Vibration damping device having stopper rubbers

A vibration damping device having stopper rubbers including: a first and second mounting members; an outer bracket attached to the second mounting member; and a plurality of stopper rubbers attached to the outer bracket and providing a stopper mechanism for limiting an amount of relative displacement between the first and second mounting members by means of contact between a first mounting member side and the outer bracket via the stopper rubbers. The stopper rubbers include respective mating recesses and the mating recesses open toward a same direction. The stopper rubbers are integrally connected by at least one rubber connecting portion. The stopper rubbers are attached to the outer bracket with the rubber connecting portion being deformed so that the mating recesses are arranged so as to open toward different directions and are mated with the outer bracket.

INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-213446 filed on Sep. 27, 2012 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a vibration damping device for use in an automotive engine mount or the like. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a vibration damping device having stopper rubbers in which the stopper rubbers that constitute a stopper mechanism are attached to an outer bracket.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, vibration damping devices have been known as one type of vibration damping connecting components or vibration damping supports interposed between components that make up a vibration transmission system in order to provide vibration damping linkage between the components, and are employed as an automotive engine mount or the like. This type of vibration damping device includes: a first mounting member to be mounted onto one component of the vibration transmission system; a tubular second mounting member to be mounted onto the other component of the vibration transmission system; and a main rubber elastic body that elastically connects the first and second mounting members. The first mounting member is mounted onto a power unit and the second mounting member is mounted onto a vehicle body via an outer bracket, thereby providing vibration damping support of the power unit on the vehicle body.

Meanwhile, vibration damping devices may employ a stopper mechanism for limiting an amount of relative displacement between the first and second mounting members and preventing excessive deformation of the main rubber elastic body during input of large jarring load. This stopper mechanism is, for example, provided by contact between the first mounting member or an inner bracket attached to the first mounting member and the outer bracket attached to the second mounting member. In addition, a stopper rubber is interposed between the inner bracket and the outer bracket for reducing striking noises during their contact. For example, as disclosed in a vibration damping device having stopper rubbers of Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. JP-A-2012-087894, this stopper rubber is fitted onto the outer bracket and positioned so as to cover the contact face of the outer bracket against the inner bracket. This construction generally includes a plurality of stopper rubbers attached to the outer bracket so that the acting load during contact between the inner bracket and the outer bracket is dispersed over the circumference.

However, since the construction disclosed in JP-A-2012-087894 requires the plurality of stopper rubbers separated from each other, there may be an unavoidable problem of increase in the number of components. Particularly with the construction in which the stopper rubbers have mating recesses to be mated with the outer bracket, it is difficult to form the plurality of stopper rubbers in an integral manner. Therefore, it is a general practice to employ the stopper rubbers independent of each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of this invention to provide a vibration damping device having stopper rubbers of novel construction which is able to provide a plurality of stopper rubbers to the outer bracket with a small number of parts.

Specifically, a first mode of the present invention provides a vibration damping device having stopper rubbers including: a first mounting member; a second mounting member; a main rubber elastic body elastically connecting the first and second mounting members; an outer bracket attached to the second mounting member; and a plurality of stopper rubbers attached to the outer bracket and providing a stopper mechanism for limiting an amount of relative displacement between the first and second mounting members by means of contact between a first mounting member side and the outer bracket via the stopper rubbers, wherein the stopper rubbers include respective mating recesses, and the mating recesses open toward a same direction, wherein the stopper rubbers are integrally formed by being connected by at least one rubber connecting portion, and wherein the stopper rubbers are attached to the outer bracket with the rubber connecting portion being deformed so that the mating recesses are arranged so as to open toward different directions and are mated with the outer bracket.

The vibration damping device having stopper rubbers according to the first mode is able to integrally form a plurality of stopper rubbers by connecting the stopper rubbers using the rubber connecting portion. In particular, with regard to the stopper rubbers having mating recesses for attachment to the outer bracket, it is possible to integrally form a plurality of stopper rubbers with a simple mold structure by forming the stopper rubbers such that the respective mating recesses open toward the same direction.

