Patent GB-425923-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in front wheel arrangements for vehicles
IPC: B60G3/01
Filed: 1933-11-09
Abstract: 425,923. Vehicle suspensions; hydraulic springs. BROULHIET, G., 201, Rue de Grenelle, Paris. Nov. 9, 1933, No. 31303. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, May 10, 1934.] [Classes 108 (ii) and 108 (iii)] In spring suspensions in which the front independently sprung wheels are movable parallel to one another independently of the front axle connected rigidly with the frame and which are provided with sleeves slidable and rotatable on vertical spindles secured to the ends of the front axle, one or more ball bearings are provided and arranged between the sleeve and the spindle to take up the transverse forces. The wheel is carried by a stub axle connected to and operating integrally with a sleeve 7 adapted to slide vertically, and to rotate for steering purposes, upon a hollow spindle 5 carried by the end of the axle 1, the hollow spindle 5 and the sleeve 7 being arranged as a hydraulic spring. The sleeve 7 is pivotally connected to the end of a transverse spring 6 by a shackle 24 and the axle 1 is connected to the chassis members 2, the shackle 24 being pivotally connected at its upper end to a ring 17 rotatable about the sleeve 7 by means of ball bearings 15. The sleeve 7 bears upon the spindle 5 by means of an upper ball bearing comprising a cage 29 and balls 11 which are arranged in inclined relation to each other as shown in Fig. 7 and by a lower bearing 200. The lower bearing 200 is returned to proper position as the spindle 5, Fig. 4, rises by means of a sleeve 201 coming in contact with the chassis member at the lower end of the spindle or as shown in Fig. 6, the upper and lower bearings may be integrally interconnected. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also constructions of the hydraulic shock absorber or spring comprised by the spindle 5 and sleeve 7. In one form, Fig. 3 (Cancelled), the hollow spindle 5 has two chambers 36, 37 of different diameters, a shoulder 38 being formed therebetween. In the lower chamber 36 a cylindrical member 39 is positioned by means of teeth 40 resting on the shoulder 38 and in the upper chamber a partition 44 is provided having apertures 47 adapted to be closed by a valve 48 under spring control and an aperture 51 provided with a piston valve 52 under the control of a spring 53, the piston valve being provided with a series of holes 62, the vertical distance between which is greater towards the bottom of the valve. Connected to the head of the sleeve 7 is a piston rod 42 having a piston 41 as shown provided with apertures 56. Steering and torque rods 18, 19 are connected to the stub axle by means of sleeve 21 and bolt 22. A filling nozzle and valve 70 are provided. In operation, when the wheel rises and causes the sleeve 7 and piston 41 to rise with it, oil passes through the aperture 56 and since the pressure in the chamber 36 falls, oil from the upper chamber 37 passes through the apertures 47 past valve 48 tending to resist the upward movement. On the subsequent downward movement, oil passes through the apertures 56 and since the apertures 47 close by means of the valve 48, the oil passes through the apertures 62 in the piston valve 52, the speed of the rebound determining the rise of the piston valve. In the form shown in Fig. 4 (Cancelled), which is single-acting, the return of the wheel is braked by passage of the oil through the calibrated apertures 62 in the piston valve 52. Various other forms and modifications are described in the Specification, e.g. additional ball-valve controlled apertures may be provided in the piston 41, and the apertures 47 in the partition may open into an annular recess controlled by the spring-pressed valve 48. Fig. 11 (Cancelled) shows another form in which the plunger rod 126 is provided with a groove by which the oil passes from the chamber 36 to the chamber 37 on the return or down stroke of the wheel, the piston valve 52 being dispensed with and the groove at its upper end being tapered off to retard progressively the return stroke. The oil passes from the groove to a recess 130 and thence by apertures 132 to the chamber 37. The shackle 24, Figs. 15 (Cancelled) and 16 (Cancelled), is constructed with a forked end and provided with bearings 138, 139 for the pivots 134 on the ball ring 17, the other end of the shackle 24 being provided with a slot 141 into which the end of the spring 6 takes. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.