Multi-density jounce bumper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9308793-B2
Application number	US-201213560019-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2012
Priority date	Apr 25, 2012
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A one-piece, multi-density, jounce bumper is provided. The multi-density jounce bumper incorporates the necessary soft or low entry rate or stiffness, which is necessary to provide adequate feel and ride control, as well as the necessary energy capacity to manage peak loads, during a high-intensity impact event, such as an encounter with a pothole or the like. The multi-density jounce bumper may be configured as a single unitary component having a body, which may include a tip end and a base end. The body may be composed of a resilient material, the resilient material having a density that transitions from a first density at the tip end to a second density at the base end. The body may increase or decrease in density, in g/cc, from tip end to base end, along the body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A jounce bumper for use in a motor vehicle suspension system comprising:
a body having a tip end and a base end;
wherein the body is composed of a resilient material, the resilient material having a density that continuously transitions along the body from a first density at the tip end to a second density at the base end, such that the density of the resilient material transitions according to a continuous function; and
wherein the continuous function is a linear function, such that the density of the resilient material transitions linearly along the body from the first density at the tip end to the second density at the base end.

2. The jounce bumper of claim 1 wherein the first density at the tip end is up to three times greater than the second density at the base end.

3. The jounce bumper of claim 1 wherein the second density at the base end is up to three times greater than the first density at the tip end.

4. The jounce bumper of claim 1 wherein the jounce bumper is formed as a single unitary piece.

5. The jounce bumper of claim 1 wherein the resilient material further comprises a microcellular urethane material.

6. The jounce bumper of claim 5 wherein the microcellular urethane material is methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI).

7. The jounce bumper of claim 5 wherein the microcellular urethane material is naphthalene diisocyanate (NDI).

8. The jounce bumper of claim 5 wherein the microcellular urethane material is o-tolidine diisocyanate (TODI).

9. The jounce bumper of claim 1 further comprising:
a central bore defined by the jounce bumper body;
an inner radial surface defined by the central bore;
a member disposed within the central bore and in continuous contact with the inner radial surface; and
wherein the member is configured to mount the jounce bumper to a vehicle frame.

10. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle suspension system including:
a first tip end suspension component;
a second base end suspension component; and
a member axially disposed between the first tip end suspension component and the second base end suspension component;

a jounce bumper configured to be axially disposed between the first tip end suspension component and the second base end suspension component, the jounce bumper including:
a body having a tip end, a base end, a central bore, and an inner radial surface defined by the central bore, the member disposed within the central bore and in continuous contact with the inner radial surface; and
wherein the jounce bumper body is composed of a resilient material having a density that transitions according to a continuous linear function between a first density at the tip end and a second density at the base end, such that the density of the resilient material continuously and linearly transitions along the body by up to 300% between the tip end and base end.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the resilient material further comprises a microcellular urethane material.

12. The jounce bumper of claim 3 wherein the density of the resilient material increases linearly along the body from the first density at the tip end to the second density at the base end.

13. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the first density is up to three times greater than the second density, such that the density of the resilient material decreases linearly along the body from the first density at the tip end to the second density at the base end.

14. The vehicle of claim 10 wherein the second density is up to three times greater than the first density, such that the density of the resilient material increases linearly along the body from the first density at the tip end to the second density at the base end.

15. A vehicle comprising:
a vehicle suspension system including:
a first tip end suspension component;
a second base end suspension component; and
a member axially disposed between the first tip end suspension component and the second base end suspension component;

a jounce bumper configured to be axially disposed between the first tip end suspension component and the second base end suspension component, the jounce bumper including:
a jounce bumper body having a tip end defining a tip void, a base end defining a base void, a central bore, and an inner radial surface defined by the central bore, wherein the member is disposed within the central bore and in continuous contact with the inner radial surface;

wherein the tip end defines a plurality of cut sections and a plurality of raised sections formed about the tip void, such that the plurality of cut sections and the plurality of raised sections are adjacent to the first tip end suspension component; and
wherein the jounce bumper body is composed of a resilient material having a density that transitions according to a continuous linear function between a first density at the tip end and a second density at the base end, such that the density of the resilient material continuously and linearly transitions along the body by up to 300% between the tip end and base end.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the first density is up to three times greater than the second density, such that the density of the resilient material decreases linearly along the body from the first density at the tip end to the second density at the base end.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the second density is up to three times greater than the first density, such that the density of the resilient material increases linearly along the body from the first density at the tip end to the second density at the base end.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the resilient material further comprises a microcellular urethane material.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the microcellular urethane material is one of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), naphthalene diisocyanate (NDI), and o-tolidine diisocyanate (TODI).

20. The jounce bumper of claim 2 wherein the density of the resilient material decreases linearly along the body from the first density at the tip end to the second density at the base end.

Assignees

• Fedullo Joseph S
• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Fedullo Joseph S

Classifications

• B60G11/22 Primary

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

• F16F1/37

  of foam-like material {, i.e. microcellular material}, e.g. sponge rubber {(padded linings for vehicle interiors B60R21/04)} · CPC title

• F16F1/44

  loaded mainly in compression · CPC title

• B60G2202/143

  subjected to compression · CPC title

• B60G2204/45

  Stops limiting travel · CPC title