Patent GB-595830-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to friction devices
IPC: B60G13/04
Filed: 1944-02-28
Abstract: 595,830. Hinges. FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER, CO. Feb. 28, 1944, No. 3652. Convention date, Jan. 12, 1943. [Class 65 (ii)] [Also in Group XXXII] A friction device for opposing angular movoment between two relatively movable members comprises a friction element 28 interposed between two disc-like elements each operatively associated with one of the relatively movable members and adapted to be urged resiliently towards each other to compact the assembly by an encircling elastic band 24 formed with inwardly-extending marginal flanges 30 engaging the outer lateral faces of the disc-like elements. As shown in Fig. 3, in addition to the band 24 and friction element 28, the device comprises four other axially-apertured discs 25, 26, 27, 29. Disc 25, of sheet metal, has a number of laterally-extending flanges 32 and oppositely-extending dowels or bosses 34. Disc 26 composed of rubber or like material, is adapted to fit inside the flanges 32 of disc 25, and is formed on one face with two annular grooves 37, 38 and on the other face with a single annular groove to enable deformation of the disc to occur when it is compressed. Disc 27, of sheet metal, is identical with disc 25 except that it lacks the dowels 34 of the latter, its flanges 41 being adapted to span the periphery of the rubber disc 26. The friction disc 28 is of porous graphite bronze and is formed on both faces with arcuate oil or grease grooves 44 opening into an axial aperture 43. Disc 29, of sheet metal, is formed on one face with dowels 46. The friction device is assembled by clamping the discs 25 ... 29 against one another by means of the band 24. Fig. 1 shows a friction device 20 as described above and a second modified friction device 21 embodied in an oscillatable joint comprising a pair of links 10 carrying a pivot pin 11, on a bearing bush 14 on which is pivotally mounted a member 12 which, in parallel linkages employed for vehicle wheel suspensions, may comprise a wheel-supporting axle. The pin 11 is permanently secured, e.g. by welding 13, to one of the links 10 and, for lubricating the bush 14, is formed with an axial bore 15 adapted to receive a grease cup or grease gun fitting 16 and to intersect a radial bore 17 opening into a circumferential groove 18 on the periphery of the pin. A helical groove 19 on the inner face of the bush 14 conducts lubricant from the groove 18 to the ends of the bush. The friction devices 20, 21 are mounted on the pin between the links 10 and member 12. For the device 20 the adjacent link 10 is formed with sockets 50 to receive the dowels 34, Fig. 3, of disc 25 while the member 12 has sockets 51 to receive the dowels 46 of disc 29. The space between the link 10 and member 12 is less than the thickness of the device so that the rubber disc 26 is compressed. On relative oscillation, discs 25, 27 which are interlocked by their flanges, move oppositely to disc 29 so that both faces of the disc 28 are operative. The friction device 21 comprises only a friction disc 28 and two metal discs 29, 55 having projecting dowels engaging sockets in the member 12 and adjacent link 10, the discs being clamped together by an elastic band 54. Although the friction devices are arranged to be lubricated by oil or grease distributed through the pivot pin 11, they may be made self-lubricating by substituting for the friction discs 28, friction discs of rubber &c. having facings of woven friction material impregnated with a waxy thixotropic lubricant comprising castor oil or a derivative thereof.