Track bar bushing system for vehicle wobble mitigation
View Patent ↗The invention encompasses a track bar bushing system for vehicles, specifically designed to mitigate undesired movement or misalignment in both new and older vehicle models. The core component is a bushing material boasting a hardness range of 80-90 D Shore durometer. This bushing system includes an encapsulated multi-piece design comprising a casing of stainless steel halves, providing both corrosion resistance and robust support to all bushing surfaces.
1 . A bushing system for a vehicle track bar, comprising:
a casing subassembly, said casing subassembly further comprising an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve; said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve forming said casing subassembly as segmented and cooperatively assembled with respective inward surfaces of said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve configured to join together to define a sleeve seam, each said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve having an external surface, a first portion and a flange extending from an end of said first portion and perpendicularly thereto to thereby form each said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve as generally L-shaped in cross-section; each said flange terminating to form a sleeve outermost surface; each said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve outermost surface extending inward to form a lip; said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve, in combination, forming a pocket defined above each said external surface and below each said lip;
a bushing subassembly, said bushing subassembly further comprising a pair of inserts, each said insert packed within said casing subassembly, each said insert having respective, opposing termini, said termini when joined forming an insert seam, wherein said insert seam is adjacent to and substantially aligned with said sleeve seam;
wherein said casing subassembly and said bushing subassembly formed of multiple, rigid subcomponents with restricted axial movement upon assemblage.
2 . The bushing system of claim 1 , wherein upon said assemblage, a central bore is defined, said central bore underlying said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve such that a bolt can be inserted through said central bore for fastening said bushing system to a frame of a vehicle.
3 . The bushing system of claim 2 , wherein both said sleeve seam and said insert seam are trans-axial relative to said central bore.
4 . The bushing system of claim 1 , wherein said bushing subassembly further comprises:
said lip extending axially;
each said insert having a collar with a collar surface, and each said insert having a rim projecting perpendicularly from each said collar to form each said insert as generally L-shaped in cross-section; each said rim having an insert outer surface; each said insert packed within said pocket, thereby abutting each said external surface, and further abutting each said lip of each said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve to thereby be cupped within said pocket with each said collar surface exposed and with each said insert outer surface extending inward and partially beyond each said lip.
5 . The bushing system of claim 1 , wherein each said inner sleeve and each said outer sleeve are stainless steel.
6 . The bushing system of claim 1 , wherein each said insert consists of a bushing material of a hardness range of 80-90 D Shore durometer.
7 . A bushing system for a vehicle track bar, comprising:
a casing subassembly, the casing subassembly further comprising: an integral sleeve, said integral sleeve having an external surface; an inner casing member above said integral sleeve, and an outer casing member above said integral sleeve opposite said inner casing member; each said inner casing member and said outer casing member forming a flange over said integral sleeve; each said flange having a flange surface detached from and abutting said integral sleeve at said external surface, wherein said flange surface is substantially parallel to a sleeve outermost surface and aligned with said external surface;
a bushing subassembly, the bushing subassembly further comprising: a pair of inserts, each said insert packed within said casing subassembly over said integral sleeve; each said insert respectively captured by each said inner casing member and said outer casing member, thereby abutting said integral sleeve;
wherein said casing subassembly and said bushing subassembly are formed of multiple, rigid subcomponents with restricted axial movement upon assemblage.
8 . The bushing system of claim 7 , wherein each said flange includes a lip, said lip extending axially, and wherein said outer casing member and said inner casing member are substantially identical to each other, wherein upon said assemblage, said outer casing member is a mirror image of said inner casing member.
9 . The bushing system of claim 8 , wherein upon said assemblage, a central bore is defined, said central bore underlying said integral sleeve such that a bolt can be inserted through said central bore for fastening said bushing system to a frame of a vehicle.
10 . The bushing system of claim 8 , wherein both said flange surface and said external surface are axial relative to said central bore.
11 . The bushing system of claim 7 , wherein said integral sleeve, said inner casing member and said outer casing member are stainless steel.
12 . The bushing system of claim 7 , wherein each said insert consists of a bushing material of a hardness range of 80-90 D Shore durometer.
13 . The bushing system of claim 7 , wherein each said insert has a collar with a collar surface, and each said insert has a rim projecting perpendicularly from said collar to form each said insert as generally L-shaped in cross-section.