Suspension stop device

Abstract

[Suspension stop device] The suspension stop device comprises a lower support cover 16, an upper support cover 14, and at least one bearing disposed between said covers. The upper support cover 14 has an annular upper surface 20 oriented axially on the side opposite the lower support cover 16. The annular upper surface 20 of the upper support cover has a plurality of axially projecting protrusions 34 spaced circumferentially. Reference: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Suspension stop device Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of suspension stop devices used in particular for motor vehicles in the suspension struts of the steered wheels. State of the prior art

[0002] A suspension stop device generally comprises a bearing forming an axial stop and upper and lower covers forming a housing for the bearing rings and making it possible to provide the interface between said rings and the surrounding elements.

[0003] The suspension stop device is arranged in the upper part of the suspension strut between a suspension spring and an upper support cup or seat coming into contact with an element of the vehicle chassis. The suspension spring is mounted around a shock absorber piston rod whose end is connected to the vehicle chassis. The suspension spring, of the helical spring type, comes to bear axially directly or indirectly on the lower cover of the suspension stop device.

[0004] The suspension stop device makes it possible to transmit axial and radial forces between the suspension spring and the chassis of the vehicle while allowing a relative rotational movement between the lower cover and the upper cover resulting from a turning of the steered wheels of the vehicle and / or the compression of the suspension spring.

[0005] The present invention aims to reduce the manufacturing costs of known suspension stop devices. Summary of the invention

[0006] The invention relates to a suspension stop device comprising a lower support cover, an upper support cover and at least one bearing arranged between said covers. The upper support cover is provided with an annular upper surface oriented axially on the side opposite the lower support cover.

[0007] According to a general characteristic of the invention, the annular upper surface of the upper support cover is provided with a plurality of protrusions extending axially in projection and spaced in the circumferential direction.

[0008] The protrusions of the upper support cover define a circumferentially discontinuous support surface for the upper support seat coming into contact with the vehicle chassis.

[0009] Thus, the quantity of material used for the manufacture of the upper support cover is reduced, which reduces the weight and cost of the suspension stop device.

[0010] Preferably, the protrusions of the upper support cover are integral with the annular upper surface. This makes it possible to further reduce the cost of the suspension stop device because the ribs are formed at the same time as the annular upper surface of the upper support cover, in particular by molding.

[0011] For the same purpose of reducing costs, the upper support cover is preferably made in one piece.

[0012] Alternatively, however, it remains possible to provide that the protrusions of the upper support cover are attached to the annular upper surface. In this case, the protrusions are manufactured separately and fixed to the annular upper surface of the upper support cover by any suitable means, for example by gluing or adhesive application.

[0013] Preferably, the protrusions of the upper support cover are regularly spaced in the circumferential direction.

[0014] In one embodiment, the protrusions of the upper bearing cover extend from the inner edge of the annular upper surface. The protrusions may remain spaced from the outer edge of the annular upper surface.

[0015] In one embodiment, the upper support cover comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs which connect to the inner edge of the annular upper surface. At least a portion of the protrusions may be located in the extension of one of the reinforcing ribs when considering a radial direction.

[0016] According to one design, the annular upper surface of the upper support cover extends radially. The upper surface is thus oriented perpendicularly to the axis of said device.

[0017] According to an alternative design, the annular upper surface of the upper support cover is oriented perpendicularly to an axis forming a non-zero angle with the axis of said device. Brief description of the figures

[0018] The present invention will be better understood upon studying the detailed description of embodiments, taken as non-limiting examples and illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of a suspension stop device according to a first example of embodiment of the invention,

[0020] [Fig.2] is a sectional view of the stop device of [Fig.l], and

[0021] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of a suspension stop device according to a second example of embodiment of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0022] The suspension stop device 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is adapted to be installed between an upper support cup or seat coming into contact with an element of the fixed chassis of a motor vehicle, and a helical type suspension spring. In Figures 1 and 2, the device 10 is shown in a supposed vertical position.

