Body isolator and bolt retention assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10113581-B2
Application number	US-201615386603-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2016
Priority date	Dec 21, 2016
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

Bolt retention threads are provided adjacent the proximal end of the body coupling aperture of a body isolator. A bolt has cooperating bolt retention threads and body coupling threads on the shaft. These body coupling threads have a diameter to permit the external body coupling threads to pass through the internal bolt retention threads without requiring threaded engagement therebetween. The cooperating bolt retention threads are axially positioned relative to each other to enable the entirety of the external bolt retention threads to be threaded completely through the internal bolt retention threads to capture the bolt within the body coupling aperture in a captured floating configuration. In the captured floating configuration, the external body coupling threads and the distal end of the shaft extend out of the distal end of the body coupling aperture and the bolt is allowed to float laterally within the body coupling aperture.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A body isolator and bolt retention assembly for a body on a frame vehicle, the body isolator bolt retention assembly comprising:
a body isolator including an outer sleeve, an inner sleeve, and a resilient material extending between and coupling the inner and outer sleeves together, the inner sleeve including a body coupling aperture extending therethrough and having a proximal end and a distal end;
internal bolt retention threads adjacent the proximal end of the body coupling aperture;
a bolt including a head and a shaft, the shaft having a proximal end adjacent the head and an opposite distal end, the bolt having cooperating external bolt retention threads adjacent the proximal end of the shaft and having external body coupling threads adjacent the distal end of the shaft, the external body coupling threads have a major diameter that is smaller than a minor diameter of the internal bolt retention threads to permit the external body coupling threads to pass through the internal bolt retention threads without requiring threaded engagement therebetween;
wherein the internal and cooperating external bolt retention threads are axially positioned relative to each other to enable the entirety of the external bolt retention threads to be threaded completely through the internal bolt retention threads to capture the bolt within the body coupling aperture in a captured floating configuration in which the external body coupling threads and the distal end of the shaft extend out of the distal end of the body coupling aperture and the bolt is allowed to float laterally within the body coupling aperture.

2. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the internal bolt retention threads are provided on an annular insert press-fit into the body coupling aperture.

3. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 2 , wherein the annular insert is a molded plastic insert.

4. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the internal and external bolt retention threads have a thread pitch that is larger than a thread pitch of the external body coupling threads.

5. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the internal and external bolt retention threads cooperate to enable the entirety of the external bolt retention threads to be threaded completely through the internal bolt retention threads in less than about 10 threaded revolutions of the bolt.

6. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer sleeve includes at least one flange portion having a plurality of frame coupling apertures.

7. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the further comprising a washer mounted via a washer aperture on the shaft between the head and the external bolt retention threads, the washer aperture having a diameter that is less than the major diameter of the external bolt retention threads.

8. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the internal and cooperating external bolt retention threads are axially positioned relative to each other to additionally allow axial movement of the bolt within the body coupling aperture in the captured floating configuration.

9. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein, in the captured configuration, the bolt is allowed to float laterally within the body coupling aperture a distance of at least about 2.0 mm from a central position in any direction.

10. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bolt is removable from the body coupling aperture by reverse-threading the entirety of the external bolt retention threads completely through the internal bolt retention threads.

11. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body isolator bolt retention assembly additionally has a retention thread engagement configuration in which the internal and external bolt retention threads are threadably engaged with each other.

12. The body isolator bolt retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body isolator bolt retention assembly additionally has a final assembly configuration in which a body coupling nut having cooperating internal body coupling threads, and the internal and external body coupling threads are tightened to prevent both axial and lateral movement of the bolt within the body coupling aperture.

Assignees

• Hutchings Jonathan A
• Dwyer Brian D
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Hutchings Jonathan A
• Dwyer Brian D

Classifications

• F16B21/18

  with circlips or like resilient retaining devices, {i.e. resilient in the plane of the ring or the like}; Details (spring-washers for locking nuts F16B39/24; adjusting rings F16B43/00) · CPC title

• F16B41/002 Primary

  Measures against loss of bolts, nuts or pins (devices for fastening nuts to surfaces F16B37/04) · CPC title

• F16B5/0241

  with the possibility for the connection to absorb deformation, e.g. thermal or vibrational · CPC title

• F16B4/004

  Press fits, force fits, interference fits, i.e. fits without heat or chemical treatment (F16B4/002 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16B43/00

  Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts (circlips F16B21/18; {for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24}) · CPC title