US4613114A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suspension strut
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1984-03-08
•
Granted: 1986-09-23
•
Expires: 2004-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A frictional damping assembly operated by a load bearing spring assembly, either an elastomerically damped coil spring or a reinforced elastomeric spring, together provide damped, resilient load bearing support for a telescoping load bearing assembly. The strut is particularly suitable for use in front and/or rear suspensions of light weight passenger vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 H. Neil Paton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:53
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G15/00; B60G15/02; B60G15/04; F; F16; F16F; F16F7/00; F16F7/08; F16F7/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
300 words
A suspension strut, comprising: a telescoping load bearing assembly including two outer ends, one of said outer ends including first spring support means; damping means for frictionally damping telescopic movement of said load bearing assembly in response to said strut being subjected to an axial load, said damping means including friction shoe means engageable with said load bearing assembly and a carrier movable with respect to said load bearing assembly and to said friction shoe means, said carrier having two ends, one of which includes second spring support means, and the other end of which is engaged with said friction shoe means at a region of contact on said friction shoe means, said carrier being of sufficient length that said second spring support means is spaced from said first spring support means by a distance greater than the distance between said first spring support means and said region of contact on said friction shoe means; and load bearing spring means for providing the sole source of resilient load bearing support of said load bearing assembly and for simultaneously providing a force operating said friction shoe means, said spring means having opposite ends supported by said first and second spring support means and urging said carrier away from said first spring support means and toward the other outer end of said load bearing assembly when said strut is subjected to an axial load; wherein said load bearing assembly extends through said damping and said spring means, said damping means is interposed between said spring means and said load bearing assembly, and said carrier causes said friction shoe means to engage with said load bearing assembly as said carrier is urged away from said first spring support means toward the other outer end of said load bearing assembly by said spring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
300 words
A suspension strut, comprising: a telescoping load bearing assembly including two outer ends, one of said outer ends including first spring support means; damping means for frictionally damping telescopic movement of said load bearing assembly in response to said strut being subjected to an axial load, said damping means including friction shoe means engageable with said load bearing assembly and a carrier movable with respect to said load bearing assembly and to said friction shoe means, said carrier having two ends, one of which includes second spring support means, and the other end of which is engaged with said friction shoe means at a region of contact on said friction shoe means, said carrier being of sufficient length that said second spring support means is spaced from said first spring support means by a distance greater than the distance between said first spring support means and said region of contact on said friction shoe means; and load bearing spring means for providing the sole source of resilient load bearing support of said load bearing assembly and for simultaneously providing a force operating said friction shoe means, said spring means having opposite ends supported by said first and second spring support means and urging said carrier away from said first spring support means and toward the other outer end of said load bearing assembly when said strut is subjected to an axial load; wherein said load bearing assembly extends through said damping and said spring means, said damping means is interposed between said spring means and said load bearing assembly, and said carrier causes said friction shoe means to engage with said load bearing assembly as said carrier is urged away from said first spring support means toward the other outer end of said load bearing assembly by said spring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
148 words
The strut of claim 1, wherein said load bearing assembly further includes two telescopically movable members, one of said members including said other outer end, and wherein said damping means further includes first wedge means axially movable with respect to the other of said members and interposed between said second spring support means and said friction shoe means, and second wedge means axially fixed with respect to said one member and interposed between said friction shoe means and said one member, said second spring support means being operative to urge said first wedge means toward said second wedge means as said second spring support means is urged toward said other outer end, said first wedge means and said second wedge means being operative to urge said friction shoe means inwardly into engagement with said other member as said first wedge means is urged toward said second wedge means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
The strut of claim 2, wherein said one member includes an inner end supporting said second wedge means, and said other member includes an inner end movable within said one member, and wherein said load bearing assembly further includes first bearing means supported by the inner end of said other member and acting between said other member and said one member, and wherein said friction shoe means is further operative as second bearing means acting between said one member and said other member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The strut of claim 2, wherein said damping means further includes means interposed between said second wedge means and the inner end of said one member for transmitting essentially only axial loads therebetween.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The strut of claim 1, wherein said one outer end further includes an externally threaded tubular portion and a tool receiving portion, and wherein said first spring support means includes mounting means for mounting said portion to a vehicle body, said mounting means including a sleeve connector threadably securable to said tubular portion with said tool receiving portion projecting outwardly from said connector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The strut of claim 1, wherein said load bearing assembly includes means directing air from said one outer end to said damping means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The strut of claim 1, wherein said spring means has a nonlinear spring rate and includes means providing viscous damping.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The strut of claim 7, wherein said spring means includes a coil spring and elastomeric support means supporting at least one end of said coil spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The strut of claim 7, wherein said spring means includes a tubular elastomeric body with buckling reinforcement means operatively associated therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US769841A
Cited
US1050870A
Cited
US1169625A
Cited
US1510017A
Cited
US1696478A
Cited
USRE20030E
Cited
US2381404A
Cited
US2426661A
Cited
US2516072A
Cited
US2490738A
Cited
US2497829A
Cited
US2574788A
Cited
US2534419A
Cited
US2549036A
Cited
US2552668A
Cited
US2614831A
Cited
US2752149A
Cited
US2747696A
Cited
GB709080A
Cited
US2819060A
Cited
US2753177A
Cited
US2844366A
Cited
US2767858A
Cited
US2814392A
Cited
US2841292A
Cited
US2818249A
Cited
GB771392A
Cited
CH354991A
Cited
GB832878A
Cited
US3039757A
Cited
US3054478A
Cited
US3161420A
Cited
US3145012A
Cited
US3178036A
Cited
US3372947A
Cited
US3402924A
Cited
US3409284A
Cited
US3417986A
Cited
NL157848B
Cited
US3434708A
Cited
GB1238641A
Cited
US3480268A
Cited
US3537696A
Cited
US3640545A
Cited
US3762694A
Cited
US3677535A
Cited
US3713516A
Cited
DE2320913A1
Cited
US3820634A
Cited
GB1489473A
Cited
US4010940A
Cited
US4089511A
Cited
US4032125A
Cited
US4106596A
Cited
DE2553890A1
Cited
US4105222A
Cited
US4140304A
Cited
US4230047A
Cited
US4316604A
Cited
US4358096A
Cited
US4415146A
Cited
US4473216A
Cited
US4475722A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-09-22 | 1990-03-24 | 1990-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-09-22 | 1994-03-24 | 1994-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-09-22 | 1998-03-24 | 1998-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |