Abstract:
Some embodiments are directed to a structure for mounting a damper to a vehicle structural member. The structure includes a hollow rigid mount body having an upper portion that extends through a structural member aperture so as to project above the member, and a lower portion disposed beneath the member. The lower portion outer diameter can be larger than the upper portion outer diameter. A securing member is disposed around the rigid mount body, so that the vehicle structural member is located between the securing member and rigid mount body lower portion. A bearing assembly is disposed within the rigid mount body lower portion, and configured to retain an upper portion of the piston rod of the damper within the rigid mount body lower portion, while allowing the piston rod to move in a direction at an angle relative to an axis of the aperture of the vehicle structural member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The disclosed subject matter relates to vehicle component mounting apparatus, and methods of use and manufacture thereof. In particular, the disclosed subject matter relates to methods and apparatus for mounting dampers, shock absorbers, etc. to vehicle bodies, such as to achieve non-compliant mountings. 
     Vehicles can be constituted by an assembly of multiple separate components that are connected or otherwise mounted together. The manner in which the connection of these components is achieved may be dependent on various factors, such as the structure or the components, the operation or purpose of the components, etc. 
     As one example, some vehicles, and especially those that travel over land, include suspension systems that need to be directly or indirectly connected to other vehicle components, such as a body of the vehicle. These suspension systems may enhance performance and comfort of on-road and off-road vehicles, such as by handling or otherwise dissipating a shock load, which may be applied in a back-and-forth direction, that is communicated to a vehicle wheel under certain circumstances, e.g., when the wheel encounters an uneven or rough surface on a path of travel. The suspension systems can include dampers (also referred to herein as shock absorbers) that can absorb or otherwise dissipate vibrations of the shock load, which can enhance performance (by increasing friction between the wheels and the surface on which the vehicle travels) and occupant comfort. The dampers can be disposed between an un-sprung and sprung mass of the vehicle, and can provide a smooth ride as perceived by all of the vehicle occupants, or can enable a driver to more easily maintain control of the vehicle at higher speeds and with less effort by absorbing some or all of the shock, vibrations, etc. resulting from the vehicle&#39;s movement along the path. 
     The desired type and amount of dampening may depend on various factors, including the type of vehicle, intended use of vehicle, path along which the vehicle is intended to travel, etc. As one example, dampers for racing vehicles tend to be designed less for occupant comfort, and instead typically use higher damping ratios to reduce oscillation resulting from high rates of travel along an uneven path. 
     SUMMARY 
     Dampers need to be mounted or otherwise directly or indirectly connected to other vehicle components, such as the vehicle body, in a manner that facilitates or otherwise enables performance of their intended function, i.e., absorbing shocks, vibrations, etc. However, certain challenges exist to sufficiently securing dampers in a manner that does not impede their function. 
     For example, some related art damper mount structure solutions exist that secure at an upper end of a suspension piston rod of a strut or damper to a bearing that is carried within a mount member. This mount member can be constructed or otherwise formed of a compliant material, which in turn is secured the vehicle body. Rubber bushings can be used in a compliant damper mount structure to operate as rubber insulators between metallic members. These rubber bushings can be effective based upon their vibration damping ability and the flexibility of movement that is imparted to the damper and mounting members. 
     However, these types of bushing-type damper mount structures may be subject to various disadvantages, especially in high performance or racing implementations. It may be more effective for high performance vehicles and racing vehicles to utilize non-compliant damper mounts to achieve better suspension performance. In addition, a vertically compliant damper mount structure can result in disadvantageous handling of a racing vehicle, such as with regard to weight transfer under braking or acceleration, pitch/dive, transient roll balance, lateral grip and roll rates in transitions, pulling or wandering of the vehicle, sluggish steering response, etc. 
     It may therefore be advantageous to provide a damper mount that does not require, avoids, or otherwise fails to include a bushing-type damper mount (e.g., bushings made of a compliant material, such as rubber disposed on either side of a vehicle structural member sandwiching the structural member). It may be especially advantageous to avoid this structure in damper installations where a non-compliant mounting is desired, such as where a damper rod or pin passes through the vehicle structural member and/or body panel. 
     Some embodiments therefore address at least one of the above and/or other disadvantages of the related art, such as undesired compliance in a suspension system that is caused by compliant dampener mounting structures. Some of these embodiments include a bearing structure that can provide sufficient angular compliance to compensate for suspension movement during use without the addition of undesired vertical compliance. Some embodiments provide a rigid damper mount structure that can partially or fully remove axial compliance from the piston rod that is clamped around the vehicle body. 
     Some embodiments are therefore directed to a structure for mounting a damper that includes a piston rod to a vehicle structural member that defines an aperture. The structure can include a hollow rigid mount body that includes an upper portion that extends through the aperture so as to project above the vehicle body panel, and a lower portion that is disposed beneath the vehicle structural member. The lower portion can define an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the upper portion. A rigid mount securing member can be configured to be disposed around an exterior of the upper portion of the rigid mount body, and so that the vehicle structural member is located between the rigid mount securing member and the lower portion of the rigid mount body. A bearing assembly can be disposed within the lower portion of the rigid mount body, and configured to retain an upper portion of the piston rod of the damper within the lower portion of the rigid mount body, while allowing the piston rod to move in a direction at an angle relative to an axis of the aperture of the vehicle structural member. 
     Some other embodiments are directed to a damper assembly that is configured for mounting to a vehicle body panel that defines an aperture. The damper assembly can include a damper that includes a piston rod; and a structure for mounting the damper to the vehicle body panel. The structure can include a hollow rigid mount body that includes an upper portion that extends through the aperture so as to project above the vehicle body panel, and a lower portion that is disposed beneath the vehicle body panel. The lower portion can define an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the upper portion. A rigid mount securing member can be configured to be disposed around an exterior of the upper portion of the rigid mount body, and so that the vehicle body panel is located between the rigid mount securing member and the lower portion of the rigid mount body. A bearing assembly can be disposed within the lower portion of the rigid mount body, and configured to retain an upper portion of the piston rod of the damper within the lower portion of the rigid mount body, while allowing the piston rod to move in a direction at an angle relative to an axis of the aperture of the vehicle body panel. 
     Still other embodiments are directed to a method of mounting a damper, which includes a piston rod, to a vehicle body panel that defines an aperture. The method can include: extending an upper portion of a hollow rigid mount body through the aperture so as to project above the vehicle body panel; disposing a lower portion of the hollow rigid mount body beneath the vehicle body panel, the lower portion being configured so as to define an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the upper portion; disposing a rigid mount securing member around an exterior of the upper portion of the rigid mount body, so that the vehicle body panel is located between the rigid mount securing member and the lower portion of the rigid mount body; and disposing a bearing assembly within the lower portion of the rigid mount body so that the bearing assembly retains an upper portion of the piston rod of the damper within the lower portion of the rigid mount body, while allowing the piston rod to move in a direction at an angle relative to an axis of the aperture of the vehicle body panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosed subject matter of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and method, given by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rear suspension system with a damper and exemplary damper mount structure in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle damper of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a section of a vehicular body panel for attachment to the exemplary damper mount structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary damper mount structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded sectional view of the exemplary damper mount structure of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment for a damper mount configuration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     A few inventive aspects of the disclosed embodiments are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Exemplary embodiments are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows. 
     I. Vehicle Suspension System 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rear suspension system with a damper and exemplary damper mount structure in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. A trailing link rear suspension system  12  is symmetrically arranged with respect to a longitudinal centerline of a vehicle  10 . Embodiments, however, are intended to include or otherwise cover vehicle damper mount structures used in any vehicle suspension system including solid axle systems, dead axle systems (e.g., de Dion tube), independent systems (e.g., double A-arm, short-long arm, etc.) or any other known, related art or later developed vehicular suspension application. 
     The rear suspension system  12  can include a solid axle beam  44 , a stabilizer bar  46 , and a pair of trailing arms  48 . A pair of rear wheels  50  can be mounted onto rear hubs  52 , and a pair of coil springs  54  can each encircle a respective pair of dampers  14  in a coil-over configuration. Ends of the trailing arms  48  are attached to opposite ends of the axle beam  44 , and the other ends of the trailing arms  48  are attached to rear hubs  52 . Tires  56  can be mounted onto rear wheels  50 , with the hubs being coaxial with the rear wheels  50  and tires  56 . 
     An exemplary damper  14  and damper mount structure  24  is provided at each trailing arm  48 . The dampers  14  and damper mount structures  24  are symmetrically arranged with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle  10 . 
     The damper  14  of the rear suspension system  12  is fastened to a component of the vehicle body  16  of the vehicle  10 . In particular, the damper  14  includes a piston rod  20  and a mounting shaft portion  22  (that is distal to the piston rod  20 ), which is attached to a vehicle structural member  18  of the vehicle body  16  by the damper mount structure  24 . The vehicle structural member  18  can be configured as any appropriate structure capable of supporting dynamic loads input from the wheels of the vehicle to the vehicle body. For example, the vehicle structural member can be configured as a frame component, a body panel component or any other appropriate structural component of the vehicle. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle damper of  FIG. 1 . Embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any known, related art, or later developed damper or damper structure, including but not limited to a Macpherson strut, an active suspension, etc. The damper  14  can include the mounting shaft portion  22 , the piston rod  20 , a cylinder body  58 , a lower spring seat  60 , and a damper lower mount  62 . The cylinder body  58  can enclose or otherwise include a cylindrical member and any type of damper or shock body, such as but not limited to a threaded shock body for a coil-over strut, for use with any type a damping mechanism including a mono-tube, twin tube, pneumatically actuated, active suspension, etc. In a coil-over strut, the coil spring  54  encircles the cylinder body  58 , and is removably attached at a spring upper mount portion  64  with an upper spring seat (not shown), and at a lower end of the cylinder body  58  with the lower spring seat  60 . 
     The damper  14  can attach to a suspension member in any appropriate manner, such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. In the embodiment in  FIG. 2 , the damper lower mount  62  can include an eye style mount that can attach to the trailing arm  48 . In other embodiments, the damper lower mount  62  can attach to other suspension members, such as an A-arm, a knuckle for a McPherson strut, etc. The mounting shaft portion  22  can attach to the vehicle body panel  18  using the exemplary damper mount structure  24 , which is described in more detail below. 
     II. Damper Mount Structure 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary damper mount structure of  FIG. 1 ; and  FIG. 5  is an exploded sectional view of the exemplary damper mount structure of  FIG. 4 . As shown in these figures, the damper mount structure  24  can include a rigid mount body  32 , a rigid mount securing member  28 , a rigid mount disk  26 , a damper securing member  70  (e.g., a nut), a bearing  78 , and a bearing lock  40 . 
     The rigid mount body  32  can include an upper portion  34  (e.g., an annular projection) and a lower portion  36  (e.g., a housing body), the lower portion being configured so as to define an outer diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the upper portion. The rigid mount body  32  can be formed as a unitary or multi-part body, and be configured in any appropriate shape that can cooperate with the rigid mount securing member  28  to secure the mounting shaft portion  22  of the damper  14  to the vehicle body panel  18 . The rigid mount disk  26  (e.g., a rigid washer) can be tightened by the rigid mount securing member  28  (e.g., a rigid mount securing nut) to the vehicle body panel  18 . 
     The bearing lock  40  can be integrally fixed to the housing body  36 . A tightening force (e.g., an axial force) exerted by the rigid mount securing nut  28  can be transmitted through the annular projection  34  that secures the rigid mount body  32  to the vehicle body panel  18 . 
     A suspension system for the vehicle  10  can include the piston rod  20  of the damper  14  of the rear suspension system  12 , and the vehicle body panel  18 . The mounting shaft portion  22  of the piston rod  20  can be inserted into the housing body  36  and fastened vehicle body panel  18 . The damper mount structure  24  further includes the rigid mount disk  26  interposed between the rigid mount securing nut  28  and an upper surface  72  of the vehicle body panel  18 . The rigid mount disk  26  is subjected to the pressure of the rigid mount securing nut  28  screwed onto the annular projection  34 . 
     An upper surface  38  of the housing body  36  can be disposed between a lower surface  74  of the vehicle body panel  18  in opposed relation to the rigid mount disk  26 , with the vehicle body panel  18  interposed between the housing body  36  and the rigid mount disk  26 . 
     The lower surface  74  of the vehicle body panel  18  faces in a direction of arrow a 1  (see  FIG. 4 ), which indicates a downward direction of the vehicle  10 . Arrow a 2  (see  FIG. 4 ) indicates an upwardly direction of the vehicle  10 , and arrow a 3  (see  FIG. 4 ) indicates a transverse direction of the vehicle  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the annular projection  34  can be a cylindrical member that protrudes from the housing body  36  toward the vehicle body panel  18  (e.g., away from the vehicle&#39;s trailing arm  48 ). The annular projection  34  has an outer diameter D 1  that is smaller than the outer diameter D 2  of the housing body  36 . The rigid mount disk  26  has an inner diameter D 3  that is larger than the outer diameter D 2  of the annular projection  34 , but smaller than diameter D 2  of the housing body  36  in order to slidably fit around the annular projection  34 . The rigid mount disk  26  has an outer diameter D 4  that is greater than the annular projection  34  outer diameter D 1 , such that a lower surface  82  of the rigid mount disk  26  can contact the upper surface  72  of the vehicle body panel  18 . 
     The rigid mount securing nut  28  can have an inner diameter D 5  that is approximately the same as the inner diameter D 3  of the rigid mount disk  26  in order to fit around the cylindrical body of the annular projection  34 . The rigid mount securing nut  28  has an outer diameter D 6  that may be equal to or less than an outer diameter D 4  of the rigid mount disk  26 , such that a lower surface  86  of the rigid mount securing nut  28  can fully contact the upper surface  84  of the rigid mount disk  26  when assembled. The annular projection  34  has an inner diameter D 7  that can allow passage of the damper securing nut  70  therethrough. 
     The damper mount structure  24  further includes the damper securing nut  70  disposed axially within a through-channel  76  of the housing body  36 , and disposed to fit around the mounting shaft portion  22  of the piston rod  20  in housing body  36 . The damper securing nut  70  can be a cylindrical member, and can include a head portion  88 , a body portion  90 , a through-channel  100  that includes a head connector  102 , and a body channel  104  that can receive the mounting shaft portion  22 . The head portion  88  diameter D 8  of the damper securing nut  70  can be greater than a diameter of the body portion  90  to accommodate an internal diameter of the head connector  102 , which is greater than a diameter of the body channel  104 . 
     The damper securing nut  70  has an axial height Ha approximately equal to the internal height Hb of the housing body  36  through-channel  76 , such that the damper securing nut  70  can fit completely housed inside of a through-channel  76  of the housing body  36 . A diameter D 8  of the damper securing nut  70  is less than the internal diameter D 5  of an axially centric channel  106  for the rigid mount securing nut  28 , the internal diameter D 3  of an axially centric opening  108  of the rigid mount disk, an axially centric internal channel  110  of the annular projection  34 , and the diameter D 2  of the through-channel  76  of the housing body  36 , so that the damper securing nut  70  may pass through a channel or opening of each member. 
     The damper securing nut  70  can be integrally fixed within the through-channel  76  of the housing body  36  and attach to the bearing  78  in any appropriate manner, such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. 
     The bearing  78  is a generally cylindrical member that can be disposed axially within the through-channel  76  of the housing body  36 , and fitted around the damper securing nut  70 . The bearing  78  can be interposed between the wall  112  of the through-channel  76  and the damper securing nut  70 . The bearing  78  can include an upper frusto-conical surface  114 , a lower frusto-conical surface  116 , a cylindrical portion  117  that extends away from the surfaces  114  and  116 , and an opening portion  118 . The opening portion  118  has a diameter greater than a diameter of damper securing nut body portion  90  to allow the body portion  90  to pass therethrough, but less than the head portion diameter D 8  such that the head portion  90  of the damper securing nut  70  cannot pass therethrough. 
     The upper frusto-conical surface  114  and the lower frusto-conical surface  116  are the upper and lower surfaces of an expanded inner contact surface  120  of the bearing  78  that securely attach to the damper securing nut body portion  90 . A top end surface  122  of the upper frusto-conical surface  114  can contact a ridge  132  of the damper securing nut  70  that is formed by the expanded diameter D 8  of head portion  88  extending beyond a diameter of the body portion  90  of the damper securing nut  70 . 
     The bearing  78  can be secured within the housing body  36  with the annular bearing lock  40  that can be disposed within a lower end  80  of the housing body through-channel  76 . The lower frusto-conical surface  116  can attach to the annular bearing lock  40  in any appropriate manner, such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the rigid mount structure  24  can further include a bearing adapter  42  disposed axially to the housing body  36  within a lower end  80  of the housing body through-channel  76 , and can be partially disposed outside of the housing body through-channel  76 . The bearing adapter  42  can enable support for the coil spring  54 , a bump rubber, or a travel limiting device as desired for specific vehicle  10  requirements. 
     The bearing adapter  42  can be a cylindrical member, and can include a head portion  126 , a body portion  128 , and a through-channel  130 . The bearing adapter  42  can pass through an opening portion  136  of the bearing lock  40  and integrally attach to the bearing  78 . An outer surface of body portion  128  of the bearing adapter  42  can attach to the inner contact surface  120  of the bearing  78 . When attached in such a configuration, an end surface  138  of the body portion  128  of the bearing adapter  42  can abut an end surface  140  of the body portion  90  of the damper securing nut  70 . A diameter of the through-channel  130  of the bearing adapter  42  can be greater than a diameter of the mounting shaft portion  22 , such that the through-channel  130  can slidably receive the mounting shaft portion  22 . 
     The ridge  134  of the bearing adapter  42  can be formed by an expanded diameter of the head portion  126  extending beyond a diameter of the body portion  128 . A bottom end surface  124  of the lower frusto-conical surface  116  can contact the ridge  134  of the bearing adapter  42 , and function as a stop to the body portion  128  of the bearing adapter  42  when an outer surface of body portion  128  of the bearing adapter  42  attaches to the inner contact surface  120  of the bearing  78 . The bearing  78  can further include a ringed pair of notches  142  disposed on opposing sides of cylindrical portion  117  of bearing  78 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a section of a vehicular body panel for attachment to the exemplary damper mount structure of  FIG. 1 . The vehicle body panel  18  can include a damper base  144  that is contiguous with the vehicle body  16 , which can further include a damper stiffener portion  146  and a base body  148 . The damper stiffener portion  146  can be formed as a contiguous or unitary part of the damper base  144 . However, in alternative embodiments, the stiffener portion  146  can constitute a separate member that overlays the damper base  144 . The stiffener portion  146  can contact the rigid mount disk  26  when the stiffener portion  146  is interposed between the rigid mount disk  26  and the annular projection  34 , and when the stiffener portion  146  and annular projection  34  are secured together by the rigid mount securing nut  28 . 
     The damper base  144  includes the base body  148  extending from an inner panel  150  of the vehicle body  16 . The base body  148  defines a fastening seat  152 . The mounting shaft portion  22  of the piston rod  20  is fastened to the fastening seat  152  of the base body  148 . The base body  148  includes a first rib  156 , a second rib  158 , and a joining flange  160 , which are perpendicular to the base body  148 , or alternatively are joined to the stiffener portion  146  at angles less than 90 degrees. The joining flange  160  overlaps and is joined to the inner panel  150  of the vehicle  10 . 
     The fastening seat  152  includes an opening portion  68  forming a through-hole  154  in the fastening seat  152 . The through-hole  154  has a diameter that is set to allow passage therethrough of the annular projection  34  from underneath the vehicle body panel  18 . The rigid mount securing nut  28  and rigid mount disk  26  cooperate with the annular projection  34  to hold the housing body (and therefore the mounting shaft portion  22  of the piston rod  20 ) to the vehicle body panel  18 . In alternative embodiments, the through-hole  154  can be formed in any polygonal shape that can allow the annular projection  34  (with appropriate adapters) to pass through. 
     III. Damper Mount Structure Assembly 
     The damper mount structure  24  can include the rigid mount body  32  that houses the bearing  78  in the lower portion  36  (e.g., the housing body) below the vehicle body panel  18 , and the upper portion  34  (e.g., the annular projection) secured to the vehicle body  16  above the vehicle body panel  18  by the rigid mount securing member (e.g., the rigid mount securing nut  28 ). 
     The annular projection  34  can be received from below the vehicle body panel  18 , and through the through-hole  154  in the fastening seat  152 . The annular projection  34  is secured to the vehicle body panel  18  by the rigid mount securing nut  28  and the rigid mount disk  26 , which can be interposed between the rigid mount securing nut  28  and the upper surface  72  of the vehicle body panel  18 . The rigid mount disk  26  can be removably attached to the annular projection  34  below the rigid mount securing nut  28 , which may attach to the annular projection  34  in any appropriate manner, such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. 
     The bearing  78  can be received within the housing body  36  of the rigid mount body  32 , and secured by the bearing lock  40  in any appropriate manner, such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. The bearing  78  can be fitted around the damper securing nut  70  and secured in any appropriate manner, such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. 
     For assembly, the damper securing nut  70  can be disposed within the housing body  36  in axial alignment with the annular projection  34 . 
     An upper end of the piston rod (e.g., the mounting shaft portion  22 ) is received by the bearing  78  through a bottom end of the housing body  36  through-channel  76  and secured to the bearing  78  by the damper securing nut  70 . More particularly, the free end of the mounting shaft portion  22  is received through the housing body  36  through-channel  76  and the bearing lock  40 , and secured within the head connector  102  of the damper securing nut  70  in any appropriate manner, such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the bearing adapter  42  can provide support for the coil spring  54 , or alternatively a bump rubber, travel limiting device, etc. as desired for implementations within certain vehicles. The bearing adapter  42  can be received through the housing body through-channel  76 , and secured to the bearing  78  in any appropriate manner, such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. A through-channel  130  of the bearing adapter  42  is configured to slidably receive the mounting shaft portion  22  to attach the piston rod  20  to the bearing  78 . 
     The damper mount structure  24  of the embodiments utilizes a bearing mechanism that is capable of achieving axially non-compliant mounting of the damper  14 . The disclosed embodiments can advantageously provide an alternative assembly to a bushing-type damper mount structure. Uses for the disclosed embodiments can include, but are not limited to, a suspension system for a vehicle. This structure is applicable to any type of vehicle, and may be particularly beneficial to high performance vehicles or racing vehicle implementations. 
     As discussed above in the Summary section, some related art damper mount structures secure an upper end of a suspension piston rod (e.g., of a strut or damper) to a bearing carried within a mount member, which is itself secured the vehicle body. The mounting structure can be held within a housing member, where the upper end of the piston rod can be secured to the vehicle body by a bearing and a nut, while a retaining member is threadedly engaged with a lower end of housing member to secure the bearing, bushing, and other members within the housing member. Rubber bushings can be used in a compliant damper mount structure as rubber insulators between metallic members based upon their vibration damping ability and flexibility of movement for the damper and mounting members. However, the related art bushing-type damper mount structure is subject to various disadvantages, especially in high performance or racing implementations. 
     A vertically compliant damper mount structure in such implementations can cause problems with the handling of a vehicle, such as with regard to weight transfer under braking or acceleration, pitch/dive, transient roll balance, lateral grip and roll rates in transitions, pulling or wandering of the vehicle, sluggish steering response, etc. 
