Composite leaf spring

Claim 2

A composite leaf spring consisting essentially of two superimposed spring leaves, one of said spring leaves being a tensile member and the other a Compressive member, said tensile member comprising an elongate body of flexible nonextensible material and said compressive member comprising an elastomer leaf of length substantially equivalent to that of said nonextensible body adhered in contiguous superimposed relation to said nonextensible body, said adhered nonextensible body and elastomer leaf having a neutral axis in flexure defined in close proximity to the interface between said nonextensible body and elastomer leaf whereby upon flexure of said composite spring in a direction from said nonextensible body away from said elastomer leaf said elastomer leaf will be substantially subjected to compressive stresses.

Claim 3

A composite leaf spring consisting essentially of two superimposed spring leaves, one of said spring leaves being a tensile member and the other a compressive member, said tensile member comprising an elongate leaf of flexible nonextensible material and said compressive member comprising an elastomer leaf of length substantially equivalent to that of said nonextensible leaf adhered in contiguous superimposed relation to said nonextensible leaf, said adhered nonextensible leaf and elastomer leaf having a neutral axis in flexure defined either at the interface between said nonextensible leaf and elastomer leaf or in said nonextensible leaf whereby upon flexure of said composite spring in a direction from said nonextensible leaf away from said elastomer leaf said elastomer leaf will only be subjected to compressive stresses.

Claim 4

A composite leaf spring consisting essentially of two superimposed spring leaves, one of said spring leaves being a tensile member and the other a compressive member, said tensile member comprising an elongate leaf of flexible nonextensible material and said compressive member comprising an elastomer leaf of length substantially equivalent to that of said nonextensible leaf adhered in contiguous superimposed relation to said nonextensible leaf, said adhered nonextensible leaf and elastomer leaf having a neutral axis in flexure defined either at the interface between said nonextensible leaf and elastomer leaf or in said nonextensible leaf whereby upon flexure of said composite spring in a direction from said nonextensible leaf away from said elastomer leaf said elastomer leaf will only be subjected to compressive stresses.

Claim 5

A composite leaf spring, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said elastomer leaf is of continually decreasing thickness from a point intermediate opposite ends to opposite ends.

Claim 6

A composite leaf spring, as set forth in claim 2, including first attachment means adjacent opposite ends of said nonextensible leaf and second attachment means adjacent said nonextensible leaf and intermediate said first attachment means.

Claim 7

A composite leaf spring, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said first attachment means are secured to the side of said nonextensible leaf opposed to said elastomer leaf.

Claim 8

A composite leaf spring, as set forth in claim 2, including elastomer lugs bonded to said nonextensible leaf adjacent opposite ends thereof on the side remote from said elastomer leaf and having means therein for attachment of each end of said composite spring to one of a supporting and supported structure.

Claim 9

A composite leaf spring, as set forth in claim 2, including elastomer lugs bonded to said nonextensible leaf adjacent opposite ends thereof on the side remote from said elastomer leaf, each of said lugs having an aperture disposed therethrough widthwise of said nonextensible leaf, bushing means disposed in said apertures, said lugs and bushing means cooperating to provide for attachment of each end of said composite spring to one of a supporting and supported structure, and wherein said elastomer leaf has intermediate opposite ends thereof an aperture disposed therethrough widthwise and including bushing means disposed in said aperture and providing for attachment of said composite spring to one of a supporting and supported structure.

