Link assembly for longitudinal arm vehicle suspension

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9649902-B2
Application number	US-201514719421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2015
Priority date	May 22, 2015
Publication date	May 16, 2017
Grant date	May 16, 2017

Abstract

A link assembly for coupling a longitudinal arm to a mounting location of a vehicle is provided. The link assembly includes a link body, a first attachment member, a second attachment member, a first bushing assembly, and a second bushing assembly. The first attachment member is disposed in the link body and defines a first axis. The second attachment member is disposed in the link body and defines a second axis. The first bushing assembly is disposed in the link body and supports the first attachment member in the link body. The second bushing assembly is disposed in the link body and supports the second attachment member in the link body. The first axis of the first attachment member is spaced from the second axis of the second attachment member by an off-set distance and the first axis and second axis extend in different, non-parallel directions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A link assembly for a vehicle suspension comprising:
a link body;
a first attachment member at least partially disposed in said link body that defines a first axis;
a second attachment member at least partially disposed in said link body that defines a second axis;
a first bushing assembly at least partially disposed in said link body that supports said first attachment member in said link body;
a second bushing assembly at least partially disposed in said link body that supports said second attachment member in said link body; said first axis being spaced from said second axis by an off-set distance;
a longitudinal arm aligned with said second axis and connected to said second attachment member; said first axis and second axis extending in different non-parallel directions, wherein said off-set distance is measured along a transverse axis that is perpendicular to and intersects said first axis and said second axis, wherein said first bushing assembly and said second bushing assembly each include a pair of ends and an outer face that extends between said pair of ends and wherein said link body extends about said outer face of said first and second bushing assemblies in an abutting relationship.

2. The link assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first bushing assembly includes a first bushing that extends about said first attachment member and said second bushing assembly includes a second bushing that extends about said second attachment member.

3. The link assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first and second bushings give said link assembly a first travel distance that is measured along said second axis and a second travel distance that is less than said first travel distance and that is measured along said transverse axis.

4. The link assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and second bushings provide a first spring rate that is measured along said second axis and a second spring rate that is measured along said transverse axis and that is greater than said first spring rate.

5. The link assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first spring rate is less than 500 Newtons per millimeter and said second spring rate is greater than 1,500 Newtons per millimeter.

6. The link assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first and second bushings are made of different elastomeric materials having different durometers.

7. The link assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said link body includes a first bushing receptacle defining a first cavity that receives and supports said first bushing assembly and said first attachment member, a second bushing receptacle defining a second cavity that receives and supports said second bushing assembly and said second attachment member, and a bridge portion extending between and interconnecting said first and second bushing receptacles.

8. The link assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said link body has an outer surface and wherein said link assembly includes a snubber made of a resilient material that is disposed on and attached to said outer surface of said link body.

9. The link assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said snubber is a coating having a variable thickness that covers said outer surface of said link body.

10. The link assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said link body circumscribes said first bushing assembly at a first bushing receptacle and circumscribes said second bushing assembly at a second bushing receptacle.

11. The link assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first axis and said second axis are arranged perpendicularly with respect to one another.

12. A suspension assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a mounting location disposed on the vehicle;
a wheel end assembly;
a longitudinal arm extending between said mounting location and said wheel end assembly; said longitudinal arm including a first end that is coupled to said mounting location and a second end that is coupled to said wheel end assembly; said longitudinal arm having a pocket that is disposed at said first end of said longitudinal arm; said pocket receiving a link assembly that couples said first end of said longitudinal arm to said mounting location; said link assembly including a link body, a first attachment member, and a second attachment member, such that said first end of said longitudinal arm circumscribes said link assembly; said first attachment member being connected to said mounting location and defining a first axis; said second attachment member being connected to said longitudinal arm and defining a second axis; said link assembly including a first bushing assembly that supports said first attachment member in said link body and a second bushing assembly that supports said second attachment member in said link body; and said first axis being spaced from said second axis by an off-set distance and said first axis and said second axis extending in different non-parallel directions such that said first and second bushing assemblies of said link assembly allow said longitudinal arm to pivot relative to said mounting location and such that said first attachment member and said link body are moveable within said pocket.

13. The suspension assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said off-set distance is measured along a transverse axis that is perpendicular to and intersects said first axis and said second axis.

14. The suspension assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first bushing assembly and said second bushing assembly each include a pair of ends and an outer face that extends between said pair of ends and wherein said link body extends about said outer face of said first and second bushing assemblies in an abutting relationship.

15. The suspension assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first bushing assembly includes a first bushing that extends about said first attachment member and said second bushing assembly includes a second bushing that extends about said second attachment member.

16. The suspension assembly as set forth in claim 15 further comprising:
a snubber made of an elastomeric material that is disposed in said pocket between said link body and said longitudinal arm.

17. The suspension assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said snubber is attached to said longitudinal arm.

Assignees

• Nine Forest H
• Cooper Jack W
• Pelkey John A
• Fca Us Llc

Inventors

• Nine Forest H
• Cooper Jack W
• Pelkey John A

Classifications

• B60G2200/31

  with two trailing arms rigidly connected to the axle · CPC title

• B60G2204/143

  on the vehicle body or chassis · CPC title

• B60G7/001 Primary

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

• B60G7/02

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

• B60G3/14

  the arm being rigid · CPC title