Steering damper mount to reduce shaft load
View Patent ↗Described are embodiments of rotatable link-based mounting systems for various dampers such as steering dampers. In one example, a steering damper includes a housing having a longitudinal centerline. The steering damper further includes a mounting system coupled to the housing. The mounting system includes at least two link members rotatably coupled to the housing. Longitudinal centerlines of the at least two link members intersect one another at a defined location on the longitudinal centerline of the housing to collectively create an instantaneous center of rotation for the housing at the defined location.
1 . A steering damper, comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal centerline; and
a mounting system coupled to the housing, the mounting system comprising at least two link members rotatably coupled to the housing, the at least two link members comprising:
a first link member rotatably coupled to a first side of the housing relative to the longitudinal centerline of the housing; and
a second link member rotatably coupled to a second side of the housing that is opposite from the first side of the housing relative to the longitudinal centerline of the housing,
wherein longitudinal centerlines of the at least two link members intersect one another at a defined location on the longitudinal centerline of the housing, thereby defining an instantaneous center of rotation for the housing at the defined location.
2 . The steering damper of claim 1 , wherein:
the first link member is rotatably coupled to the first side of the housing at a first longitudinal location relative to the longitudinal centerline of the housing; and
the second link member is rotatably coupled to the second side of the housing at a second longitudinal location relative to the longitudinal centerline of the housing that is different from the first longitudinal location.
3 . The steering damper of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal centerlines of the at least two link members intersect one another at a defined angle at the defined location on the longitudinal centerline of the housing, thereby defining the instantaneous center of rotation for the housing at the defined location.
4 . The steering damper of claim 1 , wherein the at least two link members each comprise a rotational bearing, a bushing, a rubber bushing, a ball bearing, or a spherical ball joint rotatably coupled to the housing.
5 . The steering damper of claim 1 , wherein the at least two link members each comprise a ball joint rotatably coupled to the housing.
6 . The steering damper of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least two link members each comprise a first end, a second end, a first rotatable connector at the first end, and a second rotatable connector at the second end; and
the first rotatable connector at the first end of each of the at least two link members is rotatably coupled to the housing.
7 . The steering damper of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first rotatable connector or the second rotatable connector comprises a ball bearing.
8 . The steering damper of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first rotatable connector or the second rotatable connector comprises a ball joint.
9 . The steering damper of claim 1 , wherein the at least two link members are rotatable within a single plane or a same plane relative to one another.
10 . The steering damper of claim 1 , wherein the at least two link members are rotatable within multiple planes or different planes relative to one another.
11 . The steering damper of claim 1 , further comprising: a shaft concentrically positioned at least partly within the housing and operable for translational movement along the longitudinal centerline of the housing.
12 . A steering damper, comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal centerline; and
a mounting system coupled to the housing, the mounting system comprising at least two link members rotatably coupled to the housing,
wherein the at least two link members each comprise a ball joint rotatably coupled to the housing;
wherein longitudinal centerlines of the at least two link members intersect one another at a defined location on the longitudinal centerline of the housing, thereby defining an instantaneous center of rotation for the housing at the defined location.
13 . The steering damper of claim 12 , wherein the at least two link members are each rotatably coupled to a same side of the housing relative to the longitudinal centerline of the housing.
14 . The steering damper of claim 12 , wherein:
the first link member is rotatably coupled to the first side of the housing at a first longitudinal location relative to the longitudinal centerline of the housing; and
the second link member is rotatably coupled to the second side of the housing at a second longitudinal location relative to the longitudinal centerline of the housing that is different from the first longitudinal location.
15 . The steering damper of claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal centerlines of the at least two link members intersect one another at a defined angle at the defined location on the longitudinal centerline of the housing, thereby defining the instantaneous center of rotation for the housing at the defined location.
16 . A steering damper, comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal centerline;
a mounting system coupled to the housing, the mounting system comprising at least two link members rotatably coupled to the housing,
wherein longitudinal centerlines of the at least two link members intersect one another at a defined location on the longitudinal centerline of the housing, thereby defining an instantaneous center of rotation for the housing at the defined location; and
a shaft concentrically positioned at least partly within the housing and operable for translational movement along the longitudinal centerline of the housing.
17 . The steering damper of claim 16 , wherein the at least two link members are each rotatably coupled to a same side of the housing relative to the longitudinal centerline of the housing.
18 . The steering damper of claim 16 , wherein the at least two link members comprise:
a first link member rotatably coupled to a first side of the housing relative to the longitudinal centerline of the housing; and
a second link member rotatably coupled to a second side of the housing that is opposite from the first side of the housing relative to the longitudinal centerline of the housing.
19 . The steering damper of claim 16 , wherein the at least two link members each comprise a rotational bearing, a bushing, a rubber bushing, a ball bearing, or a spherical ball joint rotatably coupled to the housing.
20 . The steering damper of claim 16 , wherein:
the at least two link members each comprise a first end, a second end, a first rotatable connector at the first end, and a second rotatable connector at the second end; and
the first rotatable connector at the first end of each of the at least two link members is rotatably coupled to the housing.