Moreover, by elastically deforming the rubber connecting portion formed of a rubber elastic body, the respective mating recesses of the stopper rubbers are allowed to face toward different directions with the stopper rubbers attached to the outer bracket. This makes it possible to desirably arrange and attach the plurality of stopper rubbers, which are integrally formed, to the outer bracket in a dispersed way, thereby permitting the stopper load to act dispersedly.

A second mode of the present invention provides the vibration damping device having stopper rubbers according to the first mode wherein the second mounting member has a tubular shape, wherein the outer bracket includes a mating tubular portion fitted externally onto the second mounting member, and wherein the mating recesses of the stopper rubbers are mated with an outside peripheral face of the mating tubular portion so that the stopper rubbers are attached to the outer bracket.

In the present invention, the plurality of stopper rubbers are attached to the outer bracket such that the respective mating recesses open toward different directions due to elastic deformation of the rubber connecting portion that connects the stopper rubbers to each other. Therefore, in the case where the stopper rubbers are attached to the mating tubular portion of the outer bracket as described in the second mode as well, it is possible to attach the plurality of stopper rubbers which are integrally formed at any places on the circumference of the mating tubular portion.

A third mode of the present invention provides the vibration damping device having stopper rubbers according to the first or second mode wherein the stopper rubbers comprise a pair of the stopper rubbers, and the pair of the stopper rubbers are attached to the outer bracket in opposition so that the mating recesses open so as to face each other.

According to the third mode, the pair of stopper rubbers arranged in opposition are connected to each other by the rubber connecting portion, so that relative displacement of the stopper rubbers away from each other in the direction of opposition is limited by the rubber connecting portion. Therefore, the mating recesses are less likely to be released from mating with the outer bracket, whereby the stopper rubbers are stably kept attached to the outer bracket.

A fourth mode of the present invention provides the vibration damping device having stopper rubbers according to any one of the first through third modes wherein a stopper protrusion is formed projecting from the outer bracket, and the mating recesses of the stopper rubbers are mated with the stopper protrusion.

According to the fourth mode, the stopper rubbers will be more securely mated with the outer bracket and prevented from misposition or disengagement. In particular, by making the shape of the stopper protrusion so as to correspond to the shape of the mating recesses, it is possible to obtain securing force more advantageously.

A fifth mode of the present invention provides the vibration damping device having stopper rubbers according to any one of the first through fourth modes wherein with the stopper rubbers attached to the outer bracket, the rubber connecting portion undergoes tensile deformation so that the stopper rubbers are pressed against the outer bracket due to elasticity of the rubber connecting portion.

According to the fifth mode, the stopper rubbers are held attached to the outer bracket based on elasticity of the rubber connecting portion. This will prevent disengagement of the stopper rubbers from the outer bracket. In particular, where the pair of stopper rubbers are arranged in opposition while being pressed against the outer bracket due to the elasticity of the rubber connecting portion, the direction of acting force based on the elasticity of the rubber connecting portion will approximately coincide with the direction of opening of the mating recesses. This allows the stopper rubbers to be stably kept attached.

A sixth mode of the present invention provides the vibration damping device having stopper rubbers according to the fifth mode wherein with the stopper rubbers in isolation prior to attachment to the outer bracket, the rubber connecting portion has slack.

According to the sixth mode, it is possible to ensure a great length of the rubber connecting portion while keeping the separation distance between the plurality of stopper rubbers small in the isolated state. Therefore, the components incorporating the plurality of stopper rubbers connected by the rubber connecting portion will require less space for transportation or storage.

A seventh mode of the present invention provides the vibration damping device having stopper rubbers according to any one of the first through sixth modes wherein the at least one rubber connecting portion comprises a plurality of rubber connecting portions, and the rubber connecting portions are spaced away from each other in parallel between the stopper rubbers.

