US3741581A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suspension and steering apparatus for vehicles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-05-21
•
Granted: 1973-06-26
•
Expires: 1990-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A vertically disposed spindle shaft rotatably supported within a hydraulic cylinder is utilized to transmit turning movements to the wheel of a vehicle by means of a gear train including a plurality of bevel gears driven by a bevel pinion on a vehicle steering column. A piston positioned transversely within the hydraulic cylinder on the aforesaid spindle shaft and vertically movable within the hydraulic cylinder with the spindle shaft acts as a shock absorbing device and further serves as a support means for a main suspension coil spring contained within said cylinder, the spindle shaft being rotatably supported at the opposite ends of said cylinder as well as by said piston. Two different sets of flow passages in said piston of different cross-sectional areas cause said piston and spindle to move downwardly relative to said cylinder at a slower rate than they move upwardly to give the desired shock absorbing effect, and a valve controlled fluid conduit connecting the upper and lower ends of said hydraulic cylinder on opposite sides of said piston permits the adjustment of the shock absorber device to give the desired performance for a particular vehicle size and weight load. A threaded yoke connection of the aforesaid spindle shaft to a wheel hub permits the rotary adjustment of the wheel on the spindle for proper toein and wheel alignment, and final wheel alignment of both front wheels relative to a vehicle is accomplished by the rotatably adjustable mounting of the aforesaid hydraulic cylinder on a mounting block utilized for attaching the hydraulic cylinder to a vehicle frame.
Inventors
- 👤 A Patrin
- 👤 D Florence
- 👤 H Patrin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 23:37
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G3/00; B60G3/01; B62; B62D; B62D7/00; B62D7/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly for a vehicle comprising: an upright, tubular housing adapted to be rigidly secured to the chassis frame of a vehicle; a turning spindle shaft extending vertically within said housing and having connecting means at its lower end for attachment to a vehicle wheel, said spindle being supported for rotary movement about its vertical axis and for vertical, shifting movement within said housing: a piston positioned transversely within said housing on said spindle shaft for vertical movement therewith relative to said housing, said spindle shaft being rotatably supported within said piston for independent rotary movement with respect thereto; a load carrying compression spring oriented vertically within said housing and fixedly contained and restrained against rotary movement between one side of said piston and a stationary, transverse wall at one end of said housing; a shock absorbing means in the form of hydraulic fluid within said housing under said piston; and drive means connected to said spindle shaft for impartin rotary movement thereto from the steering column of a vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly for a vehicle comprising: an upright, tubular housing adapted to be rigidly secured to the chassis frame of a vehicle; a turning spindle shaft extending vertically within said housing and having connecting means at its lower end for attachment to a vehicle wheel, said spindle being supported for rotary movement about its vertical axis and for vertical, shifting movement within said housing: a piston positioned transversely within said housing on said spindle shaft for vertical movement therewith relative to said housing, said spindle shaft being rotatably supported within said piston for independent rotary movement with respect thereto; a load carrying compression spring oriented vertically within said housing and fixedly contained and restrained against rotary movement between one side of said piston and a stationary, transverse wall at one end of said housing; a shock absorbing means in the form of hydraulic fluid within said housing under said piston; and drive means connected to said spindle shaft for impartin rotary movement thereto from the steering column of a vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
145 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein: the bottom wall of said housing is closed by a transverse wall through which said spindle shaft extends downwardly; and said shock absorbing means comprises said hydraulic fluid within said housing below said piston, the space above said piston within said housing also being filled with hydraulic fluid, said piston including first, valve controlled flow passage means therethrough of relatively large cross-sectional area constructed and arranged to open to permit the flow of said fluid from the chamber above said piston to the chamber therebelow upon the upward movement of said piston relative to said housing, and second flow passage means of relatively smaller cross-sectional area through which said hydraulic fluid flows from the bottom to the top side of said piston upon the downward movement of said piston relative to said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly for a vehicle as defined in claim 2 wherein: said first flow passage means comprises a plurality of passages extending through said piston from the top to the bottom side thereof, the flow of fluid through each of said plurality of passages being controlled by a reed valve flexibly affixed to the underside