Stopper buffer body

Abstract

Provided is a stopper buffer body having a novel structure that can simply prevent back-to-front reverse mounting on a cylindrical vibration-proof device.　This stopper buffer 10 used in a stopper mechanism that limits the amount of relative displacement between an inner shaft member 32 and an outer cylindrical member 34 in a cylindrical vibration-proof device 12 is provided with a mounting plate section 14 in which a mounting hole 22 fitted to the inner shaft member 32 is formed. The mounting plate section 14 is provided with a misassembly prevention protrusion 26 that protrudes in an opening peripheral edge section of the mounting hole 22 and interferes with the cylindrical vibration-proof device 12 at the time of back-to-front reverse mounting, thereby preventing fitting of the mounting plate section 14 to the inner shaft member 32.

Description

Buffer for stopper

[0001] The present invention relates to a buffer for a stopper used in a stopper mechanism that is attached to a cylindrical vibration isolator and limits the elastic deformation amount of the main body rubber elastic body of the cylindrical vibration isolator.

[0002] Conventionally, cylindrical vibration isolators used in engine mounts, motor mounts, etc. of automobiles have been known. As shown in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 5094300 (Patent Document 1), a cylindrical vibration isolator has a structure in which an inner shaft member and an outer cylinder member are elastically connected by a main body rubber elastic body, and the inner shaft member and the outer cylinder member are attached to one of the vibration source and the vibration isolation target, respectively, thereby vibrationally connecting the vibration source and the vibration isolation target.

[0003] In addition, in a cylindrical vibration isolator, a stopper mechanism may be provided for the purpose of limiting the elastic deformation amount of the main body rubber elastic body by limiting the relative displacement amount in the axial direction between the inner shaft member and the outer cylinder member when a large load is input, thereby improving the durability of the main body rubber elastic body. The stopper mechanism is configured, for example, such that the inner shaft member side and the outer cylinder member side abut against each other via a buffer for the stopper.

[0004] Japanese Patent No. 5094300

[0005] By the way, the buffer for the stopper may be formed as a separate part from the cylindrical vibration isolator and retrofitted to the cylindrical vibration isolator for the purpose of realizing required performances such as load resistance and buffer performance. Further, for example, in Patent Document 1, the buffer for the stopper is fitted and attached to both axial ends of the inner shaft member protruding from the main body rubber elastic body so that the buffer for the stopper is held at an appropriate position with respect to the cylindrical vibration isolator.

[0006] However, the plate-shaped buffer for the stopper as shown in Patent Document 1 is likely to be misoriented front and back, and there is a risk that it may be attached in the reverse orientation when the buffer for the stopper is retrofitted to the inner shaft member.

[0007] In addition, Patent Document 1 shows a structure in which a sensor is used to detect incorrect installation of a stopper buffer in order to prevent it from being installed in the wrong direction. However, such an incorrect installation prevention mechanism requires a process to detect incorrect installation and also requires inspection equipment such as sensors, so it was not possible to easily prevent incorrect installation.

[0008] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a stopper buffer with a novel structure that can easily prevent the cylindrical vibration damping device from being mounted in the wrong orientation (front or back).

[0009] The following describes preferred embodiments for understanding the present invention. However, each embodiment described below is illustrative and can be combined with others as appropriate. Furthermore, the multiple components described in each embodiment can be recognized and adopted as independently as possible, and can be combined with any component described in another embodiment as appropriate. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various other embodiments can be realized.

[0010] The first embodiment is a stopper buffer used in a stopper mechanism that limits the relative displacement between an inner shaft member and an outer cylindrical member in a cylindrical vibration damping device, comprising a mounting plate portion having a mounting hole formed therein that fits into the inner shaft member, and the mounting plate portion is provided with a projection that protrudes from the opening periphery of the mounting hole and interferes with the cylindrical vibration damping device when mounted in the reverse direction, thereby preventing the mounting plate portion from fitting onto the inner shaft member.

[0011] According to the stopper buffer structured in accordance with this embodiment, when the stopper buffer is mounted to the cylindrical vibration damping device in the wrong orientation, the mis-assembly prevention projection, which is formed to protrude from the opening periphery of the mounting hole in the stopper buffer, interferes with the cylindrical vibration damping device. As a result of this interference between the mis-assembly prevention projection and the cylindrical vibration damping device, the inner shaft member cannot be properly fitted into the mounting hole, thus preventing the stopper buffer from being mounted to the cylindrical vibration damping device in the wrong orientation. In this way, the mis-assembly prevention projection and the cylindrical vibration damping device physically interfere with each other, preventing the stopper buffer from being mounted in the wrong orientation.

[0012] The second embodiment is a stopper buffer as described in the first embodiment, wherein the misassembly prevention projection protrudes from the mounting plate portion toward either the side opposite to the cylindrical vibration damping device or toward the inner circumference side of the mounting hole.

[0013] According to the stopper buffer structured in accordance with this embodiment, if the mis-assembly prevention projection protrudes toward the opposite side from the cylindrical vibration damping device, when the stopper buffer is mounted in the reverse direction, for example, the mis-assembly prevention projection interferes with the main rubber elastic body of the cylindrical vibration damping device, thereby preventing the stopper buffer from being mounted in the reverse direction. Furthermore, if the mis-assembly prevention projection protrudes toward the inner circumference of the mounting hole, when the stopper buffer is mounted in the reverse direction, for example, the mis-assembly prevention projection interferes with the inner shaft member of the cylindrical vibration damping device, thereby preventing the stopper buffer from being mounted in the reverse direction.

[0014] A third embodiment is a stopper buffer described in the first or second embodiment, wherein a plurality of the misassembly prevention protrusions are partially provided at the opening periphery of the mounting hole, separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the mounting hole.

[0015] According to the stopper buffer structure in this embodiment, the increase in weight of the stopper buffer due to the formation of misassembly prevention protrusions is suppressed. Furthermore, because the misassembly prevention protrusions are arranged at multiple locations in the circumferential direction that are separated from each other, even if the misassembly prevention protrusions are not provided around the entire circumference of the opening edge of the mounting hole, the reverse mounting of the stopper buffer is reliably prevented by interference between the misassembly prevention protrusions and the cylindrical vibration damping device.

[0016] The fourth embodiment is a stopper buffer as described in any one of the first to third embodiments, wherein a relief portion is provided on the surface side of the mounting plate portion at the peripheral edge of the opening of the mounting hole, the relief portion having a larger diameter than the fitting portion of the inner shaft member into the mounting hole.

[0017] According to the stopper buffer structure in this embodiment, even if the inner shaft member is inserted into the opening on the surface side of the mounting hole when the stopper buffer is mounted in the reverse direction, a large-diameter relief portion is provided at the peripheral edge of the opening on the surface side of the mounting hole, thus preventing the inner shaft member from fitting into the mounting hole. Therefore, it is also prevented that the stopper buffer is mounted in the reverse direction onto the inner shaft member, thereby more reliably preventing the stopper buffer from being mounted in the reverse direction on the cylindrical vibration damping device.

[0018] The fifth aspect is a stopper buffer as described in the fourth aspect, wherein the relief portion includes a tapered portion formed on the peripheral edge of the opening of the mounting hole and expanding toward the surface side of the mounting plate portion.

[0019] According to the stopper buffer structure in this embodiment, by making the outer edge of the opening on the front side of the mounting hole a tapered shape that increases in diameter towards the front side, a relief portion that prevents the stopper buffer from being mounted in the reverse direction on the cylindrical vibration damping device can be easily formed.

[0020] The sixth embodiment is a stopper buffer described in any one of the first to fifth embodiments, wherein a pair of mounting plate portions that are fitted onto the inner shaft member from both axial sides are connected to each other by connecting plate portions that are integrally formed with the mounting plate portions.

[0021] According to the stopper buffer structure in this embodiment, a pair of stopper mechanisms that prevent the relative axial displacement of the inner shaft member and the outer cylindrical member on both sides in the axial direction can be constructed with a single stopper buffer. Furthermore, compared to the case where two independent stopper buffers are attached to both sides of the inner shaft member in the axial direction, the number of parts is reduced, and the management and installation of the stopper buffer becomes easier.

[0022] The seventh embodiment is a stopper buffer described in any one of the first to sixth embodiments, wherein the misassembly prevention projection is provided in a range of half a circumference or less on the opening periphery of the mounting hole.

[0023] According to the stopper buffer structure in this embodiment, the inner shaft member is less likely to be fitted into the misassembly prevention projection, thereby preventing the stopper buffer from being mounted in the wrong orientation on the cylindrical vibration damping device due to the fitting of the inner shaft member and the misassembly prevention projection.

[0024] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily prevent the stopper buffer from being mounted in the wrong orientation (front or back) on the cylindrical vibration damping device.

[0025] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a cylindrical vibration damper with a stopper buffer attached as the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 shows a front view of the cylindrical vibration damper with a stopper buffer. Figure 1 shows a plan view of the cylindrical vibration damper with a stopper buffer. Figure 1 shows a left side view of the cylindrical vibration damper with a stopper buffer. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of V-V. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of VI-VI. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the stopper buffer constituting the cylindrical vibration damper with a stopper buffer shown in Figure 1. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the cylindrical vibration damper with a stopper buffer mounted in the reverse direction. Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the cylindrical vibration damper with a stopper buffer mounted in the reverse direction. Figure 10A shows a cross-sectional view of a part of the stopper buffer as the second embodiment of the present invention, in a state where it is mounted on a cylindrical vibration damper, showing the correct mounting state for the front and back.

[0026] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0027] Figures 1 to 6 show the stopper buffer 10 mounted on the cylindrical vibration damping device 12. In the following description, as a general rule, the vertical direction refers to the vertical direction in Figure 2, the left-right direction refers to the left-right direction in Figure 2, and the front-back direction refers to the vertical direction in Figure 3. Although the stopper buffer 10 is elastically deformable, in the following description, as a general rule, it will be described as having the same shape and orientation as when mounted on the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 as shown in Figures 1 to 6, and each direction of the stopper buffer 10 will be the direction when it is mounted on the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 in the appropriate orientation.

[0028] The stopper buffer 10 is made of a rubber elastic material and, as shown in Figure 7, comprises a pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 arranged on both axial sides of the cylindrical vibration damping device 12, and a connecting plate portion 16 connecting the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 to each other on the right side of the cylindrical vibration damping device 12. The mounting plate portion 14 comprises a buffer plate portion 18 that is integrally continuous with the connecting plate portion 16, and a fitting cylindrical portion 20 provided on the side of the buffer plate portion 18 opposite to the connecting plate portion 16. When the mounting plate portion 14 is properly mounted on the cylindrical vibration damping device 12, the side opposite to the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 is the front side, and the side facing the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 is the back side. Therefore, in the reversed mounting state of the stopper buffer 10, which will be described later, the front surface of the mounting plate portion 14 is located on the side facing the cylindrical vibration damping device 12, and the back surface of the mounting plate portion 14 is located on the side opposite to the cylindrical vibration damping device 12.

[0029] The buffer plate portion 18 is a flat plate that extends with a substantially constant thickness and is substantially perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The buffer plate portion 18 is provided continuously with the connecting plate portion 16 and protrudes to the left from the connecting plate portion 16, and its width in the vertical direction decreases as it moves away from the connecting plate portion 16. In this embodiment, the lower surface of the buffer plate portion 18 extends substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, and the upper surface slopes downward as it moves to the left.

[0030] The fitting cylinder portion 20 is a substantially elongated cylindrical shape with a mounting hole 22 that penetrates in the front-rear direction. The right portion of the fitting cylinder portion 20 is integrally connected to the buffer plate portion 18 and constitutes the left end of the mounting plate portion 14. The axial length dimension (front-rear length dimension) of the fitting cylinder portion 20 is larger than the front-rear plate thickness dimension of the buffer plate portion 18, and as shown in Figure 7, it protrudes inward in the front-rear direction from the buffer plate portion 18. The opening peripheral edge on the front side (outer axial direction) of the fitting cylinder portion 20 is widened, and a tapered portion 24 is formed in which the inner diameter dimension increases toward the outer axial direction. The outer diameter dimension of the fitting cylinder portion 20 is substantially constant in the tapered portion 24, and the tapered portion 24 is thinner radially toward the outer axial direction.

[0031] The fitting cylinder portion 20 is provided with an anti-misassembly projection 26. The anti-misassembly projection 26 protrudes in the front-rear direction from the outer end (surface side of the mounting plate portion 14) of the fitting cylinder portion 20 that constitutes the opening periphery of the mounting hole 22. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the anti-misassembly projection 26 is partially provided in the circumferential direction of the fitting cylinder portion 20, and multiple projections are provided spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the fitting cylinder portion 20. In this embodiment, three anti-misassembly projections 26, 26, 26 are provided spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction of the fitting cylinder portion 20. Preferably, the anti-misassembly projection 26 is provided in a range of less than half the circumference of the fitting cylinder portion 20, and in this embodiment, it is provided only in the left semi-cylindrical curved portion of the elongated cylindrical fitting cylinder portion 20. Therefore, the misassembly prevention projection 26 in this embodiment is provided on the left end of the mounting plate portion 14, which is opposite to the connection side (right side) with the connecting plate portion 16.

[0032] The protruding height dimension of the misassembly prevention projection 26 is not particularly limited, but is preferably in the range of 2 to 10 mm, and more preferably in the range of 3 to 5 mm. The width dimension of the misassembly prevention projection 26 is preferably in the range of 3 to 15 mm, and more preferably in the range of 3 to 7 mm.

