Filter sub-assembly for an upper-stop assembly of a suspension arm of a motor vehicle, and associated assembly, suspension arm and assembly method

Abstract

The invention relates to a filter sub-assembly (10) comprising: a filter block (20); a lower support (30) having a central portion (31) and a peripheral portion (32) surrounding the central portion (31); and a cover (40) comprising a central portion (41) bearing against an upper face (23) of the filter block (20), and a peripheral portion (42) surrounding the central portion (41) and bearing against the peripheral portion (32) of the lower support (30), the filter sub-assembly (10) comprising a locking washer (90), a first element from among the lower support (30) and the cover (40) being located between the locking washer (90) and a second element from among the lower support (30) and the cover (40), flaps (50) and associated notches (96) being formed on the locking washer (90) and the second element to allow them to be fixed together in the manner of a bayonet fixing.

Description

DESCRIPTION FILTER SUB-ASSEMBLY FOR AN UPPER STOP ASSEMBLY OF A MOTOR VEHICLE SUSPENSION STRUT, ASSOCIATED ASSEMBLY, SUSPENSION STRUT AND ASSEMBLY METHOD TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of motor vehicle suspensions.

[0002] The invention relates more specifically to a filter subassembly for an upper stop assembly of a motor vehicle suspension, to an associated assembly and to a suspension strut incorporating such a stop assembly, and to a method of assembling such a filter subassembly. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] Motor vehicle suspension struts comprising a coil spring wrapped around a telescopic shock absorber are connected to the vehicle body at a multifunctional interface, called an upper suspension stop, which integrates in particular functions of fixing to the body, guiding in rotation the upper end of the coil spring and / or the suspension strut during rotation when turning the wheels, holding the rod of the telescopic shock absorber, if necessary with vibration filtration, and supporting a shock buffer at the end of the travel of the body of the telescopic shock absorber. Such a stop requires a large number of parts, some of which can be pre-assembled before mounting on the vehicle, and others must be assembled at the time of attachment to the vehicle.

[0004] An example of a suspension strut upper stop of the above type is given by document EP1591691A1. This stop comprises a rolling bearing comprising an upper washer, a lower washer and balls running on raceways formed on the upper and lower washers, as well as a rigid multifunctional part consisting of a stamped sheet metal and an elastomeric filter block positioned between the upper washer and the multifunctional part. The multifunctional part has a plurality of fixing holes, each opening onto a downward-facing support wall. Nuts are welded to the multifunctional part at the support walls, in line with the fixing holes. It is thus possible to fix the upper stop to the vehicle body using screws that pass through the fixing holes and are screwed into the nuts. Before being mounted on the vehicle, the stop does not form a coherent whole. Precautions must also be taken to protect the metal multifunctional part against corrosion.

[0005] The upper suspension strut stop assembly illustrated in DE 10 2009 059 168 A1 differs from the previous one in particular by the fact that the multifunctional part is made of molded plastic material and has threaded metal inserts at the fixing holes. Such a part is potentially lighter than a sheet metal part, and is relatively insensitive to corrosion, except at the metal inserts. The manufacture of the multifunctional part in an injection mold with its overmolded metal inserts results in practice in a low resistance of the plastic with respect to the shock stop forces.

[0006] Document FR 3 112 101 A1 describes a suspension strut upper stop assembly that minimizes the final assembly steps on the vehicle, but remains compatible with high production rates. This configuration is provided by means of attachment interfaces on the multifunctional part, each comprising an open attachment slot on a peripheral wall on the multifunctional part and each configured to receive at least a portion of a fastening element in a direction inclined relative to the rod attachment axis, the arrangement of the slots ensuring that the fastening elements will not escape from the slots during assembly. The configuration described in this document makes it possible to avoid a step of permanently attaching the fastening elements to the multifunctional part, in particular by welding or overmolding, before assembly on the vehicle.

[0007] Despite these advantages, there is a constant search for simplification of assemblies, in particular a reduction in the number of parts in the assembly. upper stop allowing, on the one hand, to reduce assembly operations, and on the other hand, to reduce the number of suppliers involved in this assembly. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing in particular a simple solution, making it possible to minimize the final assembly stages on the vehicle, but remaining compatible with high production rates.

