Rear suspension for motor vehicles

Claim 2

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, deflection limiting means engaging a portion of said spring intermediate its ends and vertically spaced apart from an adjacent portion of said frame, said deflection limiting means being constructed to permit unrestricted vErtical movement of said portion of said leaf spring relative to said portion of said frame for a predetermined vertical distance, said deflection limiting means being constructed to restrain vertical movement in at least one direction of said portion of said spring relative to said portion of said frame that exceeds a predetermined amount.

Claim 3

A suspension system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 and including: said deflection limiting means including resilient means interposed between said spring and said frame and constructed to resiliently arrest said spring against extreme jounce deflection.

Claim 4

A suspension system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 and including: said deflection limiting means including resilient means interposed between said spring and said frame and constructed to resiliently arrest said spring against both extreme jounce and rebound deflections.

Claim 5

A suspension system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 and including: said deflection limiting means including lateral restraint means constructed to restrain said leaf spring against lateral deflection relative to said frame.

Claim 6

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, deflection limiting means engaging said spring at a point intermediate its ends, said deflection limiting means being constructed to permit unrestricted vertical movement of said leaf spring relative to said frame for a predetermined vertical distance, said deflection limiting means being constructed to restrain vertical movement in at least one direction of said intermediate point of said spring relative to said frame that exceeds a predetermined amount, said deflection limiting means including lateral restraint means constructed to restrain said leaf spring against lateral deflection relative to said frame, said lateral restraint means including bearing means connected to said spring and slidably engaging said frame.

Claim 7

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, deflection limiting means engaging said spring at a point intermediate its ends, said deflection limiting means being constructed to permit unrestricted vertical movement of said leaf spring relative to said frame for a predetermined vertical distance, said deflection limiting means being constructed to restrain vertical movement in at least one direction of said intermediate point of said spring relative to said frame that exceeds a predetermined amount, said deflection limiting means including lateral restraint means constructed to restrain said leaf spring against lateral deflection relative to said frame, said lateral restraint means including bearing means connected to said spring and slidably engaging said frame.

Claim 8

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, deflection limiting means engaging said spring at a point intermediate its ends, said deflection limiting means being constructed to permit unrestricted vertical movement of said leaf spring relative to said frame for a predetermined vertical distance, said deflection limiting means being constructed to restrain vertical movement in at least one direction of said intermediate point of said spring relative to said frame that exceeds a predetermined amount, said deflection limiting means including resilient means interposed between said spring and said frame and constructed to resiliently arrest said spring against extreme jounce deflection, said deflection limiting means including lateral restraint means constructed to restrain said leaf spring against lateral deflection relative to said frame, said lateral restraing means including bearing means connected to said spring and slidably engaging said frame.

Claim 9

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, deflection limiting means engaging said spring at a point intermediate its ends, said deflection limiting means being constructed to permit unrestricted vertical movement of said leaf spring relative to said frame for a predetermined vertical distance, said deflection limiting means being constructed to restrain vertical movement in at least one direction of said intermediate point of said spring relative to said frame that exceeds a predetermined amount, said deflection limiting means including resilient means interposed between said spring and said frame and constructed to resiliently arrest said spring against extreme jounce deflection, said deflection limiting means including lateral restraint means constructed to restrain said leaf spring against lateral deflection relative to said frame, said lateral restraing means including bearing means connected to said spring and slidably engaging said frame.

Claim 10

A suspension system for a motor vehicle according to claim 6 and including: said deflection limiting means being constructed to resiliently arrest said spring against both extreme jounce and rebound deflections.

Claim 11

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system includiNg a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, guide means interposed between a mid portion of said spring and said frame, said guide means being constructed to constrain said spring to displacement along a vertical jounce and rebound path.

Claim 12

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system includiNg a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, guide means interposed between a mid portion of said spring and said frame, said guide means being constructed to constrain said spring to displacement along a vertical jounce and rebound path.

