Strut Top Mount With Axial Hydraulic Element
AssigneeFreudenberg-NOK General Partnership
InventorsTodd M. Wirges, Tyler K. Boger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydraulic element for use in vehicle mount applications includes a housing, a spring assembly disposed within the housing, and an external component outside of the housing. A first chamber is defined between the spring assembly and the housing. Furthermore, a second chamber is defined within the external component and is in fluid communication with the first chamber. With the external component providing the second chamber outside of the housing, the hydraulic element can be formed with a relatively compact configuration.
Claims22
A hydraulic element for a vehicle mount assembly, the hydraulic element comprising:
- a housing adapted to be coupled between members of a vehicle;
- a spring assembly disposed within said housing, said spring assembly engaging said housing so as to define a first chamber between said spring assembly and said housing;
- and
- an external component disposed outside of said housing, said external component defining a second chamber therein, said second chamber being in fluid communication with said first chamber.
A mount assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a first member fixed to said housing;
- a spring assembly disposed within said housing, said spring assembly engaging said housing so as to define a first chamber between said spring assembly and said housing;
- a second member fixed to said spring assembly opposite said first chamber, said second member extending through said housing;
- and
- an external component disposed outside of said housing, said external component defining a second chamber therein, said second chamber being in fluid communication with said first chamber.
A vehicle suspension assembly comprising:
- a vehicle frame adapted to support a body of a vehicle;
- a strut top mount secured to said vehicle frame;
- a rod segment secured to said strut top mount;
- a strut rod adapted to be coupled to a vehicle suspension system;
- and
- a hydraulic element coupled between said rod segment and said strut rod, said hydraulic element including:
- a housing fixed to said rod segment,
- a spring assembly disposed within said housing, said spring assembly engaging said housing so as to define a first chamber between said spring assembly and said housing, said strut rod fixed to said spring assembly opposite said first chamber, said strut rod extending through said housing, and
- an external component disposed outside of said housing, said external component defining a second chamber therein, said second chamber being in fluid communication with said first chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.