Friction-dampened gusset
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorMichael L. Killian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bracket structure resistant to fatigue and a process of making same are shown. The structure can be useful for conveyances such as parts of automobiles; it comprises: a first and a second member joined together at a junction and extending out therefrom to form a gap between the resulting diverging surfaces; and a stressed gusset spanning the gap, the gusset having a first contact surface abutting said first member and second contact surface abutting said second member, the first contact surface being affixed to said first member, the second contact surface being in vibration-dampening frictional contact with said second member due to the stress on said gusset. Steel members and a steel gusset are preferred, together with a plug-welded connection of the first contact surface to the first member.
Claims33
A bracket structure resistant to fatigue comprising:
- a first member and a second member connected at a junction, each of said members extending outward from the junction to establish an angular gap between them;
- and
- a gusset spanning the gap,
- the gusset having a spanning portion, a first contact surface bearing on said first member, thereby forming a first interface therebetween, and a second contact surface bearing on said second member, thereby forming a second interface therebetween,
- the first contact surface being affixed at the first interface to said first member,
- the second contact surface being in frictional contact with said second member at the second interface, and
- a bending stress on the spanning portion of the gusset forcing said frictional contact between said second contact surface and said second member.
A bracket structure resistant to fatigue comprising:
- a first metal member and a second metal member joined at a welded junction therebetween and extending outward from said junction to establish an angular gap between them;
- a gusset spanning the gap,
- the gusset being weldable to said first member, having a spanning portion, a first contact surface bearing on said first member, forming a first interface therebetween, and a second contact surface bearing on said second member, forming a second interface therebetween,
- the first contact surface being affixed at said first interface to said first member by a weld means,
- the second contact surface making frictional contact with said second member at the second interface, and
- a bending stress on the spanning portion of the gusset forcing said frictional contact between said second contact surface and said second member.
In a process for imparting fatigue resistance to a bracket structure that includes a first member connected at a junction to a second member that diverges from the first member to form a gap therebetween, the improvement comprising:
- disposing a gusset across said gap,
- the gusset having a spanning portion, a first contact surface bearing on said first member, thereby forming a first interface, and a second contact surface bearing on said second member, thereby forming a second interface,
- imparting a bending stress to the spanning portion of the gusset which can force frictional contact between said second contact surface and said second member, and
- affixing said first contact surface to the first member at the first interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.