Vehicle suspension stop device with reinforced sealing

Abstract

A suspension stop for a suspension strut of a vehicle equipped with a coil spring (10) comprises a rigid thrust bearing (24) equipped with a lower metal washer (28) rotating with respect to an upper metal washer (26), a synthetic material support part (38) designed to transmit the forces exerted by the spring to the lower washer and a cover (22) covering the upper washer and delimiting together with the support part a housing (54) for the bearing. The cover is equipped with a skirt (22) delimiting with the peripheral area of the support part an annular labyrinth (60), arranged radially outside the housing and connecting the housing to the outside, with the annular labyrinth successively comprising, from the housing towards the outside, an initial annular head loss of radial play P1, a second annular head loss of axial play P2, followed by a third annular head loss of radial play P3.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other advantages and characteristics will be more clearly apparent from the following description of the particular methods of realisation of the invention, which are given as non-limitative examples and are represented in the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents, in axial cross section, a stop of a suspension strut according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 represents a detailed view of the stop of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 represents a measurement bench for the rigidity in flexion of a stop according to the invention;

FIG. 4 represents, in an axial cross section, a stop of a suspension strut according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In order to simplify the presentation, the elements common to the different embodiments will be denoted by the same reference signs and their description will not be systematically repeated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a telescopic suspension strut comprises a coil spring 10, a telescopic shock absorber of which only the rod 12 is visible and a shock absorbing buffer 14, these elements being arranged between a wheel and the bodywork of a vehicle. The rod 12 of the shock absorber is fixed at its upper end by means of a connecting flange 16 to an elastomer block 18 reinforced by a metal insert 20 and attached continuously in itself to the structure of a vehicle. The elastomer block 18 also constitutes an upper support seat for a cover 22 which houses a ball bearing 24 of a suspension stop 25.

The bearing 24 is comprised of an upper washer 26 and a lower washer 28, both made of pressed steel and forming oblique contact bearing races for running bodies such as balls 30 or conical rollers. The bearing therefore defines a rotation axis 31 of the stop. The upper washer 26 rests on the base 32 of the cover 22, whereas the lower washer 28 rests on a support area 34 forming a positioning relief on the upper surface 36 of a support part 38 made of synthetic material. The support part 38 comprises, on the side of its lower surface 42, a cylindrical skirt 44 which separates an external transverse shoulder 46 for supporting the spring 10 and an internal transverse shoulder 48 for supporting the shock absorbing buffer 14. Between the external shoulder 46 and the spring 10, the annular end 50 of a pleated sleeve 52 may be interposed, designed to protect the shock absorber against external contamination, with this end 50 of the sleeve forming, if appropriate, a mechanical filter between the spring and the intermediate part, making it possible in particular to limit transmission of the rotation noises of the wheel to the vehicle bodywork.

The cover 22 delimits together with the support part a housing 54 for the bearing 24. The cover 22 is equipped with a skirt 56 covering without contact a peripheral area 58 of the support part 38 and delimiting with the peripheral area 58 of the support part an annular labyrinth 60 connecting the housing 54 to the outside.

As represented in detail in FIG. 2, this annular labyrinth 60 successively comprises, progressing from the housing to the outside, an initial loss of radial play P1 formed between a cylindrical internal wall 62 of the skirt and a collar 64 of the peripheral area 58 of the support part, followed by a second loss of axial play P2, formed between a flat annular wall 66 of the skirt and a flat annular wall 68 of a radial projection 70 of the support part, followed by a third head loss of axial play P3, formed between a second cylindrical internal wall 72 of the skirt and a cylindrical edge 74 of the projection 70, followed finally by a fourth head loss of axial play P4, formed between the lower truncated cone-shaped end edge 80 of the skirt and a truncated cone-shaped wall 82 of a collar 84 of the peripheral area of the support part, the lower section of which constitutes the shoulder 46 for supporting the spring 10.

The collar 64 also forms a shoulder 86 which allows insertion of elastic hooks 88 projecting radially towards the exterior from the internal skirt 56. These hooks 88 serve to render the cover 22 interdependent with the support part 44 in order to form a single subassembly which is installed as is on the elastomer block 18.

The labyrinth 60 is located axially under an external annular opening 89 of the bearing delimited by the upper washer 26 and lower washer 28. The cover 22 delimits an upper cavity 90 between the external annular opening 89 of the bearing and the initial head loss. An intermediate annular cavity 91 is formed between the radial projection 70, the collar 64 of the support part and the skirt 56. This cavity, partially occupied by the hooks 88, is located between the first and second head losses and a section S, which is relatively large, preferably greater than 4×P2×P1. Likewise, a lower annular cavity 92 is formed between the radial project, the truncated cone-shaped wall and the skirt. This cavity 92, open on one side to the third head loss and on the other side to the fourth head loss, is also of large size, its section 8₂ being preferably greater than 4×P3×P4. The three cavities 90, 91, 92 make it possible to halt rising of liquid by capillarity. Furthermore, the descending slope of the truncated cone-shaped wall 82 promotes evacuation of any possible outside contamination.

The radial plays P1 and P3 must have a minimum dimension which is essentially a function of the radial installation tolerances and the radial deformations of the device under the conditions of use. In practice, P1 and P3 may be equal and relatively small, on the order of 1 mm to 2.5 mm for example and preferably larger than 1.5 mm.

As for the axial plays P2 and P4, they must have a minimum dimension which is a function of the axial installation tolerances in addition to the axial and flexion deformations of the device under the conditions of use. In order to reduce the influence of the flexion deformations and limit these plays to a sufficient level and reduce the play without the risk of resulting in contact between the components, the external diameter φ₁ of the skirt must not be much greater than the primary diameter φ₂ of the bearing. Preferentially,

$1\le \frac{{\Phi }_1}{{\Phi }_2}\le 1,2$

In this example of realisation, one has:

$\frac{{\Phi }_1}{{\Phi }_2}\approx 1,1$

Likewise, the external diameter 0₃ of the support shoulder of the spring must be of the same magnitude as the external diameter 0₁ of the skirt. Preferentially,

$0,9\le \frac{{\Phi }_1}{{\Phi }_3}\le 1,1$

In this exemplary embodiment, one has:

$\frac{{\Phi }_1}{{\Phi }_3}\approx 1,0$

It should be noted that the washers 26, 28 forming the bearing 22 are of high rigidity, which makes it possible to maintain very low levels of play at the level of the head losses. These washers 26, 28 are preferentially made of pressed metal sheet 1.2 to 2 mm thick. In the exemplary embodiment, 1.5 mm metal sheet has been used.

In order to characterise the rigidity of the subassembly 100 formed by the cover 22, the bearing 24 and the support part 38, a qualification test was performed, represented in FIG. 3. A diametric end 104 of the periphery of the subassembly located in a reference first axial geometric plane parallel to the plane of the figure, the rotation axis of the bearing being vertical is held in a vice 102 by its finest section, between the cover 22 and the spring support shoulder 46. The support part 38 is rested on a wedge 106 arranged in a second axial plane 108 perpendicular to the first axial plane. A vertical force F corresponding to a torque of F×D=Nm, D being the distance between the point of application of the force F and a second axial geometric plane perpendicular to the first axial plane is applied to the diametric end 110 opposite the vice 102 and located in the first axial plane by means of a support. The deflection angle a of the part of the device located on the side of the diametric end of application of the force F, in the first axial plane, is measured. It is considered that the subassembly and particularly the bearing, is sufficiently rigid when the angle measured is less than 10° and preferably less than 8°. Such rigidity makes it possible to guarantee, under normal conditions of use, absence of friction between the components at the level of the labyrinth.

A second embodiment of the invention is represented in FIG. 4. The suspension stop of this second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the end edge of the skirt 80 and the wall 82 of the support part opposite it are flat.

Various different modifications are of course possible.

The running bodies may be rollers. The invention is not limited to roller bearings but also applies to smooth bearings.

The support part may be reinforced by a metal insert. Its lower face may be partially covered with a metal dish.

A dense elastomer ring may be arranged between the upper washers and the cover.

Claims

1. A suspension stop device for a suspension strut of a vehicle, the strut being equipped with a coil spring (10), with the device comprising: a rigid thrust bearing (24) defining a rotation axis (31) of the device and equipped with a lower metal washer (28) rotating with respect to an upper metal washer (26);a support part (38) made of synthetic material designed to transmit the forces exerted by the spring to the lower washer, the intermediate support part comprising an annular support area (34) for the lower washer; anda cover (22) covering the upper washer and delimiting with the support part a housing (54) for the bearing, the cover being equipped with a skirt (22) covering without contact a peripheral area (58) of the support part and delimiting with the peripheral area of the support part an annular labyrinth (60), arranged radially with respect to the exterior of the housing and connecting the housing to the outside, the annular labyrinth successively comprising, from the housing to the outside, an initial annular head loss of radial play P1, a second annular head loss of axial play P2, followed by a third annular head loss of radial play P3.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the skirt comprises an upper cylindrical wall (62) delimiting with the peripheral area of the support part the initial head loss.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterised in that the peripheral area of the support part comprises an annular flange (64) equipped with a radial end edge (74) located opposite the upper cylindrical wall and delimiting with the upper cylindrical wall the initial head loss.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that the annular flange forms a shoulder (86) interacting with the elastic hooks (90) projecting from the skirt of the cover.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that annular labyrinth comprises, after the third head loss towards the outside, a fourth annular head loss of axial play P4.

6. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that the skirt comprises a flat or truncated cone-shaped annular wall (80) delimiting with the peripheral area of the support part the fourth head loss, the flat or truncated cone-shaped wall having a radial dimension T.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that the flat or truncated cone-shaped wall of the skirt is formed by an end edge (82) of the skirt, the skirt having at least at the level of this edge a thickness equal to T.

8. A device according to claim 6, characterised in that: the peripheral area of the support part comprises a flat annular wall (68) delimiting with the skirt the second head loss;the flat annular wall (66) of the skirt is located at a distance B from the flat or truncated cone-shaped annular wall (80), the dimensions B and E being linked by the relationship: B≦3 T

9. A device according to claim 2 in combination with any of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the peripheral area of the support part comprises a cylindrical wall (74) forming with the skirt the third head loss and located at a radial distance A from the upper cylindrical wall of the skirt, the dimensions A and T being linked by the relationship: A≦2.5 T

10. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the skirt comprises an internal cylindrical wall (72) delimiting with the peripheral area of the support part the third head loss.

11. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the skirt comprises a flat annular wall (66) delimiting with the peripheral area of the support part the second head loss.