Steering stabilizer for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10577018-B2
Application number	US-201816109992-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2018
Priority date	Jun 22, 2016
Publication date	Mar 3, 2020
Grant date	Mar 3, 2020

Abstract

A stabilizer comprises a damper having a housing and a piston rod. An inner adapter is associated with the damper for securing a first end of the damper to one of a first component or a second component. An outer adapter assembly is coupled to a distal end of the piston rod for coupling to the other of the first and second component. A one-piece spring seat is coupled to the housing of the damper so as to be held axially stationary relative to the housing. A coil spring is supported by the one-piece spring seat and the outer adapter assembly. The one-piece spring seat enables the coil spring to return the stabilizer to a neutral position regardless of whether the coil spring is under tension or compression.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stabilizer, comprising:
a damper having a housing and a piston rod extending telescopically from the housing;
an inner adapter assembly operably associated with the damper for securing a first end of the damper to one of a first component or a second component, wherein the first component is moveable relative to the second component;
an outer adapter assembly operably coupled to a distal end of the piston rod for coupling to the other one of the first component or the second component;
a one-piece spring seat coupled to the housing of the damper so as to be held axially stationary relative to the housing; and
a coil spring supported at a first end by the one-piece spring seat and at a second end by the outer adapter assembly, wherein the one-piece spring seat enables the coil spring to return the stabilizer to a neutral or central position when a neutral input is applied by an operator, regardless of whether the coil spring is under tension or compression.

2. The stabilizer of claim 1 , further including a retainer positioned between the one-piece spring seat and the housing to restrict relative axial movement between one-piece spring seat and the housing.

3. The stabilizer of claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a circumferentially extending external groove and the one-piece spring seat includes a circumferentially extending internal groove, wherein the retainer is at least partially positioned within the external groove and the internal groove.

4. The stabilizer of claim 1 , wherein the one-piece spring seat includes a wall and an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture being in communication with the internal groove to allow access for a tool to engage the retainer.

5. The stabilizer of claim 4 , wherein the aperture is sized to allow the tool to radially expand the retainer and temporarily space the retainer apart from the housing.

6. The stabilizer of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a hollow tube having a constant wall thickness at the external groove.

7. The stabilizer of claim 1 , wherein the one-piece spring seat circumferentially surrounds the housing.

8. The stabilizer of claim 1 , wherein the retainer includes a split retaining ring.

9. The stabilizer of claim 8 , wherein the retaining ring includes a resilient material and includes a variable inner diameter, the internal groove being sized such that the inner diameter of the retaining ring is greater than an outer diameter of the housing when the retaining ring is positioned within the internal groove and radially outwardly expanded.

10. The stabilizer of claim 1 , wherein the retainer does not restrict relative rotation between the one-piece spring seat and the housing.

11. A stabilizer for a vehicle, comprising:
a damper having a housing and a piston rod extending telescopically from the housing;
an inner adapter assembly operably associated with the damper for securing a first end of the damper to one of a wheel component or a body component of the vehicle;
an outer adapter assembly operably coupled to a distal end of the piston rod for coupling to the other one of the wheel component or the body component of the vehicle;
a one-piece spring seat coupled to the housing of the damper so as to be held axially stationary relative to the housing, the one-piece spring seat including at least one retainer configured to engage a portion of the housing of the damper and a portion of the one-piece spring seat to assist in holding the one-piece spring seat axially stationary on the housing of the damper; and
a coil spring supported at a first end by the one-piece spring seat and at a second end by the outer adapter assembly, wherein the one-piece spring seat enables the coil spring to return the stabilizer to a neutral or central position when a neutral input is applied by an operator of the vehicle, regardless of whether the coil spring is under tension or compression.

12. The stabilizer of claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a circumferentially extending external groove and the one-piece spring seat includes a circumferentially extending internal groove, wherein the retainer is at least partially positioned within the external groove and the internal groove.

13. The stabilizer of claim 12 , wherein the one-piece spring seat includes a wall and an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture being in communication with the internal groove to allow access for a tool to engage the retainer.

14. The stabilizer of claim 13 , wherein the aperture is sized to allow the tool to radially expand the retainer and temporarily space the retainer apart from the housing.

15. The stabilizer of claim 12 , wherein the retainer includes a split retaining ring.

16. The stabilizer of claim 15 , wherein the retaining ring includes a resilient material and includes a variable inner diameter, the internal groove being sized such that the inner diameter of the retaining ring is greater than an out diameter of the housing when the retaining ring is positioned within the internal groove and radially outwardly expanded.

17. The stabilizer of claim 11 , wherein the housing includes a hollow tube having a constant wall thickness at the external groove.

18. The stabilizer of claim 11 , wherein the one-piece spring seat circumferentially surrounds the housing.

19. The stabilizer of claim 11 , wherein the retainer does not restrict relative rotation between the one-piece spring seat and the housing.

Assignees

• Tenneco Automotive Operating Co Inc

Inventors

• Urbanski Katie
• Morr Anthony J
• Golin Michael

Classifications

• F16F13/007

  the damper being a fluid damper · CPC title

• B62D7/22 Primary

  Arrangements for reducing or eliminating reaction, e.g. vibration, from parts, e.g. wheels, of the steering system · CPC title

• B62D1/00

  Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle · CPC title

• F16F9/3235

  of cylinders (F16F9/483 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F16F1/121

  adjustable, e.g. to modify spring characteristics · CPC title