Suspension stop device

• US 9,950,582 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Bedeau, Charles, Bussit, Sylvain, De Lemps, Francois, Jansen, Daniel, Montboeuf, Bruno, Soudee, Jean-Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Burch, Melody M
• Application Number:
  US15/073,995
• Publication Number:
  US 20160280027A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/22 having rubber springs only B60G11/006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 15/068 specially adapted for MacPherson strut-type suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/143 subjected to compression
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/125 Mounting of rubber type springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/128 Damper mount on vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/418 Bearings, e.g. ball or roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/45021 for limiting upper mount movement of a McPherson strut
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/163 with angular contact
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/05 Vehicle suspensions, e.g. bearings, pivots or connecting rods used therein in general B60G
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/066 Ball or roller bearings

Abstract

A suspension stop device provides an upper contact cap, a lower support cap and at least one bearing arranged between the caps. The upper contact cap provides a centering portion for a damper pad, inside which the pad, which is external to the device, is intended to be mounted. The centering portion extends axially inside a bore in the lower support cap.

Claims

1. A suspension stop device for a suspension leg, comprising:

an upper cup having an annular radial portion that, viewed in cross section, defines a radially extending axial surface configured to abut and directly contact a damper pad,

the damper pad being configured to axially compress against the radially extending axial surface of the annular radial portion of the upper cup in response to shock to the suspension leg, the damper pad having a damper pad outer surface,

an upper contact cap abutting the upper cup, the upper contact cap having a radially inwardly extending protrusion,

a lower support cap configured to contact a suspension spring,

at least one bearing arranged between the upper contact cap and the lower support cap, wherein the upper contact cap provides a centering portion for the damper pad which is mounted inside the centering portion, the centering portion extending axially inside a lower support cap bore, the centering portion of the upper contact cap defining a centering portion inner surface defining an upper contact cap bore in which the damper pad is received, the upper contact cap bore being configured such that when the damper pad is not axially compressed there is a gap between the damper pad outer surface and the centering portion inner surface without another component therebetween such that when the damper pad is axially compressed the damper pad outer surface can contact the centering portion inner surface, the radially inwardly extending protrusion of the upper contact cap not extending between the damper pad and the radially extending axial surface of the upper cup, and

wherein the radially inwardly extending protrusion is configured such that when the damper pad is axially compressed the damper pad comes into contact with the radially inwardly extending protrusion and part of the force transmitted to the upper cup is transmitted via the upper contact cap.

2. The suspension stop device according to claim 1, wherein the centering portion of the upper contact cap extends axially inside a bore of an axial skirt of the lower support cap, the skirt being able to ensure the centering of a suspension spring which is external to the device.

3. The suspension stop device according to claim 1, wherein the centering portion of the upper contact cap extends axially protruding relative to a lower end rim of the lower support cap.

4. The suspension stop device according to claim 1, wherein the radially inwardly extending protrusion extends towards the inside from the upper contact cap bore, the radially inwardly extending protrusion having a lower contact face for the damper pad.

5. The suspension stop device according to claim 1, wherein the upper contact cap includes a reinforcement suitable for reinforcing the mechanical strength of the centering portion of the cap.

6. The suspension stop device according to claim 5, wherein the reinforcement is embedded at least partly inside a body of the upper contact cap which provides the centering portion.

7. The suspension stop device according to claim 1, wherein the upper contact cap provides axial retention means cooperating with complementary axial retention means of the lower support cap.

8. The suspension stop device according to claim 7, wherein the retention means of the upper contact cap are arranged radially on the side opposite the centering portion of the upper contact cap relative to the bearing.