[0033] The connecting plate portion 16 connects the right ends of the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 to each other. The connecting plate portion 16 integrally includes a flat intermediate buffer portion 28 that extends substantially perpendicular to the left-right direction, and a pair of connecting portions 30, 30 that protrude outward from the intermediate buffer portion 28 in both the front and rear directions. The upper part of the intermediate buffer portion 28 is wider than the lower part, with the wider upper part positioned between the pair of connecting portions 30, 30 in the front-rear direction, and the narrower lower part protruding below the pair of connecting portions 30, 30 and the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14. The connecting portion 30 extends inclined with respect to the front-rear and left-right directions, with its left end continuous with the right end of the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 (buffer plate portions 18, 18) and its right end continuous with the intermediate buffer portion 28. Mounting plate portions 14, 14, each having a buffer plate portion 18, 18 and a fitting cylindrical portion 20, 20, and connecting plate portion 16, each having an intermediate buffer portion 28 and a pair of connecting portions 30, 30, are integrally formed, and the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 are integrally connected by the connecting plate portion 16.

[0034] The connecting plate portion 16 is thinner than the mounting plate portion 14, and its bending deformation rigidity in the thickness direction is reduced. Therefore, for example, when deforming the stopper buffer body 10, which is formed into a plate shape in the unfolded state, to position the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 facing each other, the bending deformation of the connecting plate portion 16 allows the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 to be either in an appropriate mutually opposing position or in an opposing position with the front and back sides reversed.

[0035] In other words, in this embodiment, considering manufacturing reasons, the connecting plate portion 16 and the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 are molded in an unfolded state that spreads out in approximately the same direction, and by bending them at the connection portion between the connecting plate portion 16 and each mounting plate portion 14, 14, they are assembled to the vibration damping device body 38 in a U-shape or C-shape as shown in Figure 7, which is the mounting state. Therefore, as described above, the risk of the mounting plate portion 14 being incorrectly assembled with the front and back reversed is even greater. In particular, the connection portion between the connecting plate portion 16 and each mounting plate portion 14 has less bending deformation rigidity compared to other parts (especially the mounting plate portion 14) so ​​that the molded product in the unfolded state can be easily deformed into a shape where the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 rise up from the connecting plate portion 16, thus increasing the risk of incorrect assembly. However, even if the stopper buffer 10 is molded or shaped in a shape like that shown in Figure 7 or a similar bent shape, there is still a risk that the mounting plate portion 14 will be incorrectly assembled with the front and back reversed.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the stopper buffer 10 with this structure is mounted on the cylindrical vibration isolation device 12. The cylindrical vibration isolation device 12 has a vibration isolation device body 38 in which an inner shaft member 32 and an outer cylindrical member 34 are elastically connected by a main rubber elastic body 36.

[0037] The inner shaft member 32 is a rigid member made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy or a fiber-reinforced synthetic resin. The inner shaft member 32 has a central shaft portion 40 that is approximately cylindrical in shape in the axial direction, and a pair of plate-shaped mounting pieces 42, 42 are integrally formed from the central shaft portion 40, projecting outwards on both sides in the axial direction. Bolt holes 44 are formed in the mounting pieces 42, penetrating in the vertical direction, which is the thickness direction of the plate. In this embodiment, the mounting pieces 42 are provided in the left-right center of the central shaft portion 40, and are also provided at a position offset downward from the vertical center of the central shaft portion 40.

[0038] The outer cylindrical member 34 has a thin-walled, large-diameter, substantially cylindrical shape and is a rigid member made of the same material as the inner shaft member 32. The inner diameter of the outer cylindrical member 34 is larger than the maximum outer diameter of the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32, and it can be extrapolated to the central shaft portion 40 while remaining separated from the outer circumference over its entire circumference.

[0039] An inner shaft member 32 is inserted through an outer cylindrical member 34, and a main rubber elastic body 36 is positioned radially between the inner shaft member 32 and the outer cylindrical member 34. The inner shaft member 32 and the outer cylindrical member 34 are elastically connected to each other by the main rubber elastic body 36, thereby forming the vibration isolation device body 38.

[0040] As shown in Figures 2 and 6, the main rubber elastic body 36 is provided with a first cut hole 46 that penetrates axially above the inner shaft member 32, and a second cut hole 48 that penetrates axially below the inner shaft member 32. The first cut hole 46 is provided with a first stopper rubber 50 that protrudes downward from the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical member 34 toward the inner shaft member 32. The second cut hole 48 is provided with a second stopper rubber 52 that protrudes upward from the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical member 34 toward the inner shaft member 32. When a large load is applied in the vertical direction, the inner shaft member 32 and the outer cylindrical member 34 come into contact via the first and second stopper rubbers 50 and 52, thereby forming an upper and lower stopper that limits the relative vertical displacement between the inner shaft member 32 and the outer cylindrical member 34, and improving the durability of the main rubber elastic body 36 (rubber feet 54, 54, which will be described later). In this embodiment, the width dimension of the second stopper rubber 52 in the left-right direction is larger than the width dimension of the first stopper rubber 50 in the left-right direction, thereby providing higher load-bearing capacity against a downward input that moves the inner shaft member 32 downward relative to the outer cylindrical member 34.