[0009] To do this, according to a first aspect of the invention, a filter subassembly is proposed for an upper stop assembly of a suspension strut of a motor vehicle, the filter subassembly comprising: a filter block made of elastomeric material, the filter block extending along a reference axis and having an interface for securing one end of a rod of a shock absorber of the suspension strut; a lower filter block support having an annular central portion bearing against a lower face of the filter block and axially traversed by a passage for the end of the rod of the shock absorber, the lower support having an annular peripheral portion surrounding the annular central portion;and a filter block cover comprising a central portion bearing against an upper face of the filter block, a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion and bearing against the annular peripheral portion of the lower support, remarkable in that the filter subassembly further comprises a locking washer, a first element among the lower support and the cover being located axially between the locking washer and a second element among the lower support and the cover, flaps and notches being formed on the locking washer and the second element, each of the flaps formed on one part among the locking washer and the second element being associated with one of the notches,; formed on another part among the locking washer and the second element, the locking washer being movable relative to the second element between: a relative approach position and a relative interpenetration position by relative translational movement between the locking washer and the second element along the reference axis such that, in the relative interpenetration position, each of the fixing flaps penetrates into the associated notch, the relative interpenetration position and a relative assembly position by relative rotational movement between the locking washer and the second element around the reference axis such that in the relative assembly position, each of the fixing flaps is housed in a circumferential extension of the associated notch and is held axially there in axial support against a rim of the associated notch.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the second element is a metal part, preferably a stamped sheet metal.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the locking washer is a metal part, preferably a stamped sheet metal.

[0012] According to one embodiment, at least some of the fixing flaps protrude from the annular peripheral portion of the second element.

[0013] According to one embodiment, at least some of the notches are formed on the locking washer.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the peripheral portion of the first element is provided with a fixing orifice associated with each of the fixing flaps of the second element and crossed by the associated fixing flap, the peripheral portion of the first element being located axially between the annular peripheral portion of the second element and the locking washer.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the filter block is preloaded between the lower support and the filter block cover.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the lower filter block support is single-piece and metallic.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the filter block cover is made of plastic material(s), where appropriate with reinforcements or inserts.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the filter subassembly comprises means for locking the relative assembly position in rotation, the rotation locking means preferably comprising at least one elastic strip configured to penetrate at least partially into one of the notches to lock the locking washer in rotation relative to the second element in the relative assembly position.

[0019] Preferably, the rotation locking means comprise a plurality of elastic strips, each configured to penetrate at least partially into one of the associated notches to rotationally lock the locking washer relative to the second element in the relative assembly position.

[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, it relates to an upper stop assembly for a motor vehicle suspension strut, the assembly comprising: a plain or rolling bearing defining an axis of rotation; a filtering subassembly as described above, bearing directly or indirectly against the bearing.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the filter block cover comprises a peripheral portion provided with fixing openings configured to fix the filter subassembly to a body element of the motor vehicle.

[0022] According to one embodiment, an annular portion of a body element of the motor vehicle is axially clamped between the peripheral portion annular portion of the second element and the locking washer, preferably between the annular peripheral portion of the first element and the locking washer, more preferably between the cover and the locking washer.

[0023] The invention also relates to a suspension strut for a motor vehicle, comprising a helical spring, a telescopic shock absorber, and a shock absorber, characterized in that it further comprises an upper stop assembly as described above.

[0024] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a method for assembling a filter subassembly as described above, comprising at least the following steps: a passage from a relative approach position to a relative interpenetration position by relative translational movement between the first and second elements along the assembly axis so as to cause fixing flaps to penetrate into associated notches, each of the notches being associated with one of the elements among the first and second elements and with one of the fixing flaps integral with the other of the elements among the first and second elements, a passage from the relative interpenetration position and a relative assembly position by relative rotational movement between the first and second elements around the assembly axis so that in the relative assembly position,each of the fixing flaps is housed in a circumferential extension of the associated notch with respect to the relative interpenetration position and is retained axially there to ensure the fixing of the cover with the lower filter block support.,

