Frequency-damping mounting system

Abstract

Stop buffer, comprehensive: a principal body with an outer surface and an inner surface extending about a longitudinal central axis between an upper end and a lower end, wherein at least one pocket extends into the outer surface; and an annular insert extending into the at least one pocket, wherein the annular insert has an upper surface and a lower surface extending radially between an inner surface defining a through-opening and an outer surface, the outer surface of the annular insert being free through the outer surface of the main body.

Description

AREA OF INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a frequency-damping mounting system for vehicle systems and assemblies. BACKGROUND

[0002] Vehicle systems, assemblies, and components generate noise and vibration during vehicle operation. Efforts to reduce noise and vibration include frequency damping and resonant frequency avoidance. The industry employs many different types of damping components and techniques, the selection of which depends on the specific application. Continuous efforts to improve damping are pursued in the industry because noise and vibration not only lead to faster and more severe component deterioration but are also associated with a negative perception of vehicle quality among consumers. SUMMARY

[0003] A bumper or stop buffer comprises a main body with an outer surface and an inner surface extending around a longitudinal central axis between an upper end and a lower end. At least one pocket extends into the outer surface. An annular insert extends into the at least one pocket. The annular insert has an upper surface and a lower surface extending radially between an inner surface, which defines a passage opening, and an outer surface. The outer surface of the annular insert is exposed by the outer surface of the main body.

[0004] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a stop buffer comprises an annular insert with an upper surface and a lower surface extending radially between an inner surface, which defines a through-opening, and an outer surface. A main body is formed around the annular insert. The main body has an outer surface and an inner surface extending about a longitudinal central axis between an upper end and a lower end. The outer surface of the annular insert is exposed by the outer surface of the main body.

[0005] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for constructing a stop buffer is provided. The method comprises: providing an annular insert with an upper surface and a lower surface extending radially between an inner surface, which defines a through-opening, and an outer surface; and forming a main body around the annular insert in the mold cavity, the main body having an outer surface and an inner surface extending about a longitudinal central axis between an upper end and a lower end, the outer surface of the annular insert being exposed by the outer surface of the main body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The subject matter considered to be the invention is specifically highlighted and clearly claimed in the claims at the end of the description. The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a stop buffer constructed according to an aspect of the revelation; Fig. 2 a cross-sectional view generally along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 is; Fig. 3A a cross-sectional view generally along a longitudinal central axis of the stop buffer of Fig. Figure 1 illustrates the stop buffer in an uncompressed state; Fig. 3B a view similar Fig. Figure 3A illustrates the stop buffer in a compressed state; Fig. 4 a view similar Fig. 1 is, which illustrates a stop buffer constructed according to another aspect of the revelation; Fig. 5 a cross-sectional view generally along line 5-5 of Fig. 4 is; Fig. 6 a cross-sectional view generally along a longitudinal central axis of the stop buffer of Fig. 4 is, as along arrow 6-6 from Fig. Figure 5 illustrates the stop buffer in an uncompressed state; Fig. 7 a view similar Fig. 1 is, which illustrates a stop buffer constructed according to yet another aspect of the revelation; Fig. 8 a cross-sectional view generally along line 8-8 of Fig. 7 is; and Fig. 9 a cross-sectional view generally along a longitudinal central axis of the stop buffer of Fig. Figure 7 illustrates the stop buffer in an uncompressed state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] With reference to the figures in which the invention is described with reference to specific embodiments, without limiting them, various embodiments of the invention are illustrated and disclosed herein.

[0008] Fig. Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a stop buffer 10 constructed according to one aspect of the disclosure. The stop buffer 10 can optionally be integrated into a support pot and cap assembly, as is known, to provide axial compression and expansion within the support pot along a central longitudinal axis A ( Fig. 3A). The stop buffer 10 has a main body 12 with an outer surface 14 and an inner surface 16 extending around the longitudinal central axis A between an upper end 18 and an opposite lower end 20. At least one pocket 22 extends into the outer surface. An annular insert 24 is arranged in the at least one pocket 22. The annular insert 24 has an upper surface 26 and a lower surface 28 extending radially between an inner surface 30, which defines a through-opening 32, and an outer surface 34, where radial is meant relative to and generally transverse to the longitudinal central axis A. The outer surface 34 is free through the outer surface 14 of the main body 12 and, in a non-restrictive embodiment, extends radially outward from the outer surface 14 of the main body 12.

[0009] In a non-restrictive embodiment, the at least one pocket 22 can be configured as a single annular pocket 22 extending continuously and uninterrupted in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal central axis A. As best as in Fig. As shown in Figure 3A, the at least one pocket 22 has an upper pocket surface 22a and a lower pocket surface 22b, which are axially spaced apart from each other relative to the longitudinal central axis A, with at least one column C made of material of the main body 12 extending from the upper pocket surface 22a to the lower pocket surface 22b. In another non-restrictive embodiment, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figures 4-6, several columns C made of material from the main body 12 extend from the upper pocket surface 22a to the lower pocket surface 22b. The main body 12 can be formed with one or more annular channels 23 that are recessed / recessed into the outer surface 14.

