Vibration-damping device for vehicles

• US 6,536,566 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries Limited
• Original Assignee: Tokai Rubber Industries Limited
• Inventors: Tazuke, Yutaka, Hamada, Masaaki, Hasegawa, Koichi, Kato, Rentaro, Yasumoto, Yoshinori
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US09/796,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20010032764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 267/141.1, 267/141.2, 267/152, 267/153, 267/281, 267/293, 188/378, 188/379, 248/562, 248/636, 248/638, 464/180
• US Class Current: 188/378
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 13/16 having dynamic absorbers as main damping means, i.e. spring-mass system vibrating out of phase
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/25 Dynamic damper
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/145 Masses mounted with play with respect to driving means thus enabling free movement over a limited range
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/10 using inertia effect F16F13/108, F16F13/22, F16F15/10, F16F15/22 take precedence; stabilising vehicle bodies by means of movable masses B62D37/04; protection of buildings against vibrations or shocks by mass dampers E04H9/0215; arrangements or devices for damping mechanical oscillations of power lines H02G7/14
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/108 on plastics springs

Abstract

A vibration-damping device comprising: at least one rigid housing member fixedly disposed in a vibrative member; and a plurality of independent mass members disposed non-adhesively and independently in the at least one housing member such that each of the plurality of independent mass members is opposed to the at least one housing member with a given spacing therebetween in a vibration input direction, and is displaceable relative to the at least one housing member. The each independent mass member is independently displaced relative to the at least one housing member so that the independent mass member and the housing member are brought into elastic impact against each other at their respective abutting surfaces which are opposed to each other in the vibration input direction.

Claims

1. A vibration-damping device for damping vibrations of a vibrative member of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one rigid housing member being fixable to the vibrative member; and

a plurality of independent mass members disposed non-adhesively and independently in said at least one housing member such that each of said plurality of independent mass members is opposed to said at least one housing member with a given spacing therebetween in a vibration input direction, and is displaceable relative to said at least one housing member,

said each of said plurality of independent mass members being independently displaceable relative to said at least one housing member so that said each of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member are brought into elastic impact against each other at respective abutting surfaces thereof which are opposed to each other in said vibration input direction.

2. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of surfaces of at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member is covered by a coating rubber layer formed thereon by coating said at least one of surfaces with a liquid rubber so that at least one of said abutting surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member is formed of said coating rubber layer.

3. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein the vibrative member comprises a rotational member which is rotatable about a center axis thereof, and said housing member is fixable to said rotational member, said abutting surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member being opposed to each other in a circumferential direction about said center axis of said rotational member.

4. A vibration-damping device according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of independent mass members are disposed with respect to said rotational member such that said plurality of independent mass members are spaced apart from each other in said circumferential direction about said center axis, and that a center of gravity of overall of said plurality of independent mass members is located on said center axis of said rotational member, upon rotation of said rotational member about said center axis.

5. A vibration-damping device according to claim 4, wherein each of said plurality of independent mass members includes two circumferentially opposite end portions which are opposed to each other in said circumferential direction about said center axis of said rotational member and which serve as said abutting surfaces of said each of plurality of independent mass members, said each of said plurality of independent mass members being brought into elastic impact at said circumferentially opposite abutting surfaces thereof against said housing member in said circumferential direction about said axis of said rotational member.

6. A vibration-damping device according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is constituted by an arcuate block member which extends parallel to said rotation axis of said rotational member with an arc cross sectional shape which extends in the circumferential direction of said rotational member with a given circumferential length.

7. A vibration-damping device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is constituted by a solid rod having a circular cross sectional shape and extending parallel to said center axis of said rotational member.

8. A vibration-damping device according to claim 3, wherein said housing member is at least partially constituted by utilizing said rotational member.

9. A vibration-damping device according to claim 3, wherein said rotational member comprises a power transmitting rotational disk extending in a direction perpendicular to said center axis, said plurality of independent mass members being disposed in said at least one housing member fixable to a radially intermediate portion of said rotational disk.

10. A vibration-damping device according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is constituted by an annular mass member continuously extending in said circumferential direction of said rotational member, said abutting surfaces of said annular mass member and said housing member being opposed to each other in said circumferential direction of said rotational member and being brought into elastic impact against each other in the circumferential direction.

11. A method of manufacturing a vibration-damping device defined in claim 2, comprising a step of:

forming said coating rubber layer on said at least one surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member, by coating said at least one surfaces with a liquid rubber.

12. A method of manufacturing a vibration-damping device according to claim 11, wherein said step of forming said coating rubber layer on said at least one surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said at least one housing member, is executed a plurality of times to thereby form a lamination of said coating rubber layer.

13. A vibration-damping device according to claim 2, wherein said abutting surface of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is covered by said coating rubber layer, and having a chamfered corner.

14. A vibration-damping device according to claim 2, wherein said coating rubber layer has a thickness within a range of 0.03-0.5 mm.