[0041] Furthermore, the main rubber elastic body 36 is provided with a pair of rubber feet 54, 54 extending between the inner shaft member 32 and the outer cylindrical member 34 in the circumferential direction between the first and second perforations 46, 48. The inner circumferential ends of the rubber feet 54, 54 are vulcanized and bonded to the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32, and the outer circumferential ends are vulcanized and bonded to the outer cylindrical member 34. The pair of rubber feet 54, 54 are symmetrical in the left-right direction. The rubber feet 54 extend downward toward the outer circumference. The circumferential width of the rubber feet 54 is increased toward the outer circumference. An inner circumferential cylindrical portion 56 is provided at the inner circumferential end of the main rubber elastic body 36, fixed to the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32 over its entire circumference, and the pair of rubber feet 54, 54 are fixed to the inner shaft member 32 via the inner circumferential cylindrical portion 56. Furthermore, an outer circumferential cylindrical portion 58 is provided at the outer end of the main rubber elastic body 36, which is fixed to the outer cylindrical member 34 around its entire circumference, and a pair of rubber feet 54, 54 are fixed to the outer cylindrical member 34 via the outer circumferential cylindrical portion 58.

[0042] An outer bracket 60 is attached to the outer cylindrical member 34 of the vibration damping device body 38. The outer bracket 60 is a member for attaching the outer cylindrical member 34 to a vehicle body or the like (not shown), and in this embodiment, a press-fit hole 62 into which the outer cylindrical member 34 is press-fitted is formed, penetrating in the front-rear direction. The lower surface of the outer bracket 60 has a plane that extends substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction, and is a mounting surface that is superimposed on and attached to a vehicle body or the like. The attachment structure of the outer bracket 60 to the vehicle body or the like is not particularly limited, and for example, an attachment piece that protrudes outward from the cylindrical portion that constitutes the wall of the press-fit hole 62 may be provided so that the attachment piece is fixed to the vehicle body or the like.

[0043] Both the front and rear surfaces of the outer bracket 60 are substantially symmetric in the front-rear direction. Annular flat portions 64 that extend substantially orthogonally to the front-rear direction are provided at the opening peripheral edges of the press-fitting holes 62 on both the front and rear surfaces of the outer bracket 60, respectively. A front stopper surface 66 is formed including a part of the annular flat portion 64 on the front side, and a rear stopper surface 68 is formed including a part of the annular flat portion 64 on the rear side. Further, the right side surface of the outer bracket 60 is provided with a side stopper surface 70 formed by a flat surface that extends substantially orthogonally to the left-right direction.

[0044] For the cylindrical vibration isolator 12 with the outer bracket 60 attached to the vibration isolator main body 38, the stopper buffer 10 is attached. That is, the connection plate portion 16 is overlapped on the right side of the cylindrical vibration isolator 12, and the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 are overlapped on both outer sides in the axial direction of the cylindrical vibration isolator 12. Then, the fitting cylinder portions 20, 20 provided on the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 of the stopper buffer 10 are externally fitted to the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32 from both sides in the axial direction (front-rear direction), so that the central shaft portion 40 is fitted into the mounting holes 22, 22, and the stopper buffer 10 is attached to the cylindrical vibration isolator 12. Note that, for the stopper buffer 10, for example, the pair of fitting cylinder portions 20, 20 may be fixed to the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32 by means such as adhesion.

[0045] For the stopper buffer 10, the intermediate buffer portion 28 of the connection plate portion 16 is arranged to cover the side stopper surface 70 that constitutes the right side surface of the outer bracket 60. An inner bracket (not shown) attached to the inner shaft member 32 and the side stopper surface 70 of the outer bracket 60 abut via the intermediate buffer portion 28, thereby forming a side stopper that restricts the relative displacement amount of the inner shaft member 32 to the left with respect to the outer cylinder member 34.

[0046] The pair of buffer plate portions 18, 18 of the buffer body 10 for the stopper are arranged to cover a part of both the front and rear surfaces (front stopper surface 66 and rear stopper surface 68) of the opening peripheral edge portion of the press-fitting hole 62 in the outer bracket 60. Then, an inner bracket (not shown) attached to the inner shaft member 32 and the front stopper surface 66 or the rear stopper surface 68 of the outer bracket 60 abut against each other through the buffer plate portions 18, 18, thereby constituting a front and rear stopper as a stopper mechanism for restricting the amount of relative displacement in the front and rear directions of the inner shaft member 32 with respect to the outer cylinder member 34.

