GB2350150A

GB2350150A - Self-aligning damper mounting for vehicle suspensions

Info

Publication number: GB2350150A
Application number: GB9911581A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Alan Thompson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-19
Filing date: 1999-05-19
Publication date: 2000-11-22
Also published as: GB9911581D0

Abstract

A self-aligning mounting for the ends of a damper for a vehicle suspension comprises a ball joint with a ball 13a,b suitably attached to the vehicle and a socket 12,14 on the damper and to accommodate misalignment the hole 31 through the ball receives the stem 11 of the damper with play to allow relative tilting. A rubber pad 16 urges the ball and socket into contact.

Description

2350150 1 SELF ALIGNING DAMPER MOUNTINGS

BACKGROUND

Hydraulic dampers fitted to vehicle suspension systems are often provided with stem ends as a method of securing them to the body or bogie at one end and the suspension arm or moving component at the other. Due to static nt and the dynamic movement of the two mounting points, relative to one another, misalignment occurs which induces bending forces within the damper, resulting in excess wear and tear and premature failure of the unit.

This invention applies to dampers and friction devices which have a stem end mounting at one or both ends, where articulation is required to maintain alignment of the piston rod with the cylinder during random movement of the surfaces to which the unit is attached. The invention may be applied to a new unit installation, and it is also capable of being fitted to existing unit installations where improvements in unit alignment are required to improve reliability.

The invention will enable stem ended units to be installed in alignment in the static condition even though the mounting holes may be mis aligned and/or at an inclination to each other. During the dynamic conditions the mounting surflices move relative to and angularly to each other. The spherical ball moves with the mounting plate whilst the sockets attached to the damper stein, slide over the ball, maintaining the damper m aligninent between the top and the bottom mountings.

2 THE INVENTION The invention of a self aligning mounting is achieved by a ball and socket applied to the stem ends of the unit, see fig. 1. The ball (13) comprises of two hemispherical components (1 3a & 13b) which are located on mounting faces A & B to form the spherical M1, see fig. 4. These hemispherical components have holes (3 1) which may be tapered to allow angular movement of the stems (11 & 2 1). A hemispherical socket (12) is provided at the piston rod end (18), supported on collar (17). Spacertube(19) controls the position of the outer socket (14), preventing the nut (15) from being overtightened on the ball (13a & 13b), leaving the two hemispherical sockets (12 & 14) free to move over the ball (13a & 13b). The ball and sockets are pre loaded by rubber pad (16) which applies a force beneath socket (12) and elirninating clearances. The cylinder or base end of the damper, fig. 5, comprises of similar components to the stem end above with this variation, socket (24) is prevented from clamping socket (24) onto the ball (13a & 13b) by shoulder (29) on base stem (21). Compression of the sockets (22 & 24) is maintained by rubber pad (26).

The hemispherical balls are located in the holes of of the mounting surfaces A and B so as to form a sphere which have tapered holes inside through which the damper stem ends pass. These tapered hole enable the stem ends to pivot on the centre of the ball whilest providing clearance to swing in all directions at the circumference of the balls. In the static condition the mountings will enable the damper to rest in alignment between the centres of the two balls, top and bottom and no movement takes place. When the damper is working in dynamic conditions mounting surfaces A and B are moving relative to one another, this causes the centres of the balls to be displaced resulting in an angular movement of the stem ends. The sockets which are held against the balls by the pressure of the rubber pad move with the stem end. The friction between the ball and its sockets is controlled by the pressure of the rubber pad.

3 BRIEF DESCRIXTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in further detail below, reference being made to the following accompanying drawings in which Fig 1 is a view of a unit with the inventions, in which the two mountings A and B are in fine and parallel to each other.

Fig 2 is a view of the unit in which the mounting plates A and B are misaligned by an amount 'x'. This causes the invention to realign the two ends of the unit and maintain the piston rod (18) and cylinder (27) in alignment.

Fig 3 is a view of the unit in which the mounting plates A and B are displaced angularly to each other by an angle a' and P' respectively. This causes the invention to maintain the alignment of the piston rod (18) and cylinder (28).

Fig 4 is a view of a piston rod showing detail of the invention with a perpendicular line from the mounting face A, inclined at an angle a' to the piston rod. The outer socket (14) is positioned by spacer tube (19) and compression on the socket is provided by rubber pad (16).

Fig 5 is a view of the cylinder mounting showing detail of the invention with a perpendicular fine from the mounting face B, inclined at an angle 00 to the cylinder centre line. Shoulder (29) on stem (21) limits the compression on the ball which is provided by rubber pad (26).

4

Claims

I - A self aligning mounting for dampers with stem ends which enables both ends to be maintained concentric to each other.
2. A self aligning mounting which incorporates a spherical ball and sockets to maintain the allgmnent between mounting centres.
3. A self aligning damper mounting in whichthe ball and socket are kept pre loaded by a rubber pad element.
4. A self aligning mounting which will statically and dynamically maintain alignment of piston and cylinder.
5. A self aligning mounting which will reduce or eliminate bending forces in stem ended dampers.
6. A mounting which is capable of being fitted to existing stem applications to provide continuous alignment.