US20050051937A1 - Compression coil spring device having discontinuous support structure - Google Patents

Compression coil spring device having discontinuous support structure Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US20050051937A1
US20050051937A1 US10/496,393 US49639304A US2005051937A1 US 20050051937 A1 US20050051937 A1 US 20050051937A1 US 49639304 A US49639304 A US 49639304A US 2005051937 A1 US2005051937 A1 US 2005051937A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
spring
coil
end turn
load
projections
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US10/496,393
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Masahiro Umezawa
Tomotake Kato
Toshio Hamano
Masanao Ueda
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NHK Spring Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Assigned to NHK SPRING CO., LTD. reassignment NHK SPRING CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: HAMANO, TOSHIO, KATO, TOMOTAKE, UEDA, MASANAO, UMEZAWA, MASAHIRO
Publication of US20050051937A1 publication Critical patent/US20050051937A1/en
Priority to US11/492,345 priority Critical patent/US7963510B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
    • F16F1/04—Wound springs
    • F16F1/12—Attachments or mountings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
    • F16F1/00—Springs
    • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
    • F16F1/04—Wound springs
    • F16F1/12—Attachments or mountings
    • F16F1/126—Attachments or mountings comprising an element between the end coil of the spring and the support proper, e.g. an elastomeric annulus

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a compression coil spring device, and in particular to a compression coil spring device suitable for use in a strut wheel suspension system for motor vehicles.
  • Helical compression springs or compression coil springs are used in a wide range of applications owing to the favorable spring properties of the springs of this type.
  • a coil end often includes a closely wound turn so that the coil end provides a uniform contact surface. Grinding the end surface of a coil spring is also known as a means for providing a uniform contact surface.
  • the entire contact surface of the closely wound turn and ground end may not contact an opposing member, such as a spring seat, but instead, they tend to contact the opposing member partially at unpredictable points, which can result in a varying spring property or varying relationship between the load and the compression stroke.
  • the closely wound turn and ground end are not effective in producing the spring force. Therefore, in applications where the length of the coil spring is desired to be minimized while providing a maximum spring action, an open end coil spring is sometimes used.
  • centroid of the contact pressure between the coil spring and spring seat can vary depending on the spring load. This in turn causes a change in the line of action of the spring force. Also, because the part of the coil wire which is in contact with the spring seat is not capable of any further deflection and is therefore ineffective in increasing the spring force, an increase in the contacting part between the coil wire and the spring seat resulting from an increase in the spring load means a decrease in the number of effective turns of the coil spring. In many applications, such changes in the spring property with the change in the spring load are not desirable.
  • the length of the coil wire at which the end turn 1 of the coil spring C contacts the spring seat 3 progressively increases as the compressive stroke of the coil spring increases as illustrated in FIGS. 11 a to 11 c , and the number of turns of the coil spring which can deflect or the number of effective turns of the coil spring decreases with the increase in the spring load.
  • the decrease in the number of effective turns increases the spring constant. Therefore, the conventional coil spring demonstrates a nonlinear deflection property as represented by a curve in the graph of FIG. 12 , instead of a linear relationship between the load and compressive stroke.
  • the decrease in the number of effective turns may occur in different fashions for different coil springs, leading to varying compression property.
  • the centroid of contact pressure between the spring seat and the end turn of the coil spring varies depending on the magnitude of the load
  • the axis of the spring force changes in angle with the vertical motion of the tire, and the canceling action of the coil spring with respect to the bending moment varies for each individual coil spring. This may result in a coil spring which does not contribute to the action of improving the ride quality.
  • the spring property of the coil spring is required to be properly tuned so that the wheel suspension system may demonstrate an optimum performance.
  • the spring property varies depending on the spring load or the compression stroke, any exact tuning becomes impossible.
  • the spring may demonstrate an optimum property at a certain load, but does not so at different load conditions. This is a problem not only for the springs of wheel suspension systems but also for other applications where any tuning of the spring property is required.
  • a primary object of the present invention is to provide a compression coil spring device which demonstrates a designed spring property without regard to the spring load.
  • a second object of the present invention is to provide a compression coil spring device having a line of action which remains fixed without regard to the spring load.
  • a third object of the present invention is to provide a compression coil spring device which demonstrates a fixed spring constant without regard to the spring load.
  • the present invention provides a compression coil spring device including a coil wire wound into a coil having an end turn, wherein: the end turn is adapted to be supported by a spring seat at one or a plurality of discrete points. This can be accomplished either by providing a plurality of projections on the coil wire along the length of the coil wire of the end turn or by providing a plurality of projections for supporting the end turn at one or a plurality of discrete points of the spring seat.
  • the spring demonstrates a same property, with reference to the centroid of contact pressure or line of action of the spring force and the spring constant, without regard to the spring load as long as the spring end is supported by the same discrete contact point or points.
  • the changes in the number of effective turns depending on the magnitude of the load can be minimized over a certain range so that the relationship between the load and compression stroke can be made substantially linear over this range, and the change in the angle of the axis of the spring force can be minimized.
