Vehicle suspension bushing assembly and method of assembling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10508701-B2
Application number	US-201715480873-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2017
Priority date	Apr 6, 2017
Publication date	Dec 17, 2019
Grant date	Dec 17, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle suspension bushing assembly including an inner sleeve, a bearing, an intermediate sleeve, an outer sleeve, and a bushing. The inner sleeve extends longitudinally between first and second inner sleeve ends. The bearing extends annularly about the inner sleeve, the intermediate sleeve extends annularly about the bearing, and the outer sleeve extends annularly about the intermediate sleeve. The bushing is positioned radially between the outer sleeve and the intermediate sleeve. Axial retainers extend annularly about the first and second inner sleeve ends. The axial retainers are longitudinally moveable relative to the inner sleeve. The axial retainers have a preload feature including a flange segment that is resilient and deflects from an unbiased position when the axial retainers are in an uncompressed position to a biased position when the axial retainers are in a compressed position to apply a longitudinal preload force to the intermediate sleeve.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle suspension bushing assembly including:
an inner sleeve extending longitudinally between a first inner sleeve end and a second inner sleeve end, said inner sleeve defining a longitudinal axis;
a bearing extending annularly about said inner sleeve;
an intermediate sleeve extending annularly about said bearing;
an outer sleeve extending annularly about said intermediate sleeve in a radially spaced relationship;
a bushing including a body portion that is disposed radially between said outer sleeve and said intermediate sleeve;
at least one axial retainer extending annularly about one of said first inner sleeve end and said second inner sleeve end, said axial retainer being separate from and not contiguously formed with said bushing and longitudinally moveable relative to said inner sleeve between an uncompressed position and a compressed position; and
said at least one axial retainer having a preload feature that is resilient and operable to deflect from an unbiased position when said axial retainer is in said uncompressed position to a biased position when said axial retainer is in said compressed position, said preload feature of said axial retainer operably applying a longitudinal preload force to at least one of said intermediate sleeve and said bearing in said biased position.

2. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 1 , wherein said preload feature of said axial retainer includes a flange segment that extends radially outwardly away from said longitudinal axis.

3. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 2 , wherein said axial retainer includes an axial retainer inside surface, an axial retainer outside surface, a hinge segment adjacent said flange segment, and an enlarged segment adjacent said hinge segment, said axial retainer inside surface being cylindrical in shape, and said axial retainer outside surface including an annular groove at said hinge segment such that said axial retainer has a radial thickness that varies along a longitudinal length of said axial retainer.

4. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 3 , wherein said axial retainer includes an end segment adjacent said enlarged segment, said axial retainer outside surface includes an annular step at said end segment, and said radial thickness of said axial retainer is less at said end segment than said radial thickness at said enlarged segment due to said annular step.

5. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 4 , wherein said bushing includes at least one seal portion that extends longitudinally beyond said outer sleeve, said intermediate sleeve, and said bearing, said seal portion including a lip extending radially inwardly towards said inner sleeve that is longitudinally aligned with and received by said annular step of said axial retainer.

6. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 3 , wherein said radial thickness of said axial retainer is less at said hinge segment than said radial thickness at said flange segment and said radial thickness at said enlarged segment due to said annular groove.

7. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 2 , wherein said axial retainer includes an internal axial retainer end face at said flange segment and an external axial retainer end face opposite said internal axial retainer end face, said internal axial retainer end face configured to abut said intermediate sleeve when said vehicle suspension bushing assembly is assembled.

8. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 7 , wherein said internal axial retainer end face is arranged at an inwardly facing angle that is less than ninety degrees relative to said longitudinal axis such that said internal axial retainer end face angles away from and does not contact said bearing.

9. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 7 , wherein said external axial retainer end face projects longitudinally beyond one of said first inner sleeve end and said second inner sleeve end prior to installation of said vehicle suspension bushing assembly.

10. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one axial retainer includes a first axial retainer extending annularly about said first inner sleeve end and a second axial retainer extending annularly about said second inner sleeve end.

11. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 10 , wherein said bushing includes a first seal portion and a second seal portion that extend longitudinally beyond said outer sleeve, said intermediate sleeve, and said bearing and over at least part of said first axial retainer and at least part of said second axial retainer.

12. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 1 , wherein said axial retainer includes an axial retainer inside surface and said inner sleeve includes an inner sleeve outside surface that abuts said axial retainer inside surface in a press fit such that said axial retainer rotates with said inner sleeve while remaining longitudinally movable relative to said inner sleeve between said uncompressed position and said compressed position.

13. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 12 , wherein said outer sleeve includes an outer sleeve inside surface and said bushing includes an outside bushing surface that abuts said outer sleeve inside surface, said intermediate sleeve includes an intermediate sleeve outside surface and said bushing includes an inside bushing surface that abuts said intermediate sleeve outside surface, and said intermediate sleeve includes an intermediate sleeve inside surface and said bearing includes an outside bearing surface that abuts said intermediate sleeve inside surface in a press fit such that said outer sleeve, said bushing, said intermediate sleeve, and said bearing all rotate together as a single rotational unit, and wherein said bearing includes an inside bearing surface that abuts said inner sleeve outside surface in a slip fit such that said inner sleeve and said axial retainer remain free to rotate relative to said outer sleeve, said bushing, said intermediate sleeve, and said bearing.

14. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 1 , wherein said axial retainer is made of at least one polymeric material.

15. The vehicle suspension bushing assembly set forth in claim 1 , wherein longitudinal movement of said axial retainer relative to said inner sleeve between said uncompressed position and said compressed position occurs in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis.

16. A vehicle suspension bushing assembly including:
an inner sleeve extending longitudinally between a first inner sleeve end and a second inner sleeve end, said inner sleeve including a longitudinal bore that extends within said inner sleeve along a longitudinal axis;
a bearing extending annularly about said inner sleeve;
an intermediate sleeve extending annularly about said bearing;
an outer sleeve extending annularly about said intermediate sleeve in a radially spaced relationship, said outer sleeve and said intermediate sleeve being co-axially arranged relative to said longitudinal axis;
a bushing including a body portion that is disposed radially between said outer sleeve and said intermediate sleeve;
a vehicle suspension control arm;
a connection member received in and extending through said longitudinal bore in said inner sleeve that is configured to be connected to said vehicle suspension control arm;
at least one axial retainer extending annularly about one of said fir

Assignees

• Pullman Co

Inventors

• Cerri Iii Joseph F

Classifications

• B60G2206/82092

  by press-fitting · CPC title

• B60G2204/41

  Elastic mounts, e.g. bushings · CPC title

• B60G2206/40

  Constructional features of dampers and/or springs · CPC title

• F16F1/3814

  characterised by adaptations to counter axial forces (F16F1/393 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D65/00

  Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for · CPC title