| 摘要 |
<p>A voided bushing (50) which is useful in the trailing arm suspensions of tractor-trailers. The bushing (50) includes an elastic, generally cylindrical-shaped body (51) formed with a central opening (52) which passes completely through the body (51) about its longitudinal axis. A rigid metal sleeve (53) is friction fitted in the central opening (52) and is adhesively bonded to the body (51) at the peripheral surface (52) of the sleeve. An improved void (54) is formed in each of the top and bottom portions of each side of the body (51). Each void (54) is generally radially inwardly curving, elongated rectangular-shaped having increased size bulbous or tear-drop shaped ends. The voids (54) can also be described as radially inwardly curving, elongated dog-bone shaped. Preferably at least about forty percent of the total area of each void (54), corresponding generally to the increased size bulbous ends, extends beyond a pair of spaced imaginary vertical lines which are tangential to the front and rear outer surfaces of the sleeve (53). The improved voided bushing (50) achieves the required load and deflection ratios or static rates of varying levels in different directions for semi-trailer suspension applications, and also eliminates premature bushing failure by providing long service life under severe loading conditions.</p> |