  • the end turn contacts the spring seat only at the predetermined projections, and this minimizes the variation in the spring property, frictional resistance between the contacting members and bending moment relating to individual coil springs.
  • the wheel suspension system when tuning a wheel suspension system, it is important to tune it optimally under a most common situation such as when the vehicle is cruising on a relatively flat highway.
  • the present invention by properly selecting the positioning of the discrete support points of the end turn of the coil spring in relation with the weight of the vehicle and property of the spring, it is possible to achieve a linear behavior of the coil spring around the neutral operating point of the coil spring as well as to minimize the variation in the property of coil springs associated with respective wheels.
  • the wheel suspension system may become capable of achieving a highly desirable ride quality.
  • the end turn may include a wavy part.
  • the end turn may include a part whose wire diameter varies along a length thereof.
  • the end turn may include a part having a plurality of annular members fitted on the coil wire in a mutually spaced relationship along a length thereof.
  • the end turn may include a part having a tubular member fitted on the coil wire, the tubular member being provided with a plurality of external projections disposed in a mutually spaced relationship along a length thereof.
  • the spring seat may be provided with a plurality of projections disposed in a mutually spaced relationship along the length of the coil wire.
  • FIG. 1 is a fragmentary developed view of a first embodiment of the coil spring according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary developed view of a second embodiment of the coil spring according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary developed view of a third embodiment of the coil spring according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary developed view of a fourth embodiment of the coil spring according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary developed view of a fifth embodiment of the coil spring according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of an embodiment of the layout of the contact points
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of another embodiment of the layout of the contact points.
  • FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of yet another embodiment of the layout of the contact points.
  • FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view of yet another embodiment of the layout of the contact points.
  • FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a strut wheel suspension system embodying the present invention.
  • FIGS. 11 a to 11 c are conceptual diagrams illustrating the problems of the prior art.
  • FIG. 12 is a property graph of a conventional coil spring.
  • FIG. 1 shows an exemplary end turn of a coil spring embodying the present invention.
  • the end turn 1 of this coil spring consists of an open end coil turn, and is provided with a wavy shape as represented by a plurality of bends 2 a and 2 b .
  • the contact between the end turn 1 and a spring seat 3 is effected substantially as a point contact, instead of a line contact.
  • the length of contact between the end turn and the spring seat increased with the increase in the load.
  • the part of the coil wire located between the two bends 2 a and 2 b is spaced from the spring seat 3 and thereby remains to be effective as a part of effective turns during the time the load is increased from a value by which only one of the bends 2 a is in contact with the spring seat 3 to a value by which the next bend 2 b is also brought into contact with the spring seat 3 .
  • the contact position between the end turn 1 and the spring seat 3 increases only in a step-wise fashion, with the contact being made at predetermined positions, the variation in the spring constant due to varying specifics of individual coil springs is controlled, and also, the linearity in the relationship between the load and compression within a prescribed operating range improves.
  • the contact between the end turn 1 and a spring seat 3 can be effected at a plurality of points in any one of a number of ways.
  • a plurality of enlarged portions 4 a and 4 b may be formed in the coil wire of the end turn 1 in a spaced relationship as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • a plurality of annular members 5 a and 5 b may be press fitted or otherwise secured on the coil wire of the end turn 1 in a spaced relationship as illustrated in FIG. 3 .
  • a tubular member 7 having a plurality of external projections 8 a and 8 b disposed in a mutually spaced relationship along a length thereof may be fitted on the coil wire of the end turn 1 of the coil wire 3 as illustrated in FIG. 4 .
  • the part of the spring seat 3 corresponding to the end turn 1 may be provided with a plurality of projections 8 a and 8 b disposed in a mutually spaced relationship along a circumference of the end turn as illustrated in FIG. 5 .
  • the contact between the end turn 1 and spring seat 3 may be effected at three freely selected points as illustrated in FIG. 6 , at three points corresponding to the three vertices of an isosceles triangle as illustrated in FIG. 7 , or at three points corresponding to the three vertices of an equilateral triangle as illustrated in FIG. 8 .
  • the equilateral triangle arrangement is preferred.
  • the contact may be effected at four points which are preferably arranged in a square arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 9 .
  • the applications of the present invention are not limited to coil spring devices for wheel suspension systems of motor vehicles but also to other spring devices such as valve springs.
  • the change in the lateral force can be avoided because the axis of the spring force can be prevented from tilting.
  • the load axis can be identified by analyzing and experimenting the coil spring at a single state because the load axis is substantially unaffected over a certain range by the magnitude of the load.
  • the load of the coil spring acting on the spring seat can be made uniform at will, and the load distribution of the spring seat is well defined. Therefore, the distribution of the strength of the spring seat can be optimized, and this contributes to a light weight design.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
US10/496,393 2001-11-27 2002-11-25 Compression coil spring device having discontinuous support structure Abandoned US20050051937A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11/492,345 US7963510B2 (en) 2001-11-27 2006-07-25 Compression coil spring device having a discrete support

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2001-361108 2001-11-27
JP2001361108 2001-11-27
PCT/JP2002/012267 WO2003046406A1 (fr) 2001-11-27 2002-11-25 Dispositif a ressort en spirale de compression avec structure de support discontinue

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/492,345 Continuation-In-Part US7963510B2 (en) 2001-11-27 2006-07-25 Compression coil spring device having a discrete support

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20050051937A1 true US20050051937A1 (en) 2005-03-10

Family

ID=19171818

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US10/496,393 Abandoned US20050051937A1 (en) 2001-11-27 2002-11-25 Compression coil spring device having discontinuous support structure
US11/492,345 Expired - Fee Related US7963510B2 (en) 2001-11-27 2006-07-25 Compression coil spring device having a discrete support

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/492,345 Expired - Fee Related US7963510B2 (en) 2001-11-27 2006-07-25 Compression coil spring device having a discrete support

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (2) US20050051937A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP4336203B2 (ja)
AU (1) AU2002349711A1 (ja)
WO (1) WO2003046406A1 (ja)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060061024A1 (en) * 2003-03-11 2006-03-23 Won-Hyun Jung Coil spring and reciprocating compressor having the same
US20080018033A1 (en) * 2006-07-18 2008-01-24 Kabushiki Kaisya Toska Coiled part formed of plastic material and method of manufacturing the same
EP2017098A2 (fr) 2007-07-20 2009-01-21 anvis SD France S.A.S. Système ressort coupelle
US20130136861A1 (en) * 2010-03-09 2013-05-30 Dirk Barenreuter Method for coating at least the inner face of a piston ring and piston ring
CN106457947A (zh) * 2014-05-28 2017-02-22 三菱制钢株式会社 悬架螺旋弹簧
US9770957B2 (en) 2013-05-10 2017-09-26 Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd. Suspension coil spring and strut type suspension
US10266027B2 (en) 2014-03-28 2019-04-23 Nhk Spring Co., Ltd. Suspension coil spring
US10899188B2 (en) * 2015-10-01 2021-01-26 Nhk Spring Co., Ltd. Coil spring for suspension
US11131356B2 (en) * 2016-04-13 2021-09-28 Suncall Corporation Coil spring
US11181160B2 (en) * 2016-04-13 2021-11-23 Suncall Corporation Coil spring

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2017091191A (ja) * 2015-11-10 2017-05-25 愛三工業株式会社 減圧弁

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1862992A (en) * 1929-06-14 1932-06-14 Gen Motors Corp Coil spring
US4377280A (en) * 1978-12-29 1983-03-22 Stahlwerke Bruninghaus Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung Cylindrical helical compression spring
US6209728B1 (en) * 1998-09-18 2001-04-03 Smc Corporation Filter element
US6308974B1 (en) * 1997-12-11 2001-10-30 Showa Corporation Suspension system

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3278096B2 (ja) * 1995-03-29 2002-04-30 株式会社ユニシアジェックス 緩衝器のスプリングシート
US6149171A (en) * 1999-03-31 2000-11-21 Daimlerchrysler Corporation Spring isolator for a motor vehicle suspension
JP3913408B2 (ja) * 1999-07-13 2007-05-09 カヤバ工業株式会社 スプリングシート
US6254071B1 (en) * 1999-12-20 2001-07-03 Smalley Steel Ring Company Single-turn, round wire wave spring
US6669184B2 (en) * 2002-05-29 2003-12-30 Visteon Global Technologies, Inc. Composite wave ring spring

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1862992A (en) * 1929-06-14 1932-06-14 Gen Motors Corp Coil spring
US4377280A (en) * 1978-12-29 1983-03-22 Stahlwerke Bruninghaus Gesellschaft Mit Beschrankter Haftung Cylindrical helical compression spring
US6308974B1 (en) * 1997-12-11 2001-10-30 Showa Corporation Suspension system
US6209728B1 (en) * 1998-09-18 2001-04-03 Smc Corporation Filter element

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20060061024A1 (en) * 2003-03-11 2006-03-23 Won-Hyun Jung Coil spring and reciprocating compressor having the same
US20080018033A1 (en) * 2006-07-18 2008-01-24 Kabushiki Kaisya Toska Coiled part formed of plastic material and method of manufacturing the same
EP2017098A2 (fr) 2007-07-20 2009-01-21 anvis SD France S.A.S. Système ressort coupelle
US20130136861A1 (en) * 2010-03-09 2013-05-30 Dirk Barenreuter Method for coating at least the inner face of a piston ring and piston ring
US9770957B2 (en) 2013-05-10 2017-09-26 Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd. Suspension coil spring and strut type suspension
US10266027B2 (en) 2014-03-28 2019-04-23 Nhk Spring Co., Ltd. Suspension coil spring
CN106457947A (zh) * 2014-05-28 2017-02-22 三菱制钢株式会社 悬架螺旋弹簧
US10300756B2 (en) * 2014-05-28 2019-05-28 Mitsubishi Steel Mfg. Co., Ltd. Suspension coil spring
US10899188B2 (en) * 2015-10-01 2021-01-26 Nhk Spring Co., Ltd. Coil spring for suspension
US11131356B2 (en) * 2016-04-13 2021-09-28 Suncall Corporation Coil spring
US11181160B2 (en) * 2016-04-13 2021-11-23 Suncall Corporation Coil spring
US11719298B2 (en) 2016-04-13 2023-08-08 Suncall Corporation Coil spring

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20070176340A1 (en) 2007-08-02
WO2003046406A1 (fr) 2003-06-05
US7963510B2 (en) 2011-06-21
JP4336203B2 (ja) 2009-09-30
AU2002349711A1 (en) 2003-06-10
JPWO2003046406A1 (ja) 2005-04-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7963510B2 (en) Compression coil spring device having a discrete support
US5454550A (en) Dampening shock absorber
US5667203A (en) Air-spring leg
US6328290B1 (en) Helical compression spring for a vehicle suspension
US9770957B2 (en) Suspension coil spring and strut type suspension
JPWO2002083437A1 (ja) 懸架コイルばね
US6460835B1 (en) Wheel suspension system and spring therefor
US8382080B2 (en) Cord reinforced resilient membrane
AU593651B2 (en) Improved frictionally damped suspension strut
US6726191B2 (en) Spring sheet
US20130069293A1 (en) Suspension device
JP4577049B2 (ja) 緩衝装置
US10300756B2 (en) Suspension coil spring
JP2795514B2 (ja) 荷重センサ取付構造
DE102018213418B3 (de) Baugruppe für eine Radaufhängung eines Fahrzeugs
US4744549A (en) Coil spring for the wheel suspension of a motor vehicle wheel suspension system
KR100576050B1 (ko) 판스프링과 이것을 구비한 물품
JP2003049888A (ja) エアスプリング
JP4184757B2 (ja) 圧縮コイルばね
US20040041314A1 (en) Air-spring system
JP3938766B2 (ja) 圧縮コイルばね
US3275312A (en) Shock absorber and auxiliary spring unit
US20230001758A1 (en) Coil spring for vehicle suspension system
JPH07132722A (ja) 懸架ばね機構
JP2000103214A (ja) 自動車用懸架装置のスプリング装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: NHK SPRING CO., LTD., JAPAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:UMEZAWA, MASAHIRO;KATO, TOMOTAKE;HAMANO, TOSHIO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:015994/0856

Effective date: 20041025

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION