Hydraulic mount apparatus and a suspension system that utilizes the hydraulic mount apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10300757-B2
Application number	US-201715590495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2017
Priority date	May 9, 2017
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

A hydraulic mount apparatus includes a housing defining a cavity. The apparatus also includes an annular member disposed in the cavity. The annular member is secured to the housing to split the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber. The apparatus further includes a pressure relief apparatus coupled to the housing. The pressure relief apparatus is configured to allow fluid communication between the first and second chambers in response to a predetermined pressure threshold being reached in at least one of the first and second chambers. A suspension system including a shock absorber and a link is coupled to the shock absorber. The suspension system further includes the hydraulic mount apparatus coupled to one of the shock absorber and the link.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hydraulic mount apparatus comprising:
a housing defining a cavity;
an annular member disposed in the cavity and secured to the housing to split the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber;
a pressure relief apparatus coupled to the housing and configured to allow fluid communication between the first and second chambers in response to a predetermined pressure threshold being reached in at least one of the first and second chambers;
an insert coupled to the housing and defining a hole in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, and the pressure relief apparatus is supported by the insert;
wherein:
the pressure relief apparatus includes a blocking member disposed inside the hole, and the blocking member is movable relative to the insert between a closed position to prevent fluid communication between the first and second chambers and an actuated position in which the predetermined pressure threshold is reached to allow fluid communication between the first and second chambers;
the blocking member includes a first portion having a surface characterized by the absence of a bore such that the first portion plugs the hole when the blocking member is in the closed position;
the pressure relief apparatus includes a biasing member continuously biasing the blocking member to the closed position;
the insert defines at least one passageway in fluid communication with the hole, and the at least one passageway includes a portion that increases in size;
the hole of the insert includes a first end in direct fluid communication with the first chamber and a second end in direct fluid communication with the second chamber;
the blocking member is further defined as a first blocking member, and the first blocking member blocks the first end of the hole when the first blocking member is in the closed position;
the pressure relief apparatus includes a second blocking member disposed inside the same hole as the first blocking member, and the second blocking member is movable relative to the insert between a closed position in which the second blocking member blocks the second end of the hole to prevent fluid communication between the first and second chambers, and an actuated position in which the predetermined pressure threshold is reached in the second chamber which causes the second blocking member to move away from the second end to allow fluid communication between the first and second chambers;
the biasing member is one biasing member that continuously biases the first and second blocking members to the respective closed position;
the biasing member includes a first side and a second side, with the first side facing the first blocking member and a second side facing the second blocking member;
a first portion of the first side abuts the first blocking member to continuously bias the first blocking member to the closed position to block the first end of the hole;
a first portion of the second side abuts the second blocking member to continuously bias the second blocking member to the closed position to block the second end of the hole;
the first portion of the first side and the first portion of the second side are offset from each other on opposite sides of the biasing member;
the first blocking member includes a maximum outer diameter and the second blocking member includes a maximum outer diameter greater than the maximum outer diameter of the first blocking member; and
the first and second sides of the biasing member each include a maximum outer diameter greater than the maximum outer diameter of the first blocking member.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one passageway of the insert is in direct fluid communication with the hole and one of the first and second chambers, and wherein the at least one passageway provides fluid communication between the first and second chambers when the predetermined pressure threshold is reached.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the insert is disposed inside the cavity and movable relative to the housing, and wherein the annular member at least partially surrounds the insert, and the insert defines a through-hole.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the insert is fixed to the housing such that the insert is stationary relative to the housing.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the insert is further defined as a first insert and further including a second insert spaced from the first insert, with the first insert disposed inside the cavity, wherein the annular member at least partially surrounds the first insert, and wherein the first insert defines a through-hole and the first insert is movable relative to the housing, and wherein the second insert is fixed to the housing such that the second insert is stationary relative to the housing.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the insert includes a first surface and a second surface spaced from the first surface, and wherein the hole is defined through at least one of the first and second surfaces, and wherein the hole includes a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter, with the first diameter being less than the second diameter.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein the predetermined pressure threshold is reached to initiate movement of the blocking member to the actuated position by equation:
P o =F/A 1
wherein P o is the pressure acting on an area of the blocking member;
wherein F is the force applied to the blocking member by the biasing member; and
wherein A 1 is the area of a first portion of the blocking member.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein another predetermined pressure threshold is reached to initiate movement of the blocking member to the closed position by equation:
P c =F/A 2
wherein P c is the pressure acting on an area of the blocking member;
wherein F is the force applied to the blocking member by the biasing member; and
wherein A 2 is the area of a second portion of the blocking member.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
the second blocking member is disposed in the hole and orientated differently than the first blocking member;
the at least one passageway is further defined as at least one first passageway, and the at least one first passageway is in direct fluid communication with the hole and one of the first and second chambers;
the insert defines at least one second passageway in direct fluid communication with the hole and the other one of the first and second chambers; and
the at least one first passageway provides fluid communication between the first and second chambers when the predetermined pressure threshold is reached in the first chamber such that the first blocking member moves to the actuated position, and the at least one second passageway provides fluid communication between the first and second chambers when the predetermined pressure threshold is reached in the second chamber such that the second blocking member moves to the actuated position.

10. A suspension system comprising:
a shock absorber;
a link coupled to the shock absorber; and
a hydraulic mount apparatus coupled to one of the shock absorber and the link, the apparatus including:
a housing defining a cavity;
an annular member disposed in the cavity and secured to the housing to split the cavity into a first chamber and a second chamber;
a pressure relief apparatus coupled to the housing and configured to allow fluid communication between the first and second chambers in response to a predetermined pressure threshold being reached in at least one of the first a

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Oblizajek Kenneth L
• Suchta Wojciech E

Classifications

• B60G13/14

  having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air {(fluid springs with an accumulator B60G11/30)} · CPC title

• B60G2204/143

  on the vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• B60G2204/128

  Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• F16F9/54

  Arrangements for attachment {(grommet-type rubber mounting springs per se F16F1/3732; construction of cylinder ends F16F9/3242; attachments to vehicles B60G13/001, B60G15/00)} · CPC title

• F16F13/1463

  characterised by features of passages between working chambers · CPC title