According to the seventh mode, even the rubber connecting portion having relatively small cross sectional shape is able to stably hold the plurality of stopper rubbers in the desired connected state while dispersing the stress acting on the rubber connecting portions, thereby improving durability. In particular, where the stopper rubbers are attached to the mating tubular portion of the outer bracket and are pressed against the mating tubular portion due to the elasticity of the rubber connecting portion, by arranging the plurality of rubber connecting portions in parallel so as to be spaced away from each other in the circumferential direction of the mating tubular portion, the stopper rubbers will be pressed against the mating tubular portion in a balanced manner, thereby being stably held attached.

An eighth mode of the present invention provides the vibration damping device having stopper rubbers according to any one of the first through seventh modes wherein the stopper rubbers are formed of rubber only.

According to the eighth mode, the number of parts for forming the stopper rubbers will be minimized, thereby simplifying the construction. Moreover, the stopper rubbers can achieve reduced weight in comparison with those reinforced with a metal fitting, and are readily to deform. This makes it easy to mate and attach the stopper rubbers to the outer bracket.

According to the present invention, the plurality of stopper rubbers are integrally connected with each other by the rubber connecting portion. Therefore, the plurality of stopper rubbers can be integrally formed at one time while being easy to handle, store, transport, or the like. Furthermore, the plurality of stopper rubbers, which are integrally formed such that the mating recesses open toward the same direction, are arranged to be attached to the outer bracket by elastically deforming the rubber connecting portion so that the mating recesses open toward different directions. Thus, the integral formation of the plurality of stopper rubbers will impose no limitation as to the directions of attachment thereof, so that degree of freedom can be obtained with respect to attachment locations to the outer bracket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first toFIGS. 1 through 4, there is depicted an automotive engine mount10as a first embodiment of the vibration damping device having stopper rubbers constructed according to the present invention. The engine mount10includes a mount body12and an outer bracket14mounted onto the mount body12. The mount body12has a construction in which a first mounting member16and a second mounting member18are elastically connected by a main rubber elastic body20. The first mounting member16is mounted onto a power unit via an inner bracket22, while the second mounting member18is mounted onto a vehicle body via the outer bracket14and installed in a vehicle, thereby providing vibration damping linkage of the power unit to the vehicle body. In the description hereinbelow, as a general rule, the vertical direction refers to the vertical direction inFIG. 4, which coincides with the axial direction of the engine mount10. Also, as a general rule, the front-back direction refers to the vertical direction inFIG. 2, which coincides with the front-back direction of the vehicle.

Described more specifically, the first mounting member16is a high rigidity component formed of iron, aluminum alloy, fiber-reinforced synthetic resin or the like, and includes a thread portion24of generally rounded quadrangular plate shape. While omitted in the drawings, the first mounting member16has a screw hole that opens onto its upper surface, and the inner bracket22described later is adapted to be screw-fastened thereto.

Meanwhile, the second mounting member18is a high rigidity component like the first mounting member16, and has a thin-walled, large-diameter, generally round tubular shape with a pair of flange portions26a,26bflaring peripherally outward from its upper end portion. It is desirable that the second mounting member18be of tubular shape, and other than the round tubular shape, various tubular shapes such as oval tubular shape, polygonal tubular shape or the like may preferably be employed.

The first mounting member16and the second mounting member18are coaxially disposed and elastically connected by the main rubber elastic body20, thereby providing the mount body12. The main rubber elastic body20has a thick-walled, large-diameter, generally frustoconical shape, and the small-diameter side end thereof is bonded by vulcanization to the first mounting member16while the outside peripheral face of the large-diameter side end thereof is bonded by vulcanization to the second mounting member18. Thus, the main rubber elastic body20of the present embodiment takes the form of an integrally vulcanization molded component incorporating the first mounting member16and the second mounting member18.

In addition, to the flange portions26a,26bof the second mounting member18, a cushioning rubber28, which is integrally formed with the main rubber elastic body20, is bonded by vulcanization. The cushioning rubber28is bonded to the upper surface of the flange portions26a,26bso as to project upward therefrom, and has a generally rounded rectangular cross section. The cross-sectional area of the cushioning rubber28becomes progressively smaller towards its projecting distal end.

For the mount body12, it is preferable to employ, for example, a fluid-filled vibration damping device such as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. JP-A-2008-196508. This fluid-filled vibration damping device includes: a pressure-receiving chamber whose wall is partially defined by the main rubber elastic body and is subject to pressure fluctuations at times of vibration input; an equilibrium chamber whose wall is partially defined by a flexible film and that permits change in volume, the pressure-receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber being filled with a non-compressible fluid; and an orifice passage interconnecting the pressure-receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber, for example. However, for the mount body, it is also possible to employ a solid type vibration damping device such as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. JP-A-2007-255530, which exhibits vibration damping effect utilizing energy attenuation action during elastic deformation of the main rubber elastic body.

Moreover, the inner bracket22is adapted to be mounted onto the mount body12. The inner bracket22is a high rigidity component formed of metal or fiber-reinforced synthetic resin etc., and may include, for example, a gate-shaped member that extends with a slot-like cross section and a base plate member fixed to the lower end of the gate-shaped member. In the description hereinbelow, the inner bracket22has a construction as indicated by the chain double-dashed line inFIGS. 2 through 4, where a thick-walled rectangular plate member is perforated by a mount installation hole30. The mount body12is positioned in the mount installation hole30and the first mounting member16is screw-fastened to the inner bracket22, so that the inner bracket22is mounted onto the mount body12.

With the inner bracket22mounted onto the mount body12, the flange portions26a,26bof the second mounting member18are situated in opposition to the inside peripheral face of the inner bracket22with a given spacing therebetween. Thus, by contact between the flange portions26a,26band the inner bracket22, a bound stopper mechanism32is constituted for limiting an amount of relative displacement of the first mounting member16and the second mounting member18to get closer to each other in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the flange portions26a,26band the inner bracket22come into contact via the cushioning rubber28, thereby reducing striking noises due to their contact.

To the mount body12, the outer bracket14is attached. The outer bracket14is a high rigidity component formed of metal or fiber-reinforced synthetic resin etc., and integrally includes a mating tubular portion34of tubular shape and a mounting portion36extending peripherally outward from the mating tubular portion34.

The mating tubular portion34has a stepped, generally round tubular shape with its diameter made smaller in the upper part rather than in the lower part, and is integrally provided with a pair of stopper protrusions38a,38bformed at locations opposite along an axis in the diametrical direction. The stopper protrusions38a,38bare protrusions projecting from the outside peripheral face of the mating tubular portion34, and both have a generally rectangular block shape extending across the entire axial length of the mating tubular portion34. Note that the stopper protrusion38ahas a greater width in the circumferential direction than does the stopper protrusion38b.

The mounting portion36is a thick plate shape and projects from the lower end portion of the mating tubular portion34in the direction approximately orthogonal to the direction of opposition of the pair of stopper protrusions38a,38b. Additionally, the mounting portion36is perforated by a plurality of bolt holes40in the thickness direction.

The outer bracket14constructed in the above manner is attached to the mount body12by the mating tubular portion34being fitted externally onto the second mounting member18. Besides, the flange portions26a,26bof the second mounting member18are superposed against the upper surface of the stopper protrusions38a,38bof the outer bracket14, so that the flange portions26a,26bare reinforced with the stopper protrusions38a,38b. Load bearing capability against the bound stopper load is enhanced thereby.

Moreover, as depicted inFIG. 2, the inner bracket22extends in the direction of protrusion of the stopper protrusions38a,38bof the outer bracket14so as to straddle and be positioned outside the stopper protrusions38a,38b. Thus, by means of contact between the inner bracket22and the outside peripheral face of the stopper protrusions38a,38b, an axis-perpendicular stopper mechanism42is provided for limiting an amount of relative displacement between first mounting member16and the second mounting member18in the axis-perpendicular direction (the vehicle front-back direction). Furthermore, by means of contact between the inner bracket22and the lower surface of the stopper protrusions38a,38b, a rebound stopper mechanism44serving as a stopper mechanism is provided for limiting an amount of relative displacement between the first mounting member16and the second mounting member18away from each other in the axial direction.

Here, to the stopper protrusions38a,38bof the outer bracket14, stopper rubbers46a,46beach formed of a rubber elastic body are attached, so that the inner bracket22and the stopper protrusions38a,38bare adapted to come into contact with each other via the stopper rubbers46a,46b.

As depicted inFIGS. 5 through 7, the stopper rubber46aintegrally includes an outer wall48of generally rectangular plate shape, a side wall50orthogonally projecting from the end of the outer wall48, and a bottom wall52projecting from the ends of the outer wall48and the side wall50so as to be orthogonal to both of them. In addition, at the end of the outer wall48and the side wall50opposite from the bottom wall52, a constrained portion54is disposed in opposition to the bottom wall52so as to extend straddling the outer wall48and the side wall50. Moreover, the stopper rubber46aincludes a mating recess56surrounded by the outer wall48, the side wall50, the bottom wall52, and the constrained portion54. As depicted inFIG. 6, the side wall50has a hook shoulder58at the opening end of the mating recess56, so that the projecting dimension of the side wall50from the outer wall48is made larger on the constrained portion54side rather than on the bottom wall52side. Besides, the outer wall48integrally includes a cushion projection60which projects with tapered contours towards opposite side of the opening of the mating recess56. Furthermore, the bottom wall52includes cushion grooves62on its outside surface. The cushion grooves62extend with generally semicircular cross section in the direction in which the mating recess56opens.

Meanwhile, the stopper rubber46bintegrally includes an outer wall64of generally rectangular plate shape, a pair of side walls66a,66bprojecting from the two ends of the outer wall64so as to be approximately orthogonal to the outer wall64, and a bottom wall68projecting from the ends of the outer wall64and the side walls66a,66bso as to be orthogonal to all of them. In addition, at the end of the outer wall64and the side walls66a,66bopposite from the bottom wall68, a constrained portion70is disposed in opposition to the bottom wall68so as to extend straddling the pair of side walls66a,66b. Moreover, the stopper rubber46bincludes a mating recess72surrounded by the outer wall64, the side walls66a,66b, the bottom wall68, and the constrained portion70. As depicted inFIG. 6, each of the side walls66a,66bhas a hook shoulder74at the opening end of the mating recess72, so that the projecting dimension of the side walls66a,66bfrom the outer wall64is made larger on the constrained portion70side rather than on the bottom wall68side. Besides, the outer wall64integrally includes a cushion projection76which projects with tapered contours towards opposite side of the opening of the mating recess72. Furthermore, the bottom wall68includes cushion grooves78on its outside surface. The cushion grooves78extend with generally semicircular cross section in the direction in which the mating recess72opens.

The stopper rubber46aand the stopper rubber46bof construction as described above are positioned adjacent to each other so that the mating recess56of the stopper rubber46aand the mating recess72of the stopper rubber46bopen toward the same direction. The bottom wall52of the stopper rubber46aand the bottom wall68of the stopper rubber46bare arranged in opposition at a given distance.

It should be appreciated that the stopper rubber46aand the stopper rubber46bare integrally formed with each other by being connected by rubber connecting portions80a,80b. The rubber connecting portions80a,80bhave a band shape or pillar shape, and are integrally formed with the stopper rubbers46a,46bby straddling the bottom walls52,68on the opening side of the mating recesses56,72. In the present embodiment, the rubber connecting portion80aand the rubber connecting portion80bhaving mutually different shapes are arranged in parallel at a distance from each other between the stopper rubbers46a,46b. Besides, the rubber connecting portion80aand the rubber connecting portion80bare provided on the end of the bottom wall68of the stopper rubber46bat the positions where the side walls66a,66bare opposed to each other. Thus, the distance between the rubber connecting portion80aand the rubber connecting portion80bis greatly obtained.

