Engine support bushing assembly

Claim 2

An engine support system for a vehicle comprising a frame, a trunnion secured to an engine block and a bushing assembly mounting said trunnion of said frame, said bushing assembly comprising inner and outer metallic rings having a siNgle annular, elastomeric member mounted therebetween with a durometer hardness approximating 8 and being compressed to approximately 85 percent of its original, relaxed size, a thin solid and homogeneous coating of polytetrafluoroethylene bounded to outer metallic surface portions of one of said rings, juxtaposed to surface portions of said member, for substantially preventing binding between said inner ring and said member during vehicle operation, said coating having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, approximating one-thousandth of an inch, retaining means for preventing said member from moving axially relative to said rings, and wherein said retaining means comprises spaced flange means secured to at least one of said rings to abut opposite ends of said member, said flange means comprising spaced first and second flanges secured to opposite ends of said ring to extend radially toward said other ring.

Claim 3

An engine support system for a vehicle comprising a frame, a trunnion secured to an engine block and a bushing assembly mounting said trunnion of said frame, said bushing assembly comprising inner and outer metallic rings having a single annular, elastomeric member mounted therebetween with a durometer hardness approximating 80 and being compressed to approximately 85 percent of its original, relaxed size, a thin solid and homogeneous coating of polytetrafluoroethylene bonded to outer metallic surface portions of one of said rings, juxtaposed to surface portions of said member, for substantially preventing binding between said inner ring and said member during vehicle operation, said coating having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, approximating one-thousandth of an inch, retaining means for preventing said member from moving axially relative to said rings, and wherein said retaining means comprises spaced flange means secured to said rings to abut opposite ends of said member, and including a first flange secured at an end of said outer ring to extend radially inwardly toward said inner ring and a second flange secured at an opposite end of said inner ring to extend radially outwardly toward said outer ring.

Claim 4

An engine support system for a vehicle comprising a frame, a trunnion secured to an engine block and a bushing assembly mounting said trunnion of said frame, said bushing assembly comprising inner and outer metallic rings having a single annular, elastomeric member mounted therebetween with a durometer hardness approximating 80 and being compressed to approximately 85 percent of its original, relaxed size, a thin solid and homogeneous coating of polytetrafluoroethylene bonded to outer metallic surface portions of one of said rings, juxtaposed to surface portions of said member, for substantially preventing binding between said inner ring and said member during vehicle operation, said coating having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, approximating one-thousandth of an inch, retaining means for preventing said member from moving axially relative to said rings, and wherein said retaining means comprises spaced flange means secured to said rings to abut opposite ends of said member, and including a first flange secured at an end of said outer ring to extend radially inwardly toward said inner ring and a second flange secured at an opposite end of said inner ring to extend radially outwardly toward said outer ring.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2 wherein said first flange is formed as an integral part of said outer ring and is disposed on an outboard end thereof and said second flange is formed as an integral part of said inner ring and is disposed on an inboard end thereof adjacent to said engine block.

Claim 6

In an engine support system for a vehicle comprising a frame, a cylindrical trunnion member, and an annular bushing assembly disposed therearound and comprising an outer metallic ring member having a single annular elastomeric element mounted therebetween with a durometer hardness approximating 80 and being compressed to approximately 85 percent of its original, relaxed size, the invention comprising a thin solid homogeneous coating of polytetrafluoroethylene bonded to one of said members and abutting complementary cylindrical surface portions of said elastomeric element for preventing binding thereat when said bushing is subjected to loading, said coating having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, approximating one-thousandth of an inch, retaining means for preventing said element from moving axially relative to said members, and wherein said retaining means comprises spaced flange means secured to one of said members to abut opposite ends of said element, said flange means comprising spaced first and second flanges secured to opposite ends of said member to extend radially toward said other member.

Claim 7

In an engine support system for a vehicle comprising a frame, a cylindrical trunnion member, and an annular bushing assembly disposed therearound and comprising an outer metallic ring member having a single annular elastomeric element mounted therebetween with a durometer hardness approximating 80 and being compressed to approximately 85 percent of its original, relaxed size, the invention comprising a thin solid homogeneous coating of polytetrafluoroethylene bonded to one of said members and abutting complementary cylindrical surface portions of said elastomeric element for preventing binding thereat when said bushing is subjected to loading, said coating having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, approximating one-thousandth of an inch, retaining means for preventing said element from moving axially relative to said members, and wherein said retaining means comprises spaced flange means secured to one of said members to abut opposite ends of said element, said flange means comprising spaced first and second flanges secured to opposite ends of said member to extend radially toward said other member.

Claim 8

In an engine support system for a vehicle comprising a frame, a cylindrical trunnion member and an annular bushing assembly disposed therearound and comprising an outer metallic ring member having a single annular elastomeric element mounted therebetween with a durometer hardness approximating 80 and being compressed to approximately 85 percent of its original, relaxed size, the inveNtion comprising a thin solid homogeneous coating of polytetrafluoroethylene bonded to one of said members and abutting complementary cylindrical surface portions of said elastomeric element for preventing binding thereat when said bushing is subjected to loading, said coating having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, approximating one-thousandth of an inch, retaining means for preventing said element from moving axially relative to said members, and wherein said retaining means comprises spaced flange means secured to said members to abut opposite ends of said element, and including a first flange secured at an end of said outer ring to extend radially inwardly toward said trunnion and a second flange secured at an opposite end of said trunnion to extend radially outwardly toward said outer ring.

Claim 9

In an engine support system for a vehicle comprising a frame, a cylindrical trunnion member and an annular bushing assembly disposed therearound and comprising an outer metallic ring member having a single annular elastomeric element mounted therebetween with a durometer hardness approximating 80 and being compressed to approximately 85 percent of its original, relaxed size, the inveNtion comprising a thin solid homogeneous coating of polytetrafluoroethylene bonded to one of said members and abutting complementary cylindrical surface portions of said elastomeric element for preventing binding thereat when said bushing is subjected to loading, said coating having a substantially uniform thickness throughout, approximating one-thousandth of an inch, retaining means for preventing said element from moving axially relative to said members, and wherein said retaining means comprises spaced flange means secured to said members to abut opposite ends of said element, and including a first flange secured at an end of said outer ring to extend radially inwardly toward said trunnion and a second flange secured at an opposite end of said trunnion to extend radially outwardly toward said outer ring.