Vehicle suspension and steering cradle

• US 6,003,897 A
• Filed: 12/01/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Dostert, Kenneth W., Hoelscher, David L., Campbell, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/201,755
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 280/781, 280/785, 280/124.108, 280/124.109, 180/311, 180/312, 180/291, 180/295, 180/299, 180/300, 248/635, 248/638, 267/293, 267/294, 267/141, 267/141.1, 267/141.2, 267/141.3, 267/141.4, 267/141.5
• US Class Current: 280/781
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/142 with a single lateral arm, e.g. MacPherson type
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/154 the lateral arm having an L-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/1431 of an L-shaped arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/15 Mounting of subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/41 Elastic mounts, e.g. bushings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4302 for fixing suspension arm on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0114 Independent suspensions on subframes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/122 the arm having L-shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/60 Subframe construction
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/602 Single transverse beam
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/91 Assembly procedures
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/24 a rigid arm being formed by the live axle B60G3/22, B60G3/26 take precedence; driving arrangements B60K17/22, B60K17/30, B60K17/32
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/001 Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/004 Other suspension arrangements with rubber springs
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/11 with resilient means for suspension , e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/38 with a sleeve of elastic material between a rigid outer sleeve and a rigid inner sleeve or pin , i.e. bushing-type hydraulically-damped bushes F16F13/14; suppression of vibrations in rotating systems by making use of elastomeric spring members between rotating elements, driveline torque being transmitted therebetween F16F15/126, by making use of a dynamic damping mass attached to a rotating element by means of elastomeric springs F16F15/14; pivots per se F16C11/00; elastic or yielding bearings or bearing supports F16C27/00; parts of sliding-contact bearings, e.g. bushes F16C33/04
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/44 loaded mainly in compression
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 3/087 Units comprising several springs made of plastics or the like material F16F1/40, F16F1/545 take precedence

Abstract

A front suspension and steering mount cradle is disclosed for front-wheel-drive and all-wheel drive motor vehicles which provides improved component packaging, noise isolation, and heat shielding. The cradle includes laterally spaced apart supporting end arches integrally joined by a transversely extending inverted U-section saddle, wherein each arch is defined by an upper section terminating in downwardly diverging front and rear legs. Each front leg ends in a pivot pin fitting for connection to a suspension arm front pivot bushing while each rear leg terminates in a footpad housing connection for a rear bushing fitted on a rearward extending stem of each arm. Each cradle forward leg provides a pedestal bracket for supporting a frame front isolator assembly while each rear footpad supports a frame rear isolator assembly. A pair of upstanding engine mounting flanges on the saddle bight wall insure exact powertrain orientation. Inner surfaces of the cradle walls are formed with fastener bosses for readily mounting steering gear and anti-sway bar assemblies in a manner whereby the cradle shields the assemblies from engine catalytic converter heat, impingement from stones, and the like.

Claims

1. An isolator assembly for supporting a subframe of a vehicle body frame, the isolator assembly comprising:

a lower cushion mount including a base plate, a hollow pillar and a lower elastomer member, said hollow pillar fixedly attached to and upwardly extending from said base plate, said lower elastomer member surrounding at least a lower portion of said hollow pillar, said lower cushion mount adapted to be attached to the subframe;

an upper cushion mount including an upper elastomer member defining a recess for telescopically receiving an upper end of said pillar, and a cap bonded to an upper surface of said upper elastomer member; and

a securing bolt passing through a bolt hole in said base plate, said hollow pillar and a bolt hole in said annular cap, said bolt adapted to be threadably secured to the vehicle body frame;

first and second interlocking portions formed on said cap and said hollow pillar, respectively, said first and second interlocking portions adapted to cooperate to prevent relative rotation between said upper and lower cushion mounts upon axial compression of said upper and lower elastomer members.

2. The isolator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a collar bonded to an upper end of said lower elastomer member, said collar adapted to be received in an opening in the vehicle body frame.

3. The isolator assembly of claim 1, wherein said first interlocking portion comprises a downwardly extending detent.

4. The isolator assembly of claim 3, wherein said second interlocking portion comprises at least one recess for receiving said downwardly extending detent.

5. The isolator assembly of claim 4, wherein said at least one recess matingly receives said downwardly extending detent.

6. The isolator assembly of claim 3, wherein said hollow pillar is rectangular in horizontal cross section.

7. The isolator assembly of claim 1, wherein said cap defines a detent and wherein said hollow pillar defines a first pair of opposed recesses aligned on a first horizontal axis and a second pair of opposed recesses aligned on a second horizontal axis disposed normal to said first horizontal axis, said upper cushion mount adapted to be positively located on said lower cushion mount upon being rotated through ninety degree segments to one of four orientations in which said detent is received in one of said first pair of opposed recesses or one of said second pair of opposed recesses.

8. An isolator assembly in combination with a motor vehicle having a subframe and a vehicle body frame, the isolator assembly for supporting the subframe on the vehicle body frame, the isolator assembly comprising:

a lower cushion mount including a base plate, a hollow pillar and a lower elastomer member, said hollow pillar fixedly attached to and upwardly extending from said base plate, said lower elastomer member surrounding at least a lower portion of said hollow pillar, said lower cushion mount adapted to be attached to the subframe;

an upper cushion mount including an upper elastomer member defining a recess for telescopically receiving an upper end of said pillar, and a cap bonded to an upper surface of said upper elastomer member;

a securing bolt passing through a bolt hole in said base plate, said hollow pillar and a bolt hole in said annular cap, said bolt threadably secured to the vehicle body frame; and

first and second interlocking portions formed on said cap and said hollow pillar, respectively, said first and second interlocking portions adapted to cooperate to prevent relative rotation between said upper and lower cushion mounts upon axial compression of said upper and lower elastomer members.

9. The combination of claim 8, further comprising a collar bonded to an upper end of said lower elastomer member, said collar received in an opening in the vehicle body frame.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein said collar includes a radially extending portion and an axially extending portion.

11. The combination of claim 8, wherein said first interlocking portion comprises a downwardly extending detent.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said second interlocking portion comprises at least one recess for receiving said downwardly extending detent.

13. The combination of claim 12, wherein said at least one recess matingly receives said downwardly extending detent.

14. The combination of claim 11, wherein said hollow pillar is rectangular in horizontal cross section.

15. The isolator assembly of claim 8, wherein said cap defines a detent and wherein said hollow pillar defines a first pair of opposed recesses aligned on a first horizontal axis and a second pair of opposed recesses aligned on a second horizontal axis disposed normal to said first horizontal axis, said upper cushion mount adapted to be positively located on said lower cushion mount upon being rotated through ninety degree segments to one of four orientations in which said detent is received in one of said first pair of opposed recesses or one of said second pair of opposed recesses.

16. An isolator assembly for supporting a subframe on a vehicle body frame, the isolator assembly comprising:

an upper cushion mount including an elastomer member and a cap secured to said elastomer member, said cap including a downwardly extending key;

a lower cushion mount including a base and an elastomer member secured to said base, said elastomer member of said lower cushion mount bonded to an upstanding outer collar fitted into a recess formed in said elastomer member of said upper cushion mount;

said lower cushion mount further including a hollow pillar having a lower end fixed to said base and an upper end at least partially telescoped into a conforming axial passage in said elastomer member of said upper cushion mount, said passage terminating in an upper end comprising a portion of said cap, said pillar including at least one cutout portion; and

an attachment bolt extending upwardly through a hole in said base, said hollow pillar, said passage, and a hole in said cap for threaded reception in a bore in the vehicle body frame;

whereby upon said bolt being tightened said elastomer members of said upper and lower cushion mounts are axially compressed and said pillar upper end is positioned juxtaposed said cap and said key is received in said at least one cutout portion to positively interlock said upper and lower cushion mounts against relative rotation.

17. The isolator assembly as set forth in claim 16, wherein said hollow pillar is generally rectangularly shaped in horizontal cross section.

18. The isolator assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein said hollow pillar includes a first pair of cutout portions aligned on a first horizontal axis and a second pair of cutout portions aligned on a second horizontal axis disposed normal to said first horizontal axis, said upper cushion mount adapted to be fitted on said lower cushion mount upon being rotated through ninety degree segments to one of four orientations, wherein said key is aligned for reception in one of said first pair of cutout portions or one of said second pair of cutout portions.

19. The isolator assembly as set forth in claim 18, wherein said first and second pairs of cutout portions each having a generally concave half-round shape and said key has a generally convex half-round shape complementary to said cutout portions.