[0025] According to one embodiment, the final assembly of the filter subassembly is carried out concomitantly with the fixing of said filter subassembly with a body element. Indeed, preferably a partial assembly of the filter subassembly is carried out beforehand, and held in place by a radial interference between of the outer peripheral surfaces of the flaps and of the inner peripheral surfaces of the cover fixing holes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the following description, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate: figure 1: a sectional view of an upper part of a motor vehicle suspension strut, and of an upper suspension stop assembly of this suspension strut, according to a first embodiment; figure 2: an isometric perspective view of the assembly of figure 1; figure 3: an isometric perspective and exploded view of an upper suspension stop assembly according to a second embodiment; figure 4: a perspective and partially exploded view of the upper suspension stop assembly of figure 3, where a filter subassembly is illustrated without being exploded; figure 5: a perspective and partially exploded view of the upper suspension stop assembly of figure 3;Figure 6: A view of the upper suspension stop assembly of Figure 3 in a relative position of interpenetration of fixing flaps in associated notches with the locking washer in the unlocked position; Figure 7: A view of the upper suspension stop assembly of Figure 3 in a relative position of assembly of the fixing flaps in the associated notches with the locking washer in the locked position; Figure 8: a sectional view of an isometric perspective of the upper suspension stop assembly of Figure 3 in a relative approach position between a lower support and a cover; Figure 9: a sectional view of an isometric perspective of the upper suspension stop assembly of Figure 7; Figure 10: a sectional view of an upper part of a motor vehicle suspension strut, and of the upper suspension stop assembly of this suspension strut, according to the second embodiment in the relative assembly position of Figure 7 > Figure 11: a perspective and partially exploded view of a suspension upper stop assembly according to a third embodiment; Figure 12: a sectional view of an isometric perspective of the suspension upper stop assembly of Figure 11 in a relative position of interpenetration of the fixing flaps in the associated notches, the locking washer being in the unlocked position;

[0027] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0028] In Figure 1 is illustrated the upper part of a suspension strut, resting on a vehicle body element 103 in the form of an inverted truncated bowl. The suspension strut comprises a coil spring 105, a telescopic shock absorber 106 located inside the coil spring 105, and an upper suspension stop assembly 100, providing an interface between the body 103 on the one hand, and the coil spring 105 and the telescopic shock absorber 106 on the other hand.

[0029] The upper stop assembly 100, also illustrated in FIG. 2, comprises a bearing 2 resting on an annular bearing support 80 resting on a spring filter element itself resting on the upper coil of the helical spring 105, and a shock absorber 104. The assembly 100 comprises a hooking part, placed radially inside the bearing support 80, this hooking part comprising an inner skirt 84 further positioned radially inside the bearing 2, the inner skirt 84 comprising a hooking shape for an upper end of a protective bellows (not illustrated) of the shock absorber 106.

[0030] The upper stop assembly 100 further comprises a filter subassembly 10 also forming a cover of the bearing 2, the filter subassembly 10 consisting of a filter block 20 made of elastomeric material located radially and axially inside the filter subassembly 10, a rigid one-piece lower support 30 of the filter block 20, the lower support 30 being located between, in particular here interposed between, the filter block 20 and the bearing 2, and a cover 40 of the filter block 20.

[0031] The function of the bearing 2 is to allow the upper coil of the coil spring 105 to rotate when the coil spring 105 contracts and relaxes, or when the wheels are turned, by guiding the bearing support 80 in rotation about an axis of rotation A2. The bearing 2 is here a rolling bearing and comprises a lower washer 4 made of stamped sheet metal, an upper washer 5 made of stamped sheet metal defining the axis of rotation A2 and rolling bodies 6, in this case balls, rolling on raceways 7, 8 formed on the lower 4 and upper 5 washers to guide the lower washer 4 in rotation relative to the upper washer 5 about the axis of rotation A2.The rolling bearing 2 is an angular contact bearing, and the rolling bodies 6 are in contact with a radially outer zone of the raceway 8 of the upper washer 5 and with a radially inner zone of the raceway 7 of the lower washer 4, the inner zone being radially inside the outer zone, relative to the axis of rotation A2. The balls are separated and kept approximately equidistant using a cage 6'.

[0032] The suspension strut is oriented such that the assembly 100 is located generally "under" the body 103 and the coil spring 105 is located at least partially "under" the assembly 100.

[0033] The annular bearing support 80 may be made, for example, of plastic, or of a metal alloy, for example die-cast aluminum, with or without a reinforcing insert, and forms a flat annular bearing face facing axially relative to the axis of rotation A2, opposite the bearing 2, as well as a cylindrical guide face facing radially outwards.

[0034] The filter block support 30 and the bearing support 80 together delimit a confined annular volume for the bearing 2. The filter block cover 40 itself forms an outer protective skirt 49 located radially outside and at least partially opposite an outer peripheral face 82 of the bearing support 80.

[0035] The filter block 20 is formed from elastomeric material and extends along a reference axis A1, the filter block 20 having a securing interface 21 of one end of a rod 102 of a telescopic shock absorber 106 of the suspension leg, which passes through a lumen formed in the shock absorber 104 and a passage 33 of the support 30.

