Noise reduction for rear suspension leaf spring with tip insert - round head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016159183-A1
Application number	US-201414561888-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 5, 2014
Priority date	Dec 5, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A product is disclosed for reducing noise in a leaf spring. The product may include a spring leaf and an insert including a body that has a first surface and an opposite second surface. A post may extend from the second surface of the head and into an opening in the spring leaf. The first surface may have a first edge and a second edge with a circular arc formed by the first surface from the first edge to the second edge to contact an adjacent leaf.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A product for reducing noise in a leaf spring comprising: a spring leaf extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end and defining at least one opening proximal one of the first end and the second end; and an insert disposed in the at least one opening; the insert having a body including a head with a first surface and an opposite second surface; the insert including a post extending from the second surface at least partially into the opening, the first surface having a first edge and a second edge with a circular arc formed by the first surface from the first edge to the second edge, wherein the circular arc is formed in the longitudinal direction only so that the first surface does not arc in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.

2 . A product according to claim 1 wherein the head includes four sides that are each flat with the circular arc formed only between an opposite two of the four sides.

3 . A product according to claim 1 wherein the post has an oval shape elongated in the longitudinal direction from a first side of the post to a second side of the post, the post including a gap at each of the first and second sides and has a pair of extending flanges to lock the insert in the opening, the pair of extending flanges located between the first and second sides and not at the first and second sides.

4 . A product according to claim 1 further comprising a frame with the first and second ends of the spring leaf each connected with the frame.

5 . A spring assembly of a vehicle comprising: a plurality of leaves including a first leaf extending in a first direction and a second leaf positioned adjacent the first leaf, wherein the second leaf extends in the first direction from a first end to a second end and defines an opening adjacent either of the first end and the second end; and an insert positioned in the opening; wherein the insert includes a head having a first surface and an opposite second surface, with a post extending from the second surface of the head at least partially into the opening, the post includes a number of flexible sections each having a terminal end with a flange adjacent the terminal end to hold the insert in the opening, the first surface extending from a first edge of the first surface to a second edge of the first surface, with a circular arc formed by the first surface from the first edge to the second edge, the first surface also extending from a third edge to a fourth edge, with a flat straight line formed along the first surface from the third edge to the fourth edge so that the first surface has the circular arc in only the first direction; wherein the insert is oriented in the opening such that the first surface faces the first leaf.

6 . A spring assembly according to claim 5 wherein the head includes four sides, each one of which corresponds to one of the first, second, third or fourth edges, the four sides are each flat with the circular arc formed between an opposite two of the four sides and the flat straight line is formed between the other two of the four sides.

7 . A spring assembly according to claim 5 wherein the opening has an oval shape and the post has a complementary oval shape elongated in the longitudinal direction from a first post side to a second post side, the post including a gap at each of the first and second post sides and has a pair of extending flanges to lock the insert in the opening, the pair of extending flanges located between the first and second post sides and not at the first and second post sides.

8 . A spring assembly according to claim 5 wherein the insert is configured so that the circular arc contacts the first leaf at the flat straight line at a location along the circular arc, and separates from the first leaf during deflection of spring assembly.

9 . A spring assembly according to claim 8 wherein the circular arc is oriented relative to the second leaf in the first direction.

10 . A spring assembly according to claim 9 wherein the circular arc rolls along the first leaf during deflection of the spring assembly so that the flat straight line moves between the first edge and the second edge.

11 . A spring assembly of a vehicle comprising: a first leaf extending between a first connection eye and a second connection eye, wherein the first and the second connection eyes are connected to the vehicle such that the first leaf flexes; a second leaf, wherein the second leaf has a center connected to the first leaf and has a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end configured to separate from, and to contact, the first leaf when the first leaf flexes; a first insert and a second insert, one of the first and the second inserts mounted near each end of the second leaf, wherein each of the first and the second inserts has a head with a first surface and an opposite second surface, where the first surface has a first edge and a second edge, with a circular arc formed by the first surface from the first edge to the second edge; wherein the circular arc contacts the first leaf when the first leaf flexes.

12 . A spring assembly according to claim 11 wherein each head includes four sides that are each flat with the circular arc formed only between an opposite two of the four sides so that a straight line if formed by the first surface from a first of the other two sides to a second of the other two sides.

13 . A spring assembly according to claim 12 wherein each of the first and second inserts includes a post extending from its respective second surface of the head, where each post extends into one of a pair of openings in the second leaf locking the inserts to the second leaf so that the second surface is held against the second leaf.

14 . A spring assembly according to claim 11 wherein the second leaf has a first opening and a second opening, and wherein each opening has an oval shape and each post has a complementary oval shape that is received in one of the first and second openings to orient the inserts in the openings, each post elongated from a first post side to a second post side, each post including a gap at each of the first and second post sides and has a pair of extending flanges to lock the insert in the opening, the pair of extending flanges located between the first and second post sides and not at the first and second post sides.

15 . A spring assembly according to claim 11 wherein the first leaf includes a longitudinal direction from one connection eye to the other connection eye, and the circular arcs are oriented relative to the first leaf in the longitudinal direction, and wherein a transverse direction is defined on each of the first surfaces perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein at a point along either of the circular arcs on either of the first surfaces, each respective first surface defines a straight line in the transverse direction so that each straight line defines a contact between its respective insert and the first leaf, wherein the straight lines moves along the circular arcs when the first leaf flexes.

16 . A spring assembly according to claim 11 wherein the circular arcs roll along the first leaf when the first leaf flexes.

17 . A spring assembly according to claim 16 wherein each of the circular arcs terminates at one of the first end and the second end of the second leaf.

18 . A product according to claim 1 wherein the head has a flat side at each of the first and second edges of the first surface, and wherein the spring leaf has an end,

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Basin Oleg G

Classifications

• B60G11/02

  having leaf springs only {(B60G11/006 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60G13/04 Primary

  mechanically, e.g. having frictionally-engaging springs as damping elements · CPC title

• B60G2202/112

  longitudinally arranged · CPC title

• F16F1/20 Primary

  with layers, e.g. anti-friction layers, or with rollers between the leaves · CPC title