Bushing

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly comprising a bushing with a center line L, having an inner sleeve with a mounting bore, an outer sleeve and an elastomeric spring member extending along a height H along the center line L. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the spring member and the inner surface of the outer sleeve are on each side of the center line L substantially parallel. On at least one side of the longitudinal center line L, the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the spring member and the inner surface of the outer sleeve extend at an angle to the center line L. An outer surface of the outer sleeve is substantially parallel to the center line L along the height H. Another embodiment of an assembly according to the invention comprises a bushing with a mounting bore that extends at an angle to the center line L. The bushing according to the invention is compact, can be easily manufactured and assembled, take up a high load and can be adjusted to the direction along which forces act on the bushing.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising: a bushing: having a center line L, having an inner sleeve with a mounting bore that extends through the inner sleeve from a top surface to a bottom surface, an outer sleeve and an elastomeric spring member extending along a height H along the center line L, the assembly further comprising a transverse member that is attached to the outer sleeve, wherein in a vertical cross-section that comprises the center line L along the height H, the bushing comprises: the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the spring member and the inner surface of the outer sleeve are on each side of the center line L substantially parallel; on at least one side of the longitudinal center line L, the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the spring member and the inner surface of the outer sleeve extend at an angle to the center line L; and an outer surface of the outer sleeve is substantially parallel to the center line L along the height H.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting bore extends at an angle with the center line L; and the elastomeric material of the spring member is in contact with the inner surface of the outer sleeve and the outer surface of the inner sleeve.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein a width W of the resilient material of the spring members in the vertical cross-section is substantially constant along the height H.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the transverse member is situated substantially perpendicular to the center line L.

5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the mounting bore is at an angle of between 0 and 40 degrees, preferably between 5 and 15 degrees from the center line L, preferably about 10 degrees.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring material of the spring members comprises an elastomeric material of rubber, a rubber compound, silicon, nitil or polyurethane, or a combination of one or more of the elastomeric material of rubber, the rubber compound, silicon, nitil or polyurethane.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the spring member has an E modulus between 0.5 Megapascal (MPa) and 10 MPa, a shear modulus of between 0.1 MPa and 3 Mpa and a damping of 0-30 degrees in phase between force and displacement.

8. A suspension for a road vehicle comprising: an assembly comprising at least a first bushing and a second bushing, wherein at least the first bushing having a center line L, having an inner sleeve with a mounting bore that extends through the inner sleeve from a top surface to a bottom surface, an outer sleeve and an elastomeric spring member extending along a height H along the center line L, the assembly further comprising a transverse member that is attached to the outer sleeve, wherein in a vertical cross-section that comprises the center line L along the height H, the first bushing comprises: the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the spring member and the inner surface of the outer sleeve are on each side of the center line L substantially parallel; on at least one side of the longitudinal center line L, the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the spring member and the inner surface of the outer sleeve extend at an angle to the center line L; and an outer surface of the outer sleeve is substantially parallel to the center line L along the height H, the suspension having a substantially horizontal transverse axle that is on each end attached to an outer sleeve of a respective one of the first bushing and the second bushing and having a substantially vertically extending mounting bore and to a wheel.

9. The suspension for a road vehicle of claim 8, comprising the assembly and wherein the mounting bore extends at an angle with the center line L; the elastomeric material of the spring member is in contact with the inner surface of the outer sleeve and the outer surface of the inner sleeve, and having a transverse axle with a substantial horizontal central part that is on each end attached to a bushing with a substantially vertically extending mounting bore , and to a wheel, via end members that extend at an angle with the central part and that are connected to a respective outer sleeve.

10. The suspension for a road vehicle of claim 8, wherein the end parts of the transverse axle comprise axial snubber members.

11. A road vehicle comprising: an assembly comprising a bushing, the bushing having a center line L, having an inner sleeve with a mounting bore that extends through the inner sleeve from a top surface to a bottom surface, an outer sleeve and an elastomeric spring member extending along a height H along the center line L, the assembly further comprising a transverse member that is attached to the outer sleeve, wherein in a vertical cross-section that comprises the center line L along the height H, the bushing comprises: the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the spring member and the inner surface of the outer sleeve are on each side of the center line L substantially parallel; on at least one side of the longitudinal center line L, the outer surface of the inner sleeve, the spring member and the inner surface of the outer sleeve extend at an angle to the center line L; and an outer surface of the outer sleeve is substantially parallel to the center line L along the height H.

12. The road vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a second bushing and a second mounting bore, wherein the bushing and the second bushing are connected to a body mounted on an axle with wheels, via bolts extending through the mounting bore and the second mounting bore.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Some embodiments of an assembly according to the invention will by way of non-limiting example be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a road vehicle with an assembly according to the invention,

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the bushing of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale,

[0027] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a bushing according to the invention,

[0028] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of a bushing according to the invention,

[0029] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a road vehicle with a bushing having an angled mounting bore, and

[0030] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the bushing of FIG. 5 on an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 1 with a rear axle 2 that is connected to a frame or chassis module 5 and that carries two wheels 6, 7. The axle 2 is connected to the chassis module 5 via two bushings 8,9 via bolts (not shown) extending through vertically oriented mounting bores 10,11 in the bushings. The bushings 8,9 each have an outer sleeve 12, 13 with an outer surface that is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal length direction T of the axle 2. The bushings 8,9 are provided with a spring member 14,15 of an elastomeric material extending around an inner sleeve 16, 17 such that the spring member 14, 15 is oriented transverely to a line S along which forces acting on the center of mass M are transferred to the bushings.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows the bushing 8 on an enlarged scale, having an asymetric configuration relative to the center line L. The mounting bore 11 extends from a top surface 20 to a lower surface 21 of the bushing and attaches the bushing to a vehicle module via a bolt through the mounting bore. The outer sleeve 12 has an inner surface 22 that is at an angle relative to the center line L and an outer surface 23 that extends parallel to the center line L. The inner sleeve 16 has an outer surface 24 that is oriented parallel to the inner surface 22 of the outer sleeve 23, so that the spring member 14 of elastomeric material is of a substantially constant width W along the height H of the bushing 8.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a bushing 8 according to the invention, which is symmetrical relative to the center line L.

[0034] FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a symmetric bushing 8 which is connected to the rear axle 2 with the center line T of the axle 2 being substantially perpendicular to the center line L of the bushing 8.

[0035] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of bushings 8, 9 in which the mounting bores 10, 11 extend at an angle to the center line L of the bushings. The outer surfaces 23, 24 of the outer and inner sleeves 12, 13; 16, 17 and the spring members 14, 15 are oriented substantially transversely to the direction S so that forces from the center of mass M acting long this direction S can be properly taken up by the bushings 8, 9.

[0036] FIG. 6 shows the bushing 8 of FIG. 5 on an enlarged scale, with its center line L extending in a vertical direction. When the mounting bore 11 is attached to a vehicle module while being perpendicularly aligned, forces along the direction S at angle to the horizontal are properly taken up.