15. A vibration-damping device according to claim 2, wherein said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is partially covered by said coating rubber layer, and is exposed to the atmosphere at a portion which does not constitute said abutting surface thereof.

16. A vibration-damping device according to claim 2, wherein the vibrative member comprises a rotational member which is rotatable about a center axis thereof, and said housing member is fixable to said rotational member, said abutting surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member being opposed to each other in a circumferential direction about said center axis of said rotational member.

17. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is arranged such that at least one of said abutting surface of said independent mass members and the abutting surface of said at least one housing member is formed of a rubber elastic body, said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member being brought into impact against each other via said rubber elastic body, with a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.4 or lower between the abutting surfaces thereof.

18. A vibration-damping device according to claim 17, wherein said rubber elastic body is subjected to a surface treatment by hydrochloric acid.

19. A vibration-damping device according to claim 17, wherein said rubber elastic body being coated by a low-frictional thin resin layer secured thereto.

20. A vibration-damping device according to claim 17, wherein said rubber elastic body is made of a rubber composition which contains at least one of mica, polytetorafluoroethylene, and graphite.

21. A vibration-damping device according to claim 17, wherein said abutting surface of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is formed of said elastic rubber body, while said abutting surface of said housing member is covered by a solid coating layer made of a resin material having a low friction coefficient.

22. A vibration-damping device according to claim 17, wherein said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member are opposed to each other at respective surfaces which are opposed to each other in said vibration input direction, at least one of said surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent members and said housing member having a partially protruding portion protruding toward an other one of said surface, a protruding end face of said protruding portion serving as said abutting surface, said abutting surface being formed of said rubber elastic body, and a coefficient of kinetic friction between said abutting surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said at least one housing member is set to 0,4 or lower.

23. A vibration-damping device according to claim 17, wherein at least one of surfaces of at least one of said independent mass members and said housing member is covered by a coating rubber layer formed thereon by coating said at least one of surfaces with a liquid rubber so that at least one of said abutting surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member is formed of said coating rubber layer.

24. A vibration-damping device according to claim 17, wherein the vibrative member comprises a rotational member which is rotatable about a center axis thereof, and said housing member is fixable to said rotational member, said abutting surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member being opposed to each other in a circumferential direction about said center axis of said rotational member.

25. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass member includes at least one abutting projection in the form of a projection or a ridge which is formed at a surface thereof which are opposed to said housing member in the vibration input direction, said at least one abutting projection being made of an elastic material, protruding toward the housing member in the vibration input direction, and having a protruding end portion serving as said abutting surface of said independent mass member.

26. A vibration-damping device according to claim 25, wherein said at least one independent mass members includes a rigid mass body, said abutting projection formed of an elastic material being formed on an outer circumferential surface of said rigid mass body.

27. A vibration-damping device according to claim 26, wherein said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members further includes an elastic layer formed on and bonded to said circumferential surface of said rigid mass body with a generally constant thickness, said abutting projection being integrally formed on an outer surface of said elastic layer.

28. A vibration-damping device according to claim 25, wherein said at least one abutting projection has a height within a range of 0.5-1.0 mm and a width within a range of 1.0-3.0 mm.

29. A vibration-damping device according to claim 25, wherein said protruding end portion of said at least one abutting projection has a tapered shape.

30. A vibration-damping device according to claim 25, wherein said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is a longitudinally extended member, and said abutting projection is a ridge formed on the outer circumferential surface of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and continuously extending in a circumferential direction of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members.

31. A vibration-damping device according to claim 25, wherein said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members includes a rigid mass body longitudinally extending with a constant cross sectional shape, and said abutting projection is formed of an elastic ring inserted onto an outer circumferential surface of said rigid mass body.

32. A vibration-damping device according to claim 25, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is arranged such that at least one of said abutting surface of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and the abutting surface of said housing member is formed of a rubber elastic body, said at least one of said independent mass members and said housing member being brought into impact against each other via said rubber elastic body, with a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.4 or lower between said abutting surfaces thereof.

33. A vibration-damping device according to claim 25, wherein at least one of surfaces of at least one of said independent mass members and said housing member is covered by a coating rubber layer formed thereon by coating said at least one of surfaces with a liquid rubber so that at least one of said abutting surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member is formed of said coating rubber layer.

34. A vibration-damping device according to claim 25, wherein the vibrative member comprises a rotational member which is rotatable about a center axis thereof, and said housing member is fixable to said rotational member, said abutting surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member being opposed to each other in a circumferential direction about said center axis of said rotational member.

35. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass members has a flat-plate shape, and said housing member includes an accommodation space for accommodating said flat-plate shaped independent mass member, said flat-plate shaped independent mass member having opposite surfaces thereof which are opposed to each other in a thickness direction thereof, and which are opposed to respective portions of an inner surface of said housing member in said vibration input direction, at least one of each of said opposite surfaces of said flat-plate shaped independent mass member and the corresponding opposed portion of said inner surface of said housing member including a partially protruding portion having a plane protruding end face which serves as said abutting surface.

