Patent GB-759755-A (GB)
Title: Vehicle wheel suspension system
IPC: B60G5/04
Filed: 1952-08-20
Abstract: 759,755. Spring suspensions; springs. RONNING, A. Aug. 20, 1952, No. 20923/52. Classes 108 (2) and 108 (3). A vehicle wheel suspension comprises two pairs of wheels arranged in tandem, each wheel being mounted on the rear end of a swinging arm arranged longitudinally of the vehicle, the swinging arms of each pair of wheels being pivotally connected with an intermediary member and being interconnected through a known differential mechanism, the intermediary members being in turn, pivotally connected with the vehicle and also connected together by yielding means which in operation yieldingly counteract the turning moments exerted by the intermediary members about their pivotal connection with the vehicle and also provide that either intermediary member is urged downwardly as the other moves upwardly. In the arrangement according to Figs. 1 and 5, as applied to an eight-wheeled truck arranged at the rear of a vehicle chassis A, the truck comprises four wheel assemblies 16, 17, 18 and 19, each comprising a pair of wheels 16a, 16b which are carried by respective cranked arms 29 and 30 having trunnion ends 31, 32 by which the arms are pivotally mounted in a housing member 33. The latter is forked to provide bearings 38, 39 by which the housing is swingably mounted on a cross member 20 of the chassis A. The trunnion ends 31, 32 are provided with gears 35 and 36 which mesh with each other to differentially connect the wheels 16a, 16b. Appropriate teeth of the gears 35 and '36 may be blanked to limit swinging movement of the arms 29 and 30. A leafspring 48 is pivotally mounted on the cross member 20 between the pairs of wheels at each side of the chassis and is pivotally connected at its ends to the housings 33 corresponding to each wheel pair. The suspension may include a helper spring 61. A cable 64 is connected between each housing 33 and a device (not shown) by which one pair of wheels may be raised clear of the road or by which the level of the vehicle may be adjusted when the vehicle is rounding curves. In a modification (Fig. 7, not shown), the cranked wheel carrying arms for each pair of wheels are pivoted on their respective housings in vertically spaced relationship, the meshing gears being correspondingly vertically spaced. A leaf-spring, connected at its centre to the chassis and at its ends to the housings corresponding to the pairs of wheels at each side of the chassis, is disposed above the housings. In another arrangement, Fig. 8, cranked wheel carrying arms 97 for the pairs of wheels at each side of the chassis are journalled in housings 99 and 100 and each pair of arms is differentially connected by gears 101. Each housing is provided with rigid extensions 103 and 104 respectively to which are pivotally connected, the ends of a leaf-spring 105 which is rigidly connected at its centre to a bracket 107 journalled on a chassis cross member 92. In the arrangement according to Figs. 9 and 10, in which cranked wheel carrying arms 121 for the pairs of wheels at each side of the chassis are journalled in housings 123 and 124 pivotally suspended from cross members 115 and 116 respectively, the housings are connected together by a linkage comprising two pairs of interlocking bars 129, 130 and 133, 134 which are relatively slidable. The forward ends of the bars 133, 134 are secured to a hydraulic cylinder 139 which is pivotally connected to an arm 126 extending from the housing 123 and the rearward ends of the bars 129, 130 are pivotally connected to the housing 124. A coil spring 142 is disposed between end plates 132 and 136 on the bars 129, 130 and 133, 134 respectively. A piston-rod 144 of a piston 143 within the cylinder 139 projects from the cylinder and normally is clear of the end plate 132 to permit sliding movement of the bars 129, 130 and 133, 134. In operation, admission of fluid to the cylinder 139, effects shortening of the linkage between the housings 123, 124 against the spring 142 to adjust the height of the chassis above the road. The length of the linkage may be automatically controlled in dependence upon the rolling tendency of the vehicle when rounding curves. Vacuum brake units 147 for each wheel are arranged on the respective cranked arms 121. In the arrangement according to Fig. 12 (not shown), the chassis cross members are secured by sleeve castings to a reach tube forming a main backbone of the truck, the castings extending the full width of the cross members. Specification 759,825 is referred to.