Process for manufacturing a leaf spring and insert for leaf spring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12163565-B2
Application number	US-202017424112-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 17, 2020
Priority date	Jan 17, 2019
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

An insert to a mold for a leaf spring comprises a substrate and a hole that extends through the substrate, A post protrudes from the substrate such that the insert, may be coupled to the mold. Further, the post covers the hole on a first end, so the hole is not exposed. On the other end of the hole, a thin overlay that covers the hole. Thus, during a process where resin is added to the mold, no resin enters the hole. The insert, when added to a leaf spring, offers reinforcement on areas where there is high stress. Therefore, holes may be added to a leaf spring at areas of high stress without overly weakening the leaf spring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for creating a leaf spring, the process comprising:
coupling an insert into a mold base, wherein the insert comprises:
a substrate;
a hole within the substrate, wherein the hole extends through the substrate;
a post that protrudes from the substrate to allow the insert to be coupled to the mold, wherein the post covers the hole on a first end, so the hole is not exposed;
a thin overlay that covers the hole on a second end opposite of the first end;

adding fiberglass and resin to the mold;
curing the resin to form a leaf spring;
adhering the insert to the leaf spring;
removing the leaf spring from the mold; and
detaching the thin overlay and the post from the insert, while leaving the insert in the leaf spring.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the insert tapers at opposite ends.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the insert tapers to a point at both of the opposite ends.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes rounded edges between opposite ends.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a second hole in the substrate.

6. The process of claim 5 , wherein the insert includes a third hole in the substrate.

7. An insert to a mold for leaf spring, wherein the insert becomes part of the leaf spring forming an assembly, wherein the assembly comprises:
a substrate;
a hole within the substrate, wherein the hole extends through the substrate;
a post that protrudes from the substrate to allow the insert to be coupled to the mold, wherein the post covers the hole on a first end, so the hole is not exposed and a thin overlay covers the hole on a second end opposite of the first end,
and wherein the insert is embedded in the leaf spring.

8. The insert of claim 7 , wherein the insert tapers at opposite ends.

9. The insert of claim 8 , wherein the insert tapers to a point at both of the opposite ends.

10. The insert of claim 7 further including rounded edges between opposite ends.

11. The insert of claim 7 further including a second hole in the substrate.

12. The insert of claim 11 further including a third hole in the substrate.

Assignees

• Hendrickson Usa Llc

Inventors

• Prikkel John

Classifications

• F16F2226/04

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

• F16F2224/0241

  Fibre-reinforced plastics [FRP] · CPC title

• F16F1/368 Primary

  Leaf springs · CPC title

• B29L2031/774

  Springs · CPC title

• B29K2309/08

  Glass · CPC title