Suspension device for a motor vehicle

Abstract: The suspension device (1) comprises a shock absorber (2), a spring (9) located around the shock absorber (2) between an upper plate (6) and a lower plate (7), a thrust bearing (8) located around the shaft (4) of the shock absorber (2) on an upper shoulder (12) of this shaft (4), a threaded clamp member (16) screwed onto an end spigot (4a) of the shaft (4) to clamp the bearing (8) against the shoulder (12), an annular buffer (13) of resilient material located above the bearing (8) and intended to be introduced from beneath into a domed receptacle (17) of the motor-vehicle body, and a stop member (18) for connection to the spigot (4a) of the shaft (4) over the clamp member (16). The clamp member has an integral, radially projecting formation (16b) which, in the clamped condition of this member (16), bears on the annular buffer (13), fixing it to the bearing (8), whereby the clamp member (16) enables both the bearing (8) and the resilient buffer (13) to be clamped simultaneously to the shaft (4) of the shock absorber (2).

Description: The present invention relates to a suspension device for a motor vehicle of the type comprising a shock absorber with a cylinder and a shaft which projects from the top of the cylinder and has a threaded upper spigot, a spring located around the shock absorber between an upper plate which surrounds the upper end of the shaft and a lower plate, a thrust bearing including a plurality of balls between a lower ring arranged around the shaft above the upper plate and an upper ring which bears on an upper shoulder of the shaft, a threaded clamp member screwed onto the spigot of the shaft to clamp the upper ring of the bearing against the shoulder, an annular buffer of resilient material located around the shaft above the upper ring of the bearing and including a rigid, annular, lower reinforcement and a rigid upper reinforcement; the buffer being intended to be introduced from beneath into a domed receptacle of the motor-vehicle body having an upper aperture; and a stop member for connection to the spigot of the shaft over the clamp member and over the domed receptacle of the motor-vehicle body. Such a suspension device, corresponding to the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP-A-0 450 576 and from DE-A-4 137 447. The object of the present invention is to provide a suspension device of this type which has a smaller number of parts and is easily pre-assembled before its fitting to the motor vehicle. This and other objects are achieved according to the invention by a suspension device of the type specified above, characterised in that the clamp member has an integral, radially-projecting formation which, in the clamped condition of the member, bears on the annular buffer so as to fix it to the bearing whereby this member enables both the bearing and the resilient buffer to be clamped simultaneously to the shaft of the shock absorber. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be come apparent from the detailed description which follows, given purely by way of non-limitative example with reference to the appended drawing in which a device according to the invention is shown in partial section. With reference to the drawing, a suspension device 1 comprises a shock absorber 2 with a cylinder 3 and a shaft 4 which projects from the top of the cylinder. Around the shock absorber 2 is a helical spring 5 located between an upper plate 6 which surrounds the upper end of the shaft 4 and lower plate 7 fixed to the cylinder 3. Above the upper plate 6 is a thrust bearing generally indicated 8. In known manner, this bearing includes a plurality of balls 9 enclosed between a lower ring 10 located around the shaft 4 and an upper ring 11 which bears on an upper shoulder 12 of the shaft 4. An annular buffer 13 of resilient material is located around the upper portion of the shaft 4 of the shock absorber, above the upper ring 11 of the thrust bearing 8. This buffer includes, in known manner, a rigid annular lower reinforcement 14 and a rigid upper reinforcement 15. Reference 16 indicates an annular, internally threaded clamp member screwed on to an end spigot 4a of the shaft 4 of the shock absorber. The clamp member 16 has a lower portion 16a which bears on the upper ring 11 of the thrust bearing 8, clamping it against the shoulder 12 of the shaft 4. A middle portion of the clamp member 16 is formed with an annular projection 16b in the form of a collar which, in the clamped condition of this member, bears on the radially innermost portion of the buffer 13, clamping this buffer to the bearing 8. The annular member 16 enables both the bearing and the buffer 13 to be clamped simultaneously to the shaft 4 of the shock absorber 2 during assembly. Conveniently, as shown in the drawing, the clamp member 16 has an upper portion 16c in the form of a polygonal bolt head to facilitate its screwing onto the threaded spigot of the shaft 4 by means of a spanner or the like. The suspension device described above is intended to be mounted in a domed receptacle 17 in the body of a motor vehicle. During assembly, the pre-assembled suspension device is introduced into the domed receptacle 17 from beneath so that the resilient buffer 13 engages this receptacle with form coupling. The suspension device is then fixed to the motor-vehicle body by means of a stop member 18 of essentially cup-shape, screwed on to the threaded spigot 4a of the shaft 4 which projects through the clamp member 16. Conveniently the stop member 18 is constituted by a cup element of pressed and drawn sheet metal and has an annular, upwardly-turned edge 18a in its base wall, the inner surface of which is threaded for coupling with the spigot 4a of the shock-absorber shaft. The stop member 18 extends radially beyond the edge of the upper aperture 18a in the domed receptacle 17 of the motor-vehicle body. Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the forms of embodiment and details of construction may be varied widely with respect to that described and illustrated purely by way of non-limitative example, without thereby departing from the present invention, as as defined in the annexed Claims.

Claims: A suspension device (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a shock absorber (2) with a cylinder (3) and a shaft (4) which projects from the top of the cylinder (3) and has a threaded upper spigot (4a), a spring (9) located around the shock absorber(2) between an upper plate (6) which surrounds the upper end of the shaft (4) and a lower plate (7), a thrust bearing (8) with a plurality of balls (9) between a lower ring (10) located around the shaft (4) above the upper plate (6) and an upper ring (11) which bears on an upper shoulder (12) of the shaft (4), a threaded clamp member (16) screwed onto the spigot (4a) of the shaft (4) to clamp the upper ring (11) of the bearing (8) against the shoulder (12), an annular buffer (13) of resilient material located around the shaft (4) above the upper ring (11) of the bearing (8) and including a rigid, annular, lower reinforcement (14) and a rigid upper reinforcement (15); the buffer (13) being intended to be introduced from beneath into a domed receptacle (17) of the motor-vehicle body having an upper aperture (17a); and a stop member (18) for connection to the spigot (4a) of the shaft (4) over the clamp member (16) and over the domed receptacle (17) of the motor-vehicle body; the suspension device being characterised in that the clamp member has an integral, radially-projecting formation (16b) which, in the clamped condition of the member (16), bears on the annular buffer (13) to fix it to the bearing (8), whereby the clamp member (16) enables both the bearing (8) and the resilient buffer (13) to be clamped simultaneously to the shaft (4) of the shock absorber (2). A suspension device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the upper portion (16c) of the clamp member (16) is in the form of a polygonal bolt head. A suspension device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the stop member (18) comprises a cup-shaped member, the base of which is formed with a threaded aperture (18a) for screwing on to the spigot (4a) of the shaft (4) of the shock absorber (2). A suspension device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the stop member (18) is of pressed sheet metal and has an upwardly-turned annular edge (18a) in its base, the inner surface of which is threaded for coupling with the spigot (4a) of the shaft (4) of the shock absorber (2).

Inventors: DELSEDIME SERGIO, SALMORIA VALTER, DELSEDIME, SERGIO, SALMORIA, VALTER
Applicants: FIAT AUTO SPA, FIAT AUTO S.P.A.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: B60G15
IPC codes: B60G15