Damping strut

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018328443-A1
Application number	US-201715817092-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 17, 2017
Priority date	Jan 9, 2017
Publication date	Nov 15, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Disclosed is a magneto-rheological strut comprising a housing tube, a damper body tube, and a bearing assembly disposed between the housing tube and the damper body tube. The bearing assembly comprises a bearing sleeve, with two integral annular bearings within the bearing sleeve and bearing against the damper body tube, and two internal annular seals abutting the radially external surface of the damper body tube and defining a fluid-tight internal lubricant chamber between the internal annular seals. The bearing assembly further comprises two external annular seals abutting the internal surface of the housing tube and defining an external lubricant chamber between the external annular seals and the housing tube. The bearing sleeve further comprises a number of radial channels passing through its wall and joining the internal lubricant chamber with the external lubricant chamber.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A magneto-rheological monotube damping strut suitable to be used in automotive McPherson suspension systems, comprising:
a housing tube, a damper body tube, and a bearing assembly disposed between said housing tube and said damper body tube; said bearing assembly comprising a bearing sleeve, which is provided with two annular bearings within said bearing sleeve and bearing against said damper body tube, and two internal annular seals abutting a radially external surface of said damper body tube and defining a fluid-tight internal lubricant chamber between said internal annular seals, and said annular bearings being integral with said bearing sleeve; said bearing assembly further comprising two external annular seals abutting an internal surface of said housing tube and defining an external lubricant chamber between said external annular seals and said housing tube; and said bearing sleeve further comprising a plurality of radial channels passing through its wall and joining said internal lubricant chamber with said external lubricant chamber.

2 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 1 , wherein an external surface of said bearing sleeve is provided, between said external annular seals, with an annular recess having an external diameter (d E ) which is smaller than an internal diameter (D E ) of said housing tube.

3 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 1 , wherein an internal surface of said bearing sleeve is provided, between said internal annular seals, with an annular recess having an internal diameter (d I ) which is greater than an external diameter (D I ) of said damper body tube.

4 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 3 , wherein said bearing sleeve is further provided with at least one auxiliary annular bearing disposed between said annular bearings and bearing against said damper body tube.

5 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 4 , wherein said auxiliary annular bearing is provided with a plurality of spaced axial channels allowing for a lubricant flow there through.

6 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 1 , wherein radially external outlets of said plurality of radial channels are coupled with at least one axial cross-flow channel.

7 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 1 , wherein radially external outlets of said plurality of radial channels are coupled with at least one annular cross-flow channel.

8 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 1 , wherein said bearing sleeve is assembled from at least two axial pieces.

9 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 8 , wherein each of said axial pieces is provided at its surface adjacent to a surface of a neighbouring axial piece with a locking means, said locking means engaging each other.

10 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 1 , wherein said bearing sleeve is made from a plastic.

11 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 10 , wherein said bearing sleeve is made from a polyethylene.

12 . The magneto-rheological monotube damping strut according to claim 1 , wherein said bearing sleeve is made by an injection moulding process.

Assignees

• Beijingwest Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Szostek Tomasz Roman
• Kiwior Rafal Konrad

Classifications

• F16F9/369

  Sealings for elements other than pistons or piston rods, e.g. valves · CPC title

• F16F9/3207

  Constructional features (F16F9/34 - F16F9/50 take precedence; assembly or repair F16F9/3271) · CPC title

• F16F9/365

  the sealing arrangement having a pressurised chamber separated from the damping medium · CPC title

• B60G2206/41

  Dampers · CPC title

• F16F2230/04

  Lubrication · CPC title