[0036] The filter block support 30 may be made of a metal alloy, for example die-cast steel or aluminum, and preferably in one piece, i.e., a single piece. Preferably, the support 30 is formed of steel, from a stamped sheet. The filter block support 30 comprises a wall 34 having an upper face 35 facing the filter block and an opposite lower face 36, supporting a shock absorber 104 of the suspension. More specifically, the filter block support 30 has an annular central portion 31 bearing against a lower face 22 of the filter block 20 and axially traversed by the passage 33 for the end of the rod 102 of the shock absorber 106, the lower support 30 having an annular peripheral portion 32 surrounding the annular central portion 31.

[0037] In this embodiment, the rigid single-piece support 30 of the filter block 20 is constituted by a stamped sheet metal which forms a housing bowl for the block filter 20, arranged radially inside the bearing 2, in radial contact with said bearing 2, and a collar surrounding the bowl, placed on the bearing 2. More precisely, the lower filter block support 30 has a cylindrical skirt 39A configured to fit tightly with a cylindrical portion 5A of the bearing 2 of the assembly 100 and an external transverse shoulder 39B to bear against an upper face 5B of said bearing 2 so that the filter subassembly 10 bears directly against the bearing 2.

[0038] The cylindrical skirt 39A and the outer transverse shoulder 39B are carried by an intermediate annular portion 312 connecting the annular central portion 31 and the annular peripheral portion 32 to each other, the cylindrical skirt 39A forming a cylindrical centering portion and the transverse shoulder 39B forming a flat portion for direct or indirect support for the bearing 2.

[0039] The housing bowl of the filter block 20 has a bottom 35 constituting an intermediate wall between the filter block 20 and the shock pad 104. A lower face of this intermediate wall constitutes a support for the shock pad 104 of the suspension. The upper face of the intermediate wall is in contact with the filter block 20, the bottom 35 receiving the filter block 20 in axial support against a lower face 22 of said filter block 20.

[0040] The filter block support 30, in particular here the sheet constituting the rigid monobloc support 30, is annular and the bottom 35 of the bowl has a circular opening forming the passage 33 for the end of the rod 102 of the telescopic damper 106. The filter block support 30 has a symmetry of revolution around the reference axis A1 which also corresponds to a reference axis for the telescopic damper 106 in its reference position, the shock buffer 104 and the filter block 20. This axis of symmetry A1 is here parallel to, and coincident with, the axis of rotation A2 of the bearing 2, although other configurations are conceivable, in particular a configuration (not illustrated) in which the reference axis A1 intersects with the axis of rotation A2 of the bearing 2.

[0041] The filter block cover 40 makes it possible to compress the filter block 20 at the latest at the time of installation on the vehicle, so that the filter block 20 is in preload between the lower support 30 and the filter block cover 40. The cover 40 may be made, for example, of rigid plastic material, where appropriate with reinforcements or inserts. The filter block cover 40 comprises a central portion 41 bearing against an upper face 23 of the filter block 20, and a peripheral portion 42 surrounding the central portion 41 and bearing against the annular peripheral portion 32 of the lower support 30. The filter block cover 40 further has an outer protective skirt 49 located radially outside and at least partially opposite an outer peripheral face 82 of the bearing support 80 to delimit a sealing baffle 83 in order to protect the bearing 2.

[0042] A fixing between the cover 40 and the support 30 is ensured by fixing means ensuring the fixing of the cover 40 with the lower support 30 of the filter block. In this first embodiment, the fixing means for ensuring the fixing of the cover 40 with the lower support 30 of the filter block comprise fixing flaps 50 secured to the lower support 30 by projecting from the annular peripheral portion 32 of the lower support 30. These flaps 50 are distributed, and preferably equally distributed, on the annular peripheral portion 32 of the support 30 and are six in number. These flaps 50 each have the shape of a hook and are configured to penetrate in the fixing position into fixing orifices 60 of the cover 40. These fixing orifices 60 are located on the peripheral portion 42 of the cover 40 and associated with the fixing flap 50 of the lower support 30.More precisely, in the fixing position, these fixing orifices 60 are crossed by a proximal portion 51 of the associated fixing flap 50 in an axial direction. Each flap 50 also has a distal portion 52 of the associated fixing flap 50 extending at least along a component perpendicular to the axial direction and which is placed in overlap with a bearing surface on one side of the cover 40 opposite the peripheral portion 32 of the lower support 30 to ensure, despite a preloading force of the filter unit 20, the fixing of the cover 40 with the lower support 30 of the filter unit.