[0047] Since the buffer body 10 for the stopper of the present embodiment has a structure integrally provided with a pair of buffer plate portions 18, 18 and a connecting plate portion 16, the buffer rubbers of the front and rear stoppers and the side stopper can be provided as one part with respect to the cylindrical vibration isolator 12. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and by fixing the pair of fitting cylinder portions 20, 20 to the inner shaft member 32, the pair of buffer plate portions 18, 18 and the connecting plate portion 16 can be attached to the cylindrical vibration isolator 12, and the labor of the attachment work is reduced.

[0048] The structure of the inner bracket attached to the inner shaft member 32 is not particularly limited, but it is bolt-fixed to the pair of attachment pieces 42, 42 of the inner shaft member 32, and a pair of attachment portions extending rightward from the pair of attachment pieces 42, 42 are connected to each other on the right side of the outer bracket 60. And the inner bracket is opposed to the outer cylinder member 34 and the outer bracket 60 with the buffer body 10 for the stopper interposed therebetween in a separated state so as to secure a predetermined stopper clearance.

[0049] By the way, in an appropriate mounting state of the buffer body 10 for the stopper with respect to the cylindrical vibration isolator 12 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the anti-misassembly protrusion 26 protrudes from the fitting cylinder portion 20 toward the side opposite to the cylindrical vibration isolator 12 (the outer side in the front and rear directions). Therefore, when the buffer body 10 for the stopper is mounted on the cylindrical vibration isolator 12 in an appropriate orientation, the anti-misassembly protrusion 26 does not prevent the fitting of the fitting cylinder portion 20 to the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32.

[0050] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, when the pair of mounting plates 14, 14 of the stopper buffer 10 are mounted in reverse orientation on the inner shaft member 32, the misassembly prevention projection 26 protrudes from the fitting cylinder 20 toward the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 side (inward in the front-rear direction). In this case, as shown in Figure 9, the misassembly prevention projection 26 abuts against the main body rubber elastic body 36 of the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 in the front-rear direction, and the fitting of the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32 and the fitting cylinder 20 is prevented by the misassembly prevention projection 26. Therefore, the pair of mounting plates 14, 14 are not held in the mounted state on the inner shaft member 32, and the stopper buffer 10 is not mounted on the cylindrical vibration damping device 12. Therefore, the stopper buffer 10 is prevented from being mounted on the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 in the reversed orientation, with the pair of mounting plates 14, 14 facing in opposite directions, by interference between the mis-assembly prevention projection 26 and the cylindrical vibration damping device 12. In this way, the stopper buffer 10 is prevented from being mounted in the reverse orientation by physical interference between the mis-assembly prevention projection 26 and the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 (main body rubber elastic body 36). As a result, the inspection process for detecting reverse mounting with sensors, etc., can be omitted, and inspection equipment, etc., becomes unnecessary, making it easy to prevent reverse mounting.

[0051] The misassembly prevention projection 26 protrudes in the front-to-back direction, which is the overlapping direction between the mounting plate portion 14 and the cylindrical vibration damping device 12. When the mounting plate portion 14 is attached to the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 in the reversed orientation, the projection abuts against the main body rubber elastic body 36 of the cylindrical vibration damping device 12. As a result, the force due to interference with the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 acts on the misassembly prevention projection 26 as a compressive force in the protruding direction, thus reducing the amount of elastic deformation of the misassembly prevention projection 26 compared to when it acts as a shearing force. Therefore, even when the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32 is forcibly pushed into the mounting hole 22 of the mounting plate portion 14 while deforming the misassembly prevention projection 26 that has interfered with the cylindrical vibration damping device 12, a large resistance force from the compression spring of the misassembly prevention projection 26 acts, effectively preventing the stopper buffer 10 from being installed in the reversed orientation.

[0052] Furthermore, a tapered portion 24 is formed on the outer edge of the opening on the front side of the fitting cylinder portion 20, and the inner diameter of the outer edge of the opening on the front side of the fitting cylinder portion 20 is larger than the outer diameter of the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32. As a result, for example, even if the fitting cylinder portion 20 is strongly pushed toward the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 side and the fitting cylinder portion 20 reaches the central shaft portion 40 due to the elastic deformation of the misassembly prevention projection 26 and the main body rubber elastic body 36, the relief portion 72, which is formed by the tapered portion 24 and is separated on the outer circumference side of the central shaft portion 40, prevents the fitting of the central shaft portion 40 and the fitting cylinder portion 20.Therefore, the reverse mounting of the stopper buffer 10 is more reliably prevented.

