Process for manufacturing a leaf spring and insert for leaf spring
AssigneeHendrickson USA, L.L.C.
InventorJohn Prikkel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An insert to a mold for a leaf spring comprises a substrate and a hole that extends through the substrate, A post protrudes from the substrate such that the insert, may be coupled to the mold. Further, the post covers the hole on a first end, so the hole is not exposed. On the other end of the hole, a thin overlay that covers the hole. Thus, during a process where resin is added to the mold, no resin enters the hole. The insert, when added to a leaf spring, offers reinforcement on areas where there is high stress. Therefore, holes may be added to a leaf spring at areas of high stress without overly weakening the leaf spring.
Claims12
A process for creating a leaf spring, the process comprising:
- coupling an insert into a mold base, wherein the insert comprises:
- a substrate;
- a hole within the substrate, wherein the hole extends through the substrate;
- a post that protrudes from the substrate to allow the insert to be coupled to the mold, wherein the post covers the hole on a first end, so the hole is not exposed;
- a thin overlay that covers the hole on a second end opposite of the first end;
- adding fiberglass and resin to the mold;
- curing the resin to form a leaf spring;
- adhering the insert to the leaf spring;
- removing the leaf spring from the mold;
- and
- detaching the thin overlay and the post from the insert, while leaving the insert in the leaf spring.
An insert to a mold for leaf spring, wherein the insert becomes part of the leaf spring forming an assembly, wherein the assembly comprises:
- a substrate;
- a hole within the substrate, wherein the hole extends through the substrate;
- a post that protrudes from the substrate to allow the insert to be coupled to the mold, wherein the post covers the hole on a first end, so the hole is not exposed and a thin overlay covers the hole on a second end opposite of the first end,
- and wherein the insert is embedded in the leaf spring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.