[0043] The filter subassembly 10 further comprises a locking washer 90. This locking washer 90 is here metallic, formed from a stamped sheet metal. In an assembly position, the cover 40 is located axially between the locking washer 90 and the lower support 30, pairs of flaps 50 and notches 96 being formed on the locking washer 90 and the lower support 30. It should be noted that according to a variant not illustrated here, a configuration could be obtained in which the lower support 30 is located axially between the locking washer 90 and the cover 40.

[0044] The fixing of the cover 40 with the lower support 30 is ensured by the cooperation of the fixing flaps 50 with the notches 96, in the manner of a bayonet fixing. Indeed, the assembly of the filter subassembly 10 is ensured according to a mechanical sequence of adapted movements.

[0045] In particular, the filter subassembly 10 comprises a plurality of fixing flaps 50 configured to cooperate with associated notches 96. Each of the fixing flaps 50 is integral with one of the elements among the locking washer 90 and the second element while the notches 96 are formed on the other of the elements among the locking washer 90 and the second element. In this way, the cooperation of each of the fixing flaps 50 with an associated notch 96 allows the assembly of the two elements with each other, the first element among the lower support 30 and the cover 40 being interposed between the locking washer 90 and the second element among the lower support 30 and the cover 40.

[0046] The cooperation of the fixing flaps 50 with the associated notches 96 makes it possible to ensure at least axial locking of the filter sub-assembly 10, the rotational locking being ensured by specially adapted elastic locking means.

[0047] In this embodiment, each of the fixing flaps 50 is formed on the lower support 30 and is associated with one of the notches 96, formed on the locking washer 90. The filter subassembly 10 therefore comprises as many fixing flaps 50 as notches 96.

[0048] First, during assembly, the cover 40 is positioned so as to be axially between the locking washer 90 and the lower support 30. The locking washer 90 and the lower support 30 are movable relative to each other between a relative approach position and a relative position of interpenetration. This movement is obtained by a relative translational movement between the locking washer 90 and the lower support 30 along the reference axis A1 so that, in the relative interpenetration position, each of the fixing flaps 50 enters the associated notch 96.

[0049] In a second step, to finalize the assembly and once the relative interpenetration position has been achieved, the locking washer 90 and the lower support 30 are movable relative to each other between the relative interpenetration position and a relative assembly position. This movement is obtained by a relative rotational movement between the locking washer 90 and the lower filter block support 30 around the reference axis A1 in such a way that in the relative assembly position, each of the fixing flaps 50 is housed in a circumferential extension of the associated notch 96 and is held axially there in axial support against a rim of the associated notch.

[0050] The notches 96 can take various forms. However, they each have a first part 961 extending parallel to the reference axis A1 and the opening of which is configured in its dimensioning to be crossed by an axial template of the associated fixing flap 50, and a second part 962 of the notch 96 extending circumferentially relative to the reference axis A1 of the filter subassembly 10 from the first part 961.

[0051] When moving from the relative approach position to the relative interpenetration position, the distal portion 52 of each hook head-forming flap 50 is axially moved through a fixing orifice 60 associated with the fixing flap 50 of the lower support 30 and then through the associated first portion 961 of each of the notches 96. In the interpenetration position, the proximal portion 51 of each hook base-forming fixing flap 50 is placed through the associated first portion 961 of each of the notches 96.

[0052] Then, when moving from the relative interpenetration position to the relative assembly position, the proximal portion 51 of each flap 50 is moved in rotation and is housed in the circumferential extension 962 of the associated notch 96 of reduced cross-section compared to the template of each fixing flap 50 and in particular to the template of each associated distal portion 52. The reduced section of the circumferential extension forming the second part 962 of the notch 96 relative to the first part 961 offers an axial grip for the distal portion 52 of the associated fixing flap 50. In this way, in the relative assembly position, the distal portion 52 of each associated fixing flap 50 extends at least along a component perpendicular to the axial direction and overlaps with an associated bearing surface on the side of the cover 40 opposite the peripheral portion 32 of the lower support 30.

[0053] The bearing surface is here carried by the locking washer 90 so that each fixing flap 50 is retained axially by the locking washer 90 in the relative assembly position, thus ensuring the fixing of the cover 40 with the lower filter block support 30.