[0023] The device 10, of axis 12, comprises an upper support cover 14, a lower support cover 16, and a rolling bearing 18 interposed axially between said covers. In the example illustrated, the covers 14, 16 are mounted in direct contact with the bearing 18 without the interposition of an intermediate element. Alternatively, the covers 14, 16 can be mounted in indirect contact with the bearing 18 with the interposition of an intermediate element.

[0024] As will be described in more detail below, the upper support cover 14 is configured to delimit a circumferentially discontinuous support surface for the upper support seat.

[0025] The upper support cover 14 may be made of a single piece, for example made of plastic, for example such as a polyamide PA 6.6, which may or may not be reinforced with glass fibers.

[0026] The support cap 14, of axis 12, comprises a radial portion 14a, an annular axial inner skirt 14b, and an annular axial outer skirt 14c radially surrounding the inner skirt. The radial portion 14a has an annular upper surface 20 intended to come opposite the upper support seat, and an opposite lower surface 22 in contact with the bearing 18. The upper 20 and lower 22 surfaces define the thickness of the radial portion 14a. In the example illustrated, the radial portion 14a has a stepped shape. The upper surface 20 forms the upper surface of the support cap 14. The upper surface 20 is oriented axially on the side opposite the lower support cap 16. The upper surface 20 is continuous in the circumferential direction.

[0027] The outer skirt 14c of the support cover radially partially surrounds the lower support cover 16. The outer skirt 14c extends axially. The outer skirt 14c extends axially from the radial portion 14a. In the example illustrated, the outer skirt 14c extends a large diameter edge of the radial portion 14a.

[0028] The inner skirt 14b of the support cap extends inside the bore of the lower support cap 16. The inner and outer skirts 14b, 14c extend axially downward from the radial portion 14a. The inner skirt 14b extends a small diameter edge of the radial portion 14a.

[0029] The upper support cover 14 further comprises a plurality of hooks 14d internal hooks arranged on the internal skirt 14b and extending radially outwardly towards the lower support cover 16. In the example illustrated, the hooks 14d are spaced from each other in the circumferential direction. Alternatively, it might be possible to provide a single annular hook.

[0030] The upper bearing cover 14 comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs 21 extending inwardly from the bore of the radial portion 14a. The ribs 21 are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. The upper end of each rib 21 connects to the inner edge of the annular upper surface 20.

[0031] The bearing 18 is entirely located radially between the skirts 14b, 14c of the upper support cover 14. The bearing 18 comprises an upper ring 24 in contact with the upper support cover 14, a lower ring 26 in contact with the lower support cover 16, and a row of rolling elements 28, here balls, arranged between the raceways formed on the rings. In the example illustrated, the bearing 18 is of the angular contact type. The upper ring 24 is in contact with the lower surface 22 of the radial portion 14a of the upper support cover. The lower ring 26 is in contact with an upper surface of the lower support cover 16.

[0032] The lower support cover 16 here consists of a body made in a single piece, for example made of plastic material, for example such as a polyamide PA 6.6, which may or may not be reinforced with glass fibers.

[0033] The support cover 16, of axis 12, comprises an annular radial portion 30 in the form of a plate against which it is in contact with the lower ring 26 of the bearing, and an annular axial skirt 32 which extends a small diameter edge of the radial portion 30. The skirt 32 extends axially opposite the upper support cover 14 and the bearing 18. The skirt 32 allows the centering of the suspension spring.

[0034] As indicated previously, the upper support cover 14 is configured to delimit a circumferentially discontinuous support surface for the upper support seat.

[0035] The annular upper surface 20 of the support cover 14 is provided with a plurality of protrusions 34 extending axially in a projecting manner. The protrusions 34 extend axially in a projecting manner upwards, i.e. on the side opposite the lower support cover 16. The protrusions 34 extend in a projecting manner relative to the upper surface 20. The protrusions 34 are here made in one piece with the annular upper surface 20.

[0036] The protuberances 34 are spaced, here in a regular manner, relative to each other in the circumferential direction on the annular upper surface 20 of the support cover 14. Between two successive protuberances 34 in the circumferential direction there remains a smooth zone 36 on the upper surface 20. By "smooth zone" is meant an area on the annular upper surface 20 devoid of projecting protuberance. Considering the circumferential direction, there is an alternation of protrusions 34 and smooth areas 36. The upper surfaces of the protrusions 34 delimit the discontinuous bearing surface in the circumferential direction for the upper bearing seat.

[0037] In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusions 34 are identical to each other. Alternatively, the protrusions 34 could not be identical. In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusions 34 extend from the inner edge of the annular upper surface 20 and remain at a distance from the outer edge of said surface. Alternatively, the protrusions 34 could extend over the entire radial width of the upper surface 20 and thus connect to the outer edge of the upper surface 20. Alternatively, the protrusions 34 could extend from the outer edge of the annular upper surface 20 and remain at a distance from the inner edge of said surface. Alternatively, the protrusions 34 could remain at a distance from the inner and outer edges of said surface.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, a first group of protuberances is provided in which each of the protuberances of this group is located in the extension of one of the ribs 23 considering a radial direction, and a second group of protuberances in which each of the protuberances of this group is located circumferentially between two successive protuberances of the first group.

[0039] Alternatively, it is possible to provide other arrangements of the protuberances 34 as is for example illustrated in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 3] in which the identical elements bear the same references. In this example, each of the protuberances 34 is located in the extension of one of the ribs 23. Compared to the first example, the protuberances 34 also have an increased circumferential dimension. Alternatively, each protuberance 34 could be located between two ribs 23 considering the circumferential direction.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiments, the protrusions 34 have a rectangular shape. Alternatively, the protrusions 34 may have other shapes, for example square, triangular, etc.

[0041] In the illustrated embodiments, the protrusions 34 are arranged on the annular upper surface 20 so as to form a single ring of protrusions. Alternatively, the upper surface 20 could be provided with a plurality of rings of protrusions 34.

[0042] In the illustrated embodiments, the device comprises an angular contact rolling bearing provided with a row of balls. The device may comprise other types of rolling bearings, for example a bearing with four points of contact and / or with at least two rows of balls. The rolling bearing may comprise other types of rolling elements, for example rollers. In another variant, the bearing of the device may comprise a sliding bearing without rolling elements and fitted with one or more rings.

Claims

Claims

1. Suspension stop device comprising a lower support cover (16), an upper bearing cover (14), and at least one bearing (18) arranged between said covers, the upper bearing cover (14) being provided with an annular upper surface (20) extending radially and oriented axially on the side opposite the lower support cover (16), forming the upper surface of the bearing cover (14) and intended to come opposite an upper bearing seat, characterized in that the annular upper surface (20) of the upper bearing cover is continuous in the circumferential direction, and is provided with a plurality of protuberances (34) extending axially in projection and spaced apart in the circumferential direction, such that a smooth zone remains between two successive protuberances (34) in the circumferential direction,the upper surfaces of the protrusions (34) delimiting a discontinuous bearing surface in the circumferential direction for the upper bearing seat.,

2. Device according to claim 1, in which the protrusions (34) of the upper support cover are integral with the annular upper surface (20).

3. Device according to claim 2, in which the upper support cover is made in one piece.

4. Device according to claim 1, in which the protrusions (34) of the upper support cover are attached to the annular upper surface (20).

5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the protrusions (34) of the upper support cover are regularly spaced in the circumferential direction.

6. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein the protrusions (34) of the upper support cover extend from the inner edge of the annular upper surface (20).

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the protrusions (34) of the upper support cover remain at a distance from the external edge of the annular upper surface (20).

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the upper support cover (14) comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs (23) which connect to the internal edge of the annular upper surface (20), at least a part of the protuberances (34) being located in the extension of one of the reinforcing ribs (23) in considering a radial direction.

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