Bushing design to enable different hardpoints
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsPatrick Jones, Andrew Reimer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The bushing may include a first end having a first coupling interface configured to operably couple to a first coupling point or a second coupling point, a second end having a second coupling interface configured to operably couple to the second coupling point or the first coupling point, an inner metal portion, an outer metal portion, and an elastic portion. A hardpoint may be defined between the first end and the second end along the inner metal portion at a first hardpoint location and a second hardpoint location. The second hardpoint location may be shifted along a common axis relative to the first hardpoint location.
Claims20
A bushing of a coupling assembly, the bushing comprising:
- a first end having a first coupling interface configured to operably couple to a first coupling point or a second coupling point;
- a second end having a second coupling interface configured to operably couple to the second coupling point or the first coupling point;
- an inner metal portion disposed along a first centerline axis of the bushing;
- an outer metal portion disposed radially outward from the inner metal portion;
- and
- an elastic portion disposed between the inner metal portion and the outer metal portion,
- wherein a hardpoint is defined between the first end and the second end along the inner metal portion at a first hardpoint location responsive to the first coupling interface operably coupling to the first coupling point and the second coupling interface operably coupling to the second coupling point and a second hardpoint location responsive to the first coupling interface operably coupling to the second coupling point and the second coupling interface operably coupling to the first coupling point, and
- wherein the second hardpoint location is shifted along a common axis relative to the first hardpoint location.
A suspension assembly of a vehicle, the suspension assembly comprising:
- a control arm to operably couple a wheel end assembly to a chassis of the vehicle;
- and
- a bushing configured to operably couple the control arm to the chassis, the bushing further comprising:
- a first end having a first coupling interface configured to operably couple to a first coupling point or a second coupling point of the chassis of the vehicle;
- a second end having a second coupling interface configured to operably couple to the second coupling point or the first coupling point of the chassis;
- an inner metal portion disposed along a first centerline axis of the bushing;
- an outer metal portion disposed radially outward from the inner metal portion;
- and
- an elastic portion disposed between the inner metal portion and the outer metal portion,
- wherein a hardpoint is defined between the first end and the second end along the inner metal portion at a first hardpoint location responsive to the first coupling interface operably coupling to the first coupling point and the second coupling interface operably coupling to the second coupling point and a second hardpoint location responsive to the first coupling interface operably coupling to the second coupling point and the second coupling interface operably coupling to the first coupling point, and
- wherein the second hardpoint location is shifted along a common axis relative to the first hardpoint location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.