherent limitations. Two brackets welded to the reservoir tube having space therebetween subject the tube to unnecessary stresses from the knuckle and the stabilizer bar. These stresses require significant structural thickness of the tube wall and can lead to a shorter functional life of the strut than would otherwise occur. Using two brackets requires that the brackets be formed from a heavy gage steel for structural integrity. The heavy gage steel adds to the overall mass of the vehicle and to the cost for attaching the stabilizer bar and the knuckle to the strut.
Vehicle suspension systems have historically required high mass steel components to meet the demands of supporting the vehicle while providing a comfortable ride for the occupant. Eliminating suspension components while also reducing the mass of those remaining components can yield a significant overall vehicle mass reduction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the problems found in known mounting brackets for automotive suspension dampers. The mounting bracket of the present invention is a one piece unit which allows the vehicle knuckle, stabilizer bar and damper to be interconnected. There are numerous advantages to using a one piece bracket. The bracket of the present invention reduces the number of parts that are normally required to connect these vehicle suspension parts and reduces the number of welds necessary to attach the separate bracket pieces to the strut. This reduces weight and manufacturing time. The single bracket also allows for a single thickness of material to be used, reducing weight. The bracket also distributes forces acting upon the bracket more evenly along the strut, allowing lighter materials to be used. In particular, the one piece unit reduces the high stress on the reservoir tube at the top that can occur with conventional two piece mounting brackets.
In the preferred embodiment, the one piece bracket is stamped metal. The bracket includes an engagement surface for engaging a strut and a knuckle attachment extending from the engagement surface for attaching a knuckle to the strut. The bracket further includes a stabilizer bar attachment extending from the engagement surface for attaching a stabilizer bar to the strut.
Utilizing a single bracket for attaching both the knuckle and the stabilizer bar reduces the number of components required for the vehicle suspension. A reduction in the number of components reduces assembly time and material handling costs. The singular design provides the ability to include strengthening webs for joining the knuckle attachment and the stabilizer bar attachment, which provides enough strength to reduce the gage of the steel used to form the bracket, thus further reducing vehicle mass and cost. The strength of the bracket also reduces the stresses on the reservoir tube allowing further vehicle mass reductions by reducing the wall thickness of the tube
REFERENCES:
patent: 4143887 (1979-03-01), Williams et al.
patent: 4223903 (1980-09-01), Grabb et al.
patent: 5145204 (1992-09-01), Perkins
patent: 5669728 (1997-09-01), Koba
patent: 5730547 (1998-03-01), Nogami
patent: 5797618 (1998-08-01), Brokholc
patent: 5897124 (1999-04-01), Schaible et al.
patent: 6131932 (2000-10-01), Bunker
Bobinger David Adolph
Kos Piotr
Kosmala Piotr
Pajak Miroslaw
Shiozaki Kent T.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Lum L.
Sigler Robert M.
Swann J. J.
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