Claim 13

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, guide means interposed between a mid portion of said spring and said frame, said guide means being constructed to constrain said spring to displacement along a vertical jounce and rebound path, said guide means including bearing means secured to one of said spring mid portion and said frame and slidably engaging the other of said spring mid portion and said frame.

Claim 14

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, guide means interposed between a mid portion of said spring and said frame, said guide means being constructed to constrain said spring to displacement along a vertical jounce and rebound path, said guide means including bearing means secured to one of said spring mid portion and said frame and slidably engaging the other of said spring mid portion and said frame.

Claim 15

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, guide means interposed between a mid portion of said spring and said frame, said guide means being constructed to constrain said spring to displacement along a vertical jounce and rebound path, said frame having a pair of vertically extending support surfaces, bearing means connected to said mid portion of said spring and engaging said support surfaces.

Claim 16

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame and an axle housing, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame, at least one of said links comprising a leaf spring, pivot means connecting one end of said spring to said frame, pivot means connecting the other end of said spring to said axle housing, guide means interposed between a mid portion of said spring and said frame, said guide means being constructed to constrain said spring to displacement along a vertical jounce and rebound path, said frame having a pair of vertically extending support surfaces, bearing means connected to said mid portion of said spring and engaging said support surfaces.

Claim 17

A motor vehicle having a frame, an axle housing and suspension means interconnecting said frame and said axle housing, said suspension means comprising a pair of upper suspension arms and a pair of lower suspension arms, said suspension arms being pivotally connected to said frame and said axle housing, main suspension spring means operatively interposed between said frame and said axle housing, one of said pair of suspension arms comprising leaf spring members, guide means interposed between said frame and said leaf spring members, said guide means being constructed to constrain displacement of said leaf spring members to a vertical jounce and rebound path, deflection limiting means engaging said leaf spring members and constructed to limit the extent of the vertical displacement of the portion of said leaf spring members engaged by said deflection limiting means, said guide means being constructed to support said leaf spring members and said axle housing against lateral displacement relative to said frame.

Claim 18

A motor vehicle having a frame, an axle housing and suspension means interconnecting said frame and said axle housing, said suspension means comprising a pair of upper suspension arms and a pair of lower suspension arms, said suspension arms being pivotally connected to said frame and said axle housing, main suspension spring means operatively interposed between said frame and said axle housing, one of said pair of suspension arms comprising leaf spring members, guide means interposed between said frame and said leaf spring members, said guide means being constructed to constrain displacement of said leaf spring members to a vertical jounce and rebound path, deflection limiting means engaging said leaf spring members and constructed to limit the extent of the vertical displacement of the portion of said leaf spring members engaged by said deflection limiting means, said guide means being constructed to support said leaf spring members and said axle housing against lateral displacement relative to said frame.

Claim 19

A suspension system for a motor vehicle according to claim 11 and including: said guide means including bearing means connected to said spring members and slidably engaging said frame.

Claim 20

A suspension system for a motor vehicle according to claim 11 and including: said deflection limiting means including resilient means interposed between said spring members and said frame and constructed to resiliently arrest said spring against extreme jounce deflection.

Claim 21

A suspension system for a motor vehicle according to claim 11 and including: said deflection limiting means including resilient means interposed between said spring members and said frame and constructed to resiliently arrest said spring against both extreme jounce and rebound deflections, said lateral restraint means including bearing means connected to said spring members and slidablY engaging said frame.

Claim 22

A motor vehicle having a frame, an axle housing and suspension means interconnecting said frame and said axle housing, said suspension means comprising a pair of upper and a pair of lower suspension arms, said suspension arms being pivotally connected to said frame and said axle housing, main suspension spring means operatively interposed between said frame and said axle housing, one of said pair of suspension arms comprising leaf spring members, said frame having a pair of rearwardly open, longitudinally extending, box section members, the forward half of said spring members being disposed within said frame members, support means interposed between said frame members and a mid portion of said leaf spring members, said support means being constructed to constrain displacement of said leaf spring members to a vertical jounce and rebound path, said support means being constructed to limit the extent of the vertical displacement of said mid portion of said leaf spring members with respect to said frame members.

