초록 ▼

A vehicle suspension system for large vehicles includes at least one elastomeric bearing. The bearing includes at least one substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion, at least one substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion, and at least one non-extensible shim disposed between and bonded

A vehicle suspension system for large vehicles includes at least one elastomeric bearing. The bearing includes at least one substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion, at least one substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion, and at least one non-extensible shim disposed between and bonded to the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion and the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle suspension system comprising an elastomeric bearing assembly, the elastomeric bearing assembly comprising: a substantially cylindrical outer member; a substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion coupled to said cylindrical outer member; a shim coupled to said subs

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle suspension system comprising an elastomeric bearing assembly, the elastomeric bearing assembly comprising: a substantially cylindrical outer member; a substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion coupled to said cylindrical outer member; a shim coupled to said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion; a substantially frustospherical elastomeric section coupled to said shim; and an inner member coupled to said frustospherical elastomeric portion wherein said substantially cylindrical outer member, said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion, said shim, and said substantially frustospherical elastomeric section include a first and a second opposing longitudinal extending split with said substantially cylindrical outer member comprised of an upper split half cylindrical outer member half and a lower split half cylindrical outer member half, said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half cylindrical elastomeric portion and a lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, with said substantially frustospherical elastomeric section comprised of an upper split half frustospherical elastomeric portion and a lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, and with said shim comprised of an upper split shim half and a lower split shim half with a load direction directed downward through said lower split half cylindrical outer member half, said lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, said lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, and said lower split shim half. 2. The vehicle suspension system of claim 1, wherein said shim comprises a substantially cylindrical outer surface and a substantially frustospherical inner surface. 3. The vehicle suspension system of claim 2, wherein said shim comprises a middle portion, a first end, and a second end, and wherein the first and second ends have diameters that are smaller than a diameter of the middle portion. 4. A tracked vehicle suspension system comprising: at least one elastomeric bearing comprising: at least one substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion; at least one substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion; and at least one substantially non-extensible shim disposed between and bonded to the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion and the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion wherein, said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion, said substantially non-extensible shim, and said substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion include a first longitudinal extending split and an opposing second longitudinal extending split with said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half cylindrical elastomeric portion and a lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, with said substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half frustospherical elastomeric portion and a lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, and with said substantially non-extensible shim comprised of an upper split shim half and a lower split shim half with a load direction directed downward through said lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, said lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, and said lower split shim half. 5. A tracked vehicle suspension system according to claim 4, wherein the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion is substantially concentrically disposed within the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion. 6. A tracked vehicle suspension system according to claim 4, wherein the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion is substantially concentrically disposed within the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion. 7. A tracked vehicle suspension system according to claim 6, wherein the elastomeric bearing further comprises at least a second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion and at least a second substantially nonextensible shim disposed between and bonded to the second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion and the one substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion with said second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half second frustospherical outer elastomeric portion and a lower split half second frustospherical outer elastomeric portion, and with said second substantially nonextensible shim comprised of an upper split second substantially nonextensible shim half and a lower split second substantially nonextensible shim half. 8. A tracked vehicle suspension system according to claim 4, wherein the elastomeric bearing further comprises at least a second substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion and at least a second substantially nonextensible nonelastomeric shim having a substantially frustospherical shim elastomer inner bonding surface and a substantially frustospherical shim elastomer outer bonding surface with said second substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half second frustospherical elastomeric portion and a lower split half second frustospherical elastomeric portion, and with said second substantially nonextensible nonelastomeric shim comprised of an upper split second substantially nonextensible shim half and a lower split second substantially nonextensible shim half. 9. A tracked vehicle comprising: a first moving track roller frame assembly; a second moving track roller frame assembly; an equalizer link coupled to said first and second moving track roller frame assembly, said link comprising a first end portion and a second end portion; a first elastomeric bearing at least partially coupling said first end portion to said first moving track roller frame assembly, said first elastomeric bearing assembly comprising: at least one substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion; at least one first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion; and at least one substantially non-extensible shim disposed between and bonded to the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion and the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion wherein the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion, the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion, and the non-extensible shim each include a first longitudinal extending split and a second longitudinal extending split with the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half cylindrical elastomeric portion and a lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, with the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half frustospherical elastomeric portion and a lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, and with the non-extensible shim comprised of an upper split shim half and a lower split shim half with a load direction directed downward through said lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, said lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, and said lower split shim half. 10. A tracked vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion is substantially concentrically disposed within the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion. 11. A tracked vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion is substantially concentrically disposed within the first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion. 12. A tracked vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the elastomeric bearing includes at least a second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion and at least a second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim, said second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim and said second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion substantially concentrically disposed around the outside of the first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion with the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion substantially concentrically disposed within with said second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion half and a lower split second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion half and with said second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim comprised of an upper split second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim half and a lower split second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim half. 13. A tracked vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the elastomeric bearing substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion is an elongated outwardly extending substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion, with the elongated outwardly extending substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion extending axially along a bore axis out below said first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion and said second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion. 14. A tracked vehicle according to claim 9 and further comprising a second elastomeric bearing at least partially coupling the second end portion to said second moving track roller frame assembly, said second elastomeric bearing said second elastomeric bearing comprising: at least one substantially cylindrical inner elastomeric portion; at least one first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion; at least one substantially nonextensible shim disposed between and bonded to the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion and the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion; at least a second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion and at least a second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim, said second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim and said