Apparatus for shielding vehicle component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10808792-B2
Application number	US-201816039127-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2018
Priority date	Jul 18, 2018
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

A shielding element for protecting at least one suspension and/or driveline component. The shielding element is connected to a suspension component. The suspension component extends in a first axial direction and includes a mounting portion at one end for mounting the suspension component to a vehicle. The suspension component further includes a second end for mounting the suspension component to a knuckle. The second mounting portion is capable of receiving a suspension mounting component, which may be or include a ball joint. The shielding element is located near the second mounting portion. The shielding element extends from a surface of the suspension component in a second direction different from the first direction. The portion of the protection element that extends in the second direction may protect at least one of the mounting point, the suspension mounting component, and the driveline component from contact with debris.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A protective shield for a vehicle suspension, comprising:
an attachment portion attachable to a vehicle suspension component, the vehicle suspension component extending in an axial direction from a first end to a second end;
at least one shield portion attached to the attachment portion and extending laterally relative to the axial direction of the suspension component, wherein the at least one shield portion includes:
a first planar component extending from the attachment portion; and
a second component being shaped to form a cavity,
wherein the cavity comprises a concave surface relative to the axial direction, the concave surface facing at least one of a suspension link mounting point, a ball joint, or a constant velocity joint, and
wherein a convex surface opposite the concave surface is shaped so as to direct flow and objects away from the cavity.

2. The protective shield of claim 1 , wherein the suspension component comprises a trailing arm.

3. The protective shield of claim 1 , wherein the concave surface faces the constant velocity joint such that the protective shield directs flow and objects away from the constant velocity joint.

4. The protective shield of claim 1 , wherein the concave surface faces the ball joint such that the protective shield directs flow and objects away from ball joint.

5. The suspension component of claim 1 , wherein concave surface faces the suspension link mounting point such that the protective shield directs flow and objects away from the suspension link mounting point.

6. The suspension component of claim 1 , wherein the first planar component and the second component are substantially perpendicular.

7. A suspension component that extends in an axial direction, the suspension component comprising:
a first mounting portion for mounting the suspension component to a vehicle at a first end of the suspension component;
a second mounting portion, at a second end of the suspension component for mounting the suspension component to a knuckle; and
a protective shield formed with or attached to the suspension component and located so as to shield the second mounting portion, wherein the protective shield comprises:
an attachment portion attachable to the vehicle suspension component:
at least one shield portion attached to the attachment portion and extending laterally relative to the axial direction of the suspension component, wherein the at least one shield portion includes:
a concave surface relative to the axial direction and extending from the attachment portion, and
a convex surface opposite the concave surface,

wherein the concave surface faces the second mounting portion, and
wherein the convex surface opposite the concave surface is shaped so as to direct flow and objects away from the concave surface of the second component.

8. The suspension component of claim 7 , wherein the concave surface is shaped so as to direct flow and objects away from at least one of a suspension mounting component at the second mounting portion, and a constant velocity joint mounted to the knuckle.

9. The suspension component of claim 8 , wherein the suspension mounting component is a ball joint and the concave surface is shaped so as to direct flow and objects away from the ball joint.

10. The suspension component of claim 7 , wherein the second mounting portion further comprises:
a mounting component, wherein the mounting component comprises a mounting shaft to be mounted to the knuckle,
wherein the mounting component permits at least three degrees of freedom of movement of the suspension component with relation to the mounting shaft, wherein the protective shield is mounted to the suspension component near the mounting component.

11. The suspension component of claim 7 , wherein the suspension component comprises a trailing arm.

12. The suspension component of claim 7 , wherein the suspension component further comprises a third mount for mounting at least one of a coilover and a shock.

13. The suspension component of claim 7 , wherein the concave surface and the convex surface opposite the concave surface comprise a first substantially flat planar surface, a second substantially flat planar surface, and a third substantially flat planar surface.

14. The suspension component of claim 13 , wherein the first substantially flat planar surface is substantially perpendicular to both the second substantially flat planar surface and the third substantially flat planar surface.

15. The suspension component of claim 7 , wherein the concave surface and the convex surface opposite the concave surface comprise a continuously curved surface that intersects a substantially flat planar surface.

16. A vehicle having a rear suspension and driveline, the rear suspension comprising:
a knuckle;
a trailing arm that extends in an axial direction, the trailing arm comprising:
a first mounting portion for mounting a suspension component to the vehicle at a first end of the trailing arm;
a second mounting portion, at a second end of the trailing arm for mounting the trailing arm to the knuckle; and
a protective shield formed with or attached to the trailing arm and located so as to shield the second mounting portion, wherein the protective shield comprises:

an attachment portion attachable to the trailing arm;
at least one shield portion attached to the attachment portion and extending laterally relative to the axial direction of the trailing arm, wherein the at least one shield portion comprises:
a concave surface relative to the axial direction and extending from the attachment portion, and
a convex surface opposite the concave surface,

wherein the concave surface faces the second mounting portion and wherein the convex surface opposite the concave surface is shaped so as to direct flow and objects away from the concave surface of the second component.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the concave surface is shaped so as to direct flow and objects away from at least one of a suspension mounting component at the second mounting portion, and a constant velocity joint mounted to the knuckle.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the suspension mounting component is a ball joint and the concave surface is shaped so as to direct flow and objects away from the ball joint.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the second mounting portion further comprises:
a mounting component, wherein the mounting component comprises
a mounting shaft to be mounted to the knuckle, wherein the mounting component permits at least three degrees of freedom of movement of the trailing arm with relation to the mounting shaft, wherein the protective shield is mounted to the trailing arm near the mounting component with the concave surface facing the mounting component.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the concave surface and convex surface opposite the concave surface comprise a first substantially flat planar surface, a second substantially flat planar surface, and a third substantially flat planar surface.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Schroeder Dustin M
• Smith Shane R
• Batdorf Scott D

Classifications

• B60G7/005

  Ball joints (B60G7/006 takes precedence; for steering linkage B62D7/16; ball joints per se F16C11/06) · CPC title

• B60G2204/416

  Ball or spherical joints · CPC title

• B60G2204/414

  Cardan joints · CPC title

• B60G2206/8201

  by welding · CPC title

• B60G2206/10

  Constructional features of arms · CPC title