Patent Application
20060103100
This invention relates to an integrated stabilizer bushing and strap for securing a stabilizer bar to a vehicle.
Stabilizer bars are mounted on a vehicle frame between opposing lateral suspension components such as control arms. The stabilizer bar provides lateral stability to the vehicle during turning maneuvers.
A center portion of the stabilizer bar is typically secured to a vehicle using a rubber bushing mounted on the stabilizer bar. The bushing is received in a generally U-shaped strap that is secured to the vehicle frame by fasteners. The bushing may have a cut in it that extends to a bushing hole for receiving the stabilizer bar, so that the bushing may be installed over the center portion of the stabilizer bar without having to slide the bushing to the center portion starting from the end of the bar. Once the bushing is installed onto the stabilizer bar, the strap is secured over the bushing.
The strap axially constrains the bushing, however, occasionally the bushing will come out of the strap during vehicle operation. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a bushing and strap arrangement in which the bushing will not move relative to the strap. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a bushing and strap arrangement in which the bushing and strap may be installed simultaneously on the stabilizer bar. It is further desirable to provide a lighter strap to reduce the overall weight of the stabilizer bar assembly.
This invention provides a suspension assembly including an integrated stabilizer bar bushing and strap supporting a stabilizer bar. The inventive bushing includes a body having a hole for receiving the stabilizer bar. A base of the body may include a cut so that the bushing can be spread apart to insert the stabilizer through the cut and into the hole. The bushing includes a shell extending around, and molded as a single unit with, the exterior of the body, in one example embodiment. The shell provides legs, which are used to secure the bushing to the vehicle frame. The shell can be made similar to the steel belting of a tire and include one or more layers of cords to provide structural integrity to the shell. The layers of cords can be arranged at angles relative to one another to provide increased lateral stability. Notably, the shell can be made in other manners to provide the reinforcing fibers. Thus, for purposes of this application “cords” should be interpreted to broadly mean any type of reinforcement fiber.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a bushing and strap arrangement in which the bushing will not move relative to the strap since the two typically separate components are integrated.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.
An inventive suspension assembly 10 is shown in
Referring to
The bushing 18 includes a shell 28 on the exterior of the body 26. The shell 28 is a reinforced portion of the body 26 used to secure the bushing 18 to the vehicle frame 12, replacing the conventional, separate metal strap. The shell 28 provides legs 20 having apertures 32. In
The shell 28 is similar to a steel belted tire in that it contains one or more layers of cords 30 arranged in desired directions to provide stability to the inventive bushing 18. For example, as shown in
Since a rigid strap is not used, and the shell 28 is flexible, the bushing 18 may be opened at the cut 27 and installed onto the stabilizer bar 14 as a single unit, which reduces costs associated with handling. The stabilizer bar 14 may then be installed onto the vehicle frame 12.
In one embodiment the shell 28 is molded around the body 26, with the cords 30 being embedded by any appropriate technique. It may also be possible to mold the shell 28 and body 26 simultaneously.
Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been disclosed, a worker of ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.
