# US 11,028,893 B2 · Elastic member and wire for elastic member

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,028,893 B2
- Document ID: US11028893B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/779,799
- Filed: 2020-02-03
- Published: 2020-06-04
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-29
- Assignees: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Toshio Kazama; Noritoshi Takamura; Shigeki Ishikawa; Takeshi Suzuki
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028893B2

## CPC

- F16F 1/024: {Covers or coatings therefor (F16F1/24 takes precedence)}
- B60G 11/14: having helical, spiral or coil springs only {(B60G11/006 takes precedence)}
- B60G 11/18: having torsion-bar springs only {(B60G11/006 takes precedence; having rubber springs of the torsional-energy-absorption type B60G11/23)}
- B60G 21/055: Stabiliser bars
- B60G 21/0551: {Mounting means therefor}
- C22C 21/00: Alloys based on aluminium
- C22C 21/06: with magnesium as the next major constituent
- C22C 21/10: with zinc as the next major constituent
- F16F 1/14: Torsion springs consisting of bars or tubes
- B60G 2202/12: Wound spring
- B60G 2202/134: comprising a transversal torsion bar and/or tube
- B60G 2202/135: Stabiliser bar and/or tube
- B60G 2204/1222: Middle mounts of stabiliser on vehicle body or chassis
- B60G 2206/426: Coil springs having a particular shape, e.g. curved axis, pig-tail end coils
- B60G 2206/427: Stabiliser bars or tubes
- B60G 2206/7102: Aluminium alloys
- F16F 1/021: {characterised by their composition, e.g. comprising materials providing for particular spring properties (composition and manufacture of clock or watch springs G04B1/145)}
- F16F 1/06: with turns lying in cylindrical surfaces
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- C22C: ALLOYS (treatment of alloys C21D, C22F)

## Abstract

An elastic member is an elastic member formed of a wire having a cross section that is substantially circular, the cross section being orthogonal to a longitudinal direction, and the elastic member being expandable and contractible in a predetermined direction; and including: a first alloy portion that is made of an aluminum alloy having a tensile strength larger than 950 MPa and equal to or less than 1100 MPa at room temperature; and a second alloy portion configured to cover the first alloy portion, the second alloy portion having a thickness in a radial direction smaller than a radius of the first alloy portion, and being made of an aluminum alloy having a tensile strength of 100 MPa to 650 MPa at room temperature.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An elastic member formed of a wire having a substantially circular cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction, the elastic member being expandable and contractible in a predetermined direction and comprising:
a first alloy portion made of an aluminum alloy having a tensile strength larger than 950 MPa and equal to or less than 1100 MPa at room temperature; and
a second alloy portion configured to cover the first alloy portion, the second alloy portion having a thickness in a radial direction smaller than a radius of the first alloy portion, and being made of an aluminum alloy having a tensile strength of 100 MPa to 650 MPa at room temperature,
wherein the first alloy portion is made of an aluminum alloy containing: more than 10.0 wt % and equal to or less than 17.0 wt % of zinc; and more than 2.0 wt % and equal to or less than 6.0 wt % of magnesium, with the remainder containing aluminum and unavoidable impurities.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The elastic member according to claim 1, wherein the first alloy portion contains at least one or more types selected from a group consisting of: 0.1 wt % or more and 3.0 wt % or less of copper; 0.05 wt % or more and 0.4 wt % or less of zirconium; 0.1 wt % or more and 2.0 wt % or less of manganese; 0.05 wt % or more and 0.5 wt % or less of iron; 0.1 wt % or more and 0.6 wt % or less of chromium; 0.05 wt % or more and 0.4 wt % or less of silicon; 0.01 wt % or more and 0.1 wt % or less of vanadium; 0.01 wt % or more and 0.2 wt % or less of titanium; 0.1 wt % or more and 2.0 wt % or less of nickel; and 0.01 wt % or more and 0.6 wt % or less of silver.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The elastic member according to claim 2, wherein the second alloy portion is made of an aluminum alloy containing 0.005 wt % or more and 6.5 wt % or less of zinc, with the remainder containing aluminum and unavoidable impurities.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The elastic member according to claim 3, wherein the second alloy portion contains at least one or more types selected from a group consisting of: 0.05 wt % or more and 2.0 wt % or less of magnesium; 0.1 wt % or more and 1.1 wt % or less of copper; 0.01 wt % or more and 0.25 wt % or less of zirconium; 0.051 wt % or more and 1.0 wt % or less of manganese; 0.05 wt % or more and 0.5 wt % or less of iron; 0.05 wt % or more and 0.3 wt % or less of chromium; 0.05 wt % or more and 1.3 wt % or less of silicon; 0.01 wt % or more and 0.1 wt % or less of vanadium; 0.01 wt % or more and 0.2 wt % or less of titanium; 0.1 wt % or more and 2.0 wt % or less of nickel; and 0.01 wt % or more and 0.6 wt % or less of silver.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The elastic member according to claim 1, wherein the second alloy portion is made of an aluminum alloy containing 0.005 wt % or more and 6.5 wt % Zn or less of zinc, with the remainder containing aluminum and unavoidable impurities.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The elastic member according to claim 5, wherein the second alloy portion contains at least one or more types selected from a group consisting of: 0.05 wt % or more and 2.0 wt % or less of magnesium; 0.1 wt % or more and 1.1 wt % or less of copper; 0.01 wt % or more and 0.25 wt % or less of zirconium; 0.051 wt % or more and 1.0 wt % or less of manganese; 0.05 wt % or more and 0.5 wt % or less of iron; 0.05 wt % or more and 0.3 wt % or less of chromium; 0.05 wt % or more and 1.3 wt % or less of silicon; 0.01 wt % or more and 0.1 wt % or less of vanadium; 0.01 wt % or more and 0.2 wt % or less of titanium; 0.1 wt % or more and 2.0 wt % or less of nickel; and 0.01 wt % or more and 0.6 wt % or less of silver.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The elastic member according to claim 1, wherein the second alloy portion is formed of aluminum alloys being layered over one another, the aluminum alloys having different compositions from one another.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The elastic member according to claim 7, wherein a radially outermost layer of the second alloy portion is smallest in tensile strength.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The elastic member according to claim 8, wherein a radially outermost layer of the second alloy portion is smallest in thickness.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The elastic member according to claim 7, wherein a radially outermost layer of the second alloy portion is smallest in thickness.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The elastic member according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of the thickness of the second alloy portion to the radius of the first alloy portion is 0.01 to 0.2.

### Claim 12

A wire for an elastic member, the wire having a cross section that is substantially circular, the cross section being orthogonal to a longitudinal direction, the wire comprising:
a core portion made of an aluminum alloy having a tensile strength larger than 950 MPa and equal to or less than 1100 MPa at room temperature; and
an outer peripheral portion configured to cover the core portion, the outer peripheral portion having a thickness in a radial direction smaller than a radius of the core portion, and being made of an aluminum alloy having a tensile strength of 100 MPa to 650 MPa at room temperature,
wherein the core portion is made of an aluminum alloy containing: more than 10.0 wt % and equal to or less than 17.0 wt % of zinc; and more than 2.0 wt % and equal to or less than 6.0 wt % of magnesium, with the remainder containing aluminum and unavoidable impurities.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The wire for the elastic member according to claim 12, wherein a ratio of the thickness of the outer peripheral portion to the radius of the core portion is 0.01 to 0.2.