Damper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764612-B2
Application number	US-201314433290-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2013
Priority date	Oct 2, 2012
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A damper absorbs energy generated between a first component and a second component. The second component is spaced from and moveable toward the first component along a jounce axis. The damper includes a body having a ring-shaped configuration. The body also includes a first edge for engaging the first component and a second edge for engaging the second component. The second edge is spaced from the first edge. The body defines a plurality of holes spaced about the body. The plurality of holes are configured to allow the damper to compress axially for energy as one of the first and second components move along the jounce axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A damper for absorbing energy between a first component and a second component with the second component spaced from and moveable toward the first component along a jounce axis, said damper comprising a body having a ring-shaped configuration about a center point and including a first edge for engaging the first component and a second edge for engaging the second component with said second edge spaced from said first edge and with said body defining a plurality of holes spaced about said body wherein each of said holes converge toward said center point of said damper with said plurality of holes configured to allow said damper to compress axially for absorbing energy as one of the first and second components moves along the jounce axis,
wherein said body has an exterior surface and an interior surface opposite said exterior surface, and wherein an area of each of said holes at said exterior surface is larger than an area of each of said holes at said interior surface.

2. A damper as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body includes an interior surface defining a hollow interior to present said body with said ring-shaped configuration and said body includes an exterior surface spaced from said interior surface with said plurality of holes defined by said interior and exterior surfaces.

3. A damper as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said holes have a circular configuration.

4. A damper as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said holes have a trapezoidal configuration.

5. A damper as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said holes have a rhomboidal configuration.

6. A damper as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said holes have a rectangular configuration.

7. A damper as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body comprises an elastomeric material.

8. A damper as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said holes has a length defined between said exterior surface and said interior surface, with a height and/or width of each of said holes decreasing along said length of said holes from said exterior surface to said interior surface.

9. A dual-rate jounce bumper assembly for absorbing energy between a first component and a second component of a vehicle with the second component spaced from and movable toward the first component along a jounce axis, said dual-rate jounce bumper assembly comprising:
a bumper having a first end adapted to be coupled to the first component and a second end spaced from said first end adapted to contact the second component as the second component moves along the jounce axis toward the first component, with said bumper compressible axially for absorbing energy as one of the first and second components moves along said jounce axis; and
a damper disposed on said first end of said bumper, said damper comprising;
a body having a ring-shaped configuration and including a first edge adapted to engage the first component and a second edge adapted to engage the second component with said second edge spaced from said first edge and with said body defining a plurality of holes spaced about said body with said plurality of holes configured to allow said damper to compress axially for absorbing energy as one of the first and second components moves along said jounce axis;
wherein said damper has a stiffness that is greater than a stiffness of said bumper such that said bumper is compressible to a predetermined value by the second member before said damper is compressed to absorbing energy between the first and second components, and
wherein said bumper defines a pocket for receiving said damper such that said damper is embedded within said bumper.

10. A dual-rate jounce bumper assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said bumper comprises microcellular urethane.

11. A dual-rate jounce bumper assembly as set forth claim 9 wherein said damper comprises an elastomeric material.

12. A dual-rate jounce bumper assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said body of said damper includes an interior surface defining a hollow interior to present said body with said ring-shaped configuration and said body includes an exterior surface spaced from said interior surface with said plurality of holes defined by said interior and exterior surfaces.

13. A suspension system for a vehicle comprising:
a first component;
a second component spaced from and movable toward said first component along a jounce axis; and
a dual-rate jounce bumper assembly for absorbing energy between said first and second components with said dual-rate jounce bumper assembly comprising;
a bumper having a first end coupled to said first component and a second end spaced from said first end for contacting said second component as said second component moves along said jounce axis toward said first component, with said bumper compressible axially for absorbing energy as one of said first and second components moves along said jounce axis, and
a damper disposed on said first end of said bumper, with said damper comprising,
a body having a ring-shaped configuration and including a first edge for engaging said first component and a second edge for engaging said second component with said second edge spaced from said first edge and with said body defining a plurality of holes spaced about said body with said plurality of holes configured to allow said damper to compress axially for absorbing energy as one of said first and second components moves along said jounce axis;

wherein said damper has a stiffness that is greater than a stiffness of said bumper such that said bumper is compressible to a predetermined value by said second member before said damper is compressed to absorbing jounce between the first component and said second component, and

wherein said bumper defines a pocket for receiving said damper such that said damper is embedded within said bumper.

14. A suspension system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bumper comprises microcellular urethane.

15. A suspension system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said damper comprises an elastomeric material.

16. A suspension system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said body of said damper includes an interior surface defining a hollow interior to present said body with said ring-shaped configuration and said body includes an exterior surface spaced from said interior surface with said plurality of holes defined by said interior and exterior surfaces.

17. A suspension system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said damper does not expand radially.

Assignees

• Basf Se

Inventors

• Al-Dahhan Sadiq
• Langen Albert

Classifications

• F16F1/377 Primary

  having holes or openings ({F16F1/37} , F16F1/387 take precedence) · CPC title

• F16F3/093

  the springs being of different materials, e.g. having different types of rubber {(F16F1/3835 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16F2224/025

  Elastomers · CPC title

• F16F2236/04

  Compression · CPC title

• B60G2202/143

  subjected to compression · CPC title