Impact Reinforced Composite Spring Seat for a Shock Absorber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016137017-A1
Application number	US-201615006363-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 26, 2016
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A strut assembly including a spring to help absorb impacts and a shock absorber to help control motion of the spring is disclosed. The shock absorber includes a base assembly and is mounted between a top mount assembly and a knuckle. The top mount assembly mounts to the body of the vehicle and helps support the spring. An upper spring seat is adjacent the top mount assembly and receives one end of the spring. A lower spring seat formed of a composite material is supported by the base assembly and is adapted to support another end of the spring. The lower spring seat includes at least one reinforcing element having a plurality of reinforcing cords disposed between an upper surface and a lower surface for improving impact resistance thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A strut assembly comprising:
a top mount assembly; a shock absorber; an upper spring seat supported by said top mount and a lower spring seat supported by said shock absorber, said upper and said lower spring seats spaced apart from one another; a coil spring disposed between said upper and said lower spring seats; said lower spring seat comprising an annular disc defining an opening; said lower spring seat further comprising an upper surface and a lower surface and having a spring channel defined within said upper surface for receiving said coil spring; and wherein said lower spring seat is formed of a composite material and includes at least one reinforcing element having a plurality of reinforcing cords disposed between said upper surface and said lower surface for improving impact resistance thereof.

2 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing element further comprises a carrier supporting said reinforcing cords.

3 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said reinforcing element is further defined as a metal woven fabric.

4 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 2 further comprising at least two reinforcing cords being located adjacent said spring channel and wherein said carrier includes at least one joint formed between adjacent reinforcing cords to locate said reinforcing element between said surfaces prior to molding.

5 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing cord is further defined as comprising a metal cord.

6 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said metal cord is further defined as a single, continuous steel cord.

7 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said metal cord forms a continuous winding within said spring seat.

8 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said metal cord further comprises at least one joint where said metal cord crosses itself.

9 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said joint is formed from welding.

10 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said metal cord further comprises a coating for improving adherence to said composite material.

11 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said metal cord has a substantially circular cross-section.

12 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring channel is further defined as having an inner raised edge, an outer raised edge, and a flat portion therebetween, and said reinforcing element disposed in said flat portion and one of said raised edges.

13 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 12 further comprising at least two reinforcing cords disposed in said flat portion and at least two reinforcing cords being disposed in said outer raised edge.

14 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring channel is not concentric about said tubular extension.

15 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing cord is further defined as at least one steel cord and said carrier is further defined as a non-metal carrier supporting said at least one steel cord.

16 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said at least one steel cord is held to said non-metal carrier by stitches in a curvilinear trajectory.

17 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said curvilinear trajectory is in the form of a spiral.

18 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said stitches are double yarn zig-zag stitches.

19 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein steel cord circumscribes said opening.

20 . The strut assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said non-metal carrier is a polyamide open scrim and further comprises a yarn of a polyamide securing said steel cord thereto, wherein both said polyamide open scrim and said polyamide are compatible with the polymer matrix of said lower spring seat.

Assignees

• Tenneco Automotive Operating

Inventors

• Wilkin Julien

Classifications

• B60G2204/12422

  anchoring the end coils on the spring support plate · CPC title

• B60G2206/013

  with embedded inserts for material reinforcement · CPC title

• F16F1/12

  Attachments or mountings {(F16F1/041, F16F13/02 take precedence; of combinations of vibration damper and mechanical spring for vehicle suspension units B60G15/02)} · CPC title

• B60G2206/7101

  Fiber-reinforced plastics [FRP] · CPC title

• B60G2202/312

  The spring being a wound spring · CPC title