US3841655A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spring suspension for motor vehicle axles
Assignee: SAUER ACHSENFAB
•
Filing: 1973-06-01
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1993-06-01
Abstract
Abstract In a resilient axle suspension there is provided, on each side of the vehicle, an axle bracket formed of a first of conventional leaf spring and a second or parabolic leaf spring substantially parallel with the conventional leaf spring. In each axle bracket, at one end the springs are rigidly clamped to one another and to an axle tube, whereas at the other end both springs form an eye. The conventional spring - having a uniform thickness along its length - is attached at its eye end to the chassis to swing about a pivot without clearance and the parabolic spring - having a thickness increasing along its length towards the axle tube - is connected at its eye end to the eye end of the conventional spring to swing about the same pivot with the possibility of a linear forward and rearward shift with respect to the conventional spring. Each axle bracket is improved to include support surfaces formed on the parabolic leaf spring, with the support surfaces abutting against the eye of the conventional leaf spring.
Inventors
- 👤 F Schaeff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:05
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G7/00; B60G7/02; B60G11/00; B60G11/02; B60G11/10; B60G11/12; B60G11/32; B60G11/34; B60G11/46; B60G11/465; B60G2200/00; B60G2200/30; B60G2200/31; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/10; B60G2202/11; B60G2202/112; B60G2204/00; B60G2204/10; B60G2204/12; B60G2204/121; B60G2204/14; B60G2204/143; B60G2204/40; B60G2204/41; B60G2204/43; B60G2204/4306; B60G2204/44; B60G2204/45; B60G2206/00; B60G2206/01; B60G2206/60; B60G2206/601
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
279 words
In a spring suspension for an axle of a motor vehicle having a chassis and an axle body spaced therefrom, the spring suspEnsion comprising: A. a hinge means secured to said chassis on either side of the longitudinal central axis of the vehicle, each said hinge means including a pivot pin defining an axis normal to said central axis; and B. an axle bracket situated on either side of the longitudinal central axis of the vehicle and extending in the length dimension thereof, each axle bracket having: 1. a first or conventional leaf spring of constant moment of resistance along its effective length, said conventional leaf spring forming at one end thereof an eye which surrounds a respective one of said pivot pins, and being attached through said eye to said hinge means for pivotal motion about the normal axis associated with said respective one of said pivot pins; and 2. a second or parabolic leaf spring of decreasing moment of resistance along its length towards said hinge means, said parabolic leaf spring forming at one end thereof an eye which envelops the eye of its respective conventional leaf spring in such a way that at least a horizontal clearance is established, so that, in the length dimension of the vehicle, a shift of said parabolic spring in said hinge means is permitted in response to torsional forces acting about the length dimension of said axle bracket, said parabolic spring transmitting in said hinge means vertically directed forces, the improvement in each axle bracket comprising support surfaces formed on the eye of said parabolic leaf spring, with said support surfaces abutting against the eye of said conventional leaf spring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
279 words
In a spring suspension for an axle of a motor vehicle having a chassis and an axle body spaced therefrom, the spring suspEnsion comprising: A. a hinge means secured to said chassis on either side of the longitudinal central axis of the vehicle, each said hinge means including a pivot pin defining an axis normal to said central axis; and B. an axle bracket situated on either side of the longitudinal central axis of the vehicle and extending in the length dimension thereof, each axle bracket having: 1. a first or conventional leaf spring of constant moment of resistance along its effective length, said conventional leaf spring forming at one end thereof an eye which surrounds a respective one of said pivot pins, and being attached through said eye to said hinge means for pivotal motion about the normal axis associated with said respective one of said pivot pins; and 2. a second or parabolic leaf spring of decreasing moment of resistance along its length towards said hinge means, said parabolic leaf spring forming at one end thereof an eye which envelops the eye of its respective conventional leaf spring in such a way that at least a horizontal clearance is established, so that, in the length dimension of the vehicle, a shift of said parabolic spring in said hinge means is permitted in response to torsional forces acting about the length dimension of said axle bracket, said parabolic spring transmitting in said hinge means vertically directed forces, the improvement in each axle bracket comprising support surfaces formed on the eye of said parabolic leaf spring, with said support surfaces abutting against the eye of said conventional leaf spring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said support surfaces when in abutment against the eye of said conventional leaf spring substantially prevent play in the vertical direction of the vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
128 words
a second or parabolic leaf spring of decreasing moment of resistance along its length towards said hinge means, said parabolic leaf spring forming at one end thereof an eye which envelops the eye of its respective conventional leaf spring in such a way that at least a horizontal clearance is established, so that, in the length dimension of the vehicle, a shift of said parabolic spring in said hinge means is permitted in response to torsional forces acting about the length dimension of said axle bracket, said parabolic spring transmitting in said hinge means vertically directed forces, the improvement in each axle bracket comprising support surfaces formed on the eye of said parabolic leaf spring, with said support surfaces abutting against the eye of said conventional leaf spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
a second or parabolic leaf spring of decreasing moment of resistance along its length towards said hinge means, said parabolic leaf spring forming at one end thereof an eye which envelops the eye of its respective conventional leaf spring in such a way that at least a horizontal clearance is established, so that, in the length dimension of the vehicle, a shift of said parabolic spring in said hinge means is permitted in response to torsional forces acting about the length dimension of said axle bracket, said parabolic spring transmitting in said hinge means vertically directed forces, the improvement in each axle bracket comprising support surfaces formed on the eye of said parabolic leaf spring, with said support surfaces abutting against the eye of said conventional leaf spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein two support surfaces in approximate diametral relation in the vertical direction of the vehicle are provided.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein said support surfaces are formed as an integral part of the eye of said parabolic spring in such a way that, when viewed in cross section, the eye expands in the vertical direction of the vehicle from the central longitudinal plane of the parabolic spring to its lateral sides.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the formed support surfaces define a deformation of the eye along an approximately central longitudinal plane of said hinge means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An improvement as defined in claim 5, wherein said formed support surfaces have V-shaped cross sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improvement as defined in claim 5, wherein said formed support surfaces each has a cross section defining a bead.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
An improvement as defined in claim 5, wherein said formed support surfaces each has a cross section defining a rib.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An improvement as defined in claim 5, wherein said formed support surfaces each has a cross section defining a knife edge.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the improvement in each axle bracket further comprises a bearing sleeve and a pair of axial discs, said bearing sleeve being mounted between the pivot pin and the eye of said conventional leaf spring and being longer than the width of the eye, with said axial discs being mounted to the extended portions of said bearing sleeve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
An improvement as defined in claim 1, wherein the improvement in each axle bracket further comprises clamping bearings fastened to the vehicle chassis within which the pivot pin is fastened.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3434707A
Cited
US3493222A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |