Rubber bearing connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9533537-B2
Application number	US-201314386024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2013
Priority date	Apr 16, 2012
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A suspension arm ( 1 ) for a vehicle including a bearing ( 4 ) and a journal ( 2 ). The bearing ( 4 ) has at least one elastic sub-element ( 4 c ) and the bearing ( 4 ) is arranged on the journal ( 2 ) of the suspension arm ( 1 ) and encloses the journal ( 2 ). The journal ( 2 ) and the bearing ( 4 ) are designed to co-operate with one another in such manner that the bearing ( 4 ), relative to the journal ( 2 ), has a transition fit. The bearing ( 4 ) is fixed on the journal ( 2 ) of the suspension arm ( 1 ) by a fastening element ( 3 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A suspension arm ( 1 ) for a vehicle comprising:
a bearing ( 4 ) and a journal ( 2 );
the journal ( 2 ) having a first end and a second end, and a section of the journal ( 2 ), between the first end and a first stepped area, defining a shaft having an outer diameter;
the bearing ( 4 ) having a first end and a second end and a through bore defining an inner diameter, the inner diameter of the bore having a bore tolerance of H7 and the outer diameter of the shaft having a shaft tolerance ranging from j6 to m6, according to ISO Standard Nos. 286(−1/−2), to achieve a transition fit between the bore and the shaft which facilitates removal of the bearing ( 4 ) without damaging the journal ( 2 ) or the bearing ( 4 );
the bearing ( 4 ) comprising at least one elastic sub-element ( 4 c );
the bearing ( 4 ) being arranged on the journal ( 2 ) of the suspension arm ( 1 ) such that the bearing ( 4 ) is placed onto the journal ( 2 ) until the second end of the bearing abuts against the first stepped area ( 2 a );
the bearing ( 4 ) completely enclosing the shaft such that the first end of the bearing extends beyond the first end of the journal when placed on the shaft;
the journal ( 2 ) and the bearing ( 4 ) being designed so that the bore of the bearing ( 4 ) mates with the shaft of the journal ( 2 ) continuously and uninterrupted from the first end of the journal to the first stepped area to form the transition fit and thereby facilitates exchange of the bearing without damage to the shaft; and
the bearing ( 4 ) is releasably secured to the journal ( 2 ) of the suspension arm ( 1 ) by a removable fastening element ( 3 ) having a threaded end portion to facilitate removal of the bearing ( 4 ) without damaging the journal ( 2 ) or the bearing ( 4 ).

2. The suspension arm ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the journal ( 2 ) is formed integrally with a remaining portion of the suspension arm ( 1 ).

3. The suspension arm ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the journal ( 2 ) and a remaining portion of the suspension arm ( 1 ) are connected to one another.

4. The suspension arm ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening element ( 3 ) is arranged coaxially with a longitudinal axis of the journal ( 2 ).

5. The suspension arm ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the removable fastening element ( 3 ) is secured to a threaded internal bore of the journal ( 2 ) by an adhesive ( 6 ) which prevents inadvertent loosening of the removable fastening element ( 3 ), and the adhesive is located at least in an area of a thread ( 3 a ) of the removable fastening element ( 3 ).

6. The suspension arm ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein a washer ( 5 ) is provided between the removable fastening element ( 3 ) and the bearing ( 4 ) to transmit an initial screwing force, and the washer ( 5 ) abuts against an axial end of an inner bushing such that the inner bushing ( 4 a ) is axially fixed within the at least one elastic sub-element by the first stepped area of the journal ( 2 ) and the washer ( 5 ).

7. The suspension arm ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing ( 4 ) is a rubber bearing which comprises at least an inner bushing ( 4 a ), an outer bushing ( 4 b ), and an elastomer body ( 4 c ),
the elastomer body is arranged at least in part between the inner bushing and the outer bushing,
the inner bushing and the outer bushing are coupled with one another so that each of the inner bushing, the outer bushing and the elastomer body axially extend between the first stepped area of the journal and a head of the removable fastening element,
and the inner bushing ( 4 a ) and the journal ( 2 ) are paired in a manner which achieves the transition fit between the inner diameter of the bore and the outer diameter of the shaft.

8. The suspension arm ( 1 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the suspension arm ( 1 ) is arranged on either a front wheel axle or a rear wheel axle.

9. A suspension arm for a vehicle, the suspension arm comprising:
a bearing having a first end and a second end and a journal having a first end;
the journal having a threaded internal bore extending along an entire length of the journal and partially into the suspension arm;
the bearing comprising at least one elastic sub-element;
the journal having an outer contact surface defining a shaft with an outer diameter that is within a first tolerance range, the bearing has an inner contact surface defining a bore with an inner diameter that is within a second tolerance range;
the bearing completely enclosing the shaft such that the first end of the bearing extends beyond the first end of the journal when placed on the shaft;
the first and the second tolerance ranges are such that the shaft and the bore directly mate with each other by an ISO Standard transition fit according to ISO Standard Nos. 286(−1/−2) so that the tolerance facilitates removal of the bearing without damaging the bearing or the journal, and
the bearing being releasably secured on the journal of the suspension arm by a detachable fastening element thereby facilitating, in the event of dismantling of the suspension arm, removal of the bearing, without damaging the bearing or the journal.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Fiechtner Martin
• Modinger Wolfgang
• Wellensiek Hans-Juergen
• Middelkampf Arnold

Classifications

• B60G7/001 Primary

  Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features (B60G7/006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60G2204/14

  Mounting of suspension arms · CPC title

• B60G7/02

  Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle {(B60G7/006 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• Y10T29/49622

  Vehicular structural member making · CPC title

• B60G2204/1431

  of an L-shaped arm · CPC title