Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1987-04-06
1988-07-19
Rice, Kenneth R.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
280669, 280718, B60G 300
Patent
active
047580194
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a suspension for a vehicle. Particularly, and in the embodiment hereafter described, the suspension is suitable for the rear wheels of a passenger car, but it will be appreciated the invention is more widely applicable to vehicles generally.
Motor vehicle suspensions of the so-called H-frame type are well known, utilizing a member of generally H-shape in plan view comprising two spaced arms, one at each side of the vehicle, and a transverse element connecting the arms. Each of the arms is pivotally connected to the vehicle structure at its one end and carries a wheel assembly at its other end. The transverse element acts as a bracing member to assist maintenance of the desired relative alignment of the two wheels, and also acts to resist roll of the vehicle by resilient twisting when the wheels attempt to undergo different vertical displacements relative to the vehicle. In such suspensions as proposed hitherto, springing is usually provided by coil springs, operative between the arms and the vehicle structure at positions remote from the arm pivots, although it has also been proposed that leaf springs may be used. Such an arrangement has a disadvantage in that the structure of the vehicle has to be designed to provide space to accommodate the springs, and to take the loads which arise in use at the points where the springs are connected to the vehicle structure. Such suspensions are, however, widely used, particularly for the rear wheels of front-wheel-drive automobiles.
It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved suspension of the H-frame type, in which these disadvantages are overcome or reduced. Further advantages of the suspension according to the invention will be pointed out hereafter.
The present invention provides a suspension for a vehicle, comprising a member of generally H-shape in plan view, having two spaced arms each provided at or adjacent at its one end with means to carry a wheel assembly, and a transverse element extending between said arms, the arms having portions at their other ends which are pivotally connected to the vehicle, wherein each of said pivotal connections is established in an enclosure means connected to or forming part of the structure of the vehicle, each such enclosure means also containing a leaf spring engaging the arm to provide springing between the respective wheel and the vehicle structure.
In a suspension according to the invention, the vehicle structure has to be designed to receive or constitute the enclosure means for each arm of the H-shape member, but no additional provision is necessary for springs remote from the pivots of the arms. It is contemplated that a simplification of the vehicle structure and weight and cost savings may result. In a preferred embodiment of the suspension, the enclosure means form parts of sill structures of the vehicle. In a vehicle such as a passenger car of unitary body construction, the sills of the body structure are strong and rigid, and hence suitable for being provided with pivots for the arms and for engagement with the leaf springs.
Preferably each said leaf spring extends at its one end into the associated arm, is pivotally supported between its ends relative to the arm, and reacts, at or adjacent its other end, against a reaction member within said enclosure means. Preferably each leaf spring is of composite, fibre-reinforced plastics, material, and a pivotal support of each such spring is in alignment with the pivotal connection of the respective arm. Use of leaf springs of fibre reinforced plastics material enables weight to be reduced.
Dampers of telescopic type may be utilised with the suspension according to the invention, such dampers being disposed generally vertically and connected between the arms, adjacent the wheels held thereby, and adjoining parts of the vehicle structure. Such dampers do not occupy as much space as would be required for similarly disposed coil spring, and hence their presence does not greatly detract from the advantages of the invention Furthe
REFERENCES:
patent: 2499495 (1950-03-01), Gregory
Rawlings Stephen P.
Tucker-Peake Adrian
GKN Technology Limited
Rice Kenneth R.
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