Spare tire mass damper

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a damper assembly for use in a vehicle structure that includes a spare tire mounted thereto is provided. The damper assembly includes a support member extending from the structure and a damper secured to the support member. The damper is operatively interposed between and interconnects the structure and the spare tire for modulating relative motion of the spare tire with respect to the structure for damping vibrations of the structure.

1 . A damper assembly for use in an associated vehicle structure that includes an associated existing mass mounted thereto, the damper assembly comprising: 
 a support member extending from the associated structure;    a damper secured to the support member, the damper operatively interconnecting the associated structure and the associated existing mass for modulating relative motion of the associated existing mass with respect to the associated vehicle structure for damping vibrations of the associated vehicle structure.    
     
     
         2 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the damper is operatively interposed between the associated vehicle structure and the associated existing mass.  
     
     
         3 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the associated existing mass includes a spare tire mounted to the associated vehicle structure.  
     
     
         4 . The invention of  claim 3  wherein the support member is configured for operative engagement between the associated vehicle structure and the spare tire.  
     
     
         5 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the support member conforms to at least one of the associated vehicle structure and the associated existing mass.  
     
     
         6 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the support member includes a pivotal support assembly for mounting the associated existing mass to the associated vehicle structure.  
     
     
         7 . The invention of  claim 6  wherein the pivotal support assembly includes a torsional damping assembly.  
     
     
         8 . The invention of  claim 7  wherein the torsional damping assembly includes a torsional damper for damping pivoting and rotational movement of the support member relative to the associated vehicle structure.  
     
     
         9 . The invention of  claim 6  wherein the pivotal support assembly includes a conical damping assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The invention of  claim 9  wherein the conical damping assembly includes a damper for damping vertical movement of the support member relative to the associated vehicle structure.  
     
     
         11 . The invention of  claim 6  wherein the pivotal support assembly includes at least one bushing member fastened to the associated vehicle structure.  
     
     
         12 . The invention of  claim 6  wherein the pivotal support assembly includes first and second bushings disposed adjacent opposite ends of an elongated support portion of the support member that extends between associated first and second rails of the associated vehicle structure.  
     
     
         13 . The invention of  claim 12  wherein the damper is spaced from the first and second bushings in longitudinal direction generally parallel to the associated first and second rails of the associated vehicle structure.  
     
     
         14 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the damper is oriented to use a mass of the associated existing mass for controlling vibratory disturbances of the associated vehicle structure.  
     
     
         15 . The invention of  claim 1  wherein the damper includes an elastomeric member that dampens relative movement between the associated existing mass and the associated vehicle structure.  
     
     
         16 . A damper assembly for an associated vehicle frame including first and second spaced apart associated frame rails, the associated frame supporting an associated spare tire, the damper assembly comprising: 
 a support member in spaced relation to the associated spare tire;    a damper secured to the support member, the damper being operatively connected to one of the associated frame and the associated spare tire.    
     
     
         17 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein the support member includes a bushing member.  
     
     
         18 . The invention of  claim 17  wherein the bushing member is fastened to at least one of the associated first and second frame rails.  
     
     
         19 . The invention of  claim 17  wherein the bushing member further includes a torsional elastomer for restricting at least one of vertical and rotational movement of the support member.  
     
     
         20 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein the support member includes a base section in spaced relation to the associated spare tire  
     
     
         21 . The invention of  claim 20  wherein a portion of the base section conforms to at least one of the associated frame and the associated spare tire.  
     
     
         22 . The invention of  claim 20  wherein the portion of the base section operatively abuts the associated spare tire.  
     
     
         23 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein the support member includes an arm extending therefrom and operatively secured to the bushing member.  
     
     
         24 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein the damper includes a travel restrictor disposed in spaced relation to the support member.  
     
     
         25 . The invention of  claim 24  wherein the travel restrictor is operatively engaged to at least one of the associated frame and the associated spare tire.  
     
     
         26 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein the damper is interposed between the associated frame and the associated spare tire for damping vibration therebetween.  
     
     
         27 . The invention of  claim 16  wherein the damper is molded to at least one of the support member and the arm.  
     
     
         28 . A method of damping vibrations of a vehicle structure by modulating the relative motion of a spare tire with respect to the vehicle structure, the method comprising the steps of: 
 securing a support member to the vehicle structure;    securing a damper to the support member; and    damping vibrations between the vehicle structure and the spare tire.    
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising the step of tuning the frequency of the damper to the vibrations of the vehicle structure.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the damping step includes torsionally damping the support member for restricting rotational movement of the support member relative to the vehicle structure.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the damping step includes torsionally damping at a location spaced from the spare tire and damping at least the vertical vibrations of the spare tire.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the damping step includes damping at least one frequency mode of the vehicle structure.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the damping step includes damping at least one of the side to side vibrations and the fore and aft vibrations of the vehicle structure.  
     
     
         34 . A damper assembly for use in a vehicle frame that includes a spare tire operatively secured to a winch mechanism, the damper assembly comprising: 
 a support member extending from the vehicle frame, the winch mechanism being mounted to a portion of the support member;    a damper secured to the support member, the damper operatively interconnecting the vehicle frame and the spare tire for modulating relative motion of the spare tire and winch assembly with respect to the vehicle frame for damping vibrations of the vehicle frame.