TOP MOUNT ASSEMBLY FOR COUNTERBALANCING STATIC LOAD
A pressurized top mount assembly is described wherein a pressurized fluid volume receives an end of a piston rod and is configured to counteract a net static force on a top mount by a suspension component which may be an active suspension actuator, a passive suspension damper or a semi active suspension damper. The pressurized fluid volume may be in fluid communication with one or more of fluid volumes in the suspension component.
1 . A pressurized top mount for a vehicle, with a bracket configured to be attached to the body of the vehicle, comprising:
a chamber attached to one of the body or the bracket, configured to slidably receive an end of a piston rod of a suspension component; and
a pressurized fluid volume contained in the chamber, configured to apply a force to the end of the piston rod.
2 . The pressurized top mount of claim 1 , wherein the suspension component has a first component volume and a second component volume, the top mount further comprising:
an element selected from the group consisting of a diaphragm and a piston, disposed within the chamber, dividing the pressurized fluid volume into a first fluid volume and a second fluid volume, wherein the first fluid volume is at least partially filled with a compressible fluid and the second fluid volume is at least partially filled with a non-compressible fluid; and
wherein the second fluid volume is in fluid communication with at least one of the first component volume and the second component volume.
3 . The pressurized top mount of claim 2 , wherein the second fluid volume is in fluid communication with the first component volume.
4 . The pressurized top mount of claim 2 , wherein the second fluid volume is in fluid communication with the second component volume.
5 . The pressurized top mount of claim 2 , further comprising:
a restriction fluidly disposed between the second fluid volume and the at least one of the first component volume and the second component volume;
wherein said restriction is configured to prevent transmission of high-frequency pressure ripple from the at least one of the first component volume and the second component volume to the second fluid volume.
6 . The pressurized top mount of claim 5 , wherein the force applied to the end of the piston rod is configured to counteract a net static force of the piston rod.
7 . The pressurized top mount of claim 1 , wherein the suspension component includes an accumulator, and wherein the pressurized fluid volume is in fluid communication with the accumulator.
8 . The pressurized top mount of claim 7 , further comprising:
an element selected from the group consisting of a diaphragm and a piston, disposed within the chamber, dividing the pressurized fluid volume into a first fluid volume and a second fluid volume, wherein the first fluid volume is at least partially filled with a compressible fluid and the second fluid volume is at least partially filled with a non-compressible fluid; and
wherein the first fluid volume is in fluid communication with a compressible fluid volume within the accumulator.
9 . The pressurized top mount of claim 8 , further comprising:
a restriction fluidly disposed between the first fluid volume and the compressible fluid volume within the accumulator;
wherein said restriction is configured to prevent transmission of high-frequency pressure ripple from the compressible fluid volume within the accumulator to the first fluid volume.
10 . The pressurized top mount of claim 9 , wherein the force applied to the end of the piston rod is configured to counteract a net static force of the piston rod.
11 . The pressurized top mount of claim 1 , wherein the suspension component has a first component volume and a second component volume, the top mount further comprising:
a diaphragm fluidly disposed between the pressurized fluid volume and one of the first component volume and second component volume;
wherein the pressurized fluid volume is at least partially filled with compressible fluid.
12 . The pressurized top mount of claim 11 , wherein the diaphragm is a flexible diaphragm configured to allow a change in pressure in the one of the first component volume and second component volume to cause a change in pressure in the pressurized fluid volume.
13 . The pressurized top mount of claim 12 , wherein the force applied to the end of the piston rod is configured to counteract a net static force of the piston rod.
14 . The pressurized top mount of claim 1 , wherein the suspension component is an actuator of an active suspension system.
15 . The pressurized top mount of claim 1 , wherein the suspension component is a damper of one of a passive suspension system or a semi-active suspension system.
16 . The pressurized top mount of claim 1 , wherein the force applied to the end of the piston rod is configured to counteract a net static force of the piston rod.