Resilient pivot assembly

Abstract

A resilient pivot assembly including: a first housing member and a second housing member held together side-by side; and configured to present a central aperture sized to accept a shaft or shaft sleeve wherein the first housing member has a first groove/channel and the second housing member has a second groove/channel; a shaft with a third groove/channel that extends at least partly around the circumference of the shaft or the outer surface of a sleeve; where the first, second and third grooves/channels cooperate to form a generally annular shaped channel that houses at least one tubular shaped resilient member and supports the shaft so that it may readily partly or fully rotate about its axis.

Claims

1. A resilient pivot assembly comprising: a first housing member and a second housing member held together side-by side and configured to present a central aperture sized to accept a shaft or a shaft sleeve; wherein said first housing member has a first groove/channel and said second housing member has a second groove/channel; wherein said shaft or said shaft sleeve has a third groove/channel that extends at least partly around a circumference of said shaft or an outer surface of said shaft sleeve; wherein said first, second and third grooves/channels cooperate to form a generally annular shaped channel that houses at least one resilient member such that, in use, said shaft or said shaft sleeve is resiliently supported within at least said first and second housing members by said at least one resilient member such that said shaft or said shaft sleeve pivots or fully rotates about an axis of said shaft or said shaft sleeve.

2. The resilient pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one resilient member is tubular or generally cylindrically shaped before assembly within housings.

3. The resilient pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least said first groove/channel and said second groove/channel cooperate to form a channel that is substantially semi-circular in cross section.

4. The resilient pivot assembly according to claim 2, where in use an arcuate axis of said resilient member is generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of shaft.

5. The resilient pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one resilient member is a helical spring.

6. The resilient pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first groove/channel and the second groove/channel comprise a plurality of channels such that said shaft is resiliently supported at a plurality of circumferential locations along its axis.

7. The resilient pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein the third groove/channel extends around the circumference of said shaft; wherein said shaft and/or said aperture are tapered so as to allow greater non-axial movement of said shaft relative to said housing.

8. The resilient pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein said shaft has a bore, or said shaft sleeve has a bore; said bore being sized to accept a shaft or rod.

9. The resilient pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein said resilient member abuts against inside walls of said generally annular channel or fits within and thereby prevents/restrains any movement of said shaft in an axial direction.

10. The resilient pivot assembly according to claim 1, wherein said first groove/channel and said second groove/channel are held together end-on end.

11. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said shaft forms or supports part of a vehicle anti-roll bar mechanism.

12. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is attached to or forms part of a vehicle wishbone suspension member.

13. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said shaft or said shaft sleeve is configured to partly rotate about the axis of said shaft or said shaft sleeve.

14. A resilient pivot assembly comprising: a first housing member and a second housing member held together side-by side and configured to present a central aperture sized to accept a shaft; wherein said first housing member has a first groove/channel and said second housing member has a second groove/channel; wherein said shaft has a third groove/channel that extends at least partly around a circumference of said shaft; wherein said first, second and third grooves/channels cooperate to form a generally annular shaped channel that houses at least one resilient member such that, in use, said shaft is resiliently supported within at least said first and second housing members by said at least one resilient member such that said shaft pivots or fully rotates about an axis of said shaft.

15. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein said shaft is configured to partly rotate about the axis of said shaft.

16. A resilient pivot assembly comprising: a first housing member and a second housing member held together side-by side and configured to present a central aperture; wherein said central aperture is sized to accept said shaft sleeve; wherein said first housing member has a first groove/channel and said second housing member has a second groove/channel; wherein said shaft sleeve has a third groove/channel that extends at least partly around an outer surface of said shaft sleeve; wherein said first, second and third grooves/channels cooperate to form a generally annular shaped channel that houses at least one resilient member such that in use said shaft sleeve is resiliently supported within at least said first and second housing members by said at least one resilient member such that said shaft sleeve pivots or fully rotates about an axis of said shaft sleeve.

