Spring devices – Resilient shock or vibration absorber – Having diverse resilient element
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-25
2004-08-10
Siconolfi, Robert A. (Department: 3683)
Spring devices
Resilient shock or vibration absorber
Having diverse resilient element
C267S294000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06773001
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibration isolation mount, and more particularly to a vibration isolation mount for supporting a transmission of a vehicle on a vehicle body in a vibration-isolated condition.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, a vibration isolation mount of this kind includes, for example, as shown in
FIG. 15
, a first platelike metal member
1
, which is a rectangular metal plate, and a second platelike metal member
2
, which is a rectangular metal plate. The first platelike metal member
1
is bent at substantially trisecting positions with respect to the longitudinal direction in such a manner that opposite end portions extend obliquely upward toward the same side and at the same angle. The second platelike metal member
2
is bent at longitudinally near-end positions at the same angle in such a manner as to be directed toward substantially the same directions as is the first platelike metal member
1
. The second platelike metal member
2
is disposed substantially in parallel with the first platelike metal member
1
with a predetermined distance maintained therebetween. A pair of elastic rubber support members
3
are sandwiched between the first and second platelike metal members
1
and
2
so as to elastically connect the first and second platelike metal members
1
and
2
. More specifically, each of the elastic rubber support members
3
is sandwiched between respective opposite bent portions of the first platelike metal member
1
and the second platelike metal member
2
. A through-hole
1
a
is formed at the center of a horizontal portion of the first platelike metal member
1
. An annular flange member
4
is coaxially fixed to the circumferential edge of the through-hole
1
a
. The annular flange member
4
slightly protrudes from the through-hole
1
a
upward and downward. A rubber covering portion
5
covers the flange member
4
.
A small hole
2
a
is formed at the center of a horizontal portion of the second platelike metal member
2
. A tubular metal member
6
is provided on the upper surface of the second platelike metal member
2
in such a manner as to stand around the small hole
2
a
. The tubular metal member
6
extends through the flange member
4
, and the upper end of the tubular metal member
6
protrudes from the flange member
4
. A metal stopper
6
a
is fixedly attached to the protruding end of the tubular metal member
6
. The metal stopper
6
a
extends radially outward from the tubular metal member
6
and has a diameter slightly greater than that of the flange member
4
. A bolt
7
is inserted into the tubular metal member
6
from the metal stopper
6
a
side such that its head is caught on the metal stopper
6
a
while its threaded end portion is screwed into a nut
8
, which is fixedly attached to a central portion of the outer surface of the second platelike metal member
2
. This vibration isolation mount is mounted on, for example, an FR (front engine rear drive) vehicle such that the first platelike metal member
1
is attached to a transmission section (or a vehicle body frame) and the second platelike metal member
2
is attached to the vehicle body frame (or the transmission section).
In the above-described vibration isolation mount, within a limited space provided between the elastic rubber support members
3
, the flange member
4
is covered with the rubber covering portion
5
. Through employment of this configuration, vertical vibrations input to the mount are damped by means of the elastic rubber support members
3
and the rubber covering portion
5
, the rigidity of the mount in the front-and-rear direction is enhanced, and the rigidity of the mount in the right-and-left direction is appropriately adjusted, thereby improving riding comfort and enhancing steering stability.
The above-described vibration isolation mount requires a large number of metal component parts, including the first and second platelike metal members
1
and
2
, the flange member
4
, the tubular metal member
6
, the metal stopper
6
a
, the bolt
7
, and the nut
8
. Additionally, a resin cap
9
for covering the nut
8
is required. Therefore, the cost of component parts is high. Also, welding must be performed for joining the first platelike metal member
1
and the flange member
4
, the second platelike member
2
and the tubular metal member
6
, the second platelike member
2
and the nut
8
, and the tubular metal member
6
and the metal stopper
6
a
. Thus, the cost of welding is high. Furthermore, the elastic rubber support members
3
provided between the first and second platelike metal members
1
and
2
and the rubber covering portion
5
for Covering the flange member
4
must be formed through rubber vulcanization molding. Thus, the cost of pretreatment of the metal members for vulcanization molding and the cost of bonding agent are increased. Therefore, the cost of manufacturing the vibration isolation mount, including the cost of metal component parts, the cost of welding, and the cost of vulcanization molding, is high. Thus, reduction in the cost of the vibration isolation mount has been required.
Also, in the above-described vibration isolation mount, the first and second platelike metal members
1
and
2
assume an elongated structure such that bent portions extend in longitudinally opposite directions from a central portion. Therefore, the first and second platelike metal members
1
and
2
must assume an increased thickness in order to have a required strength, resulting in increase weight thereof. Also, being provided between bent portions of the first and second platelike metal members
1
and
2
, the elastic rubber support members
3
are in an inclined position; thus, the elastic rubber support members
3
must be increased in thickness. As a result, the first and second platelike metal members
1
and
2
each resonate; i.e., have a resonance peak in a low frequency band, thereby generating dull sound.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional vibration isolation mount and to provide a vibration isolation mount which can be manufactured from a small number of component parts and according to a simple process without sacrifice of vibration-isolating performance, to thereby reduce cost.
To achieve the above object, the prevent invention provides a vibration isolation mount comprising a first platelike metal member assuming a rectangular shape, a first stopper member, a second platelike metal member, a second stopper member, a pair of elastic rubber support members, and an elastic rubber covering portion. The first stopper member comprises a pair of side plates, and a bottom plate. The side plates and the bottom plate are integrally formed into a shape resembling the letter U. End portions of the side plates are fixedly attached to one plane of the first platelike metal member at longitudinally opposite end portions so as to provide the first stopper member fixedly standing on the plane. The second platelike metal member is disposed a predetermined distance away from the first platelike metal member in a facing condition, with the first stopper member disposed therebetween. The second platelike metal member comprises a retaining portion provided at each of opposite ends thereof located in opposition to the opposite end portions of the first platelike metal member. The second stopper member is provided on the second platelike metal member at a longitudinally intermediate position in such a manner as to stand toward the first platelike metal member. An end portion of the second stopper member can be caught by the bottom plate of the first stopper member on the side toward the first platelike metal member so as to restrict the distance between the first platelike metal member and the second platelike metal member to a predetermined range. The paired elastic rubber support members are bonded to the plane of the first platelike metal member at the opposit
Maehashi Hideki
Nanno Takanobu
Saiki Akio
Takayanagi Mitsuhiro
Siconolfi Robert A.
Tokai Rubber Industries Ltd.
Torres Melanie
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