Claim 10

A composite leaf spring consisting essentially of a single elongate leaf of metal of substantially uniform width and thickness throughout its length, a single elastomer leaf disposed contiguous with one side of said metal leaf of width substantially equivalent to that of said metal leaf, said metal leaf and elastomer leaf having proximate surfaces adhered to prevent relative movement therebetween upon lengthwise flexure thereof, said adhered metal and elastomer leaves having a neutral axis in flexure defined either at the interface between the metal leaf and elastomer leaf or in the metal leaf whereby upon lengthwise flexure of said composite spring in a direction from said metal leaf away from said elastomer leaf said elastomer leaf will only be subjected to compressive stresses. 9 A composite leaf spring consisting essentially of a single Elongate planar metal leaf having substantially uniform width and thickness throughout its length, a single elastomer leaf of width and length substantially equivalent to that of said metal leaf, said elastomer leaf having a substantially planar surface bonded in contiguous relation with one side of said metal leaf, said elastomer leaf having a continually decreasing thickness from a point intermediate opposite ends to opposite ends, said bonded metal leaf and elastomer leaf having a neutral axis in flexure defined either at said bond between said metal leaf and elastomer leaf or in said metal leaf whereby, upon flexure of said composite in a direction from said metal leaf away from said elastomer leaf, said elastomer leaf will only be subjected to compressive stresses.

Claim 11

A composite leaf spring consisting essentially of a single elongate leaf of metal of substantially uniform width and thickness throughout its length, a single elastomer leaf disposed contiguous with one side of said metal leaf of width substantially equivalent to that of said metal leaf, said metal leaf and elastomer leaf having proximate surfaces adhered to prevent relative movement therebetween upon lengthwise flexure thereof, said adhered metal and elastomer leaves having a neutral axis in flexure defined either at the interface between the metal leaf and elastomer leaf or in the metal leaf whereby upon lengthwise flexure of said composite spring in a direction from said metal leaf away from said elastomer leaf said elastomer leaf will only be subjected to compressive stresses. 9 A composite leaf spring consisting essentially of a single Elongate planar metal leaf having substantially uniform width and thickness throughout its length, a single elastomer leaf of width and length substantially equivalent to that of said metal leaf, said elastomer leaf having a substantially planar surface bonded in contiguous relation with one side of said metal leaf, said elastomer leaf having a continually decreasing thickness from a point intermediate opposite ends to opposite ends, said bonded metal leaf and elastomer leaf having a neutral axis in flexure defined either at said bond between said metal leaf and elastomer leaf or in said metal leaf whereby, upon flexure of said composite in a direction from said metal leaf away from said elastomer leaf, said elastomer leaf will only be subjected to compressive stresses.

Claim 12

A composite leaf spring consisting essentially of a single elongate planar leaf of flexible nonextensible material of substantially uniform width and thickness throughout its length, said planar nonextensible leaf being predeflected lengthwise with opposite sides thereof defining a concave and a convex surface respectively, a single elastomer leaf of width and length substantially equivalent to that of said nonextensible leaf, said elastomer leaf having a concave surface extending the length thereof mating with and bonded in contiguous relation with said convex surface of said nonextensible leaf, said bonded nonextensible leaf and elastomer leaf having a neutral axis in flexure defined either at said bond between said nonextensible leaf and elastomer leaf or in said nonextensible leaf whereby upon flexure of said composite spring in a direction from said nonextensible leaf away from said elastomer leaf said elastomer leaf will only be subjected to compressive stresses.

Claim 13

A composite leaf spring consisting essentially of a single elongate planar leaf of flexible nonextensible material of substantially uniform width and thickness throughout its length, said planar nonextensible leaf being predeflected lengthwise with opposite sides thereof defining a concave and a convex surface respectively, a single elastomer leaf of width and length substantially equivalent to that of said nonextensible leaf, said elastomer leaf having a concave surface extending the length thereof mating with and bonded in contiguous relation with said convex surface of said nonextensible leaf, said bonded nonextensible leaf and elastomer leaf having a neutral axis in flexure defined either at said bond between said nonextensible leaf and elastomer leaf or in said nonextensible leaf whereby upon flexure of said composite spring in a direction from said nonextensible leaf away from said elastomer leaf said elastomer leaf will only be subjected to compressive stresses.

Claim 14

A composite leaf spring, as set forth in claim 10, wherein the surface of said elastomer leaf remote from said nonextensible leaf has a substantially parabolic contour which at opposite ends converges toward said nonextensible leaf.

Claim 15

A composite leaf spring, as set forth in claim 10, wherein said nonextensible leaf is formed of metal and is predeflected within the elastic range thereof.