Automotive torque strut bushing
AssigneeGenCorp Inc.
InventorRichard D. Hein
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A bushing for an automotive torque strut is described as having a resilient, elastomeric insert which is bonded to a rigid, inner sleeve, and provided with a plurality of resilient, elastomeric fingers which are flexible and not bonded to an outer sleeve or housing of the bushing. The fingers are specially located in the insert. In one embodiment, there are aligned pairs of oppositely disposed fingers which extend into large pie-shaped voids which are spaced on opposite sides of the inner sleeve. In the other embodiment, the insert is provided with radially oriented grooves and fingers which are alternately disposed around the inner sleeve.
Claims20
A bushing for an automobile torque strut, comprising:
- a) an elongated, rigid inner member having a pair of longitudinal spaced opposing ends and concentric about a longitudinal axis;
- b) an insert composed of resilient, elastomeric material, the insert having a pair of opposing ends and a center opening for receiving the inner member, the insert being secured to the inner member;
- c) a plurality of grooves formed in the insert and extending in spaced relation from the inner member outwardly in directions away from the longitudinal axis of the inner member, the grooves also extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner member;
- d) a plurality of resilient elastomeric fingers integrally formed in the insert by the grooves and extending generally parallel to the longitudianl axis of the inner member, the fingers and grooves being sized, such that free distal ends of the fingers are free to flex laterally relative to the planes of the fingers;
- e) a rigid annular ring embedded in the resilient elastomeric material of the insert and surrounding the insert midway between the opposing ends of the insert;
- and
- f) a housing surrounding the insert in unsecured relation with the fingers.
A bushing for an automobile torque strut, comprising:
- a) an elongate, rigid inner member having a pair of spaced apart opposing ends and concentric about a longitudinal axis;
- b) an insert composed of resilient, elastomeric material, said insert having a pair of opposing ends and a center opening for receiving said inner member, said insert being secured to said inner member;
- c) a plurality of resilient elastomeric fingers integrally formed in said insert, defining a plurality of planes and extending in spaced relation from said inner member outwardly in directions away from said longitudinal axis of said inner member;
- d) a plurality of grooves in said insert defined by said fingers, said fingers and grooves being sized such that free distal ends of said fingers are free to flex laterally relative to said planes of said fingers;
- e) a region in said insert midway between said opposing ends of said insert having a largest diameter about said longitudinal axis of said member;
- f) a rigid annular ring embedded in said resilient elastomeric material of said insert in said region of said largest diameter;
- and
- g) a housing surrounding said insert, engaging said region of largest diameter and unsecured to said fingers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.