17. The assembly according to claim 16, wherein said shaft sleeve is configured to partly rotate about the axis of said shaft sleeve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention is illustrated by the following diagrammatic figures in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an end view of a resilient pivot assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sectioned (along the line X-X) side view of the resilient pivot assembly of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an end view of a resilient pivot assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectioned (along the line X-X) side view of the resilient pivot assembly of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a sectioned side view (as for FIG. 2) of a resilient pivot assembly according to a third embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the resilient pivot assembly of FIG. 5, with part cut-away to show the configuration of the cylindrically shaped (when separated from the assembly) resilient members;

(8) FIG. 7 shows an end view of a resilient pivot assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a sectioned (along the line X-X) side view of the resilient pivot assembly of FIG. 7; and

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of resilient bushes according to the present invention being used to support the anti-roll bar and other suspension components of an automobile vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIGS. 1 to 8 illustrate resilient pivot assemblies according to a four embodiments of the invention.

(12) Often, it is desirable to provide a pivoting system that limits or prevents lateral movement of a bar or shaft supported thereby. The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 provide such support to bars, shafts, rods and the like.

(13) FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. The resilient pivot assembly (10) comprises a first housing member (12) and a second housing member (14) that in use are typically bolted side-by side (see FIG. 1) using bolts (not shown) and bolt holes (16, 18). The bolts may also secure the pivot assembly (10) to a vehicle chassis etc. (not shown).

(14) The first and second housing members (12, 14) as illustrated in FIG. 1 are mirror images of each other; however, this is not an essential requirement and many alternatives will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. Indeed, the housing may comprise more than two main parts (12, 14) (see latter); however, when the housing is assembled it will present a central aperture (A) sized to accept the bar, shaft or rod etc. that it in use supports.

(15) In the present embodiment the central (generally cylindrically shaped) aperture is formed by a first curved surface (20) in the first housing member (12) and a second curved surface (22) in the second housing member (14). These first and second curved surfaces (20, 22) also have first and second grooves/channels (24a and 24b respectively) that are approximately semi-circular in cross section and extend along an arcuate axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the shaft (30). The first and second circumferential channels (24a, 24b) of the housing members co-operate to provide a continuous annular channel (of approximately semi-circular cross section) around the inside face of the cylindrical aperture (A).

(16) The resilient pivot assembly (10) further comprises a shaft member (30); in this example having a circular cross section; the diameter of the shaft member (30) being slightly less (typically 0.4 to 1.5 mm) less than the diameter of the aperture (A). The shaft member (30) has a circumferential channel (32) that extends along an arcuate axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the shaft. In use, the first and second channels (24a, 24b) and the circumferential channel (32) of the shaft member co-operate to present an annular channel/duct (C) into which at least one; and typically two or three, resilient members (34) are located. Typically, these resilient members will comprise tightly wound helical springs. However, other generally cylindrically shaped (before insertion within the annular channel) resilient members may be used; for example lengths of relatively thick walled (typically 1-5 mm) neoprene plastic tubing or the like.

(17) The resilient members (34) support the shaft within the housing allowing it to readily pivot (partly rotate) relative to the housing but without being able to move axially relative to the housing. In this case, the use of a single annular channel (C), allows the shaft axis (A-A) to deviate/pivot slightly from the central axis of the aperture (A). This additional freedom of movement is advantageous in some applications of the assembly (10). If necessary, the shaft (30) can fully rotate within the housing (12, 14). However, for typical bush support applications (see below) this will not be necessary.

(18) The resilient member(s) (34) are typically cylindrical in shape before insertion within the annular channel. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 a single resilient member(s) may be inserted when the assembly is first assembled or if it requires replacement due to wear or fracture. When the resilient member comprises a helical spring it will be extremely durable and not generally prone to cracking or fracture due to a shock load. As mentioned above, several (shorter) resilient members may be used instead of a single resilient member. Preferably, in such a situation the combined lengths of the resilient members will be only slightly less than the circumference of the single annular channel/duct (C).

(19) FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment differs from the above described first embodiment in that it has a non-cylindrically shaped shaft (30); this shaft has a circular cross section (in axial direction) but is tapered such that the maximum diameter occurs in the region where the shaft (30) is resiliently supported by one or more resilient members (34) located in a single annular channel (C). In the embodiment illustrated the aperture (A) is not cylindrical but also tapers such that it has the smallest cross section in the region where the shaft is resiliently (34) supported. It is not essential that either the aperture (A) or the shaft (30) have a circular cross section (in an axial direction); although this will normally be the case. Also it is not essential that both the aperture (A) and shaft (30) are tapered; just one of these members may be tapered. The purpose of tapering one or both of these items is to allow greater freedom of movement of the central axis of the shaft (A-A) relative to the central axis of the housing. Apart from the above-described differences, this second embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment.