     It may therefore be advantageous to provide a non-compliant damper mount structure (such as the damper mount structure  24  disclosed herein) that does not require a bushing-type damper mount (e.g., bushings made of a compliant material, such as rubber disposed on either side of a vehicle body panel  18  sandwiching the body panel). It may be particularly advantageous to provide this structure in damper installations where a non-compliant mounting is desired and where a damper rod or pin passes through the vehicle body panel  18 . The rigid damper mount structure  24  of the embodiments can partially or fully remove vertical compliance from the piston rod  20  that is clamped around the vehicle body  16 . The embodiments therefore address at least one of the above and/or other disadvantages of the related art, such as undesired compliance in a suspension system caused by compliant dampener mounting structures. The bearing  78  of the present embodiments can provide the necessary angular compliance to compensate for suspension movement during use without the addition of undesired vertical compliance. 
     IV. Alternative Damper Mount Configuration 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment for a damper mount configuration. The alternative damper mount configuration in  FIG. 6  can include a damper  214  having similar features as the damper  14 , including a piston rod  220 , a mounting shaft portion  222 , and a piston rod  220 . 
     The alternative damper can be installed in the vehicle  10  in an inverted disposition in relation to the damper  14  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The damper  214  can attach to a vehicle suspension member in any appropriate manner, such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. In the alternative embodiment in  FIG. 6 , a damper lower mount  262  can include an eye style mount that can attach to a suspension member of the vehicle  10 , such as the trailing arm  48 . The mounting shaft portion  222 , disposed at the upper end of the alternative damper  214 , can be received and secured into the damper mount structure  24 . In this alternative configuration, the mounting shaft portion  222  can be secured to the vehicle body  18  at a first end of the alternative damper  214 , and the piston rod  220  can be secured to a suspension member via the damper lower mount  262  at a second end. 
     V. Alternative Embodiments 
     While certain embodiments of the invention are described above, and  FIGS. 1-5  disclose the best mode for practicing the various inventive aspects, it should be understood that the invention can be embodied and configured in many different ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     For example, embodiments are disclosed above in the context of a damper with an exterior cylindrical shaped body. However, embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any shape of a damper, such as but not limited to round, square, polygonal, unequal or special shapes, etc., to suit the mechanism being dampened. 
     Embodiments are disclosed above in the context of the damper mount structure  24  being constructed of steel. However, embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of rigid material for a damper mount structure, such as but not limited to aluminum alloy, carbon-infused plastic, other metallic alloys, etc. 
     Embodiments are disclosed above in the context of the damper securing nut  70  being used to secure the piston rod  20  to the bearing  78 . However, exemplary embodiments also are intended to include or otherwise cover other attachment configurations of the bearing  78  to the piston rod  20 , such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. 
     In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the damper mount structures  24  are arranged in a substantially vertical alignment in vehicle  10 . However, embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover include any appropriate positioning of the damper mount structure  24  relative to a suspension system mechanism.  FIG. 1  also shows two damper mount structures  24  mounted to a rear trailing arm  48  of a vehicle  10 . Alternative embodiments may include a fewer or greater number of the damper mount structures  24  arranged in similar or different patterns that are appropriate for a suspension in a vehicle including front suspension systems or more than one damper  14  per wheel  50 . 
     The embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover vehicular dampening applications including a front suspension system or multi-axle chassis with more than the standard two axles or less than the standard two axles. 
     In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the annular projection  34  is secured by the rigid mount securing nut  28  to the vehicle body panel  18 . However, embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover one or more adapters, securing nuts, locking mechanisms, etc., such as but not limited to mechanical fasteners, glue, epoxy, welding, pressure fitting, etc. that can secure the annular projection  34  to the vehicle body  16 . 
     Exemplary embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of damping mechanism and/or suspension system that can be attached to damper mount structure  24 . 
     Exemplary embodiments are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of manufacturing of the members and structures of the embodiments. 
     While the subject matter has been described in detail with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes can be made, and equivalents employed, without departing from the scope of the invention. All related art references discussed in the above Background section are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.