of said piston and having a permanently open port therein of substantially smaller cross-sectional area than each of said plurality of flow passages and serving as said second flow passage means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly for a vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein: said tubular housing has a transverse bottom wall closing its lower end and is filled with hydraulic liquid on the top and bottom sides of said piston; and further including a fluid conduit connecting the space within said tubular housing below said piston with the space in said housing above said piston; and an adjustable valve in said fluid conduit for controlling the flow of hydraulic liquid between the bottom and the top of said tubular housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein: said spindle shaft extends upwardly through said transverse wall at the top of said tubular housing and terminates within a relatively small diameter cylinder affixed to the top of said tubular housing and containing therein a second, smaller diameter compression spring resting on the top of said spindle shaft and having its upper end rotatably supported against a bearing at the top of said small diameter cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein: said compression spring is contained between said piston and the top of said housing, said spring abutting at its lower end against the top side of said piston and at its upper end against said stationary, transverse wall at the top of said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
214 words
A shock absorber for a vehicle comprising: an upright cylinder having transverse closure walls at its top and bottom ends and containing a hydraulic liquid; a spindle shaft extending vertically within said cylinder and connected at its lower end to a vehicle wheel, said spindle shaft being supported for vertical, shifting, movement within said housing; a piston positioned transversely within said cylinder on said spindle shaft for vertical movement therewith relative to said cylinder; a load carrying compression spring contained within said cylinder between a transverse closure wall of said cylinder and one side of said piston; valve controlled passage means through said piston contructed and arranged to permit liquid flow from the space within said cylinder above said piston to the space below said piston in response to the upward movement of said piston relative to said cylinder; and a flow conduit connecting the space within said cylinder below said piston with the upper space in said cylinder above said piston, the flow of liquid through said conduit being controlled by an adjustable valve, whereby the flow of liquid from the bottom of said cylinder under said cylinder in response to the downward movement of said piston may be regulated by the adjustment of said valve to give a desired shock absorbing effect.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
214 words
A shock absorber for a vehicle comprising: an upright cylinder having transverse closure walls at its top and bottom ends and containing a hydraulic liquid; a spindle shaft extending vertically within said cylinder and connected at its lower end to a vehicle wheel, said spindle shaft being supported for vertical, shifting, movement within said housing; a piston positioned transversely within said cylinder on said spindle shaft for vertical movement therewith relative to said cylinder; a load carrying compression spring contained within said cylinder between a transverse closure wall of said cylinder and one side of said piston; valve controlled passage means through said piston contructed and arranged to permit liquid flow from the space within said cylinder above said piston to the space below said piston in response to the upward movement of said piston relative to said cylinder; and a flow conduit connecting the space within said cylinder below said piston with the upper space in said cylinder above said piston, the flow of liquid through said conduit being controlled by an adjustable valve, whereby the flow of liquid from the bottom of said cylinder under said cylinder in response to the downward movement of said piston may be regulated by the adjustment of said valve to give a desired shock absorbing effect.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A shock absorber as defined in claim 7, and further including: second passage means of smaller cross-sectional area than said first passage means communicating the space within said cylinder above said piston with the space within said cylinder below said piston.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
187 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly for a vehicle comprising: an upright cylinder adapted to be rigidly secured to the chassis frame of a vehicle; a turning spindle shaft extending vertically within said cylinder and being supported for rotary movement about its vertical axis and vertical, shifting movement within said cylinder; a piston disposed transversely within said cylinder on said spindle shaft for vertical movement therewith relative to said cylinder; a compression spring contained within said cylinder between a transverse wall of said cylinder and one side of said piston; shock absorbing means within the bottom of said cylinder under said piston; a lower end portion on said spindle shaft depending downwardly below said cylinder and having an externally threaded, circular base member thereon threadedly received within a substantially circular yoke rigidly secured to the hub of a wheel, said yoke being rotatably adjustable on said threaded base member of said spindle to adjust the alignment of said wheel; and locking means iN cooperative engagement with said yoke for holding said yoke in said desired position of rotational adjustment on said threaded base member of said spindle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
187 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly for a vehicle comprising: an upright cylinder adapted to be rigidly secured to the chassis frame of a vehicle; a turning spindle shaft extending vertically within said cylinder and being supported for rotary movement about its vertical axis and vertical, shifting movement within said cylinder; a piston disposed transversely within said cylinder on said spindle shaft for vertical movement therewith relative to said cylinder; a compression spring contained within said cylinder between a transverse wall of said cylinder and one side of said piston; shock absorbing means within the bottom of said cylinder under said piston; a lower end portion on said spindle shaft depending downwardly below said cylinder and having an externally threaded, circular base member thereon threadedly received within a substantially circular yoke rigidly secured to the hub of a wheel, said yoke being rotatably adjustable on said threaded base member of said spindle to adjust the alignment of said wheel; and locking means iN cooperative engagement with said yoke for holding said yoke in said desired position of rotational adjustment on said threaded base member of said spindle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein: said locking means comprises a pair of opposed, apertured flanges extending outwardly from said yoke and defining an open side thereof, a locking plate inserted between said flanges and having its inner edge seated within a notch formed in the peripheral surface of said threaded base member of said spindle shaft in alignment with the space between said flanges, and a bolt extending through said apertured flanges and an aligned aperture in said locking plate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
264 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly for a vehicle comprising: an upright cylinder containing a vertically oriented compression spring and a transverse piston therein, said spring bearing at one end against one side of said piston and being contained between said piston and a transverse closure wall of said cylinder; a spindle shaft extending vertically within said cylinder and having connecting means at its lower end for attachment to a vehicle wheel, said spindle shaft being supported for rotary movement about its vertical axis and vertical, shifting movement with said cylinder, and said piston being carried on said spindle shaft for vertical movement therewith; shock absorbing means within the bottom of said cylinder under said piston; drive means connected to the upper end of said spindle shaft for transmitting rotary movement to said spindle shaft from the steering column of a vehicle; an upright mounting block removably secured to said cylinder by at least one bracket embracing said cylinder, said mounting block having a substantially vertical plate adapted to bear against and be secured to the frame of a vehicle; and at least one locating pin rigidly attached to and projecting horizontally outwardly from an arcuate wall of said mounting block against which said cylinder is secured by said bracket, said pin being received within a substantially horizontally extending arcuate slot formed within the wall of said cylinder, whereby said cylinder and spindle shaft extending therethrough may be rotatably adjusted about the vertical axis of said cylinder to align a wheel connected to said spindle to compensate for any misalignment in the vehicle frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
264 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly for a vehicle comprising: an upright cylinder containing a vertically oriented compression spring and a transverse piston therein, said spring bearing at one end against one side of said piston and being contained between said piston and a transverse closure wall of said cylinder; a spindle shaft extending vertically within said cylinder and having connecting means at its lower end for attachment to a vehicle wheel, said spindle shaft being supported for rotary movement about its vertical axis and vertical, shifting movement with said cylinder, and said piston being carried on said spindle shaft for vertical movement therewith; shock absorbing means within the bottom of said cylinder under said piston; drive means connected to the upper end of said spindle shaft for transmitting rotary movement to said spindle shaft from the steering column of a vehicle; an upright mounting block removably secured to said cylinder by at least one bracket embracing said cylinder, said mounting block having a substantially vertical plate adapted to bear against and be secured to the frame of a vehicle; and at least one locating pin rigidly attached to and projecting horizontally outwardly from an arcuate wall of said mounting block against which said cylinder is secured by said bracket, said pin being received within a substantially horizontally extending arcuate slot formed within the wall of said cylinder, whereby said cylinder and spindle shaft extending therethrough may be rotatably adjusted about the vertical axis of said cylinder to align a wheel connected to said spindle to compensate for any misalignment in the vehicle frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A shock absorber and suspension assembly for a vehicle as defined in claim 11, and further including: at least one arcuate slot in said vertical plate of said mounting block extending in a generally horizontal direction, said slot being constructed and arranged to receive a threaded fastener for securing said vertical plate to the frame of a vehicle, whereby said mounting block and said cylinder assembly may be rotated in a vertical plane about a substantially horizontal axis in order to adjust said cylinder and said spindle shaft to a perfectly vertical position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
