Suspension for the vehicle wheel axle

Claim 2

A suspension for a vehicle wheel axis on a vehicle chassis having a rigid axle member, comprising: at least one upper guide leaf having a front end; a bearing point on the vehicle chassis, wherein said front end of said upper guide is articulated at said bearing point; at least one bottom bearing leaf having a front arm articulated at said bearing point; clamping means for clamping said upper guide leaf and for clamping said bottom bearing leaf at midpoints thereof to the rigid axle member; means for mounting the rear end of said upper guide leaf to the vehicle chassis such that said rear end can move longitudinally relative to the chassis; and a bearing arm on said at least one bottom bearing leaf projecting rearwards from the rigid axle member, said bearing arm comprising a bottom bearing for supporting an air spring for supporting the vehicle chassis; wherein said bearing point, relative to a horizontal plane, is substantially level with said rigid axle member, said upper guide leaf is sloped upwardly as it extends rearwardly from said bearing joint, and said front arm of said bottom bearing leaf is sloped upwardly as it extends rearwardly from said bearing point.

Claim 3

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamping means comprises a plate-shaped clamping element connected to said upper guide leaf at its said midpoint at a position forward of said axle member.

Claim 4

The suspension as set forth in claim 2, wherein said clamping means further comprises a clamp for clamping the rear portion of said plate-shaped clamping element and said bottom bearing leaf together with the rigid axle member.

Claim 5

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper guide leaf has a front arm portion thereof extendingly forwardly of said midpoint of said upper guide leaf, said front arm portion of said upper guide leaf having a substantially constant cross-section over its length.

Claim 6

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein the portion of said upper guide leaf rearward of said midpoint of said upper guide leaf is a parabolic spring.

Claim 7

The suspension as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting the rear end of said upper guide leaf to the vehicle chassis such that said rear end can move longitudinally relative to the chassis comprises a rotatable leg member to which said rear end is connected, said rotatable leg member being rotatably mountable on the vehicle chassis.

Claim 8

The suspension as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting the rear end of said upper guide leaf to the vehicle chassis such that said rear end can move longitudinally relative to the chassis comprises a sliding shoe member for slidingly receiving said rear end of said upper guide leaf.

Claim 9

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper guide leaf, sloped upwardly as it extends rearwardly from said bearing point, is sloped upward to a greater degree than said front arm of said bottom bearing leaf.

Claim 10

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper guide leaf is slightly curved over at least one portion thereof and is concave relative to the rigid axle member.

Claim 11

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a section of said upper guide leaf at its front end extends parallel to said front arm of said bottom bearing leaf.

Claim 12

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least a section of said upper guide leaf at its front end abuts said bearing leaf.

Claim 13

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein a substantial portion of said upper guide leaf between its front end and its said midpoint extends parallel to said front arm of said bottom bearing leaf.

Claim 14

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper guide leaf between its said front end and its said midpoint slopes upwardly as its extends rearwardly and said upper guide leaf between said midpoint and said rear end of said upper guide leaf extends substantially horizontally.

Claim 15

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper guide leaf comprises an intermediate section, said intermediate section including said midpoint whereat said upper guide leaf is clamped to the rigid axle member, and said intermediate section extending rearwardly with an upward slope greater in degree than the rearward upward slope of said upper guide leaf between said intermediate section and said front end of said upper guide leaf and between said intermediate section and said rear end of said upper guide leaf.

Claim 16

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bottom bearing leaf comprises a substantially horizontally extending central intermediate section, said central intermediate section including said midpoint whereat said bottom bearing leaf is clamped to the rigid axle member, said bottom bearing arm of said bottom bearing leaf extends in an S-shape, substantially, from said central intermediate section, and said front arm of said bottom bearing leaf slopes upwardly from said bearing point to said central intermediate section.

Claim 17

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said front arm of said upper bearing leaf is a parabolic spring.

Claim 18

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamping means comprises a clamping member and a link articulated on said clamping member, said link being connected to said upper guide leaf at its said midpoint.

Claim 19

The suspension as set forth in claim 1, wherein said front end of said upper guide leaf and the front end of said front arm of said bottom bearing leaf are rolled together and abutting one another at said bearing point.

Claim 20

A suspension for a vehicle wheel axle on a vehicle chassis having a rigid axle member, comprising: at least one upper guide leaf having a front end; a bearing point on the vehicle chassis, wherein said front end of said upper guide leaf is articulated at said bearing point; at least one bottom bearing leaf having a front arm articulated at said bearing point; means for mounting the rear end of said upper guide leaf to the vehicle chassis such that said rear end can move longitudinally relative to the chassis; a bearing arm on said at least one bottom bearing leaf projecting rearwards from the rigid axle member, said bearing arm comprising a bottom bearing for supporting an air spring for supporting the vehicle chassis; and a clamping arrangement for clamping said upper guide leaf and said bottom bearing leaf at midpoints thereof to the rigid axle member, said clamping arrangement comprising a clamping element connected to said upper guide leaf and a clamp clamping said clamping element and said bottom bearing leaf to the rigid axle member, wherein said clamping element is connnected to said upper leaf guide at a position substantially forward of said rigid axle member in the direction of said bearing point.

Claim 21

A suspension for a vehicle wheel axle on a vehicle chassis having a rigid axle member, comprising: at least one upper guide leaf having a front end; a bearing point on the vehicle chassis, wherein said front end of said upper guide leaf is articulated at said bearing point; at least one bottom bearing leaf having a front arm articulated at said bearing point; means for mounting the rear end of said upper guide leaf to the vehicle chassis such that said rear end can move longitudinally relative to the chassis; a bearing arm on said at least one bottom bearing leaf projecting rearwards from the rigid axle member, said bearing arm comprising a bottom bearing for supporting an air spring for supporting the vehicle chassis; and a clamping arrangement for clamping said upper guide leaf and said bottom bearing leaf at midpoints thereof to the rigid axle member, said clamping arrangement comprising a clamping element connected to said upper guide leaf and a clamp clamping said clamping element and said bottom bearing leaf to the rigid axle member, wherein said clamping element is connnected to said upper leaf guide at a position substantially forward of said rigid axle member in the direction of said bearing point.