[0054] Of course, the fixing orifices 60 of the cover 40 are dimensioned so as not to constrain this rotational movement when moving the filter subassembly 10 from the relative interpenetration position to the relative assembly position, the peripheral portion 42 of the cover 40 carrying the fixing orifices 60 being located axially between the annular peripheral portion 32 of the lower support 30 and the locking washer 90.

[0055] The filter subassembly 10 further comprises rotational locking means 59 of the relative assembly position so as to prevent reverse rotation. In this embodiment, the rotational locking means 59 are integral with the part not carrying the fixing flaps 50, namely the cover 40.

[0056] These rotational locking means 59 comprise at least one elastic strip, preferably a plurality of elastic strips, and preferably as many elastic strips as there are fixing flaps 50.

[0057] Each of the elastic lamellae is positioned circumferentially adjacent to one of the fixing flaps 50, and extends from a base towards a lamella head extending circumferentially and along an axial component so as to be axially protruding, on the side of the associated flap 50. At the same time as the flap penetrates axially into the fixing orifice 60 of the cover 40 then into the notches 96, each associated strip extending circumferentially from a circumferential edge of said corresponding fixing orifice 60 also penetrates into the associated notch 96 so as to form an obstacle to the rotation of the locking washer 90 when it is in the relative assembly position. The strips are formed by stamping.

[0058] In the interpenetration position, each flap 50 penetrates into the first part 961 of the associated notch 96, the elastic strip being forced to bear against a lower surface of the locking washer 90. During the rotational movement around the reference axis A1 from the interpenetration position to the relative assembly position, the proximal portion 51 of each flap 50 is moved in rotation and is housed in the second part 962 of the notch 96, releasing in the first part 961 of the notch 96 a surface in which the elastic strip comes into contact in the relative assembly position and the elastic release of which places the corresponding strip in the space delimited by the first part 961 of the notch 96.In this position, the heads of each locking strip 59 form an obstacle in the associated notches 96 and are each placed in the thickness of the locking washer 90, blocking any rotation which would tend to move it from the relative assembly position to the interpenetration position.

[0059] During the assembly process, during the step of moving from the relative approach position to the relative interpenetration position, the translation of the cover 40 and the support 30 is such that the parts move closer together, the filter block 20 being located between these two parts. It is during this step that the filter block 20 is brought into compression by the cover 40 and the lower support 30, so that the filter block 20 is preloaded between the lower support 30 and the filter block cover 40. The relative rotation of the cover 40 and the lower support 30 during the movement from the relative interpenetration position to the relative assembly position then makes it possible to axially lock the filter subassembly 10 and the compressed position of the filter block 20 making it possible to ensure the preload.

[0060] Thus, and in general, the filtering subassembly comprises a first element among the lower support 30 and the cover 40 located axially between the locking washer 90 and a second element among the lower support 30 and the cover 40, flaps 50 and notches 96 being formed on the locking washer 90 and the second element, each of the fixing flaps 50 formed on one part among the locking washer 90 and the second element being associated with one of the notches 96, formed on another part among the locking washer 90 and the second element, the method of assembling the filter subassembly 10 comprising at least the following steps: the passage from the relative approach position to the relative interpenetration position by relative translational movement between the first and the second element along the assembly axis A1 so as to cause fixing flaps 50 to penetrate into associated notches 96,each of the notches 96 being associated with one of the elements among the first and the second element and with one of the fixing flaps 50 integral with the other of the elements among the first and the second element, the passage from the relative interpenetration position and the relative assembly position by relative rotational movement between the first and the second element around the assembly axis A1 so that in the relative assembly position, each of the fixing flaps 50 is housed in a circumferential extension of the notch 96 associated with respect to the relative interpenetration position and is retained there axially to ensure the fixing of the cover 40 with the lower support 30 of the filter block.,

[0061] In the illustrated embodiment, the first element is the cover 40 and the second element is the lower support 30. However, in a variant not illustrated, the first element could be the support 30, and the second element would be the filter block cover 40. In this case, the annular portion 1031 of the body element 103 of the motor vehicle is axially clamped between the annular peripheral portion of the cover 40, and the locking washer 90.

[0062] In other variants also not illustrated, the fixing flaps 50 and the notches 96 can be distributed on one and the other of the first and second elements.