[0010] According to a non-restrictive aspect of the disclosure, the main body 12 can be formed from a microcellular urethane material (MCU) and the ring-shaped insert 24 is an elastomeric thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU). The MCU can have a density between approximately 0.5 and 0.6 g / cm³. 3 The TPU can be provided with a Shore hardness (ShA) between approximately 80 and 100 ShA, and in a non-restrictive embodiment, approximately 90 ShA. The material of the annular insert 24 has a greater stiffness than the material of the main body 12.

[0011] The annular insert 24 has a cross-sectional area, as viewed in a cross-section along the longitudinal central axis A, of between approximately 80 and 95 percent of an area extending radially inward from the outer surface 34 of the annular insert 24, with the upper and lower surfaces 26, 28 defining the upper and lower boundaries of the area. In a non-restrictive embodiment, the upper surface 26 of the annular insert 24 can be configured such that it extends from the longitudinal central axis A at an angle of between 5 and 15 degrees relative to a plane P ( Fig. 3A and Fig. 6), which extends transversely to the longitudinal central axis A, and more precisely, the upper surface 26 of the annular insert 24 can be configured such that it extends away from the longitudinal central axis A at an angle of between 8 and 12 degrees relative to the plane P. The lower surface 28 of the annular insert 24 can be configured such that it extends away from the longitudinal central axis A at an angle of between 0 and 3 degrees relative to the plane P, thus being inclined relative to the plane P. Accordingly, the lower surface 28 can be coplanar with the plane P, thus extending purely transversely to the longitudinal central axis A, or the lower surface 28 can extend away from the plane P at an oblique angle of up to approximately 3 degrees relative to it.Extending away from the plane P at an angle, the inclined lower surface 28 diverges from the plane P away from the inner surface 30 towards the outer surface 34. Thus, when viewed along the longitudinal central axis A, the lower surface 28 would appear conical with an annular apex 36 near the longitudinal central axis A. The inclined lower surface 28 serves to counteract axially directed compression forces acting on the stop buffer 10, thereby centering the main body 12 relative to the longitudinal central axis A itself and preventing the main body 12 from tilting away from the longitudinal central axis A. Accordingly, uniform compression of the stop buffer 10 is facilitated by the inclined lower surface 28 extending away from the plane P at an angle, as discussed above.

[0012] At least one of the inner surface 30 and / or the outer surface 34 of the annular insert 24 is cylindrical, and in an exemplary embodiment, both the inner surface 30 and the outer surface 34 of the annular insert 24 are cylindrical. Because they are cylindrical, the inner and outer surfaces 30 and 34 extend parallel to the upper surface 26 and the lower surface 28, parallel to the longitudinal central axis A. The outer surface 34 of the annular insert 24 can be configured to define a maximum outer diameter OD of the stop buffer 10. Accordingly, the outer surface 34 can extend radially outward from the main body 12, such that the entire main body 12 has a maximum outer diameter that is smaller than the maximum outer diameter OD of the annular insert 24.

[0013] According to another non-restrictive embodiment, as in Fig. As shown in Figures 7-9, the annular insert 24 can be configured with at least one passage 38 extending through the upper surface 26 and the lower surface 28 of the annular insert 24, such that the passage 38 extends completely through the axially extending extent of the annular insert 24. It can be seen that the at least one passage 38 can comprise several passages 38 spaced apart from one another, preferably spaced uniformly and symmetrically in the circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal central axis A. The main body 12 extends through the entirety of the at least one passage 38 to form the at least one column C.In one non-restrictive embodiment, the at least one passage 38 is enclosed between the inner surface 30 and the outer surface 34 of the annular insert 24, such that the passage 38 forms a closed tunnel through the body of the annular insert 24. In another non-restrictive embodiment, as in . Fig.As shown in Figures 4-6, the at least one passage 38 extends through the outer surface 34 of the annular insert 24. Accordingly, in this case, the passage 24 forms an exposed (visible by viewing the outer surface 34 of the annular insert 24) recessed channel through the passage 24, extending radially inward into the outer surface 34, as illustrated. It is understood that a combination of the aforementioned passages 38 can be formed in the annular insert 24, such that both exposed and enclosed passages 38 can be provided in the same annular insert 24. As discussed further below, the at least one passage 38 facilitates the manufacture of the stop buffer 10 in a forming process, allowing the material of the main body 12 to flow through the at least one passage 38 while the main body 12 is formed around the annular insert 24.During the forming process, at least one section of the upper surface 26, the lower surface 28 and the inner surface 30 of the ring-shaped insert 24 is firmly connected to the main body 12.

[0014] According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for constructing a stop buffer 10 is provided. The method comprises providing an annular insert 24 with an upper surface 26 and a lower surface 28 extending radially between an inner surface 30, which defines a through-opening 32, and an outer surface 34. It further comprises forming a main body 12 around the annular insert 24 in the mold cavity, wherein the main body 12, when formed, has an outer surface 14 and an inner surface 16 extending about a longitudinal central axis A between an upper end 18 and a lower end 20, the outer surface 14 of the annular insert 24 being exposed by the outer surface 14 of the main body 12.

[0015] The process further includes forming the ring-shaped insert 24 from a material with a greater stiffness than the main body 12.

[0016] The process further comprises arranging the ring-shaped insert 24 in a mold cavity prior to forming the main body 12 around the ring-shaped insert 24.

[0017] The method further comprises providing the upper surface 26 of the annular insert 24, which extends away from the longitudinal central axis A at an angle between 5 and 15 degrees relative to a plane P, which extends transversely to the longitudinal central axis A.

[0018] The method further includes providing the lower surface 28 of the annular insert 24, which extends away from the longitudinal central axis A at an angle between 0 and 3 degrees relative to the plane P.

[0019] The process further includes causing material of the main body 12 to flow through at least one passage 38 of the ring-shaped insert 24 during the forming process.

Claims

[1] Bump stop, comprising: a principal body with an outer surface and an inner surface extending about a longitudinal central axis between an upper end and a lower end, wherein at least one pocket extends into the outer surface; and an annular insert extending into the at least one pocket, wherein the annular insert has an upper surface and a lower surface extending radially between an inner surface defining a through-opening and an outer surface, the outer surface of the annular insert being free through the outer surface of the main body. [2] Stop buffer according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the annular insert extends radially outwards from the outer surface of the main body. [3] Stop buffer according to claim 1, wherein the annular insert has a cross-sectional area, as viewed in a cross-section along the longitudinal central axis, of between about 80 and 95 percent of an area extending radially inwards from the outer surface of the annular insert. [4] Stop buffer according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the annular insert extends away from the longitudinal central axis at an angle of between 5 and 15 degrees relative to a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal central axis. [5] Stop buffer according to claim 4, wherein the upper surface of the annular insert extends away from the longitudinal central axis at an angle of between 8 and 12 degrees relative to the plane. [6] Stop buffer according to claim 4, wherein the lower surface of the annular insert extends away from the longitudinal central axis at an angle between 0 and 3 degrees relative to the plane. [7] Stop buffer according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the annular insert is cylindrical. [8] Stop buffer according to claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the annular insert defines a maximum outer diameter of the stop buffer. [9] Stop buffer according to claim 1, further comprising at least one passage extending through the upper surface and the lower surface of the annular insert, wherein the main body extends through the at least one passage. [10] Stop buffer according to claim 9, wherein the at least one passage extends through the outer surface of the annular insert. [11] Stop buffer according to claim 9, wherein the at least one passage between the inner surface and the outer surface of the annular insert is included. [12] Stop buffer according to claim 1, wherein at least one section of the upper surface, the lower surface and the inner surface of the annular insert is connected to the main body. [13] Stop buffer according to claim 1, wherein the main body is a microcellular urethane material and the ring-shaped insert is a thermoplastic polyurethane material. [14] Stop buffer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket is a single annular pocket extending continuously and uninterrupted in the circumferential direction around the longitudinal central axis. [15] Stop buffer according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pocket has an upper pocket surface and a lower pocket surface which are axially spaced apart from each other relative to the longitudinal central axis, wherein at least one column made of material of the main body extends from the upper pocket surface to the lower pocket surface. [16] Stop buffer according to claim 15, wherein several columns of material of the main body extend from the upper pocket surface to the lower pocket surface. [17] Bump stop, comprising: an annular insert with an upper surface and a lower surface extending radially between an inner surface, which defines a through-opening, and an outer surface; and a main body formed around the ring-shaped insert, the main body having an outer surface and an inner surface extending around a longitudinal central axis between an upper end and a lower end, the outer surface of the ring-shaped insert is exposed through the outer surface of the main body. [18] Stop buffer according to claim 17, wherein the outer surface of the annular insert extends radially outwards from the outer surface of the main body. [19] Stop buffer according to claim 17, wherein the ring-shaped insert is a solid toroid. [20] Stop buffer according to claim 17, wherein the upper surface of the annular insert extends away from the longitudinal central axis at an angle of between 5 and 15 degrees relative to a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal central axis. [21] Stop buffer according to claim 17, wherein the annular insert is formed from a material with a greater stiffness than the main body.

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