Patent GB-710050-A (GB)
Title: Vehicle suspension and drive mechanism
IPC: B60G3/24
Filed: 1952-08-12
Abstract: 710,050. Motor vehicles. MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE OF HER MAJESTY'S CANADIAN GOVERNMENT. Aug. 12, 1952 [June 23, 1952], No. 20262/52. Classes 79(2), 79(3) and 79(5) [Also in Group XXXII] Independent front wheel suspension mechanism for vehicles comprises two or more spaced substantially parallel reinforcing members extending transversely of the vehicle ahead of the vehicle engine, a pair of king-pin and wheel bearing stubaxle assemblies adapted each for mounting a front wheel, two or more arms pivotally mounted at each side of the vehicle frame, one on each frame reinforcing member, a strut connected to at least one of the arms at each side of the frame adjacent to the trailing end thereof and having the other end pivotally mounted on the same reinforcing member as the arm at a point spaced inwardly therefrom, means at the free end of each arm for mounting one of the king-pin and wheel bearing and stub-axle assemblies between the arms at each side of the vehicle, and spring means adapted to resist upward swinging movement of the trailing end of each pair of arms.' In the arrangement shown, for a rear-drive vehicle, the conventional front axle unit, spring suspension and steering members, are replaced by a pair of independently sprung and driven wheels 25, 25, each of which is driven from a differential 13, Fig. 3, secured to frame member 10 beneath the vehicle engine. The wheel is driven from the differential 13, through an extensible shaft 16 and spur gears 18, 20 within a wheel drive gear housing 19. The gear housing 19 is mounted by means of an integral sleeve 28 oh a king-pin 29 having upper and lower pivotally mounted pins 30, 30. The wheels are steered by means of a centrally pivoted yoke lever 31, Fig. 7, tie-rods 35, 35 and a tie-rod 37 operatively connected to a steering box. A brake 39 for each wheel 25 is operative on an output shaft 15 of the differential 13. Each wheel 25 is supported at the free ends of a pair of trailing arms 61, 67, Fig, 2, which ends are pivotally mounted on the pins 30, 30 of the king-pin 29. The arms 61, 67 on each side of the vehicle are pivotally connected to upper and lower tubular members 51. 51 which are connected to each other by a pair of trusses 52, 52 and by a pair of plates 53, 53, to constitute a reinforcing unit 50 which is secured to the frame members 10. Each truss 52 comprises a pair of vertical struts 54, 56 interconnected by a web 55 by which the unit is secured to the adjacent frame member 10. Each lower arm 67 is formed with a strut 70 which is pivotally mounted on the lower member 51 by means of a sleeve 71 having forwardly projecting arms 78 between which is pivotally mounted a retaining rod 80 for a pair of suspension springs 76, 77 which are seated on the web 55. The upper and lower arms on opposite sides of the vehicle are connected together by torsion bar stabilizers 90, Fig. 3, disposed within the respective tubular members 51. A projection 96 on each arm 61 is adapted to engage a bumper stop on the vehicle frame and shock absorbers (not shown) are connected near the rear of each arm 61.