Sleeve damper assembly

Abstract

A damper for a linear element of a motor vehicle drivetrain such as a cable, a transmission oil fill tube or an engine oil dipstick tube constitutes a loose fitting sleeve or annulus disposed about the linear component. The damper may be positioned on a substantially vertical tube by a stop which may be any device such as a sleeve of material having an outside diameter larger than the inside diameter of the damper that is clamped or secured to the tube. Alternatively, the damper may be of sufficient length that one end may be clamped to the tube while the other end, which loosely fits on the tube, acts as a damper. The damper may be fabricated of a material such as closed cell foam or other relatively lightweight, resilient and compressible material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sleeve damper assembly for reducing resonance of a linear element of a motor vehicle comprising, in combination,
 an elongate tubular damper sleeve fabricated of plastic foam and defining an axial through passageway adapted to receive a linear element, and   a retaining collar having an outside diameter larger than a diameter of said through passageway, said retaining collar secured to said linear element adjacent said damper sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The sleeve damper assembly of  claim 1  wherein said axial through passageway has a diameter larger than an outside diameter of said linear element. 
     
     
         3 . The sleeve damper assembly of  claim 1  wherein said linear element is a transmission fill tube. 
     
     
         4 . The sleeve damper assembly of  claim 1  wherein said tubular damper sleeve has a length of seven inches or less. 
     
     
         5 . The sleeve damper assembly of  claim 1  wherein said plastic foam is closed cell polyurethane. 
     
     
         6 . The sleeve damper assembly of  claim 1  wherein said retaining collar is secured to said linear element by a strap. 
     
     
         7 . The vibration damper assembly of  claim 1  wherein said tubular sleeve and said retaining collar are distinct components. 
     
     
         8 . A random, chaotic damper assembly for reducing resonance of a non-rotating linear element of a motor vehicle comprising, in combination,
 an elongate circular damper sleeve fabricated of plastic foam and defining an axial through passageway adapted to receive a linear element, and   a retaining collar having an outside diameter larger than a diameter of said through passageway, and   means for securing said retaining collar to said linear element.   
     
     
         9 . The chaotic damper assembly of  claim 8  wherein said axial through passageway of said circular damper sleeve has a diameter larger than a diameter of said linear element. 
     
     
         10 . The chaotic damper assembly of  claim 8  wherein said linear element is a transmission fill tube. 
     
     
         11 . The chaotic damper assembly of  claim 8  wherein said linear element is an engine dipstick tube. 
     
     
         12 . The chaotic damper assembly of  claim 8  wherein said circular damper sleeve has a length of seven inches or less. 
     
     
         13 . The chaotic damper assembly of  claim 8  wherein said plastic foam is closed cell polyurethane. 
     
     
         14 . The chaotic damper assembly of  claim 8  wherein said means for securing said retaining collar to said linear element is one of a strap, a cable tie and adhesive. 
     
     
         15 . A sleeve damper assembly for reducing resonance of a transmission fill tube of a motor vehicle comprising, in combination,
 an elongate tubular damper sleeve fabricated of plastic foam and defining an axial through passageway adapted to receive said transmission fill tube, and   a retaining collar having an outside diameter larger than a diameter of said through passageway, and   a strap for securing said retaining collar to said transmission fill tube adjacent said tubular damper sleeve.   
     
     
         16 . The sleeve damper assembly of  claim 15  wherein said tubular damper sleeve has a length of seven inches or less. 
     
     
         17 . The sleeve damper assembly of  claim 15  wherein said plastic foam is closed cell polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 . The sleeve damper assembly of  claim 15  wherein said tubular damper sleeve and said retaining collar are fabricated of closed cell foam.