Bump stopper

• US 8,382,078 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2007
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NOK Corporation
• Original Assignee: NOK Corporation
• Inventors: Okada, Naoto, Kishida, Takuya
• Primary Examiner(s): King, Bradley
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAHNI, VISHAL R
• Application Number:
  US12/594,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20100117276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,084 Days
• Field of Search: 267/139, 267/140, 267/219, 267/220, 267/196, 267/201
• US Class Current: 267/140
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/373 characterised by having a particular shape F16F9/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/44 loaded mainly in compression

Abstract

To provide a bump stopper (1) having constricted parts (2A, 2B) in the circumferential surface and exhibiting buffering action by deforming resiliently when an annular distal end portion (3) collides against a partner member (61) in a state that a bump stopper central axis (0) is inclined to a collision surface (62), without sliding on the collision surface (62), thereby generation of noise being suppressed, the distal end portion (3) has a outside diameter and an inside diameter which expand toward the end, a diameter d₁ at a collision start point (4) at the most distal end of the inner diameter surface is set substantially equal to or larger than the outside diameter d₂ of the constricted part (2A) located just above it, and the distal end portion (3) deforms to tilt further to the outer diameter side through action of moment at the time of collision.

Claims

1. A bump stopper for a rear suspension having multiple constricted parts in a circumferential surface surrounding an interior space and elastically deforming so as to achieve a buffering action at a time of colliding with a partner member at an annular distal end portion, said distal end portion colliding with the partner member in a state that a bump stopper central axis is inclined relative to a collision surface of the partner member,

wherein said annular distal end portion includes an outside diameter surface, an inner diameter surface, and a distal end surface connecting the outside diameter surface and the inner diameter surface to each other,

the outside diameter surface and the inner diameter surface continuously extend radially outwards from one of the constricted parts, which is adjacent to the distal end portion, to the distal end surface so that a distal end of the inner diameter surface is brought into contact with the partner member,

a diameter at a collision start point positioned at the distal end of the inner diameter surface is equal to or larger than an outside diameter of the one constricted part adjacent to the distal end portion, and

the interior space includes:

a cylindrical bore;

a conical surface divergently extending from an end of the cylindrical bore;

a cylindrical surface extending from an end of the conical surface opposite the cylindrical bore; and

the inner diameter surface conically extending outward from an end of the cylindrical surface opposite the conical surface.

2. A bump stopper as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outside diameter of the one constricted part adjacent to the distal end portion is larger than an outside diameter of another constricted part located more axially distant from the distal end portion than the one constricted part adjacent to the distal end portion.

3. A bump stopper for a rear suspension comprising:

an elastomeric body having an interior space and an outer circumferential surface;

multiple circumferential constrictions formed along the outer circumferential surface in the elastomeric body;

an annular distal end portion of said body having an outside diameter surface, an inner diameter surface substantially parallel to the outside diameter surface, and a distal end surface connecting the outside diameter surface and the inner diameter surface to each other;

the outside diameter surface and the inner diameter surface continuously extending conically outwards from one of the constrictions to the distal end surface, the distal end surface having a taper shape reducing in diameter from the outside diameter surface to the inner diameter surface, the one of the constrictions being adjacent to the distal end portion,

a distal end of the inner diameter surface being adapted to be brought into contact with a partner member, a diameter at a collision start point at the distal end of the inner diameter surface being equal to or larger than an outside diameter of the one constriction, and

a thickness inside the one constriction forming a fulcrum for a moment applied to the collision start point at the distal end of the inner diameter surface so that the annular distal end portion elastically deforms and achieves a buffering action at a time of colliding with the partner member in a state that a bump stopper central axis is inclined relative to a collision surface of the partner member,

wherein the interior space includes;

a cylindrical bore;

a conical surface divergently extending from an end of the cylindrical bore;

a cylindrical surface extending from an end of the conical surface opposite the cylindrical bore; and

the inner diameter surface conically extending outward from an end of the cylindrical surface opposite the conical surface.