Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-26
2001-03-27
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S796000, C280S684000, C280S124130, C280S124134, C267S273000, C267S276000, C138S121000, C138S173000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06206392
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to stabilizer bars as used in suspensions for motor vehicles. More particularly the present invention relates to an improved stabilizer bar construction which is lighter and less expensive than previous stabilizer bars providing equivalent functionality.
2. Disclosure Information
It is well known to incorporate integrally forged, radially protruding retention rings on solid stabilizer bars as used in motor vehicle suspensions. The integral retention rings eliminate the need to install separate and costly retention collars, as well as the equipment and labor to install them. Finally, the integral retention rings do not have to be aligned by an operator or in service.
It has also been well known to utilize hollow tubular bars for stabilizer bars to provide a lightweight alternative to solid stabilizer bars. The industry norm for providing lateral retention on hollow stabilizer bars has been to use the more complex and costly retention collars. The additional cost of the retention collars has been considered by the industry to be a necessary compromise to obtain the weight benefits of a lightweight hollow stabilizer bar. The incorporation of integrally forged, radially protruding retention rings on hollow stabilizer bars has been rejected due to the likelihood that the forging process would form a stress riser, as illustrated by area A in
FIG. 1
, reducing the fatigue performance of the hollow stabilizer bars. This would in turn require thicker hollow stabilizer bars, diminishing the weight benefits originally sought when selecting the hollow bar over a solid bar.
For these reasons, it would be desirable to provide a stabilizer apparatus constructed from a hollow tubular member and incorporating an integral retention ring to provide a lightweight, cost effective alternative to the stabilizer bars currently available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In response to this long felt need, the present invention provides an improvement over both existing solid and hollow stabilizer bars by providing a hollow tubular stabilizer bar having an integrally forged retention ring thereby allowing a lighter and lower cost unit than any of those known heretofore.
In accordance with the present invention, a stabilizer apparatus for use in a suspension of a motor vehicle has been discovered. The stabilizer bar apparatus includes a hollow tubular member having first and second arms disposed at opposite ends of a center section. The center section is adapted to be rotatably attached to a chassis and the first and second arms are adapted to attach to first and second wheel suspensions, respectively.
The stabilizer bar apparatus further includes a first radial protrusion circumferentially formed on an outer surface of the hollow tubular member. The first radial protrusion extends radially outward from the outer surface to a first predetermined height sufficient to allow the first radial protrusion to retain the stabilizer bar within its mounts to the chassis under lateral loading.
The stabilizer bar apparatus also includes a stress dispersing formation formed on an inner surface of the hollow tubular member opposite the first radial protrusion. This formation disperses stress that would otherwise concentrate in the hollow tubular member adjacent to the first radial protrusion.
It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a simpler, less expensive and lighter stabilizer bar than was previously available for use in motor vehicle suspensions.
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1997 Crown Victoria Grand Marquis, Service Manual, Jul., 1996, Suspension and Wheel Hubs, Front, p 04-01-2.
Pickett Kenneth Mark
Siecinski Douglas
Steinman Sean Michael
Kajander John E.
Swann J. J.
Visteon Global Technologies Inc.
Zeender F.
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