Patent GB-191300965-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Motor Car and other Vehicular Spring Suspension Mechanism.
Inventor: HODGSON THOMAS
IPC: B60G21/04
Filed: 1913-01-13
Granted: 1914-04-14
Abstract: 965. Hodgson, T. Jan. 13. Equalizing load on wheels and springs; guiding vertical play; springs, arrangement of and mounting bodies on.-Various arrangements of springs for use with motor-cars and other vehicles are described in combination with radiusarms mounted loosely on the axles to allow relative lateral movement. Fig. 2 shows one form, in which the body is supported by laminated springs 10 bearing on radius - arms 2, which carry the axles 1 through enlarged ends 9 and auxiliary springs; or the springs 10 may be arranged as shown in dotted lines at C. In Fig. 3, a spiral spring 85 is shown between the arm and chassis. In modifications, an elliptic spring, or small spiral or rubber springs, or rollers, may be arranged between the end of the spring 10 and the arm 2; or instead of a single spring 10, two half-springs separately fixed to the chassis may be used; or the arm itself may be formed as a leaf spring. Further, the arms at opposite sides of the vehicle may be connected by transverse leaf springs. Fig. 6 shows helical springs 160, 161, 162 arranged between arms 2 and equalizing-levers 157, 158, 163. In another form, springs 174, 175, Fig. 8, are provided with pins 180 sliding in a vertically-slotted bracket 176. Fig. 11 shows springs 187, 188 bearing on arms 2 and on an equalizing-lever 191, which may be replaced by pivoted leaf springs; or the lever 191 may be omitted, the inner ends of the springs being separately connected to the chassis through helical springs. In another modification, quarter-elliptic springs may be fixed at one end to the chassis and arranged above or below the radius-arm, being connected thereto at the other end through helical springs. In another form, a spring similar to the spring 10, Fig. 2, is pivoted at its centre to the chassis and linked at its ends to the arms 2, and is provided with helical springs interposed between the chassis and spring at opposite sides of the central pivot. Fig. 18 shows a spring 10 suspended at its centre through helical springs 205 on rods 207<a> and connected at its ends with the axles through buffer springs 212, the forward radius-arm 210 being bifurcated. In Fig. 20, the spring 10 is shown arranged to serve as a footboard, and in such case is preferably made of wood, which may be reinforced with steel facings. The ends of the springs are connected by links to arms 2 mounted on the axles and linked to the chassis at 215, the spring being secured at its centre to a bracket 7. Where helical springs are employed, dome-shaped washers 248<q>, Fig. 21, adapted to oscillate in recesses 249, may be used. Figs. 22 and 23 show further forms, in which the radius-arms consist of two parallel portions. In the latter form, the arm members 309, 310 are connected to the axle by a pivot 308, and the spring 311 is carried by a member 312 which is pivoted to the chassis and connected by a rod 313 with a similar arrangement at the other end of the car. Springs 315 are arranged between collars 314 and a bracket. The Specification as open to inspection under Section 91 (3) (a) describes also numerous modified arrangements. Similar arrangements of springs and arms to those described above may be used with wheels having independent stub axles, which are carried by forks formed on or connected to the arms, or project at one side from the arms. Fig. 9 (Cancelled) shows springs 31, 32 connected to the chassis and to arms 30. the inner ends of which engage a slotted guide 45 and are connected to those at the other side of the vehicle by the transverse equalizing-levers described below. In a modification of this form, the springs are cut away at the centre to form two sets of springs, which are then separately pivoted to the chassis, and the inner ends of the arms are guided in separate slots. In further modifications, series of helical springs may be arranged above and below the arms and extensions thereof; or the arm itself may be constituted by two parallel leaf springs. Fig. 83 (Cancelled) shows another form employing horizontal springs only, which are arranged also to give an equalizing action between the two arms at the same side of the vehicle. The arms 2 are formed with vertical projections 229, 230 adapted to act on horizontal helical springs arranged as shown. Various modifications are described of arrangements of horizontal helical springs adapted to be arranged between projections on the two arms. In the form shown in Fig. 84<b> (Cancelled), the projections on the arms consist of leaf springs 244, 263, the former of which is connected with a leaf spring 243 by a pivoted knee piece; helical springs 247<h>, 247<i>, 247<k> being arranged as shown. In modifications, the springs 243, 244 are formed as one curved leaf spring; or the helical springs may be replaced by various arrangements of leaf springs, connected between the ends of the depending springs 244, 263, and in some cases to the chassis. In some cases also the spring portions 244, 263 may extend above the arms as well as below, their upper and lower ends being connected by helical springs. Several modifications in the arrangement and connexions of the equalizing-levers and helical springs shown in Fig. 6 are also described. In order to equalize the action between arms at opposite sides of the vehicle, the arms 2 may be connected by a transverse lever 12, Fig. 3 (Cancelled), pivoted at 14, or by a pair of such levers or a pair of pivoted transverse springs. In a further modification, the arms are formed at one end rigid with the axle, and are mounted at their opposite ends on a pivoted transverse bar. The vertical movement of the arms 2 may be further guided by plates 17. Fig. 3 (Cancelled), attached to the chassis. Fig. 15<a> (Cancelled) shows an arrangement for allowing lateral play between the arms and axles. The vehicle wheels are carried by short square axles 59 arranged to slide through bearings 60, which are connected across the vehicle by parallel pivoted bars 61, 62, which take up an inclined position when the wheel at one side is raised above that at the other. The arms 2 are mounted on sleeves carrying the axles 59, and are formed with U-shaped guides 63 which maintain the bearings 60 vertical. A similar arrangement is shown applied to a universally - jointed driving - axle. A number of other arrangements for allowing the lateral play are described. The arm may be formed in two parts pivoted together to have limited relative lateral movement; or the arm may be mounted in a slot formed in the axle so as to allow lateral play; or the arm 2 may be formed with a yoke formation 106, Fig. 37 (Cancelled), which is pivoted at its lower end 108 to the axle 1 and provided with a roller 109 working on the top of the axle, or is mounted to slide bodily on the axle to an extent limited by pins on the yoke or axle, helical or elliptic springs being interposed between the yoke and axle; or, as shown in Figs. 41 and 42 (Cancelled), a yoke 119 mounted on the arm 2, is connected to the axle 1 by rods 117 pivoted at 118 in splayed openings in the axle, or by pins 143<b>, Fig. 52 (Cancelled), engaging slots in the yoke 144 and connected to a sleeve 143 pivoted to the axle, helical springs being arranged as shown; or the arm 152, Fig. 54 (Cancelled), is journaled in a collar 150 having limited sliding movement on the axle 151. Twisting of the springs may be prevented by connecting them to a lug or collar 36, Fig. 14 (Cancelled), on the axle by a link 35. Axles.-The wheels 3, Fig. 15<a> (Cancelled), may be mounted on short square axles 59 supported by the arms 2 and arranged to slide through bearings 60, which are connected across the vehicle by rods 61, 62 and maintained vertical by U-shaped guides 63 on the arms 2. In the case of wheels mounted on independent stub axles, such axles 169, Fig. 60 (Cancelled), may be formed as projections extending from one side of the arms 168. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.