296 words
A steering and suspension assembly for a vehicle comprising in combination: an upright cylinder adapted to be rigidly secured to the frame of a vehicle; a turning spindle shaft extending vertically within said cylinder and connected at its lower end to a wheel, said spindle being supported for rotary movement about its vertical axis; a bevel drive gear connected to the upper end of said spindle by coupling means permitting vertical, shifting movement of said spindle with respect to said drive gear and said cylinder; a piston positioned transversely within said cylinder on said spindle shaft for vertical movement therewith relative to said cylinder; a load carrying compression spring oriented vertically within said cylinder and contained between said piston and a transverse closure wall of said cylinder; shock absorbing means within the bottom of said cylinder under said piston; and a horizontally extending steering shaft rotatably supported at spaced points along its length anD having a bevel pinion at one end thereof in driving engagement with said bevel gear connected to said spindle shaft, said steering shaft having a bevel gear at the opposite end thereof in driven engagement with a bevel steering pinion mounted on a steering column extension, said steering pinion and bevel gear being contained within a gear housing into which the free ends of said steering column and horizontal steering shaft extend, and said horizontal steering shaft being enclosed within an elongated housing having a threaded end cap threadedly engaging said housing and forming one wall thereof, the threaded engagement of said end cap with said housing permitting said housing to be rotatably adjusted with respect to said end cap and said horizontal steering shaft, whereby said steering column extension may be angularly positioned for righthand or lefthand steering of a vehicle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
296 words
A steering and suspension assembly for a vehicle comprising in combination: an upright cylinder adapted to be rigidly secured to the frame of a vehicle; a turning spindle shaft extending vertically within said cylinder and connected at its lower end to a wheel, said spindle being supported for rotary movement about its vertical axis; a bevel drive gear connected to the upper end of said spindle by coupling means permitting vertical, shifting movement of said spindle with respect to said drive gear and said cylinder; a piston positioned transversely within said cylinder on said spindle shaft for vertical movement therewith relative to said cylinder; a load carrying compression spring oriented vertically within said cylinder and contained between said piston and a transverse closure wall of said cylinder; shock absorbing means within the bottom of said cylinder under said piston; and a horizontally extending steering shaft rotatably supported at spaced points along its length anD having a bevel pinion at one end thereof in driving engagement with said bevel gear connected to said spindle shaft, said steering shaft having a bevel gear at the opposite end thereof in driven engagement with a bevel steering pinion mounted on a steering column extension, said steering pinion and bevel gear being contained within a gear housing into which the free ends of said steering column and horizontal steering shaft extend, and said horizontal steering shaft being enclosed within an elongated housing having a threaded end cap threadedly engaging said housing and forming one wall thereof, the threaded engagement of said end cap with said housing permitting said housing to be rotatably adjusted with respect to said end cap and said horizontal steering shaft, whereby said steering column extension may be angularly positioned for righthand or lefthand steering of a vehicle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
151 words
A steering and suspension assembly for a vehicle as defined in claim 13 wherein: said coupling means connecting said bevel drive gear to said spindle shaft comprises a spline connection comprising an elongated tubular member depending downwardly from said bevel gear and having internal splines thereon slidably receiving an external spline section on said spindle shaft; and a relatively small diameter cylindrical housing on top of said cylinder and containing a supplementary compression spring therein of relatively small diameter compared to said load carrying compression spring, the top of said spindle shaft extending upwardly through said splined bevel gear and terminating within said cylindrical housing with the lower end of said small diameter compression spring resting thereon; and a bearing at the upper end of said cylindrical housing against which the upper end of said small diameter compression springs bears, whereby said small diameter compression spring rotates with said spindle shaft.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1468652A
Cited
US1991777A
Cited
US2220254A
Cited
US2310821A
Cited
US2681044A
Cited
US3346272A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |