Suspension system for a vehicle
View Patent ↗A suspension system of the present invention pivotally supports a wheel of a motor vehicle. An upper control arm and a lower control arm are cooperable with a spindle, which supports the wheel. A vibration damper is cooperable with the upper control arm. A link interconnects the lower control arm and one of the terminal ends of the vibration damper thereby defining a common axis bisecting the link. The vibration damper moves along the common axis to absorb vibration transferred from a road surface and through the wheel.
1. A strut assembly for a motor vehicle suspension system, comprising:
a generally U-shaped member formed from a metal blank defining a monolithic construction with generally uniform thickness, including a middle portion and a pair of transverse integral leg portions extending from opposed sides of said middle portion;
each leg portion including an outer periphery extending outwardly from an intermediate portion having a width substantially greater than the thickness of the leg portions reinforcing the leg portions;
reinforcing elements bridging each of the leg portions and the middle portion of the U-shaped member;
a generally tubular portion integrally connected to said middle portion of said U-shaped member extending from a direction opposite to the leg portions;
a housing of a vibration damper connected to the middle portion; and
a vibration damper disposed in said vibration damper housing.
2. The strut assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer periphery of the leg portions are U-shaped in cross section further strengthening the leg portions.
3. The strut assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the generally tubular portion includes a generally tubular end portion integrally connected to the middle portion of the generally U-shaped member and opposed projecting generally parallel ears including opposed openings to receive a male fastener.
4. The strut assembly as defined in claim 3 , wherein the ears are cup-shaped.
5. The strut assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing elements are ribs integrally struck from the leg portions and portion.
6. The strut assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the generally tubular portion receives the housing.
7. The strut assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the generally tubular portion is formed from a metal blank and integrally struck from the blank with the U-shaped member.
8. The strut assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the periphery of each of the legs include an outwardly formed flange portion generally U-shaped in cross section having a width several times the thickness of the leg portions.