Upper articulated connecting device between a spring-shock absorber assembly and the chassis of a motor vehicle

• US 4,981,287 A
• Filed: 07/17/1989
• Issued: 01/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson (Welltower, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cothenet, Didier
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US07/380,319
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 267/292, 267/293, 267/294, 267/153, 267/140.3, 267/140.4, 267/35, 267/33, 267/220, 267/219, 280/668, 280/671, 280/692, 280/716, 188/321.11
• US Class Current: 267/292
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/001 Arrangements for attachment of dampers mounting arrangements of combined spring and damper units B60G15/00; mountings of fluid dampers in general F16F9/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/068 specially adapted for MacPherson strut-type suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/142 with a single lateral arm, e.g. MacPherson type
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/46 camber angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/312 The spring being a wound spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/128 Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/45021 for limiting upper mount movement of a McPherson strut

Abstract

An upper articulated connecting device for connection between a spring-shock absorber assembly and the chassis of a motor vehicle, comprising: a frame (b 1,2,3) having a connecting piece (3) for securing the upper end of the shock absorber and girdled by a swivel joint (4); a frame (5) having on its lower face a lining (6) supporting the suspension spring and closed at the top by a cover (8); a low rigidity ring (11), secured between the lower portion of the swivel joint (4) and an annular bearing surface (13) integral with the frame (5); a high rigidity girdle whose external peripheral surface extends at a short distance from the internal peripheral surface of the cover, this girdle having two axial abutment surfaces, one adapted to bear against the bottom of the cover, and the other against a peripheral flange of the annular bearing surface.

Claims

1. Upper articulated connecting device between a spring-shock absorber assembly and the chassis of a motor vehicle, which comprises:

a central internal frame (1,2,3) having a means (3) for securing the upper end of the shock absorber and surrounded by a swivel joint (4);

an external frame (5) carrying on its lower face a lining (6) on which a suspension spring bears and which is closed at the top by a cover (8);

a low rigidity ring (11), secured between a lower portion of said swivel joint (4) and an annular bearing surface (13) integral with said external frame (5); and

a high rigidity encircling member (14) whose external peripheral surface (15) extends at a short distance from the internal peripheral surface (16) of said cover (8), this encircling ember (14) having two axial abutment surfaces (20,22), one adapted to bear against the bottom (21) of said cover, the other against a peripheral flange (23) of said annular bearing surface (13).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said central internal frame is formed of two cups (1,2) joined together at their bottoms by a connecting piece (3) also forming said means for securing the upper end of the shock absorber, and in that said securing means (3) is situated at a level lower than that of the center of rotation of said swivel joint (4).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper cup (2) of said central internal frame (1,2) comprises a peripheral flange (18) adapted for fixing said high rigidity encircling member (14).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said high rigidity encircling member (14) is secured to a peripheral coating mass (17) molded over said flange (18) of the upper cup (2).

5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said two axial abutment surfaces (20, 22) of said high rigidity encircling member (14) are carried by two raised projections (19) of low angular amplitude and opposed diametrically in a transverse plane, said two raised projections (19) projecting axially on each side of the remaining portion of said encircling member (14).