Patent GB-670734-A (GB)
Title: Road vehicle bodies
IPC: B62D25/08
Filed: 1949-06-27
Abstract: 670,734. Vehicle bodies; road - vehicle spring suspensions. AUSTIN MOTOR CO'., Ltd., STANFIELD, J. R., and GARRETT, T. K. July 11, 1950 [June 27, 1949], No. 16930/49. Classes 108(i) and 108(ii) A road vehicle body which serves also as a chassis is constructed so that vertical bending loads acting upon longitudinal members which pass inside the wheels and carry or are connected to the wheel suspensions, are transferred to the body sides or sills through transversely disposed torsion boxes, one for each member, or alternatively, through a single torsion box common to two such members associated with a pair of road wheels. The sill plate 2, Fig. 1, extends upwardly to constitute a side 3 of the dash structure, and then rearwardly to form an end wall 4 of a tranverse torsion box 5 which extends fully across the dash: The floor plate 6 is welded to the tranverse seat brace 1 and to the sill plates 2, and at its forward edge to the lower edge of the toe board plate 7, the upper edge of the latter being welded to the lower edge of the box 5. A flitch plate 8 extends forwardly on each side of the body from the dash parallel to the plates 2 and is welded at its flanges 9, 10. Each plate 8 also extends rearwardly into the box 5 to form a diaphragm, flanged plates 12 and 14x being welded into place as shown to form the outer end portions of the box. Instead of a single tranverse box, separate boxes, one at either side may be provided. The engine (not shown) is carried between the two plates 8, which are connected at the front by a brace 26 and an engine bulkhead 27. A longitudinal torsion box 28, as described in Specification 670,735, is associated with each plate 8. Rear end torsion boxes are formed by the rear ends of sill plates 2, Fig. 3, which are welded to a rear seat brace plate 29 which has welded to it rear wheel arches 30 connected by a brace 31. The plates 2 are interconnected by a cross member 32 having a slot 33 for the propeller shaft, and rear floor plates 34 are welded to the plates 2, 29, and 32, and to a tunnel plate 33<SP>x</SP>. The inner wheel arch 30<SP>x</SP> has a forward extension 35 which passes through a slot in the plate 29 and is flanged and welded to the plates 32, 34. A welded bottom plate 36 completes each rear torsion box. The boxes may have openings therein for housing accessories or to permit the passage of controls or wiring, and internal or external stifferners may be provided. Independent front wheel suspension comprises a torsion rod 18 fixed at one end to the front seat brace 1, and extending forwardly through bearings 19 fixed to the flange 17 of the flitch 8. The rod 18 has fixed thereon the wishbone 21 for the wheel axle, whilst above this and fixed to the flitch 8 is a shock absorber 22, the pivoted arm 23 of which controls the vertical movements of the wheel. In Fig. 2, the independent suspension compreses a helical spring 24 accommodated in a housing 25 and operating between the pivoted wishbone 21 and the arm 23. In Fig. 3, a carriage spring 37 for each of the rear wheels is connected at its forward and rear ends respectively to brackets 38 welded to the seat brace 29 and to spring shackles 39 connected by brackets 40 to the rear cross brace membe 31, the spring attachments being disposed close to the vertical plane of the wheel arch 30.