(20) FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the invention; the end view for this embodiment is identical to FIG. 1; FIG. 6 shows a sectioned (along the line X-X of FIG. 1) side perspective view of the resilient pivot assembly.

(21) Again, a central (generally cylindrically shaped) aperture (A) is formed by a first curved surface in the first housing member (12) and a second curved surface in the second housing member (14). These first and second curved surfaces also each have a pair of first and second circumferential channels (24, 26 respectively) that are approximately semi-circular in cross section and extend along an arcuate axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the shaft (30). The pair of first and second circumferential channels (24, 26) co-operate (being located end-to-end) to provide two continuous annular channels; of approximately semi-circular cross section; around the inside face of the cylindrical aperture (A).

(22) The resilient pivot assembly (10) further comprises a shaft member (30) in this example having a circular cross section; the diameter of the shaft member (30) being slightly less (typically 0.4 to 1.5 mm) less than the diameter of the aperture (A). The shaft member (30) has a pair of circumferential channel (32a, 32b) that extends along an arcuate axis that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A-A) of the shaft. In use, the first and second channels (24, 26) and the circumferential channels (32a, 32b) of the shaft member co-operate to present two approximately annular channels/ducts (C1 and C2) into which at least one; and typically two or three, resilient members (as described above) (34) are located. Thus, the shaft (30) is supported radially at two locations by the use of said two annular channels (C1, C2) containing said resilient members (34). Again, the shaft can readily axially pivot (about its longitudinal axis) within the housing but cannot easily move axially relative to the housing. Also, in this third embodiment the use of two annular channels etc., restrains pivotal movement of the shaft axis relative to the central axis of the housing aperture; and so allows less such movement than the embodiments described above.

(23) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view with the housing partially cut away to reveal details of cross section shape and the orientation of the resilient member(s) (34); in this case several tightly-wound helical springs.

(24) FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the invention. This differs from the shaft (30) of the third embodiment (see FIGS. 5-6) which in this embodiment is replaced by a sleeve (28) that again has a pair of circumferential grooves (32a, 32b) that cooperate with grooves 24 and 26 to provide (for example) two annular channels/ducts (C1, C2) that house the resilient member(s) (34). In this embodiment a shaft (30) is supported within a tubular aperture within the sleeve (28), the axis of which coincides with the axis of the sleeve (28). This example shows a shaft (30) of square cross section; however the aperture in the sleeve may be configured to engage a variety of shaft shapes (cross section); for example polygonal, elliptical, circular etc. Normally, the shaft will engage the sleeve so that in use they turn/pivot together. The sleeve will normally be about the same width as that of the combined housing members (12, 14). Sleeve 28 can also be split; for example along the line B-B (see FIG. 7) and have appropriate spacers; to facilitate assembly over a pre-existing roll bar or any other shaft (30), rod, or bar.

(25) FIG. 9 illustrates how assembly (10) according to the present invention may be used to support the anti-roll bar (312) of an anti-roll bar mechanism for an automotive vehicle (310). Such an assembly (10) may also be used to pivotally support other vehicle components such as a bar (314) forming part of a front vehicle wishbone suspension member.

(26) Preferably, the resilient member (34) comprises a helical spring; and preferably said grooves/channels (24, 26) are arcuate in cross section. When the spring/resilient member is a helical spring it may have an additional member within it; for example, a suitably sized cylindrical insert made of a resilient material such as rubber. This may advantageously further increase the resilience of the spring.

(27) The helical spring(s) detailed in the above embodiments may have open or closed ends (ground or not ground) or may comprise a plurality of (interconnect able) garter springs. Further, they may be compression springs or tension springs (including springs similar to those used for pipe bending). The springs will normally made from steel or similar metals/alloys, but can be plastic springs or plastic coated metal springs.

(28) It is not essential that the resilient member be a spring. Thus, the resilient member could be a helically coiled elongate strip or wire (similar in shape to helical binders used for books/documents). Alternatively, the resilient material could be a braided material, such as braided wire or braided non-metallic material.