Adjustable bushing

Claim 2

A bushing assembly for a vehicle suspension wherein a suspension member is mounted to a vehicle frame through the bushing assembly with limited articulation between the suspension member and the vehicle frame, said suspension member having an aperture defined by a cylindrical wall having a predetermined circumference, said bushing assembly comprising: a rigid inner element adapted to be securely fixed to the vehicle frame, a substantially inflexible tubular outer element having an outer surface and having a circumference nominally greater than the predetermined circumference, said inner element being disposed within and spaced from the outer element, an elastomeric insert having a diameter in an uncompressed state greater than an inside diameter of the outer element and compressively retained between the outer element and the inner element and the outer element having sufficient rigidity to resist a spring force of the elastomeric insert in compression, the outer element including an adjustable portion for enabling the circumference thereof to be reduced by applying a force to the outer surface against the spring force, whereby upon reducing the circumference of the outer element to a dimension less than the predetermined circumference, the bushing assembly can be easily received in the aperture whereupon the spring force will urge the outer surface to bear directly against the cylindrical wall to frictionally retain the bushing assembly within the aperture.

Claim 3

A bushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable portion comprises an axially extending inner directed bend in the outer element.

Claim 4

A bushing assembly according to claim 2 wherein said outer element further comprises a radially inwardly directed annular lip on each end of the outer element having a circumference nominally less than the predetermined circumference.

Claim 5

A bushing assembly according to claim 2 wherein said outer element is generally tubular having a cross-sectional shape approximating a circle.

Claim 6

A bushing assembly according to claim 4 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said inner element is generally circular.

Claim 7

A bushing assembly according to claim 5 wherein the inner and outer elements are coaxial.

Claim 8

A bushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the outer element is split axially having a first edge and a second edge, and the adjustable portion comprises the first edge having a tongue and the second edge having a groove, the tongue being received within the groove.

Claim 9

A bushing assembly according to claim 7 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said inner element is generally circular.

Claim 10

A bushing assembly according to claim 7 wherein said outer element is generally tubular having a cross-sectional shape approximating a circle.

Claim 11

A bushing assembly according to claim 9 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said inner element is generally circular.

Claim 12

A bushing assembly according to claim 10 wherein the inner and outer elements are coaxial.

Claim 13

A bushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable portion comprises axial corrugations in the outer element.

Claim 14

A bushing assembly according to claim 12 wherein said outer element further comprises a radially inwardly directed annular lip on each end of the outer element having a circumference nominally less than the predetermined circumference.

Claim 15

A bushing assembly according to claim 12 wherein said outer element is generally tubular having a cross-sectional shape approximating a circle.

Claim 16

A bushing assembly according to claim 14 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said inner element is generally circular.

Claim 17

A bushing assembly according to claim 15 wherein the inner and outer elements are coaxial.

Claim 18

A bushing assembly according to claim 12 wherein said corrugations are radially arranged around the entire circumference of said outer member.

Claim 19

A bushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein the adjustable portion comprises an axial slit extending the entire length of the outer element.

Claim 20

A bushing assembly according to claim 18 wherein said outer element is generally tubular having a cross-sectional shape approximating a circle.

Claim 21

A bushing assembly according to claim 19 wherein the cross-sectional shape of said inner element is generally circular.

Claim 22

A bushing assembly according to claim 20 wherein the inner and outer elements are coaxial. PG,23

Claim 23

A bushing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said outer element is generally tubular having a cross-sectional shape approximating a circle.

Claim 24

In a suspension system for mounting a wheel bearing axle to a vehicle frame, the suspension comprising: a trailing arm having at least one trailing arm aperture of predetermined circumference; a hanger bracket pivotably mounted to one end of the trailing arm through a first bushing and adapted to mount the trailing arm to a vehicle frame; an air spring mounted to another end of the trailing arm and adapted to mount to a vehicle frame; an axle bracket for mounting an axle and mounted to the trailing arm through a second bushing; the improvement which comprises: at least one of said first and second bushings comprising an inner element, said inner element further being securely fixable to one of the vehicle frame and axle, an outer element mountable to the trailing arm anal having an outer surface and a circumference nominally greater than the predetermined circumference of the trailing arm aperture, said inner element being disposed within and spaced from the outer element, said outer element being substantially rigid, an elastomeric insert having a diameter in an uncompressed state greater than an inside diameter of the outer element and compressively retained between the outer element and the inner element and the outer element having sufficient rigidity to resist a spring force of the elastomeric insert in compression, and the outer element including an adjustable portion for enabling the circumference thereof to be reduced by applying a force to the outer surface against the spring force, whereby upon reducing the circumference of the outer element to a dimension less than the predetermined circumference, the bushing assembly can be easily received in the aperture whereupon the spring force will urge the outer surface to bear directly against the cylindrical wall to frictionally retain the bushing assembly within the aperture.

Claim 25

In a suspension system for mounting a wheel bearing axle to a vehicle frame, the suspension comprising: a trailing arm having at least one trailing arm aperture of predetermined circumference; a hanger bracket pivotably mounted to one end of the trailing arm through a first bushing and adapted to mount the trailing arm to a vehicle frame; an air spring mounted to another end of the trailing arm and adapted to mount to a vehicle frame; an axle bracket for mounting an axle and mounted to the trailing arm through a second bushing; the improvement which comprises: at least one of said first and second bushings comprising an inner element, said inner element further being securely fixable to one of the vehicle frame and axle, an outer element mountable to the trailing arm anal having an outer surface and a circumference nominally greater than the predetermined circumference of the trailing arm aperture, said inner element being disposed within and spaced from the outer element, said outer element being substantially rigid, an elastomeric insert having a diameter in an uncompressed state greater than an inside diameter of the outer element and compressively retained between the outer element and the inner element and the outer element having sufficient rigidity to resist a spring force of the elastomeric insert in compression, and the outer element including an adjustable portion for enabling the circumference thereof to be reduced by applying a force to the outer surface against the spring force, whereby upon reducing the circumference of the outer element to a dimension less than the predetermined circumference, the bushing assembly can be easily received in the aperture whereupon the spring force will urge the outer surface to bear directly against the cylindrical wall to frictionally retain the bushing assembly within the aperture.