Additionally, both the rubber connecting portions80a,80bcurve in an approximate form of a U so as to be convex in the direction of opening of the mating recesses56,72, so as to have sufficient slack in that direction. In the present embodiment, in the attached state to the outer bracket14described later, the rubber connecting portion80ahas a longer path than the rubber connecting portion80b. Therefore, as depicted inFIG. 6, the rubber connecting portion80aprojects greater than does the rubber connecting portion80bin the direction of opening of the mating recesses56,72.

Note that the stopper rubbers46a,46band the rubber connecting portions80a,80bare integrally formed of a rubber elastic body. In this respect, the mating recess56of the stopper rubber46aand the mating recess72of the stopper rubber46bopen to the same direction (upward inFIG. 6). Thus, by using a mold for vulcanization molding to be divided in the vertical direction inFIG. 6, it is possible to form an integrally molded component incorporating these stopper rubbers46a,46band the rubber connecting portions80a,80bwith a simple mold structure composed of a small number of divisions. Moreover, in the present embodiment, the direction of protrusion of the cushion projections60,76and the groove direction of the cushion grooves62,78are also the vertical direction inFIG. 6. This arrangement makes it possible to avoid mold release failure with respect to parting in the vertical direction inFIG. 6.

The stopper rubbers46a,46bintegrally connected with each other by the rubber connecting portions80a,80bin this way are attached to the outer bracket14. Specifically, as shown by arrows inFIG. 6, with the rubber connecting portions80a,80bbeing elastically deformed, the stopper rubbers46a,46bare rotated relative to each other and situated in opposition so that the mating recesses56,72open so as to face each other. Concurrently, or thereafter, the mating recesses56,72are respectively mated with the stopper protrusions38a,38bof the outer bracket14. By so doing, as depicted inFIG. 8, the stopper rubbers46a,46bsituated in opposition are attached to the stopper protrusions38a,38bthat constitute the outside peripheral face of the mating tubular portion34. In the present embodiment, the stopper rubbers46a,46bare both formed of rubber only without including any rigid member for reinforcement purposes. Thus, the stopper rubbers46a,46bare permitted elastic deformation in their entirety, and are readily attachable to the stopper protrusions38a,38b. Additionally, by the hook shoulders58,74of the stopper rubbers46a,46bcoming into contact with the shoulder portion of the mating tubular portion34, the stopper rubbers46a,46bare vertically positioned at their inner peripheral edges.

Furthermore, as depicted inFIG. 8, with the stopper rubbers46a,46battached to the outer bracket14, the rubber connecting portions80a,80bextend straddling the lower opening of the mating tubular portion34of the outer bracket14. In this respect, when the stopper rubbers46a,46bare attached to the outer bracket14, the rubber connecting portions80a,80bhaving slack in a form of a U undergo tensile deformation and extend in a generally straight line. Accordingly, the outer walls48,64of the stopper rubbers46a,46bare pressed against the stopper protrusions38a,38bdue to elasticity of the rubber connecting portions80a,80b. With this arrangement, the mating recesses56,72are effectively kept mated with the stopper protrusions38a,38b, thereby preventing detachment of the stopper rubbers46a,46bfrom the stopper protrusions38a,38b. In the present embodiment, as depicted inFIG. 9, with the outer bracket14fastened externally onto the mount body12, the lower end of the mount body12is housed within the mating tubular portion34of the outer bracket14without projecting from the lower end thereof, so that the rubber connecting portions80a,80bextend without being pressed by the mount body12.

Moreover, as depicted inFIG. 10, the stopper protrusion38aincludes at its upper surface a mating groove82, and the stopper protrusion38bincludes at its upper surface a mating groove84. Accordingly, the constrained portion54is fitted into the mating groove82while the constrained portion70is fitted into the mating groove84. This arrangement prevents detachment of the stopper rubbers46a,46bfrom the stopper protrusions38a,38b, whereby the stopper rubbers46a,46bare held positioned with respect to the stopper protrusions38a,38b.