[0063] According to the embodiment, the final assembly of the filter subassembly 10 is carried out concomitantly with the fixing of said filter subassembly 10 with a body element 103. For this, a partial assembly of the filter subassembly 10 is carried out beforehand, and held in place by radial interference between external peripheral surfaces of the flaps 50 and internal peripheral surfaces of the fixing orifices 60 of the cover 40.

[0064] The attachment between the cover 40 and the support 30 is here ensured independently of that of the filter subassembly 10 to the body element 103 of the motor vehicle by means of attachment openings 44.

[0065] The cover 40 is suitable for fixing the upper stop assembly 100 to the body 103 of the vehicle. For this purpose, it comprises a plurality of fixing interfaces distributed around a periphery of the cover 40, three in number in this embodiment but which may be more or less numerous if necessary. Each of these fixing interfaces comprises an opening 44, which in this embodiment is a tapped hole playing the functional role of a nut configured to receive a fixing screw, but may if necessary be a hole to receive another fixing means, such as a rivet for example, or a screw / nut assembly. To ensure the rigid fixing of the fixing screws, the tapped interface serving as a nut is formed of metal by an insert added locally at each opening 44 in the plastic material of the cover 40.

[0066] The nuts forming the fixing elements are in this embodiment shaped like a “T” taken in section, to maximize the structural strength of the nut embedded in the plastic material of the cover 40. Alternatively, fixing elements of different shapes, for example parallelepipeds, can be considered.

[0067] Figures 3 to 10 illustrate a second embodiment. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment essentially in that the filter subassembly 10 comprises fixing means ensuring the fixing of the cover 40 with the lower support 30 of the filter block shared with the fixing of the filter subassembly 10 to a body element 103 of the motor vehicle. The filter block 20 is for its part always preloaded between the lower support 30 and the filter block cover 40.

[0068] On the contrary, in the first embodiment, the fixing of the cover 40 with the lower support 30 of the filter block is carried out independently of that of the filter subassembly 10 to a body element 103 of the motor vehicle thanks to the openings 44.

[0069] In this second embodiment, the fixing openings 44 for directly or indirectly fixing the filter subassembly 10 to a body element 103 of the motor vehicle are constituted by the fixing orifices 60 associated with the fixing flaps 50 of the lower support 30. In this way, the fixing functions are shared for the same opening and the drillings and fixing interfaces carried by the cover 40 are minimized here.

[0070] In this embodiment, the body element 103 of the motor vehicle to which the filter subassembly 10 is fixed has an annular portion 1031 axially sandwiched between the annular peripheral portion 42 of the cover 40 and the locking washer 90. In such a configuration, the locking washer 90 remains above the cover 40 to ensure its fixing in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and has openings configured to come opposite each of the fixing orifices 60 of the cover 40 and to be each crossed by an elastic locking means to lock the assembled position.

[0071] Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a third embodiment. This third embodiment differs from the second embodiment essentially in that the annular portion 1031 of the body element 103 of the motor vehicle to which the filter subassembly 10 is fixed does not have openings but is fixed by simply being clamped axially between the annular peripheral portion 42 of the cover 40 and the locking washer 90.

[0072] The annular portion 1031 of the body element 103 is arranged radially to the outside relative to the lower support 30. The centering of the annular portion 1031 relative to the reference axis A1 is ensured by a radially inner edge of the annular portion 1031 and of circular shape configured to cooperate, or even be adjusted, around the radial outer edges of the set of fixing flaps 50 by forming support zones circumscribed in a circle of complementary dimensions. The fixing flaps 50 are therefore surrounded radially by the annular portion 1031 of the body element 103 which can come to bear against them in the event of radial displacement and thus remain coaxial with the reference axis A1. It will be noted that the conical part of the cover 40 also makes it possible to provide a centering function in the body element 103.

[0073] Naturally, the invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that those skilled in the art are able to carry out different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0074] The shape of the notches can, for example, vary without changing their function.

[0075] It is emphasized that all features, as they emerge for a person skilled in the art from this description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if they have been specifically described only in relation to other specific features, both individually and in any combinations, may be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or meaningless.

