Description:MACPHERSON STRUT TOP MOUNT ASSEMBLY WITH BEARING
FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present subject matter described herein, relates to a Macpherson strut top mount assembly for a wheel suspension of a vehicle, and, in particular, to support comp integrated upper spring seat in the Macpherson strut top mount 5 assembly for more suspension stroke in the wheel suspension of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART:
[002] Generally, vehicle has suspension systems which are connected with the wheel and provide good road handling of the vehicle. Further, the suspension system absorbs shock and damp vibration generated in the vehicle during motion. 10 The suspension system also reduces noise in the vehicle and protects the vehicle from wear and tear. The suspension system provides comfortable ride to the passenger and driver of the vehicle. Further, the Macpherson style strut assemblies are well known in the automotive industry. Such assemblies typically comprise a strut which extends upward from the steering knuckle of the wheel and terminates 15 in a top mount attached to the chassis of the vehicle. The strut includes a hydraulic cylinder and a spring for absorbing movement and bounce of the vehicle. The joint between the top mount and the strut contains a strut bearing.
[003] Fig. 1(a) and (b) illustrate the known Macpherson strut system 100 for the vehicle suspension system. Fig. 2 illustrates the exploded view of the top mount 20 assembly of the Macpherson strut system as known in the art. The strut top mount assembly 101 has support comp 102, upper spring seat 103, dust cover 104, seating washer 105, bearing 106, piston rod 107, and coil spring 108. The support comp 102 is used as an attaching and load transfer point to body of the vehicle. The support comp 102 receives the load from the seating washer 105 and transfer 25 to the support comp 102 to distribute the load over the body of the vehicle. Further, the seating washer 105 controls the load transfer from upper spring seat 103 to bearing 106 and then from bearing 106 to support comp 102. The seating washer 105 placed between the bearing 106 and the support comp 102 to
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distribute and control the load of the vehicle. The bearing 106 is mounted around the piston rod 107. The bearing 106 placed between the seating washer 105 and the upper spring seat 103. The piston rod 107 is located centrally within the bearing 106, the upper spring seat 103, support comp 102, and the seating washer 105. The piston rod 107 is connected with the upper part of the strut top with nuts 5 to restrict its further movement.
[004] The bearing 106 around the piston rod 107 provides less steering axis to the vehicle. Therefore the driver of the vehicle has to apply more steering efforts to the vehicle. The upper spring seat 103 provides support to the coil spring 108 and restricts its further movement in upward direction. The dust cover 104 10 surrounds the piston rod 107 and protects it from the dust and sand particles.
[005] US Patent US 5454585 A discloses a quarter car vehicle suspension including a wheel, a bearing having an axis of rotation, a quarter car steer axis about which the wheel steers, a strut with a piston rod and a piston rod axis, the piston rod axis aligned at an acute angle with respect to the quarter car steer axis, 15 and a spring seat, wherein the bearing is mounted between the spring seat and the vehicle body, and wherein the axis or rotation of the bearing is substantially aligned with the quarter car steer axis and at an acute angle to the piston rod axis.
[006] US patent US 9085211 discloses product comprising a top mount for a strut having an inner strut rod attachment component, wherein the inner strut rod 20 attachment component has a cardiac shape, a bearing integrated into the inner strut rod attachment component, wherein the inner strut rod attachment component surrounds at least a portion of a top surface and a bottom surface of the bearing, a resilient or elastomeric material surrounding at least a portion of the inner strut rod attachment component, and wherein the inner strut rod attachment component 25 is more rigid than the resilient or elastomeric material.
[007] In the above mentioned and known technologies, bearing is located between the seating washer and upper spring seat of the strut top mount assembly. Further, the seating washer is located between the support comp and the bearing. The upper spring seat is altogether is a separate component which is used to stop 30
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up-side movement of the coil spring. The upper spring seat adds extra cost and weight to the assembly of strut top mount. Presence of upper spring seat requires another component, i.e., seating washer to transfer load from the wheel to vehicle body. Requirement of seating washer also adds extra cost and weight to the assembly. Further, the arrangement of seating washer, bearing, and upper spring 5 seat reduces the space for coil spring clearance to provide extra suspension stroke.
[008] Furthermore, in the known technologies, bearing is placed between the seating washer and upper spring seat around the piston rod of the suspension. The bearing has less steering radius as it surrounds the piston rod. Further, the driver of the vehicle has to applied more force to the steering. The known systems are 10 costly and have several special parts, such as upper spring sheet, and seating washer which are very complex. This complexity makes the serviceability of the system difficult and costly. Therefore, a simple, in-expensive, and effective strut top mount assembly is required which can provide more suspension stroke and less steering efforts with fewer components in the assembly. 15
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[009] The principal objective of the present invention is to provide support comp integrated upper spring seat for Macpherson strut top mount assembly.
[0010] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide bearing between the coil spring and support comp integrated with upper spring seat. 20
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide extra suspension stroke.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide Macpherson strut top mount assembly with fewer components.
[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide less steering 25 efforts to the driver of the vehicle by providing bearing between the coil spring and support comp.
[0014] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide bearing at the circumference of the end of the coil spring.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0015] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a suspension strut top mount assembly for a wheel suspension of vehicle. The suspension strut top mount assembly has support comp integrated with upper spring seat, bearing, dust cover, and coil spring. Outer sleeve of the support comp is extended radially outward to 5 form upper spring seat of the strut top mount. The coil spring is used to support weight of the vehicle and to absorb shocks. Further, the bearing provided between the support comp integrated with upper spring seat and the coil spring.
[0016] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with 10 reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit scope of the present subject matter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be 15 considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and 20 components. Some embodiments of system or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0018] Fig. 1(a) and (b) illustrates Macpherson strut and sectional view of the Macpherson strut respectively, as known in the art; 25
[0019] Fig. 2 illustrates sectional detailed view of the top mount of the Macpherson strut as known in the art;
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[0020] Fig. 3 illustrates sectional detailed view of the top mount of the Macpherson strut, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject member;
[0021] Fig. 4 illustrates sectional exploded view of the top mount of strut to show bearing location in the strut top mount assembly, in accordance with an 5 embodiment of the present subject matter; and
[0022] Fig. 5 illustrates comparison between the known Macpherson strut top mount and present Macpherson strut top mount, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0023] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the 10 purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS: 15
[0024] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a suspension strut top mount assembly for a wheel suspension of vehicle. The suspension strut top mount assembly has support comp integrated with upper spring seat, bearing, dust cover, and coil spring. Outer sleeve of the support comp is radially extended outward to form upper spring seat of the strut top mount. The coil spring is used to support 20 weight of the vehicle and to absorb shocks. Further, the bearing provided between the support comp integrated with upper spring seat and the coil spring.
[0025] Conventionally, the bearing is located between the seating washer and upper spring seat of the strut top mount assembly. Further, the seating washer is located between the support comp and bearing. The upper spring seat is altogether 25 is a separate component which has use to stop up side movement of the spring coil. The upper spring seat adds extra cost and weight to the assembly of strut top mount. Presence of upper spring seat requires another component, i.e., seating washer to transfer load from the wheel to vehicle body. Requirement of seating
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washer also adds extra cost and weight to the assembly. Further, the arrangement of seating washer, bearing, and upper spring seat reduces the space for coil spring clearance to provide extra suspension stroke.
[0026] Further, the bearing is placed between the seating washer and upper spring seat around the piston rod of the suspension. The bearing has less steering radius 5 as it surrounds the piston rod. Further, the driver of the vehicle has to applied more force to the steering. The known systems are costly and have several special parts, such as upper spring sheet, and seating washer which are very complex. This complexity makes the serviceability of the system difficult and costly.
[0027] It should be noted that the description and figures merely illustrate the 10 principles of the present subject matter. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present subject matter. It should also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that by devising various arrangements that, although not 15 explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the present subject matter and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be 20 construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present subject matter, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying 25 figures.
[0028] These and other advantages of the present subject matter would be described in greater detail with reference to the following figures. It should be noted that the description merely illustrates the principles of the present subject matter. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise 30
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various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the present subject matter and are included within its scope.
[0029] Fig. 3 illustrates sectional detailed view of the top mount of the Macpherson strut, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject member. The strut top mount assembly 300 comprises support comp integrated 5 with upper spring seat 301, dust cover 302, bearing 303, coil spring 304, and piston rod 305. The outer sleeve of the support comp is extended radially outward direction to form upper spring seat to support the coil spring 304. In the present, the upper spring seat is the extended part of the support comp. Therefore, no separate upper spring seat is required. Further requirement of the seating washer is 10 also removed. The bearing 303 is located between the support comp integrated with upper spring seat 301 and the coil spring 304. The coil spring 304 is known spring which is used in the Macpherson strut. The dust cover 302 is connected with the support comp integrated with upper spring seat 301 at the upper side of the strut and protects the piston rod 305 from the dust and sand particles. 15
[0030] Fig. 4 illustrates sectional exploded view of the top mount of strut to show bearing location in the strut top mount assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The bearing 303 is placed between the coil spring 304 and extended upper spring seat which is arising radially outward from the support comp to form the support comp integrated with upper spring seat 20 301. The bearing 303 is placed on circumference of the coil spring 304. The bearing 303 can be any known bearing, for example, ball bearing, tapered bearing, cylinder bearing. The placement of the bearing 303 on the circumference of the coil spring 304 and in between the between the coil spring 304 and the support comp integrated with upper spring seat 301, provides more capability of rotating 25 about its own axis which is required while steering. In the present placement, the bearing 303 has bigger radius which reduces the steering efforts also.
[0031] Fig. 5 illustrates comparison between the known Macpherson strut top mount and present Macpherson strut top mount, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The placement of the bearing 303 on 30
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the circumference of the coil spring 304, and in between the between the coil spring 304 and the support comp integrated with upper spring seat 301 provides better coil to coil clearance in the coil spring 304. The better coil to coil clearance in the coil spring 304 provides extra stroke of suspension to the vehicle. Due to better coil to coil gap/clearance provide longer space for the coil spring 304 to 5 amount extra stroke of suspension.
[0032] Therefore, in the present Macpherson strut top mount assembly lesser number of parts is required. Due to lesser number of parts reduces the weight and cost of the Macpherson strut. Further, the bearing is located at the circumference of the coil spring which provides more radius for steering action and less steering 10 efforts are required. Due to better coil to coil gap/clearance provide longer space for the coil spring to amount extra stroke of suspension.
[0033] Although embodiments for the present subject matter have been described in language specific to structural features, it is to be understood that the present subject matter is not necessarily limited to the specific features described. Rather, 15 the specific features and methods are disclosed as embodiments for the present subject matter. Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system/device of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the scope of the present subject matter.

Claims:We claim:
1. A suspension strut top mount assembly (300) for a wheel suspension of a vehicle, the suspension strut top mount assembly (300) comprising:
a support comp integrated with upper spring seat (301);
a coil spring (304); and 5
a bearing (303) provided between the support comp integrated with upper spring seat (301) and the coil spring (304).
2. The suspension strut top mount assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein outer sleeve of the support comp integrated with upper spring seat 10 (301) is extended radially outward to form upper spring seat.
3. The suspension strut top mount assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing (303) provided on circumference of the coil spring (304). 15
4. The suspension strut top mount assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suspension strut top mount assembly (300) further comprising a dust cover (302) connected to the support comp integrated with upper spring seat (301) at top side. 20
5. The suspension strut top mount assembly (300) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the dust cover (302) is in cylindrical form which covers piston rod (305).
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6. The suspension strut top mount assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing (303) provided on circumference of the coil spring (304) between the support comp integrated with upper spring seat (301) and the coil spring (304).
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7. The suspension strut top mount assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coil spring (304) supports weight of vehicle and absorbs shocks, jerks, and vibrations.