Patent Application
20240044363
The present disclosure relates generally to a strut bearing, and more specifically to a sliding strut bearing with a polygonal annular thrust disk.
Strut bearings are known. One example is shown and described in JP2008175349 titled STRUT BEARING to Tomomasa.
Example embodiments broadly comprise a strut bearing including an upper case, a lower case, and a polygonal annular thrust bearing disk disposed axially between the upper case and the lower case. In some example embodiment, the polygonal annular thrust bearing disk has a first contact face and a second contact face in contact with the upper case, and a third contact face and a fourth contact face in contact with the lower case. In an example embodiment, the upper case has a first raceway surface in contact with the first contact face and a second raceway surface in contact with the second contact face, and the lower case has a third raceway surface in contact with the third contact face and a fourth raceway surface in contact with the fourth contact face.
In some example embodiments, the first contact face is a first inclined surface, the second contact face is a second inclined surface, and the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface are arranged with a first obtuse angle therebetween. In an example embodiment, the polygonal annular thrust bearing disk also includes a first annular surface connecting the first contact face to the second contact face. In some example embodiments, the third contact face is a third inclined surface, the fourth contact face is a fourth inclined surface, and the third inclined surface and the fourth inclined surface are arranged with a second obtuse angle therebetween. In an example embodiment, the polygonal annular thrust bearing disk further comprises a second annular surface connecting the third contact face to the fourth contact face.
In some example embodiments, the upper case has a first cylindrical ring radially inside of the polygonal annular thrust bearing disk and a second cylindrical ring radially outside of the polygonal annular thrust bearing disk. In an example embodiment, the lower case has a third cylindrical ring radially inside of the first cylindrical ring and a fourth cylindrical ring radially outside of the second cylindrical ring. In an example embodiment, a one of the upper case or the lower case has a fifth cylindrical ring with a radially outwardly extending protrusion and the other of the upper case or the lower case has a sixth cylindrical ring with a radially inwardly extending protrusion arranged to snap together with the radially outwardly extending protrusion to retain the upper case and the lower case together.
In an example embodiment, the lower case has a stepped lower surface arranged for receiving a coil spring. In an example embodiment, the polygonal annular thrust bearing disk is an irregular octagon when viewed in cross-section. In an example embodiment, the upper case, the lower case, and the polygonal annular thrust bearing disk are all formed from a thermoplastic material. In an example embodiment, the polygonal annular thrust bearing disk is lubricated with a lubricating grease for smooth, low friction sliding against the upper case and the lower case.
Other example aspects broadly comprise a strut assembly including a top mount arranged for fixing to a body of a motor vehicle, a coil spring, and the strut bearing disposed between the top mount and the coil spring. In an example embodiment, the lower case has a stepped lower surface and the coil spring is supported on the stepped lower surface. In some example embodiments, the strut assembly also includes a shock absorber, and the shock absorber has a shaft that extends through the top mount, the coil spring and the strut bearing. In an example embodiment, the shock absorber has an annular protrusion and the coil spring is supported on the annular protrusion.
Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It should be appreciated that like drawing numbers appearing in different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements. Also, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the disclosure, the following example methods, devices, and materials are now described.
The following description is made with reference to
The following description is made with reference to
As can be seen in
Upper case 216 includes cylindrical ring 242 radially inside of the polygonal annular thrust bearing disk, and cylindrical ring 244 radially outside of the polygonal annular thrust bearing disk. Similarly, lower case 218 includes cylindrical ring 246 radially inside of cylindrical ring 242 and cylindrical ring 248 radially outside of cylindrical ring 244. The polygonal annular thrust bearing disk is lubricated with a lubricating grease for smooth, low friction sliding against the upper case and the lower case, and rings 242, 244, 246 and 248 may form a labyrinth type of seal arrangement for retaining the lubricating grease, for example.
Lower case 218 includes cylindrical ring 250 with a radially outwardly extending protrusion 252 and upper case 216 includes cylindrical ring 254 with radially inwardly extending protrusion 256 arranged to snap together with the radially outwardly extending protrusion to retain the upper case and the lower case together. Although the radially outward protrusion is shown on the lower case and the radially inward protrusion is shown on the upper case, other embodiments (not shown) may include the two reversed so that the outward protrusion is on the upper case and the inward protrusion is on the bottom case, for example. The lower case includes stepped lower surface 258 arranged for receiving a coil spring as described in more detail below.
As can be seen in
As discussed above, with regards to strut bearing 102, strut bearing 202 may be incorporated into a strut assembly with top mount 104 arranged for fixing to body 108 of a motor vehicle (not shown), coil spring 106, and strut bearing 202 disposed between the top mount and the coil spring. Lower case 218 includes stepped lower surface 258 and the coil spring is supported on the stepped lower surface. The strut assembly also includes shock absorber 112 with shaft 116 that extends through the top mount, the coil spring and the strut bearing. Shock absorber 112 also includes annular protrusion 118 and the coil spring is supported on the annular protrusion.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims. The words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. As previously described, the features of various embodiments can be combined to form further embodiments of the disclosure that may not be explicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments could have been described as providing advantages or being preferred over other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the art recognize that one or more features or characteristics can be compromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which depend on the specific application and implementation. These attributes can include, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cycle cost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability, weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, to the extent any embodiments are described as less desirable than other embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one or more characteristics, these embodiments are not outside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particular applications.
