Patent GB-728604-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to vehicle axle suspensions and to spring arrangements used inconnection therewith
IPC: B60K17/16
Filed: 1952-07-09
Abstract: 728,604. Spring suspensions ; springs. DAIMLER-BENZ AKT.-GES. July 9, 1952 [July 9, 1951 ; July 9, 1951; July 9, 1951], No. 17338/52. Classes 108 (2) and 108 (3). In a suspension for swinging half axles on a vehicle, the half axles are articulated to a carrier with substantial rigidity in the horizontal plane and the carrier is articulated to the vehicle frame or body substantially at one point so as to allow swinging movement of the carrier with respect to the frame or body about a vertical axis and about a horizontal axis extending transversely to the direction of travel, and the half axles are abutted against the frame or body by thrust links disposed longitudinally of the vehicle, the result being that the half axles together with the carrier form a triangular system which is yieldable in itself in the plane of swinging of the half axles but is substantially rigid in itself in the horizontal plane, the corners of the triangular system being at the single point of articulation of the carrier and at the two points of articulation between the thrust links and the half axles. In the arrangement according to Figs. 3 and 6 in which a wheel 111 at each side of the vehicle is carried by a half-axle 116 driven from an axle gearing casing 112 and by a swinging link 120 sprung against a frame member 110 by a coil spring 126, the casing 112 is pivotally connected to a transverse frame member 110a through a pivot 130 which engages a rubber ring 113 in a socket 133. The socket 133 is supported by atop flange part secured to the member 110a and by a part 134 fixed to the member 110a below the axis thereof. Rubber cushions 128, 129 are housed within extensions of the part 134 and are precompressed to bear on the casing 112. The extensions of the part 134 are supported by a part 135 secured thereto and to the socket 133. The link 120 is connected to the frame member 110 through a rubber bush mounting 124 and to one end of a pivot-pin 140 through a rubber bush 122, the pivot-pin 140 being supported at the bottom of a drop arm 118 on the half-axle 116. The spring 126 seats upon an abutment plate on the link 120 and at its upper end abuts the frame member 110 through a plate 143 and a resilient cushion 150 having a depending lip 151 which wipes against a telescopic shock-absorber 144 disposed within the spring and resiliently and pivotally connected at its upper and lower ends to be a body-member 148 and the link 120 respectively. Excessive upward movement of the link 120 is prevented by a snubber 152. In a modification (Fig. 7, not shown), the forward end of the link 120 is formed with an eye lying in the vertical instead of the horizontal plane. In the arrangement according to Fig. 8 (not shown), the rubber cushions 113, 128 and 129 are replaced by a pair of rubber rings spaced apart vertically coaxially upon a pivot secured to the gearing casing and compressed within inner and outer metal bushes respectively surrounding the pivot and secured to the frame cross-member. In another arrangement (Figs. 9-11, not shown), the outer end of the pivot-pin 140 is extended to serve as a pivotal support for brake-shoes, which are enclosed by a cover-plate secured to the half axle. In the arrangement according to Figs. 12 and 13, the upper. end of the spring 126 engages an abutment plate 151 which houses a rubber cushion 150 having a depending lip 151a which wipes against a shock-absorber 180 arranged within the spring. The lower end of the latter engages an annular plate 149 having a helical pitch corresponding to the bottom turn of the spring and provided with holes 17a which are engageable by a projection 18a on the bottom turn whereby the effective length of the spring may be adjusted by engaging the projection in one or the other of the holes 17a. Alternatively, notches may be formed in the plate 149 and corresponding detents formed in the bottom turn of the spring. The bottom of the shock-absorber is pivotally connected to the link 120 through a pair of rubber rings 145. In an arrangement according to Figs. 1 and 2 (not shown), similar to that described with reference to Figs. 3 and 6, the rubber cushions 128, and 129 are replaced by helical springs and the pivot for the gearing casing consists of a ball joint.