Elastomeric bushing with travel limiter
An elastomeric bushing comprises an inner sleeve, an elastomeric bumper disposed around and directly engaging the inner sleeve, and an outer sleeve disposed around the inner sleeve and the elastomeric bumper. The outer sleeve is spaced apart from the inner sleeve and directly engages the elastomeric bumper. The inner sleeve includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion axially spaced apart from one another. The outer sleeve includes a radially inwardly extending indentation axially positioned between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. The indentation traps a first portion of the elastomeric bumper between the first protrusion and a first surface of the indentation and also traps a second portion of the elastomeric bumper between the second protrusion and a second surface of the indentation.
1. An elastomeric bushing comprising:
an inner sleeve;
an elastomeric bumper disposed around and directly engaging the inner sleeve; and
an outer sleeve disposed around the inner sleeve and the elastomeric bumper, the outer sleeve being spaced apart from the inner sleeve and directly engaging the elastomeric bumper, wherein the inner sleeve includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion axially spaced apart from one another,
the outer sleeve including a radially inwardly extending indentation axially positioned between the first protrusion and the second protrusion,
the indentation trapping a first portion of the elastomeric bumper between the first protrusion and a first surface of the indentation, the indentation trapping a second portion of the elastomeric bumper between the second protrusion and a second surface of the indentation,
wherein the elastomeric bumper includes third and fourth portions axially spaced apart from one another on opposite sides of the indentation, the third and fourth portions being in engagement with and compressed by an inner surface of the outer sleeve,
wherein the elastomeric bumper includes an un-deformed central portion positioned axially between the first and second portions, a first gap existing between the central portion and the inner surface of the outer sleeve, and a second gap between the elastomeric bumper and the inner surface of the outer sleeve at an axial location between the first portion and the third portion.
2. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve is hollow cylindrically-shaped one-piece monolithic component including the first and second protrusions.
3. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second protrusions have the same cross-sectional shape.
4. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bumper is bonded to the inner sleeve.
5. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve is coaxially aligned with the outer sleeve.
6. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the first surface of the indentation is opposed to and faces a sloped surface of the first protrusion.
7. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 6 , wherein the second surface of the indentation is opposed to and faces a sloped surface of the second protrusion.
8. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 7 , wherein the first surface of the indentation and the second surface are interconnected at a crest of the indentation.
9. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 8 , wherein the crest of the indentation is spaced apart from the elastomeric bumper.
10. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve axially extends beyond the outer sleeve at each end of the outer sleeve.
11. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein opposite ends of the outer sleeve are inwardly deformed in engagement with the elastomeric bumper.
12. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the indentation radially inwardly extends to load the first portion and the second portion of the elastomeric bumper in compression when the elastomeric bushing is in an unloaded state.
13. The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein a load attempting to axially move the outer sleeve relative to the inner sleeve increases exponentially based on the elastomeric compressive properties of the first and second portions of the elastomeric bumper.
14. A method of manufacturing an elastomeric bushing, comprising:
providing an inner sleeve with a first protrusion and a second protrusion axially spaced apart from one another;
positioning an elastomeric bumper around and in direct engagement with the inner sleeve;
axially inserting the inner sleeve and the elastomeric bumper within an outer sleeve, the outer sleeve directly engaging and compressing the elastomeric bumper as well as being spaced apart from the inner sleeve;
deforming the outer sleeve to define a radially inwardly extending indentation axially positioned between the first protrusion and the second protrusion, wherein the indentation compresses a first portion of the elastomeric bumper between the first protrusion and a first surface of the indentation, the indentation also compressing a second portion of the elastomeric bumper between the second protrusion and a second surface of the indentation; and
defining a gap between an inner surface of the outer sleeve and the elastomeric bumper after the deforming step has been completed.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising mechanically deforming opposite ends of the outer sleeve toward the inner sleeve.
16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising coaxially aligning the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve.