Patent ID: 6293572
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: B60G,B62D,F16F

Abstract:
In combination, a suspension strut for the road wheel of an automotive vehicle having a shock absorbing component with an active end portion and a coil type suspension spring operatively disposed therearound, a vehicle frame comprising an upper laterally-extending beam, a lower longitudinally-extending side rail, an elongated tower for said suspension strut extending in a generally vertical orientation from attachments and with said side rail and cross beam, said strut tower having a pair of laterally spaced side walls defining an upper end portion thereof, a cap member secured within said side walls at a fixed distance from the upper extremity of said strut tower, said cap member having a horizontally extending upper wall that cooperates with said side walls of said strut tower to define an upper yoke for receiving and attaching to an end portion of said upper cross beam, said cross beam having a bottom wall located above the upper wall of said cap member to cooperatively define a horizontally extending damper space therebetween, a mounting assembly for connecting the active end portion of said shock absorbing component to said cap member including inner and outer mounting brackets and vibration dampening material operatively disposed therebetween, and further including a ring of resilient material for seating the upper end of said suspension spring, and a layer of elastomer operatively disposed in said damper space between said cap member and said upper cross beam for damping vibrations imparted to said cap member from said suspension spring and said shock absorbing component and effectively isolating said cross beam from said cap member to inhibit transmittal of vibratory energy to said cross beam.