[0053] In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the opening on the front side of the fitting cylinder portion 20 is larger than the outer diameter of the central shaft portion 40 in the tapered portion 24. As a result, the anti-misassembly projection 26 protruding from the front end face of the fitting cylinder portion 20 has its inner circumferential surface located further outward than the outer circumferential surface of the central shaft portion 40. Therefore, fitting of the central shaft portion 40 with the inner circumferential surfaces of the multiple anti-misassembly projections 26 is prevented, and the reverse mounting of the stopper buffer 10 is more advantageously avoided.

[0054] The misassembly prevention projection 26 protrudes from the front end of the fitting cylinder portion 20, whose inner diameter is enlarged by the tapered portion 24, and the inner circumferential surface of the misassembly prevention projection 26 is located on the outer circumference side of the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32. Therefore, when the stopper buffer 10 is installed in the reverse orientation, the central shaft portion 40 does not come into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the misassembly prevention projection 26, and fitting between the central shaft portion 40 and the inner circumferential surface of the misassembly prevention projection 26 is avoided, thereby preventing the stopper buffer 10 from being installed in the reverse orientation on the inner shaft member 32.

[0055] The misassembly prevention projection 26 is partially provided in the circumferential direction at the opening periphery of the mounting hole 22. As a result, compared to the case where it is a continuous cylindrical shape around the entire circumference, the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32 is less likely to be fitted onto the inner circumferential surface of the misassembly prevention projection 26, and the reverse mounting of the stopper buffer 10 is more easily avoided.

[0056] In this embodiment, multiple partial mis-assembly prevention protrusions 26 are provided spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction. Therefore, even if each mis-assembly prevention protrusion 26 is narrow in width, it is possible to effectively prevent the device from being mounted upside down due to interference with the cylindrical vibration damping device 12.

[0057] Furthermore, the multiple misassembly prevention protrusions 26 are arranged within a range of less than half the circumference of the mounting hole 22 at the opening periphery of the mounting hole 22, and in this embodiment, they are arranged only on one arc-shaped curved portion of the mounting hole 22, which has an oval cross-section. As a result, the fitting of the inner shaft member 32 onto the inner circumference side of the multiple misassembly prevention protrusions 26 is more advantageously prevented, and the reverse mounting of the stopper buffer 10 is effectively avoided.

[0058] Figure 10 partially shows a stopper buffer 80 as a second embodiment of the present invention, mounted on a cylindrical vibration damping device 12. In the following description, components and parts that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the figures and their descriptions are omitted. Also, parts outside the area shown in Figure 10 are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment. Figure 10A shows the stopper buffer 80 mounted on the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 in the correct orientation, and Figure 10B shows the stopper buffer 80 mounted on the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 in the reverse orientation (front and back).

[0059] The stopper buffer 80 is provided with an anti-misassembly projection 82 that protrudes from the opening periphery of the mounting hole 22. In this embodiment, the anti-misassembly projection 82 protrudes inward from the axially (front-rear direction) outer end of the fitting cylinder portion 20 that constitutes the opening periphery of the mounting hole 22. The anti-misassembly projection 82 may be provided partially in the circumferential direction, similar to the anti-misassembly projection 26 in the first embodiment, and multiple projections may be provided spaced apart from each other. Furthermore, it is desirable that the partially circumferential anti-misassembly projection 82 be arranged in a range of half the circumference or less of the mounting hole 22. Because the partially circumferential anti-misassembly projection 82 protrudes inward from the fitting cylinder portion 20, the axially outer end of the mounting hole 22 has a partially reduced hole diameter in the portion where the anti-misassembly projection 82 is formed.

[0060] Similar to the first embodiment, the stopper buffer 80 is mounted on the cylindrical vibration damping device 12 by fitting the fitting cylinder portion 20 onto the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32. When the stopper buffer 80 is mounted on the inner shaft member 32 with the front and back sides of the mounting plate portion 14, including the fitting cylinder portion 20, facing the correct orientation, the misassembly prevention projection 82 is positioned axially outward relative to the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32 without interfering with it, as shown in Figure 10A.

[0061] On the other hand, when the mounting plate portion 14 is mounted in the reverse orientation, with the front and back sides opposite to the appropriate orientation, as shown in Figure 10B, the mis-assembly prevention projection 82 protruding inward from the fitting cylinder portion 20 abuts against the axial end face of the central shaft portion 40 of the inner shaft member 32. This prevents the central shaft portion 40 from being inserted into the mounting hole 22, thus preventing the stopper buffer 80 from being incorrectly mounted in the reverse orientation to the cylindrical vibration damping device 12.

[0062] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited by its specific description. For example, in the first embodiment, a stopper buffer 10 was shown in which a pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 are integrally continuous via a connecting plate portion 16, but the present invention can also be applied to a stopper buffer composed of only one mounting plate portion 14.