Claims

CLAIMS Filter subassembly (10) for an upper stop assembly (100) of a motor vehicle suspension strut, the filter subassembly (10) comprising: a filter block (20) made of elastomeric material, the filter block (20) extending along a reference axis (A1) and having a securing interface (21) for one end of a rod (102) of a shock absorber (106) of the suspension strut; a lower filter block support (30) having an annular central portion (31) bearing against a lower face (22) of the filter block (20) and axially traversed by a passage (33) for the end of the rod (102) of the shock absorber (106), the lower support (30) having an annular peripheral portion (32) surrounding the annular central portion (31); and a filter block cover (40) comprising a central portion (41) bearing against an upper face (23) of the filter block (20),a peripheral portion (42) surrounding the central portion (41) and bearing against the annular peripheral portion (32) of the lower support (30), characterized in that the filter subassembly (10) further comprises a locking washer (90), a first element among the lower support (30) and the cover (40) being located axially between the locking washer (90) and a second element among the lower support (30) and the cover (40), flaps (50) and notches (96) being formed on the locking washer (90) and the second element, each of the fixing flaps (50) formed on one part among the locking washer (90) and the second element being associated with one of the notches (96), formed on another part among the locking washer (90) and the second element, the locking washer (90) being movable relative to the second element between:, a relative approach position and a relative interpenetration position by relative translational movement between the locking washer (90) and the second element along the reference axis (Al) such that, in the relative interpenetration position, each of the fixing flaps (50) penetrates into the associated notch (96), the relative interpenetration position and a relative assembly position by relative rotational movement between the locking washer (90) and the second element around the reference axis (Al) such that in the relative assembly position, each of the fixing flaps (50) is housed in a circumferential extension of the associated notch (96) and is retained axially there in axial support against a rim of the associated notch.

2. Filter subassembly (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the second element is a metal part, preferably a stamped sheet metal.

3. Filter subassembly (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking washer (90) is a metal part, preferably a stamped sheet metal.

4. Filter subassembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the fixing flaps (50) projects from the annular peripheral portion (32) of the second element.

5. Filter subassembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the notches (96) is formed on the locking washer (90).

6. Filter subassembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the peripheral portion (42) of the first element is provided with a fixing orifice (60) associated with each of the fixing flaps (50) of the second element and crossed by the associated fixing flap (50), the peripheral portion (42) of the first element being located axially between the annular peripheral portion (32) of the second element and the locking washer (90).

7. Filter subassembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter block (20) is preloaded between the lower support (30) and the filter block cover (40).

8. Filter subassembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower filter block support (30) is single-piece and metallic.

9. Filter subassembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the filter block cover (40) is made of plastic material(s), where appropriate with reinforcements or inserts.

10. Filter subassembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises rotational locking means (59) for locking the relative assembly position, the rotational locking means (59) preferably comprising at least one elastic strip configured to penetrate at least partially into one of the notches (96) to lock the locking washer (90) in rotation relative to the second element in the relative assembly position.

11. Upper stop assembly (100) of a suspension strut (101) of a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising: a plain or rolling bearing (2) defining an axis of rotation (A2); a filter subassembly (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, bearing directly or indirectly against the bearing (2).

12. Upper stop assembly (100) according to claim 11, characterized in that the filter block cover (40) comprises a peripheral portion (42) provided with fixing openings (60, 44) configured to fix the filter subassembly (10) to a body element (103) of the motor vehicle. Upper stop assembly (100) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that an annular portion (1031) of a body element (103) of the motor vehicle is axially clamped between the annular peripheral portion (32) of the second element and the locking washer (90), preferably between the annular peripheral portion (42) of the first element and the locking washer (90), more preferably between the cover (40) and the locking washer (90). Suspension strut (101) for a motor vehicle, comprising a helical spring (105), a telescopic shock absorber (106), and a shock absorber (104), characterized in that it further comprises an upper stop assembly (100) according to any one of claims 11 to 13. Method of assembling a filter subassembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10,comprising at least the following steps: a passage from a relative approach position to a relative interpenetration position by relative translational movement between the first and second elements along the assembly axis (Al) so as to cause fixing flaps (50) to penetrate into associated notches (96), each of the notches (96) being associated with one of the elements among the first and second elements and with one of the fixing flaps (50) integral with the other of the elements among the first and second elements, a passage from the relative interpenetration position and a relative assembly position by relative rotational movement between the first and second elements around the assembly axis (Al) so that in the relative assembly position,each of the fixing flaps (50) is housed in a circumferential extension of the notch (96) associated with the relative interpenetration position and is retained there axially to ensure the fixing of the cover (40) with the lower support (30) of the filter block., Method for assembling a filter subassembly (10) according to claim 15, characterized in that the final assembly of the filter subassembly (10) is carried out concomitantly with the fixing of said filter subassembly (10) with a body element (103).

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