Supports – Resilient support – Suspended
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-19
2001-07-24
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Resilient support
Suspended
C248S632000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264164
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a suspension lug for a swinging load and, in particular, for an exhaust system of a motor vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a known suspension lug disclosed in German Reference No. DE 37 37 987 C2 an elastomer body of the suspension lug has a diamond-shaped outer wall, as seen from the front, and a flexible insert, which is of corresponding diamond shape so that its distance from the outer wall of the elastomer body is substantially the same everywhere. In an area of two suspension poles and in the two equatorial zones of the suspension lug the distance of the inner wall of the elastomer body from the insert is particularly great. The minimum distance between the inner wall and the insert exists approximately in the middle between each of the suspension poles and the two equatorial zones. When this known suspension lug is subjected to tensile loading as envisaged, in other words when the two suspension poles move away from each other, tensile stress results in the elastomer body outside of the insert in the area of the two suspension poles, whereas compressive stress is caused in the two equatorial zones. Within the insert, compressive stress is caused in the areas of the two suspension poles, whereas tensile stress results in the equatorial zones. The flexible insert is made of an elastically extensible material so that the excursions of the insert and the elastomer body are of a similar order of magnitude. That is intended to give the known suspension lug a characteristic which is especially well adapted to small deflections on one hand, and to great deflections, on the other hand. However, the proportion of the overall tensile loading which must be transmitted by tensile stress in the two equatorial zones of the elastomer body is so considerable that a suspension lug of a given size can be expected to withstand only relatively little tensile loading in continuous operation.
Another known suspension lug is discloses by German Reference No. DE 26 58 358 B2 and possesses an insert made of spring steel strip which is practically inextensible. Its distance is substantially constant both from the outer wall of the elastomer body, an outer wall which likewise is diamond-shaped with this suspension lug, and from a plurality of recesses which are left free within the area of the elastomer body as defined by the insert.
It proved that the service life of these known suspension lugs is not always satisfactory. It is, therefore, the object of the invention to improve a suspension lug of the kind specified initially, especially as regards its service life.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object is met, according to the invention, in that the distance of the insert from the inner wall of the elastomer body decreases steadily from the suspension poles to the equatorial zones.
According to the invention there is only so much elastomer in the equatorial zones within the area delimited by the flexible insert as is required to protect the insert. Consequently, the tensile stress occurring in the equatorial zones of the elastomer body is negligibly small when the suspension lug is subjected to tensile loading. In the area of the suspension poles of the suspension lug according to the invention, however, the distance of the flexible insert from the outer wall is relatively small. Here, the thickness of the elastomer body, as measured from the insert to the outside, preferably is only just great enough to protect the insert. As a result of the steadily decreasing distance of the insert from the inner wall of the elastomer body, starting from the suspension poles towards the equatorial zones, in accordance with the invention, no harmful tensile stress occurs anywhere in the elastomer body when the suspension lug is subjected to tensile loading. Thus the elastomer body essentially is loaded by pressure and, in specific areas, by thrust. As is well known, elastomer bodies are much less sensitive to compressive and shearing stress than to tensile stress, also, and particularly so, when in continuous service. As a result, a suspension lug according to the invention which is intended to be loaded by certain tensile forces can be made with less expenditure in elastomer and, therefore, at lower cost and much smaller in size than known suspension lugs of the generic type in question, without any loss in useful life. Suspension lugs according to the invention settle less in the course of their life span and have a more constant force-path characteristic than known suspension lugs of the kind specified. Because of the low tensile stress, elastomers having little resistance to tearing and tear propagation, such as silicone rubbers can be used for suspension lugs according to the invention. As these materials are high temperature resistant they are suitable for suspension lugs which are loaded with tensile forces at high ambient temperature.
In a preferred embodiment of the suspension lug according to the invention the flexible insert is substantially non-extensible,—in contrast to the suspension lug known from German Reference No. DE 37 37 987 C2, but in agreement with the suspension lug known from German Reference No. DE 26 58 358 B2. The insert thus has a much higher modulus of elasticity than the elastomer body.
Embodiments of the invention will be described in greater detail below with reference to diagrammatic
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patent: 5271595 (1993-12-01), Simon et al.
patent: 5934653 (1999-08-01), Rivin
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patent: 4139381 (1993-04-01), None
patent: 0710769 (1996-05-01), None
King Anita M.
SGF - Suddeutsche Gelenkscheibenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG
Sy Holly N.
Webb Ziesenheim & Logsdon Orkin & Hanson, P.C.
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