Patent GB-724860-A (GB)
Title: Improved vehicle suspension system
IPC: B60G11/113
Filed: 1953-05-26
Abstract: 724,860. Spring suspensions ; resilient axle connections; laminated springs. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION. May 26, 1953 [June 4, 1952], No. 14551/53. Classes 108 (2) and 108 (3). A vehicle suspension system comprises a leaf spring connecting the vehicle frame or body to an axle and having intermediate its ends an arcuate portion which is disposed substantially coaxially relative to the axle such that the neutral axis of the non-arcuate portion of the spring substantially intersects the axis of the axle. In the arrangement according to Figs. 1 and 2, in which each end of a rear axle-housing 10 is sprung against a chassis frame 4 by a single leaf spring 16, the latter is formed with a loop portion 44, which is spaced from the lower portion of the housing 10. A bracket 46 is welded at 49 to the housing 10 and includes vertical flanges 54 between which the spring 16 extends. The spring is secured on opposite sides of the housing 10 by a pair of clamps 58 and 60, the clamp 58 comprising upper and lower plates 62, 64, and retaining plates 76, 78 for resilient pads 68, 70 which are held against the spring by clamping bolts 66. The clamp 60 which is similar to clamp 58 includes a clip 94 housed in retaining members 96 and 98 in recesses in resilient pads 86 and 88, thereby to locate and prevent movement of the spring 16, relative to the housing 10. The spacing of the clamps 58, 60 is in proportion to the lengths of spring extending from the centre line of the axle. In another arrangement, Fig. 4, in which the loop portion of the spring is disposed above the axle casing, two channel-shaped brackets 102 are welded to the casing at 104 in which the spring is clamped between a resilient pad 114 and a pair of resilient pads 116. In the arrangement according to Fig. 7, as applied to a construction in which braking and acceleration reactions are absorbed by a torque tube extending between the axle casing and the chassis frame, the looped portion of the spring extending below the axle housing, a bracket 146 located over the housing with the interposition of a resilient pad 150, is provided with extensions 154 and 156 by which the spring is clamped between resilient pads 166, 168 and 176, 178 respectively. The spring is located relative to the housing by a clip 175 housed in recesses in the pads 166, 168. L-shaped members adjacent an arcuate part of bracket 146 are welded to the housing 10, the vertical flanges of the members being spaced from the side walls of the bracket, and pad 150 extending therebetween, thereby permitting rocking movement of the bracket about the axis of the housing 10. In another arrangement (Fig. 10, not shown), the spring 16 is formed of a plurality of leaves, the opposite ends of the top leaf being attached to the frame as in Fig. 1 and the spring being clamped at spaced points to a bracket-similar to bracket 46 of Fig. 2 but which is secured to the upper portion of the housing 10. In another arrangement (Figs. 11 and 12, not shown), the looped portion of a single leaf spring is disposed below the axle housing and the spring is clamped to a bracket secured to the housing and extending rearwardly therefrom, the clamp including rubber pads and a retaining clip to prevent endwise movement of the spring. In the arrangement according to Figs. 13 and 15 in which road wheels 263 are driven by live half-axles 264 and in which the wheels are interconnected by a de Dion axle 274 connected by links 280 to the chassis frame, a single leaf spring 16 at each side is secured to flanges 282 of wheel housings 272 for the axles 264 by a bracket 284 having extensions 290, 292 for supporting resilient pads 294, 296. The spring is clamped between pads 294, 296 and 302, 304, by clamps 306, 308 and U-clamp bolt 310, the pads 294 and 302 having recesses for retaining members 320, 322 for a retaining clip 318.