[0063] In the first embodiment, for example, textures such as bumps, ridges, or grooves for cushioning or preventing adhesion may be formed on the surface of the mounting plate portions 14, 14 (cushioning plate portions 18, 18) that constitute the front and rear stoppers. Similarly, for example, textures such as bumps, ridges, or grooves for cushioning or preventing adhesion may be formed on the surface of the connecting plate portion 16 (intermediate cushioning portion 28) that constitute the lateral stopper.

[0064] The misassembly prevention projection can be, for example, an annular or cylindrical shape that protrudes from the opening edge of the mounting hole so as to extend continuously around its entire circumference. Furthermore, if multiple misassembly prevention projections are partially provided in the circumferential direction, these projections may be arranged over a range exceeding half the circumference of the mounting hole. In cases where axially protruding misassembly prevention projections are provided over a range exceeding half the circumference, it is desirable that a relief portion be provided on the inner circumference side of the misassembly prevention projection, such that the inner circumferential surface of the misassembly prevention projection is located further outward than the outer circumferential surface of the fitting portion of the inner shaft member into the mounting hole, in order to prevent the misassembly prevention projection from being fitted into the inner shaft member.

[0065] When providing a partial misassembly prevention projection in an area of ​​less than half the circumference of the mounting hole, the area of ​​less than half the circumference in which the misassembly prevention projection is provided is preferably on the side opposite to the connecting plate portion 16 as shown in the first embodiment, but it can also be set in other positions.

[0066] When multiple anti-misassembly protrusions are provided, these protrusions may have different shapes from each other. Specifically, for example, the multiple anti-misassembly protrusions may have different widths in the circumferential direction of the mounting hole, different thicknesses, or different protruding lengths. In short, the number of anti-misassembly protrusions, their arrangement in the circumferential direction of the mounting hole, their shape, size, etc., are not limited.

[0067] The fitting cylinder portion is not limited to an elongated cylindrical shape, and can be cylindrical, polygonal, or irregularly shaped depending on the shape of the inner shaft member (central shaft portion) to be fitted. As is clear from this, the cross-sectional shape of the mounting hole is not particularly limited.

[0068] 10 Stopper buffer (first embodiment) 12 Cylindrical vibration isolation device 14 Mounting plate section 16 Connecting plate section 18 Buffer plate section 20 Fitting cylinder section 22 Mounting hole 24 Tapered section 26 Projection to prevent misassembly 28 Intermediate buffer section 30 Connecting section 32 Inner shaft member 34 Outer cylinder member 36 Main rubber elastic body 38 Vibration isolation device body 40 Central shaft section 42 Mounting piece 44 Bolt hole 46 First cut hole 48 Second cut hole 50 First stopper rubber 52 Second stopper rubber 54 Rubber foot 56 Inner circumferential cylinder section 58 Outer circumferential cylinder section 60 Outer bracket 62 Press-fit hole 64 Annular flat section 66 Front stopper surface 68 Rear stopper surface 70 Lateral stopper surface 72 Relief section 80 Stopper buffer (second embodiment) 82 Projection to prevent misassembly

Claims

1. A stopper buffer used in a stopper mechanism that limits the relative displacement between an inner shaft member and an outer cylindrical member in a cylindrical vibration damping device, comprising a mounting plate portion having a mounting hole formed therein that fits into the inner shaft member, and the mounting plate portion having a projection that protrudes from the opening periphery of the mounting hole and interferes with the cylindrical vibration damping device when mounted in the reverse direction, thereby preventing the mounting plate portion from fitting onto the inner shaft member.

2. The stopper buffer according to claim 1, wherein the anti-misassembly projection protrudes from the mounting plate portion toward either the opposite side of the cylindrical vibration damping device or the inner circumference side of the mounting hole.

3. The stopper buffer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the misassembly prevention protrusions are partially provided at the opening periphery of the mounting hole, separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the mounting hole.

4. The stopper buffer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a relief portion is provided on the surface side of the mounting plate portion at the periphery of the opening of the mounting hole, the relief portion having a larger diameter than the fitting portion of the inner shaft member into the mounting hole.

5. The stopper buffer according to claim 4, wherein the relief portion includes a tapered portion formed on the peripheral edge of the opening of the mounting hole and expanding toward the surface side of the mounting plate portion.

6. The stopper buffer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a pair of mounting plate portions, which are fitted onto the inner shaft member from both axial sides, are connected to each other by connecting plate portions integrally formed with the mounting plate portions.

7. The stopper buffer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the anti-misassembly projection is provided in a range of half a circumference or less on the opening periphery of the mounting hole.

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