Claim 23

A motor vehicle having a frame, an axle housing and suspension means interconnecting said frame and said axle housing, said suspension means comprising a pair of upper and a pair of lower suspension arms, said suspension arms being pivotally connected to said frame and said axle housing, main suspension spring means operatively interposed between said frame and said axle housing, one of said pair of suspension arms comprising leaf spring members, said frame having a pair of rearwardly open, longitudinally extending, box section members, the forward half of said spring members being disposed within said frame members, support means interposed between said frame members and a mid portion of said leaf spring members, said support means being constructed to constrain displacement of said leaf spring members to a vertical jounce and rebound path, said support means being constructed to limit the extent of the vertical displacement of said mid portion of said leaf spring members with respect to said frame members.

Claim 24

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame structure and an axle housing, said frame structure including left and right frame portions, each of said left and right frame portions having vertical sidewalls and a top wall, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame structure, said links including left and right leaf springs, pivot means connecting the forward ends of said springs to said frame structure, pivot means connecting the rearward ends of said springs to said axle housing, said left and right springs each having an intermediate portion adjacent to and spaced apart from said walls of said left and right frame portions, load bearing means interposed between said intermediate portions of said springs and said walls of said frame portion, said load bearing means being constructed to resist lateral displacement of said springs with respect to said frame structure, said suspension system being constructed to load said left and right leaf springs in torsion upon angular displacement of said frame structure about a longitudinal roll axis relative to said axle housing.

Claim 25

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame structure and an axle housing, said frame structure including left and right frame portions, each of said left and right frame portions having vertical sidewalls and a top wall, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame structure, said links including left and right leaf springs, pivot means connecting the forward ends of said springs to said frame structure, pivot means connecting the rearward ends of said springs to said axle housing, said left and right springs each having an intermediate portion adjacent to and spaced apart from said walls of said left and right frame portions, load bearing means interposed between said intermediate portions of said springs and said walls of said frame portion, said load bearing means being constructed to resist lateral displacement of said springs with respect to said frame structure, said suspension system being constructed to load said left and right leaf springs in torsion upon angular displacement of said frame structure about a longitudinal roll axis relative to said axle housing.

Claim 26

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame structure and an axle housing, said frame structure including left and right frame portions, each of said left and right frame portions having longitudinally extending vertical sidewalls and a longitudinally extending top wall, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame structure, said links including left and right leaf springs, pivot means connecting the forward ends of said springs to said vertical sidewalls, pivot means connecting the rearward ends of said springs to said axle housing, said left and right springs each having an intermediate portion adjacent to and spaced apart from said walls of said left and right frame portions, load bearing means interposed between said intermediate portions of said springs and said walls of said frame portion, said load bearing means being constructed to resist lateral displacement of said springs with respect to said frame structure, said suspension system being constructed to load said left and right leaf springs in torsion upon angular displacement of said frame structure about a longitudinal roll axis relative to said axle housing.

Claim 27

A suspension system for a motor vehicle having a chassis frame structure and an axle housing, said frame structure including left and right frame portions, each of said left and right frame portions having longitudinally extending vertical sidewalls and a longitudinally extending top wall, said suspension system including a plurality of suspension links interconnecting said axle housing and said frame structure, said links including left and right leaf springs, pivot means connecting the forward ends of said springs to said vertical sidewalls, pivot means connecting the rearward ends of said springs to said axle housing, said left and right springs each having an intermediate portion adjacent to and spaced apart from said walls of said left and right frame portions, load bearing means interposed between said intermediate portions of said springs and said walls of said frame portion, said load bearing means being constructed to resist lateral displacement of said springs with respect to said frame structure, said suspension system being constructed to load said left and right leaf springs in torsion upon angular displacement of said frame structure about a longitudinal roll axis relative to said axle housing.