Chrysler Corporation

Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Michael S Weaver

James J Johnson

Jonathan P Solomond

Robert L Carter

Donald A Spravsow

Richard J Turonek, Jr

The restoring coil spring of a vehicle shock absorber can be seated on an annular elastomeric pad that is equipped with a reinforced peripheral flange adapted to maintain the lowermost convolution of the spring on the elastomeric pad should the spring break during service. An annular steel band is incorporated into the elastomeric flange to provide a reinforced flange structure resistant to radial deformation.

Vehicle shock absorber pad having a spring containment flange

A spring and strut mount assembly for an automotive vehicle includes a strut provided with a shock absorber having a piston reciprocable in a cylinder and a piston rod extending axially outwardly from one end of the cylinder. A strut mount is adapted to be secured to a rigid frame of the vehicle. The outer end of the piston rod is secured to the strut mount. A spring unit resists retraction of the piston rod. The spring unit has upper and lower spring seats. The upper spring seat is mounted to the strut mount. The upper spring seat assembly is parallel and diverging to the strut mount and tower, perpendicular to the coil spring center line, perpendicular to the strut center line and parallel to the upper plane of the coil spring's end, all at the same time. The lower spring seat is mounted on the cylinder. A coil spring encircles the shock absorber and is held between the seats. The central axis of the spring extends at an acute angle to the central axis of the strut.

Spring seat assembly for an automotive vehicle

The coil spring of a vehicle shock absorber can be seated on an elastomeric sound isolator pad whose spring engagement surface has plural slot-like depressions evenly spaced around the pad circumference. These slot-like depressions form raised ribs that provide the contact surfaces for the lowermost convolution of the coil spring. Each rib can readily deform under the spring force. Side surfaces of the ribs can act as heat-dissipating surfaces. The slot construction allows the pad to be formed out of a reasonably high durometer and highly wear-resistant elastomer without adversely affecting the desired rib deflection.

Vehicle shock absorber and strut damper spring seat pad having a

The coil spring of a vehicle shock absorber is seated on an annular elastomeric pad that is equipped with a reinforced peripheral flange adapted to maintain the lowermost convolution of the spring on the elastomeric pad should the spring break during service. An annular steel band is incorporated into the elastomeric band to provide a reinforced flange structure resistant to deformation.

Vehicle shock absorber spring seat pad having a spring--containment

An automotive suspension strut upper mounting assembly providing increased stroke length and enhanced spring rate tunability with the major working area of the mount being located above the body panel attachment surface. The mount comprises a housing including upper and lower closures readily assembled to enclose a composite isolator mount comprising an inner metal cup bonded to an outer elastomeric ring. The composite ring has a concentric sleeve embedded therein defining inner and outer body portions providing an increased spring rate for stiffening lateral vehicle motion caused by handling maneuvers. The inner and outer body portions are each formed with a pair of diametrically opposed fore and aft voids selectively reducing the spring rate thereby softening longitudinally imposed impact loads.

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Michael S Weaver