US 5,671,908 A · Elastic mount and process of manufacturing the same

Abstract

An elastic mount comprising: an outer hollow member which is formed of an aluminum alloy and has an inner hole; an inner shaft member which extends in the inner hole of the outer member; an elastic member which is formed by vulcanization of a rubber material in the inner hole between the outer member and the inner member to elastically connect the outer and inner members to each other; the outer member having an inner circumferential surface including a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protrusions which cooperate with each other to define the inner hole and each of which continuously extends in an axial direction of the inner hole; the recesses and the protrusions being alternate with each other at a pitch of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm in a circumferential direction of the inner hole; a top end of each of the protrusions having a height of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm from respective bottom ends of the two recesses on both sides of, and adjacent to, each protrusion; the elastic member being directly bonded to the inner surface of the outer member by the vulcanization of the rubber material.

Drawings

Claims12

Dependent claims

An elastic mount comprising:

an outer hollow member which is formed of an aluminum alloy and has an inner hole;
an inner shaft member which extends in said inner hole of said outer member;
an elastic member which is formed by vulcanization of a rubber material in said inner hole between said outer member and said inner member to elastically connect the outer and inner members to each other;
said outer member having an inner circumferential surface including a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protrusions which cooperate with each other to define said inner hole and each of which continuously extends in an axial direction of the inner hole;
said recesses and said protrusions being alternate with each other at a pitch of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm in a circumferential direction of said inner hole;
a top end of each of said protrusions having a height of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm from respective bottom ends of the two recesses on both sides of, and adjacent to, said each protrusion;
said elastic member being directly bonded to said inner surface of said outer member by the vulcanization of said rubber material.

4 more elements

A process of manufacturing an elastic mount, comprising the steps of:

extruding an aluminum-alloy blank to obtain an extrudate having an extruded inner hole which continuously extends in a direction of extrusion of said blank, said extrudate having an inner circumferential surface including a plurality of recesses and a plurality of protrusions which cooperate with each other to define said extruded inner hole and each of which continuously extends in the extrusion direction, said recesses and said protrusions being alternate with each other at a pitch of 0.5 mm to 2.0 mm in a circumferential direction of said extruded inner hole, a top end of each of said protrusions having a height of 0.3 mm to 1.0 mm from respective bottom ends of the two recesses on both sides of, and adjacent to, said each protrusion;
cutting said extrudate into a plurality of outer hollow members each of which has a predetermined length in said extrusion direction, said each outer member having a cut inner hole having said predetermined length in said extrusion direction;
placing an inner shaft member in said each outer member such that said inner member extends in said cut inner hole of said each outer member;
and
vulcanizing a rubber material between said each outer member and said inner member to produce an elastic member bonded to said inner member and said inner surface of said outer member and thereby elastically connect the inner and outer members to each other.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,187 words

Summary1,999 words

#1. Field of the Art

#The present invention relates to an elastic mount as a vibration damping device, which elastic mount is suitably used as an engine mount, a suspension bushing, a body mount or a differential mount for a motor vehicle. The present invention is also concerned with a process of manufacturing the elastic mount. More particularly, the invention relates to such an elastic mount having an outer follow member made of an aluminum alloy, and the process of manufacturing the same.

#2. Discussion of the Related Art

Brief description of the drawings7 figures

#The above and optional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an engine mount embodying the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

Detailed description3,039 words

#Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, there will be described one embodiment of the present invention in the form of an engine mount 10 for use on a motor vehicle. The engine mount 10 includes an inner shaft member in the form of an inner sleeve 12 made of metal and an outer hollow member in the form of an outer sleeve 14 made of an aluminum alloy. The inner and outer sleeves 12, 14 are elastically connected to each other by an elastic member 16 interposed therebetween. The present engine mount 10 is installed on the motor vehicle such that the inner sleeve 12 is attached to one of a power unit and a body of the vehicle while the outer sleeve 14 is attached to the other of the power unit and the vehicle body, so that the power unit is mounted on the vehicle via the engine mount 10 in a vibration damping or isolating manner.

#The inner sleeve 12 is a cylindrical member having a small diameter and formed of a rigid material such as a steel pipe. The inner sleeve 12 has an inner hole 18 through which a bolt is inserted so as to fix the inner sleeve 12 to one of the power unit and the vehicle body not shown.

#The outer sleeve 14 is made of an aluminum alloy, and includes a cylindrical body portion 20 having a large diameter and a pair of connection portions in the form of a pair of legs 22, 22 which are integrally formed with the cylindrical body portion 20, such that the legs project radially outwardly from an outer surface of the cylindrical body portion 20. Each of the legs 22, 22 extends over the entire axial length of the cylindrical body portion 20. According to this arrangement, the outer sleeve 14 has a constant cross sectional shape throughout the entire axial length thereof.

Facts

Application

08/764,923Filed 16 Dec 1996

Priority

JP 7-34058527 Dec 1995

Granted

30 Sep 1997

Term ended

16 Dec 2016

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination. Patent term adjustment is unavailable; no adjustment was added.

Classification8 codes

F16F 1/3863
With a sleeve of elastic material between a rigid outer sleeve and a rigid inner sleeve or pin , i.e. bushing-type: characterised by the rigid…
F16F 1/3849
Method of assembly, production or treatment; Mounting thereof: mounting brackets therefor, e.g. stamped steel brackets; Restraining links
B60K 5/1208
Arrangement of engine supports: resilient supports
Y10T 29/49622
Structural member making: vehicular structural member making

Elastic mount and process of manufacturing the same

Life of this patent

Elastic mount and process of manufacturing the same

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims12

Description5,187 words

Drawings

Classification8 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,187 words