Double path mount for cab suspension with tilting function
View Patent ↗A cab mounting assembly attaches a cab to a chassis of a vehicle at the point of rotation of the cab when the cab is tilted. The cab mounting assembly provides two paths for the forces acting between the cab and the chassis. The static forces are supported by a bearing assembly which includes a relatively hard elastomeric member. The dynamic forces are supported by an elastomeric mount which includes a relatively soft elastomeric member. The elastomeric mount is attached to the bearing assembly and to a shock absorber. The bearing assembly is attached to the elastomeric mount and to an air spring assembly.
1. A cab mounting assembly for a vehicle, the cab mounting assembly comprising:
a shock absorber having a pressure tube and a piston rod movable in an axial direction with respect to said pressure tube;
an air spring assembly attached to said shock absorber; and
a double path top mount attached to both said shock absorber and said air spring assembly, said double path top mount comprising:
a bearing assembly attached to said air spring assembly, said bearing assembly including a cylindrical first inner metal adapted to be attached to a cab of the vehicle, a first cylindrical outer metal fixedly attached to said air spring assembly and surrounding said first inner metal and a first cylindrical elastomeric member disposed between said first cylindrical outer metal and said first cylindrical inner metal, said first cylindrical elastomeric member having a first hardness;
an elastomeric mount disposed between said bearing assembly and said shock absorber, said elastomeric mount including a second cylindrical inner metal surrounding and directly engaging said first cylindrical outer metal of said bearing assembly, a second cylindrical outer metal surrounding said second cylindrical inner metal and fixedly attached to said shock absorber and a second cylindrical elastomeric member disposed between said second cylindrical outer metal and said second cylindrical inner metal, said second cylindrical elastomeric member having a second hardness; and
a dynamic air seal sealing a chamber of said air spring assembly, said dynamic air seal having a rigid inner member secured to said shock absorber, a rigid outer member secured to said air spring assembly and an elastomeric member separate from said elastomeric mount disposed between said rigid inner member and said rigid outer member; movement of said piston rod of shock absorber in the axial direction with respect to said air spring assembly being allowed by said elastomeric member; wherein
said second cylindrical elastomeric member deflects in a radial direction when said piston rod moves in said first axial direction; and
deflection of said second elastomeric member is independent from deflection of said first elastomeric member.
2. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said double path top mount further comprises a bracket disposed between said bearing assembly and said air spring assembly.
3. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said bracket directly engages said bearing assembly and directly engages said air spring assembly.
4. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said double path top mount further comprises a bracket disposed between said first cylindrical outer metal and said air spring assembly.
5. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 4 , wherein said bracket directly engages said first cylindrical outer metal and directly engages said air spring assembly.
6. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said second hardness is softer than said first hardness.
7. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said air spring assembly is attached to an outer tube of said shock absorber and said second outer metal is attached to a piston rod of said shock absorber.
8. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said first cylindrical inner metal and said second cylindrical inner member are co-axial with respect to an axis generally perpendicular to said axial direction of movement of said piston rod.
9. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said bearing assembly and said elastomeric mount are co-axial with respect to an axis generally perpendicular to said axial direction of movement of said piston rod.
10. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said first cylindrical inner metal defines a first axis generally perpendicular to said axial direction of movement of said piston rod.
11. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 10 , wherein said second cylindrical outer metal defines a second axis generally perpendicular to said axial direction of movement of said piston rod.
12. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second axes are co-axial.
13. The cab mounting assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said first and second inner metal, said first and second outer metal and said first and second elastomeric member are all co-axial with respect to an axis generally perpendicular to said axial direction of movement of said piston rod.