Vibration dampening systems for overhead frame structures

• US 8,016,320 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Custom Products of Litchfield Incorporated (American AXLE & Manufacturing Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Custom Products of Litchfield Incorporated (American AXLE & Manufacturing Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Becker, Steven Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US12/688,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20100176616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 280/748, 280/756, 296/105, 296/190.03, 296/207, 16/86.A, 16/86.R
• US Class Current: 280/756
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to providing a vibration dampening system for an overhead frame structure used with a vehicle. The system involves the provision of one or more dampening members and/or components between portions of one or more members forming the overhead frame structure. The dampening members or components are compressed when certain portions of the members are set in position. As a result, the vibration and contact normally encountered between the portions and/or interconnecting brackets is limited, and in turn, the stress normally experienced by the one or more fastener assemblies holding the portions and/or the interconnecting brackets due to such vibration is also limited.

Claims

1. An overhead frame structure for a vehicle, comprising:

one or more members forming the overhead frame structure, one of the members having one or more upper portions and one or more lower portions, one upper portion of the one member being operatively coupled yet adjustable with respect to one lower portion of the one member; and

a first dampening member protruding from a side of the one upper portion, the first dampening member being compressed between the one upper portion and the one lower portion when the one upper portion is in a first position.

2. The overhead frame structure of claim 1, wherein the first dampening member is formed of an elastic and durable material.

3. The overhead frame structure of claim 2, wherein the first dampening member is formed of rubber.

4. The overhead frame structure of claim 1, wherein the one upper portion being in the first position involves the one upper portion extending generally upward.

5. The overhead frame structure of claim 1, further comprising a bracket interconnecting the one upper portion and the one lower portion.

6. The overhead frame structure of claim 5, wherein the bracket forms a channel in which an end segment of the one upper portion and an end segment of the one lower portion are received.

7. The overhead frame structure of claim 5, wherein the bracket is operatively coupled both to an end segment of the one upper portion and an end segment of the one lower portion, and wherein a first of the end segments is fixedly coupled to the bracket and a second of the end segments is rotatably coupled to the bracket.

8. The overhead frame structure of claim 7, wherein the bracket is fixedly coupled to the first of the end segments via a weld joint.

9. The overhead frame structure of claim 7, wherein the bracket is rotatably coupled to the second of the end segments via two or more fastener assemblies.

10. The overhead frame structure of claim 9, wherein the two or more fastener assemblies comprise a bolt and nut and a through-bolt and linchpin.

11. The overhead frame structure of claim 9, wherein the through-bolt comprises an elastic member located between a head of the through-bolt and the bracket, wherein the elastic member is configured to provide a snug securement of the through-bolt by compressible when impacted by direct force and expandable otherwise.

12. The overhead frame structure of claim 7, wherein the second of the end segments defines a pair of apertures which align with a first pair of holes defined in the bracket when the one upper portion is in the first position and which align with a second pair of holes defined in the bracket when the one upper portion is in a second position.

13. The overhead frame structure of claim 12, wherein the one upper portion being in the second position involves the one upper portion extending generally downward.

14. The overhead frame structure of claim 12, further comprising a through-bolt which extends through the pair of apertures and the first pair of holes when the one upper portion is in the first position and which extends through the pair of apertures and the second pair of holes when the one upper portion is in the second position.

15. A method of limiting vibration of an overhead frame structure for a vehicle, comprising:

providing one or more members for forming the overhead frame structure, one of the members having one or more upper portions and one or more lower portions;

interconnecting one upper portion and one lower portion of the one member with the one upper portion being made adjustable with respect to the one lower portion; and

locating a first dampening member on the one upper portion, with the first dampening member being compressed between the one upper portion and the one lower portion when the one upper portion is in a first position.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of operatively coupling the one or more members on a vehicle.

17. An overhead frame structure for a vehicle, comprising:

one or more members forming the overhead frame structure, one of the members having one or more upper portions and one or more lower portions, one upper portion of the one member being adjustable with respect to one lower portion of the one member;

a bracket interconnecting the one upper portion and the one lower portion; and

a first dampening member and a second dampening member each coupled to either the bracket or the one upper portion, the first and second dampening members adapted to be conversely compressed depending on whether the one upper portion is in a first position or in a second position, the first dampening member and the second dampening member each adapted to be conversely compressed either between the one upper portion and the bracket or between the one upper portion and the one lower portion.

18. The overhead frame structure of claim 17, wherein the one upper portion being in the first position involves the one upper portion extending generally downward.

19. The overhead frame structure of claim 17, wherein the one upper portion being in the second position involves the one upper portion extending generally upward.