36. A vibration-damping device according to claim 35, wherein said opposite surfaces of said flat-plate shaped independent mass member include partially protruding portions, respectively.

37. A vibration-damping device according to claim 35, wherein said flat-plate shaped independent mass member having a rectangular shape, and including said partially protruding portions formed at longitudinally opposite end portions thereof, respectively.

38. A vibration-damping device according to claim 35, wherein said flat-plate shaped independent mass member includes:

a flat-plate shaped mass body made of metal and having opposite plane surfaces which are opposed to each other in a thickness direction thereof, and which are opposed to respective portions of said inner surface of said housing member in said vibration input direction; and

an elastic layer formed on and secured to a surface of said flat-plate mass body, said partially protruding portion being formed of said elastic layer.

39. A vibration-damping device according to claim 35, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass members includes at least one abutting projection in the form of a projection or a ridge which is formed at a surface thereof which are opposed to said housing member in the vibration input direction, said at least one abutting projection being made of an elastic material, protruding toward the housing member in the vibration input direction, and having a protruding end portion serving as said abutting surface of said independent mass member.

40. A vibration-damping device according to claim 35, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is arranged such that at least one of said abutting surface of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and the abutting surface of said housing member is formed of a rubber elastic body, said at least one of said independent mass members and said housing member being brought into impact against each other via said rubber elastic body, with a coefficient of kinetic friction of 0.4 or lower between the abutting surfaces thereof.

41. A vibration-damping device according to claim 35, wherein at least one of surfaces of at least one of said independent mass members and said housing member is covered by a coating rubber layer formed thereon by coating said at least one of surfaces with a liquid rubber so that at least one of said abutting surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member is formed of said coating rubber layer.

42. A vibration-damping device according to claim 35, wherein the vibrative member comprises a rotational member which is rotatable about a center axis thereof, and said housing member is fixable to said rotational member, said abutting surfaces of said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member being opposed to each other in a circumferential direction about said center axis of said rotational member.

43. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein a total mass of said plurality of independent mass members is held within a range of 5-10% of a mass of the vibrative member.

44. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said each of said plurality of independent mass members has a mass within a range of 10-1000 g.

45. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of independent mass members comprise at least two of said independent mass members, said at least two of said independent mass members being identical with each other.

46. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass members is tuned differently from the other independent mass members.

47. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of independent mass members includes a mass body made of a rigid material.

48. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one housing member includes a space for accommodating at least one of said plurality of independent mass members, which space is separated from the external space.

49. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one housing member is formed with a plurality of through holes which are independent of each other and extend parallel to each other, each of said through holes being adapted to accommodate at least one of said plurality of independent mass members.

50. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one housing member has a supporting rod, and at least one of said plurality of independent mass members has an annular block shape and is disposed radially outwardly of said supporting rod of said housing member, said at least one of said plurality of independent mass members being brought into elastic impact against an outer circumferential surface of said supporting rod, upon application of a vibrational load.

51. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said independent mass members are connected with each other via a flexible connecting member such that said plurality of said independent mass members are separately displaceable relative to each other, and said at least one housing member having a plurality of accommodation spaces which are substantially continuous with each other and cooperate to accommodate said plurality of said independent mass members.

52. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said abutting surfaces of said housing member and said each of said plurality of independent mass members has a Shore D hardness of 80 or lower, as measured in accordance with ASTM method D-2240.

53. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said housing member is formed of a rigid material having a modulus of elasticity of 5×

10³ MPa or more.

54. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said given spacing between said abutting surface of said each of said plurality of independent mass members and said abutting surface of said at least one housing member has a distance within a range of 0.05-0.8 mm, and said each of said plurality of independent mass members may be reciprocally movable by a distance of 0.1-1.6 mm between at least two abutting surfaces of said housing member which are opposed to each of said plurality of other with said each independent mass member therebetween in said vibration input direction.

55. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said housing member is at least partially constructed by the vibrative member.

56. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said abutting surfaces of said each of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member are opposed to each other at least in a vertical direction.

57. A vibration-damping device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of independent mass members comprise at least three of said independent mass members, said at least three of said independent mass members being identical with each other.

58. A vibration-damping device for damping vibrations of a vibrative member of a vehicle, comprising:

at least one rigid housing member being fixable to the vibrative member; and

a plurality of independent mass members disposed non-adhesively and independently in said at least one housing member such that each of said plurality of independent mass members is opposed to said at least one housing member with a given spacing therebetween in a vibration input direction, and is displaceable relative to said at least one housing member,

wherein said each of said plurality of independent mass members is independently displaceable relative to said at least one housing member so that said each of said plurality of independent mass members and said housing member are brought into elastic impact against each other at respective abutting surfaces thereof which are opposed to each other in said vibration input direction, and

wherein said abutting surface of said each of said plurality of independent mass members is formed of an elastic body.