Composite suspension components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10744836-B2
Application number	US-201615739640-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2016
Priority date	Jun 22, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

Composite suspension components are disclosed. The components are made from resin containing elongated fibers ( 8 ). The arms of the suspension components may receive reinforcement ( 40 ) using different devices and methods. A composite torque rod also incorporates a tunable compliance feature.

First claim

We claim:

1. A vehicle suspension component comprising:
a first arm and a first eye, each having a first portion and a second portion
said first arm and said first eye being connected and formed of a resin, said resin containing a plurality of elongated fibers, said resin and said plurality of elongated fibers extending through said first portion of said first arm into said first portion of said first eye, and through said second portion of said first arm into said second portion of said first eye;
said first and second portions of said first arm being joined together to form a bond between said first and second portions of said first arm;
wherein a first fastener is a clamp positioned at or adjacent to said first eye, said clamp comprising a first plate, a second plate and a clamp arm that operatively connects said first plate and said second plate, said first plate and said second plate, respectively, engaging a top surface and a bottom surface of said first arm of said vehicle suspension component;
wherein said first plate or said second plate includes an extension, said extension having a generally arcuate shape and extending at least partially around an outer surface of said first eye, said first eye positioned between a portion of said extension and said first arm; and
wherein the first fastener associated with said first arm connects said first and second portions of said first arm together to reinforce said first eye, or to reinforce the bond between said first and second portions of the first arm or the first eye or to resist their separation from one another.

2. The vehicle suspension component of claim 1 , wherein the suspension component is a leaf spring.

3. The vehicle suspension component of claim 1 wherein the suspension component is a torque rod.

4. The vehicle suspension component of claim 3 wherein the torque rod is a transverse torque rod.

5. The vehicle suspension component of claim 3 wherein the first arm further comprises a first exterior surface defining a first opening in said arm.

6. The vehicle suspension component of claim 1 wherein said first arm and said first eye are integrally formed of said resin containing a plurality of elongated fibers.

7. The vehicle suspension component of claim 1 , further comprising a second eye, said second eye having a first portion and a second portion;
said first arm and said second eye being connected and formed of said resin containing said plurality of elongated fibers;
said resin and said elongated fibers extending through said first portion of said first arm into said first portion of said second eye and through said second portion of said arm into said second portion of said second eye;
wherein a second fastener associated with said first arm connects said first and second portions of said first arm together to reinforce said second eye, or to reinforce the bond between said first and second portions of the first arm or the second eye or to resist their separation from one another.

8. The vehicle suspension component of claim 7 , said first arm, said first eye and said second eye being integrally formed of said resin containing said plurality of elongated fibers.

9. The vehicle suspension component of claim 1 wherein the first arm is generally solid.

10. The vehicle suspension component of claim 1 wherein a transverse cross section of said first arm is rectangular.

11. The vehicle suspension component of claim 1 wherein said arm is generally non-cylindrical in shape.

12. The vehicle suspension component of claim 1 wherein said plurality of elongated fibers are generally parallel to one another or are generally continuous or are unidirectional.

13. The vehicle suspension component of claim 7 wherein a third fastener associated with said first arm is positioned at said first arm and between the first eye and the second eye and connects said first and second portions of said first arm together to reinforce the connection or bond between said first and second portions of said first arm, or to resist their separation from one another or to resist buckling in said first arm.

14. The vehicle suspension component of claim 1 wherein said first fastener is positioned at said first arm and adjacent said first eye to reinforce said first eye or to resist the opening of said first eye.

15. The vehicle suspension component of claim 1 wherein said first fastener extends through said first and second portions of said first arm in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first arm or to the central axis of said first eye.

16. The vehicle suspension component of claim 7 wherein said second fastener is positioned at said first arm and adjacent said second eye to resist the opening of said second eye.

17. The vehicle suspension component of claim 16 wherein said second fastener extends through said first and second portions of said first arm in a direction that is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said first arm or to the central axis of said second eye.

18. The vehicle suspension component of claim 5 wherein said first opening of said first exterior surface is elongated.

19. The vehicle suspension component of claim 18 wherein said first opening transitions into a first groove that extends into said arm.

20. The vehicle suspension component of claim 19 wherein said first groove extends longitudinally between said first eye and said second eye.

21. The vehicle suspension component of claim 19 , wherein said first groove extends inwardly from said first exterior surface in a direction that is perpendicular to a central axis of said first eye.

22. The vehicle suspension component of claim 19 , wherein said first groove extends inwardly from said first exterior surface in a direction that is generally perpendicular to said first exterior surface.

23. The vehicle suspension component of claim 19 , wherein said first arm further comprises a second exterior surface defining a second opening, and said second opening is elongated.

24. The vehicle suspension component of claim 23 wherein said second opening transitions into a second groove that extends into said arm.

25. The vehicle suspension component of claim 24 wherein said second groove extends longitudinally between said first eye and said second eye.

26. The vehicle suspension component of claim 23 , wherein said second groove extends inwardly from said second exterior surface in a direction that is perpendicular to a central axis of said first eye.

27. The vehicle suspension component of claim 23 , wherein said second groove extends inwardly from said second exterior surface in a direction that is generally perpendicular to said second exterior surface.

28. The vehicle suspension component of claim 23 , wherein said first and second grooves extend into said first arm in alignment with or in parallel with one another.

29. The vehicle suspension component of claim 23 wherein said first opening of said first exterior surface and said second opening of said second exterior surface transition into a slot extending through said first arm from the first exterior surface to the second exterior surface.

30. The vehicle suspension component of claim 29 wherein said slot extends in a direction that is generally perpendicular to said first exterior surface, said seco

Assignees

• Hendrickson Usa Llc

Inventors

• Zawacki Jeffrey R
• Keeler Michael J
• Massa Scott Allen
• Rubalskiy Dmitriy Enrikovich

Classifications

• F16F2230/0035

  Gripping · CPC title

• B60G11/12 Primary

  Links, pins, or bushes · CPC title

• B60G2206/428

  Leaf springs · CPC title

• F16F1/3686

  End mountings · CPC title

• F16F2226/04

  Assembly or fixing methods; methods to form or fashion parts · CPC title