IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,535,115
Granted Patent B2
US 12,535,115 · App. 18/157,532 · Granted Jan 27, 2026

Elastomeric bushing

Inventor: Scott W. Rawlings (North Ridgeville, OH)
Assignee: The Pullman Company LLC
F16F1/393F16F1/3828F16F1/3856F16F1/3873F16F2224/025F16F2234/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,535,115
App. No.
18/157,532
Granted
Jan 27, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An elastomeric bushing includes an inner sleeve, a travel limiter disposed around the inner sleeve, an elastomeric bumper disposed around and directly engaging the travel limiter, and an outer sleeve disposed around the inner sleeve, the travel limiter and the elastomeric bumper. The outer sleeve is spaced apart from the inner sleeve and directly engages the elastomeric bumper. The travel limiter includes a radially outwardly extending first protrusion and a diametrically opposed radially outwardly extending second protrusion. A first portion of the elastomeric bumper is bounded by a first reduced diameter portion of the outer sleeve and the first and second protrusions. A second portion of the elastomeric bumper is bounded by a second reduced diameter portion of the outer sleeve and the first and second protrusions. The elastomeric bumper includes diametrically opposed voids axially extending therethrough. The voids are circumferentially rotated relative to the first and second protrusions.

Claims (33)

1 . An elastomeric bushing comprising:

an inner sleeve;

a travel limiter disposed around and directly engaging the inner sleeve;

an elastomeric bumper disposed around and directly engaging the travel limiter; and

an outer sleeve disposed around the inner sleeve, the travel limiter and the elastomeric bumper, the outer sleeve being spaced apart from the inner sleeve and directly engaging the elastomeric bumper, wherein the travel limiter includes a radially outwardly extending first protrusion and a diametrically opposed radially outwardly extending second protrusion,

the outer sleeve including first and second reduced diameter portions positioned at opposite distal ends of the outer sleeve,

wherein a first portion of the elastomeric bumper includes compressive residual stresses at a position between the first reduced diameter portion of the outer sleeve and the first protrusion based on the first reduced diameter portion being in biased engagement with the first portion, a second portion of the elastomeric bumper including compressive residual stresses at a position between the second reduced diameter portion of the outer sleeve and the second protrusion based on the second reduced diameter portion being in biased engagement with the second portion of the elastomeric bumper,

wherein the elastomeric bumper includes diametrically opposed voids axially extending therethrough, the voids being circumferentially rotated relative to the first and second protrusions.

2 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the travel limiter is a 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 includes an increasing thickness between the travel limiter and the outer sleeve beginning at a position radially aligned with one of the first and second protrusions and circumferentially travelling toward one of the voids.

5 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the voids of the elastomeric bumper are bounded by an outer web portion of the elastomeric bumper positioned adjacent to the outer sleeve and an inner web portion of the elastomeric bumper positioned adjacent to the travel limiter, a gap existing between the outer web portion and the inner web portion.

6 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bumper is bonded to the travel limiter and the outer sleeve.

7 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve is coaxially aligned with the outer sleeve.

8 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the travel limiter is symmetrical about two orthogonal planes when viewed in in cross-section.

9 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve axially extends beyond the outer sleeve at each end of the outer sleeve.

10 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 1 , wherein the opposite distal ends of the outer sleeve radially inwardly extend in biased engagement with the elastomeric bumper.

11 . An elastomeric bushing comprising:

an inner sleeve;

a travel limiter disposed around and directly engaging the inner sleeve;

an elastomeric bumper disposed around and directly engaging the travel limiter; and

an outer sleeve disposed around the inner sleeve, the travel limiter and the elastomeric bumper, the outer sleeve being spaced apart from the inner sleeve and directly engaging the elastomeric bumper, wherein the travel limiter includes a radially outwardly extending first protrusion and a radially outwardly extending second protrusion,

the outer sleeve including first and second reduced diameter portions positioned at opposite distal ends of the outer sleeve,

wherein a first portion of the elastomeric bumper is trapped between the first reduced diameter portion of the outer sleeve and the first protrusion, a second portion of the elastomeric bumper being trapped between the second reduced diameter portion of the outer sleeve and the second protrusion to restrict relative axial movement between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve,

wherein the elastomeric bumper includes first and second circumferentially spaced apart voids axially extending therethrough, the travel limiter being radially moveable into the voids, wherein the voids of the elastomeric bumper are bounded by an outer web portion of the elastomeric bumper positioned adjacent to the outer sleeve and an inner web portion of the elastomeric bumper positioned adjacent to the travel limiter, a gap existing between the outer web portion and the inner web portion.

12 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric bumper includes an increasing thickness between the travel limiter and the outer sleeve beginning at a position radially aligned with one of the first and second protrusions and circumferentially travelling toward one of the voids.

13 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric bumper is bonded to the travel limiter and the outer sleeve.

14 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 11 , wherein the inner sleeve is coaxially aligned with the outer sleeve.

15 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 11 , wherein the travel limiter is symmetrical about two orthogonal planes when viewed in in cross-section.

16 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 11 , wherein the travel limiter is a hollow cylindrically shaped one-piece monolithic component including the first and second protrusions.

17 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second protrusions have the same cross-sectional shape.

18 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 11 , wherein the inner sleeve axially extends beyond the outer sleeve at each end of the outer sleeve.

19 . The elastomeric bushing according to claim 11 , wherein opposite ends of the outer sleeve are inwardly deformed in engagement with the elastomeric bumper.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 1, 2025
From: THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: THE PULLMAN COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 071985/0419 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2023
From: RAWLINGS, SCOTT W.
To: THE PULLMAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 062451/0937 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240247699A1 · Jul 25, 2024
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