Elastomer hanger for an elastomer suspension

Abstract

A hanger for an exhaust suspension has a mass dampener structure having a dampener mass with a central passage, an elastomer spring in the form of a sleeve received in the passage of the dampener mass and spring has an arrangement for connecting the mass dampener structure to a connecting pin. The mass dampener structure is connected to a first ring portion by an arrangement including a pair of elastomer arms. The elastomer spring is tuned to have a stiffness greater than the remaining portion of the hanger.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A hanger for an exhaust suspension, said hanger comprising a first ring portion of an elastomer, said hanger comprising a first ring portion of an elastomer material having a central aperture for receiving a fastening element; a mass dampener structure having a dampener mass with a central passage; first means for resiliently connecting the mass dampener structure to the first ring portion; and an elastomer spring being disposed in the central passage, said spring having second means for connecting the mass dampener structure to a member and having at least one axial opening for adjusting the resilience of the spring, said first means being connected to the mass dampener structure to form a serial connection with the elastomer spring.  
     
     
         2 . A hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the first means is a pair of elastomer arms extending from the mass dampener structure to the first ring portion.  
     
     
         3 . A hanger according to  claim 2 , wherein the pair of elastomer arms have an arcuate shape.  
     
     
         4 . A hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the second means includes a pin connected to the member being received in an axial central opening of the elastomer spring with a fit that enables assembly by hand but prevents sliding movement of the pin relative to the elastomer spring.  
     
     
         5 . A hanger according to  claim 4 , wherein the elastomer spring has two axial openings for adjusting the resilience of the spring member.  
     
     
         6 . A hanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the two axial openings lie on opposite sides of the axial central opening of the elastomer spring and on a line extending from the central aperture of the first ring portion through the passage of the dampener mass.  
     
     
         7 . A hanger according to  claim 5 , wherein the stiffness of the elastomer spring is larger than the stiffness of the remaining portions of the hanger structure.  
     
     
         8 . A hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring member has two axial openings for adjusting the resilience of the spring member.  
     
     
         9 . A hanger according to  claim 8 , wherein the spring member has a greater stiffness in relationship to the stiffness of the remaining portions of the hanger.  
     
     
         10 . A hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the dampener mass is a metal ring.  
     
     
         11 . A hanger according to  claim 10 , wherein the metal ring is a steel ring.  
     
     
         12 . A hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the mass dampener structure includes a covering of elastomer material bonded onto the dampener mass, and the first means comprises a pair of arms integral with the covering and extending to the first ring portion.  
     
     
         13 . A hanger according to  claim 12 , wherein the spring element is a sleeve portion which is integral with the covering of the mass dampener structure.  
     
     
         14 . A hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer spring has a greater stiffness than the remaining portions of the hanger structure.  
     
     
         15 . A hanger according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastomer spring and the first means are made of a peroxide molded ethylene-propylene-diene monomer.  
     
     
         16 . An elastomer exhaust suspension comprising a mounting member for attachment to a vehicle frame; a connecting pin for connecting to a member of an exhaust system; and a hanger comprising a first ring portion of an elastomer material having a central aperture for receiving a fastening element of the mounting member, a mass dampener structure having a dampener mass with a central passage, first means for resiliently connecting the mass dampener structure to the first ring portion, and an elastomer spring being disposed in the central passage, said spring having second means for connecting the mass dampener structure to the connecting pin and having at least one axial opening for adjusting the resilience of the spring, said first means being connected to the mass dampener structure to form a serial connection with the spring.  
     
     
         17 . An elastomer exhaust suspension according to  claim 16 , wherein the elastomer spring is a sleeve portion having an axial central opening in addition to the at least one axial opening, the second means includes the axial central opening of the sleeve portion receiving the pin with a fit which enables insertion of the pin into the central opening by hand and prevents sliding movement between the pin and said sleeve portion.  
     
     
         18 . An elastomer exhaust suspension according to  claim 17 , wherein the connecting pin is provided with an integral washer and a head for holding the pin axially within the central opening of the sleeve portion.  
     
     
         19 . An elastomer exhaust suspension according to  claim 16 , wherein the firs; means are elastomer arms integral with the first ring portion and integral with a covering bonded onto the dampener mass.  
     
     
         20 . An elastomer exhaust suspension according to  claim 19 , wherein the elastomer spring is a sleeve portion which is integral with the covering so that the covering, sleeve portion, elastomer arms and first ring portion are of the same material.  
     
     
         21 . An elastomer exhaust suspension according to  claim 20 , wherein the same material is a peroxide molded ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer.  
     
     
         22 . An elastomer exhaust suspension according to  claim 21 , wherein the spring member has a greater stiffness than the remaining portions of the hanger structure.