Impact reinforced composite spring seat for a shock absorber
AssigneeTenneco Automotive Operating Company Inc.
InventorJulien Wilkin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A strut assembly including a spring to help absorb impacts and a shock absorber to help control motion of the spring is disclosed. The shock absorber includes a base assembly and is mounted between a top mount assembly and a knuckle. The top mount assembly mounts to the body of the vehicle and helps support the spring. An upper spring seat is adjacent the top mount assembly and receives one end of the spring. A lower spring seat formed of a composite material is supported by the base assembly and is adapted to support another end of the spring. The lower spring seat includes at least one reinforcing element having a plurality of reinforcing cords disposed between an upper surface and a lower surface for improving impact resistance thereof.
Claims14
A strut assembly comprising:
- a top mount assembly;
- a shock absorber having a base assembly and a rod;
- an upper spring seat supported by said top mount and a lower spring seat supported by said shock absorber, said upper and said lower spring seats spaced apart from one another;
- a coil spring disposed between said upper and said lower spring seats;
- said lower spring seat comprising an annular disc defining an opening abutting said base assembly;
- said lower spring seat further comprising an upper surface and a lower surface and having a spring channel defined within said upper surface for receiving said coil spring;
- wherein said lower spring seat is formed of a plastic composite material;
- and
- a metal cord embedded within said composite material, said metal cord being a continuous winding making more than one pass around said annular disc opening and extending within said annular disc for improving impact resistance thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.