second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion substantially concentrically disposed around the outside of the first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion with the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion substantially concentrically disposed within said first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion, wherein the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion is an elongated outwardly extending substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion, with the elongated outwardly extending substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion extending axially along a bore axis out below said first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion and said second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion wherein the second elastomeric bearing substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion, the second elastomeric bearing substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion, and the second elastomeric bearing non-extensible shim each include a first longitudinal extending split and a second longitudinal extending split with the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half cylindrical elastomeric portion and a lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, with the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half frustospherical elastomeric portion and a lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, and with the non-extensible shim comprised of an upper split shim half and a lower split shim half with a second elastomeric bearing load direction directed downward through said lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, said lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, and said lower split shim half. 15. A tracked vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion comprises a torsional load carrying elastomer, and the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion comprises a cocking load carrying elastomer, and wherein the first elastomeric bearing provides a cocking displacement of at least 2 degrees and a rotation of at least 6 degrees. 16. A tracked vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said first elastomeric bearing has a vehicle operation durability life of at least 1000 hours with said bearing carrying a plurality of torsional and cocking loads during said vehicle operation durability life. 17. A tracked vehicle according to claim 16, wherein said first elastomeric bearing includes at least a second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion and at least a second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim, said second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim and said second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion substantially concentrically disposed around the outside of the first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion with the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion substantially concentrically disposed within said first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion with said second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion half and a lower split second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion half and with said second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim comprised of an upper split second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim half and a lower split second substantially frustospherical outer nonextensible bonded shim half. 18. A tracked vehicle according to claim 17, said second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion having a balanced second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion outside diameter, inside diameter, thickness, and length providing a second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion elastomer fatigue life; said first substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion having a balanced first substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion outside diameter, inside diameter, thickness, and length providing a first substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion elastomer fatigue life; said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion having a balanced substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion outside diameter, inside diameter, thickness, and length, providing a substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion elastomer fatigue life wherein said second substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion elastomer fatigue life proximates said first substantially frustospherical outer elastomeric portion elastomer fatigue life which proximates said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion elastomer fatigue life. 19. An elastomeric bearing assembly for a vehicle suspension system, the elastomeric bearing assembly comprising: a substantially cylindrical outer member; at least one substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion; at least a first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion; at least a first substantially nonextensible nonelastomeric shim disposed between and bonded to the substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion and the substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion; said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion, said first substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion, and said first substantially nonextensible nonelastomeric shim concentrically centered around a center bore axis, said first substantially nonextensible nonelastomeric shim having a first end portion and a distal second end portion, said substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion having a spherical shape terminating at a first end portion and a distal second end portion, said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion having a first end portion and a distal second end portion, said substantially cylindrical elastomeric first end portion elongated outwardly extending axially along said bore axis out beyond said substantially frustospherical elastomeric first end portion, and said substantially cylindrical elastomeric second end portion elongated outwardly extending axially along said bore axis out beyond said substantially frustospherical elastomeric second end portion wherein said substantially cylindrical outer member, said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion, said first substantially nonextensible nonelastomeric shim, and said substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion include a first and a second opposing longitudinal extending split aligned with said center bore axis with said substantially cylindrical outer member comprised of an upper split half cylindrical outer member half and a lower split half cylindrical outer member half, said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half cylindrical elastomeric portion and a lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, with said substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion comprised of an upper split half frustospherical elastomeric portion and a lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, and with said shim comprised of an upper split shim half and a lower split shim half with a load direction directed downward through said lower split half cylindrical outer member half, said lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, said lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, and said lower split shim half. 20. An elastomeric bearing assembly according to claim 19, said substantially frustospherical elastomeric first end portion and distal second end portion are substantially thicker than at least one other thinner portion of said substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion, said substantially cylindrical elastomeric first end portion and distal second end portion are substantially thicker than at least one other thinner portion of said substantially cylindrical elastomeric portion. 21. An elastomeric bearing assembly according to claim 19, including a second outer substantially frustospherical elastomeric portion having a second outer spherical shape terminating at a second outer substantially frustospherical elastomeric first end portion and a second outer substantially frustospherical elastomeric distal second end portion, wherein said substantially cylindrical elastomeric first end portion elongated outwardly extending axially along said bore axis out beyond second outer substantially frustospherical elastomeric first end portion and said substantially cylindrical elastomeric second end portion elongated outwardly extending axially along said bore axis out beyond second outer substantially frustospherical elastomeric distal second end portion. 22. An elastomeric bearing assembly according to claim 19, including at least one non-extensible nonelastomeric member with a first diameter proximate to a thinner portion and a second diameter proximate to a thicker end portion, and wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter. 23. A method of making a vehicle suspension system elastomeric bearing assembly, the method of making a vehicle suspension system elastomeric bearing assembly comprising: providing a substantially cylindrical shaped elastomeric layer disposed between a first nonextensible nonelastomeric member surface and a second nonextensible nonelastomeric member surface, with the first and second nonextensible nonelastomeric member surfaces configured such that the substantially cylindrical elastomeric layer therebetween includes an end portion that is substantially thicker than at least one other thinner portion of the substantially cylindrical elastomeric layer, and providing a substantially frustospherical shaped elastomeric layer disposed between a third nonextensible nonelastomeric member surface and a fourth nonextensible nonelastomeric member surface, the fourth and third nonextensible nonelastomeric members are configured such that the substantially frustospherical elastomeric layer therebetween includes an end portion that is substantially thicker than at least one other thinner portion of the substantially frustospherical elastomeric layer wherein said substantially cylindrical shaped elastomeric layer, and said substantially frustospherical shaped elastomeric layer include a first and a second longitudinal extending split with said substantially cylindrical shaped elastomeric layer comprised of an upper split half cylindrical elastomeric portion and a lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, with said substantially frustospherical shaped elastomeric layer comprised of an upper split half frustospherical elastomeric portion and a lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion, with a load direction directed downward through said lower split half cylindrical elastomeric portion, and said lower split half frustospherical elastomeric portion.