With the stopper rubbers46a,46binstalled as above, the axis-perpendicular stopper mechanism42and the rebound stopper mechanism44are arranged such that the inner bracket22and the outer bracket14come into contact via the stopper rubbers46a,46b, thereby reducing contact noises. Particularly in the present embodiment, the stopper rubbers46a,46binclude the cushion projections60,76on the outer walls48,64, and the cushion grooves62,78on the bottom walls52,68. Striking noises during contact will be more effectively reduced thereby.

Note that as depicted inFIGS. 10 and 11, the mount body12is adapted to be secured press-fit into the outer bracket14to which the stopper rubbers46a,46bare attached. Accordingly, the openings of the mating grooves82,84are covered by the flange portions26a,26bof the second mounting member18, making it possible to prevent the constrained portions54,70from being disengaged from the mating grooves82,84, and hence effectively prevent detachment of the stopper rubbers46a,46bfrom the stopper protrusions38a,38b.

In addition, the inner bracket22is attached to the engine mount10constructed such that the outer bracket14incorporating the stopper rubbers46a,46bis fitted externally onto the mount body12. As will be apparent from the above description, the inner bracket22is not an element of the engine mount10according to the present embodiment, but can be omitted. If the inner bracket22is omitted, the stopper mechanism is provided by, for example, changing the shape of the first mounting member so that the first mounting member and the outer bracket14come into contact with each other.

In the engine mount10of this construction according to the present embodiment, the plurality of stopper rubbers46a,46bare integrally connected with each other by the rubber connecting portions80a,80b, thereby being provided as a single component overall. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, thus making the attaching of the stopper rubbers46a,46bto the outer bracket14easier. Besides, storage, management, transportation or the like of the components also become easier.

Moreover, the stopper rubbers46a,46bare integrally connected with each other by the rubber connecting portions80a,80bwith the mating recesses56,72arranged so as to open toward generally the same direction. This arrangement will avoid troubles such as failure in removing the mold for molding from the mating recesses56,72.

Furthermore, when the stopper rubbers46a,46bare attached to the outer bracket14, the directions of opening of the mating recesses56,72can be made different by deforming the rubber connecting portions80a,80b. Therefore, it is not necessary to align the directions of attaching of the stopper rubbers46a,46bto the outer bracket14with each other, and the stopper rubbers46a,46bcan be attached, for example, in opposition to each other. It would also be acceptable to arrange the stopper rubbers46a,46brotated relative to each other with the directions of opening of their mating recesses retained in the same direction, while appropriately modifying the shapes of the rubber connecting portions80a,80b. By so doing, it is possible to easily deal with any requirement regarding the directions of attachment of the stopper rubbers46a,46b.

Also, in the present embodiment, a pair of the stopper rubbers46a,46bare mated and attached to the outside peripheral face of the mating tubular portion34of the outer bracket14, and the pair of stopper rubbers46a,46bare positioned in opposition to each other. Since the pair of stopper rubbers46a,46bpositioned in this way are connected by the rubber connecting portions80a,80bin the direction of opposition, displacement of the stopper rubbers46a,46bin the direction of opposition away from each other is limited. Accordingly, the pair of stopper rubbers46a,46bare prevented from disengagement from the outer bracket14due to their relative displacement, and are stably kept attached thereto.

Besides, with the stopper rubbers46a,46battached to the outer bracket14, the rubber connecting portions80a,80bundergo tensile deformation, so that the stopper rubbers46a,46bare pressed against the outer bracket14due to elasticity of the rubber connecting portions80a,80b. Thus, disengagement of the stopper rubbers46a,46bfrom the outer bracket14will be more effectively prevented, thereby maintaining the attached state.

Additionally, in the present embodiment, with the stopper rubbers46a,46bin isolation prior to attachment to the outer bracket14, the rubber connecting portions80a,80bare provided so as to curve in a form of a U and have slack. Therefore, the distance between the stopper rubbers46a,46bin the isolated state is sufficiently made smaller than the distance between the opposed stopper rubbers46a,46bin the attached state to the outer bracket14, whereby the integrally vulcanization molded component of the stopper rubbers46a,46bcan be obtained with compact size.

Moreover, the rubber connecting portions80a,80bare spaced away from each other in parallel in the circumferential direction of the mating tubular portion34between the pair of stopper rubbers46a,46b. With this arrangement, biased elastic force of the rubber connecting portions80a,80bis prevented from acting on the stopper rubbers46a,46b, thereby avoiding disengagement or deviation in the circumferential direction of the stopper rubbers46a,46b. Especially in the present embodiment, the rubber connecting portions80a,80bare provided at the opposite ends of the stopper rubbers46a,46b. Thus, the stopper rubbers46a,46bare pressed against the outer bracket14at their opposite ends, so as to be stably attached thereto. In addition, when the stopper rubbers46a,46bare integrally formed, in the cavity of mold for vulcanization molding, a flow of the rubber material will be efficiently permitted between the formation zones of the stopper rubbers46a,46bthrough the formation zones of the rubber connecting portions80a,80b. Molding defects can be advantageously prevented thereby.

Furthermore, the mating tubular portion34of the outer bracket14includes the stopper protrusions38a,38b, and the stopper rubbers46a,46bare superposed against and mated with the respective stopper protrusions38a,38b. Therefore, the stopper rubbers46a,46bare less likely to be detached from the outer bracket14, and are stably retained in the intended attached state. Besides, by providing the stopper protrusions38a,38bof generally rectangular shape, each of the bound stopper mechanism32, the rebound stopper mechanism44, and the axis-perpendicular stopper mechanism42can obtain a large contact area, thereby effectively limiting displacement of the components.

An embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to those specific descriptions. For example, the number of the stopper rubbers is not necessarily limited to two, but may be three or more.

Also, it is not essential for the stopper rubbers, under the attached state to the outer bracket, to be situated in opposition in pairs such that the mating recesses face to each other. For example, the stopper rubbers may be arranged such that the directions of opening of the mating recesses are generally orthogonal to each other.

Besides, the stopper rubbers are not necessarily limited to the construction incorporating the outer wall, the side wall, the bottom wall, and the constrained portion which are distinctly segmented, but may alternatively have a construction in which the outer wall and the side wall are constituted by a continuous tubular wall.

Moreover, the stopper rubbers are not limited to those formed of rubber only. For example, a rigid member for reinforcement purposes may be anchored to the stopper rubbers so as to limit deformation thereof, thus preventing disengagement after attachment.

As to the rubber connecting portions, three or more rubber connecting portions may be provided and spaced away from one another in a parallel arrangement, or alternatively, only a single rubber connecting portion having a wide plate shape may be provided.

Also, the shape of the rubber connecting portion having slack is not always limited to a U shape, but may extend in a wavy form or a zigzag form, for example. In addition, whereas it is desirable that the rubber connecting portion have slack in order to make the distance between the stopper rubbers small in the isolated state, the rubber connecting portion does not necessarily have slack, but may extend in a straight line between the stopper rubbers.

Furthermore, the rubber connecting portions are not limited to the construction that connects the bottom walls of the plurality of stopper rubbers, but may be provided so as to connect the side walls of the stopper rubbers, for example.

It is not essential for the outer bracket to have the mating tubular portion, and the stopper rubbers are not necessarily limited to those attached to the outside peripheral face of the mating tubular portion.

It would also be acceptable to omit the stopper protrusion formed projecting from the outside peripheral face of the mating tubular portion. For example, the mating recess of the stopper rubber may have a round tubular concave shape that corresponds to the outside peripheral face of the mating tubular portion and be directly mated with the outside peripheral face of the mating tubular portion.

Additionally, the mount body is not limited to the vibration damping device of bowl design such as shown in the preceding embodiment, but may employ a cylindrical vibration-damping device having a construction in which an outer cylindrical member is externally fitted onto an inner shaft member and a main rubber elastic body elastically connects the inner shaft member and the outer cylindrical member.