CA2239944A1 - Improved vehicle suspension - Google Patents
Improved vehicle suspension Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2239944A1 CA2239944A1 CA 2239944 CA2239944A CA2239944A1 CA 2239944 A1 CA2239944 A1 CA 2239944A1 CA 2239944 CA2239944 CA 2239944 CA 2239944 A CA2239944 A CA 2239944A CA 2239944 A1 CA2239944 A1 CA 2239944A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- axle
- vehicle
- leaf spring
- spring assembly
- suspension system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
- B60G9/00—Resilient suspensions of a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
- B60G11/00—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs
- B60G11/02—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having leaf springs only
- B60G11/10—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having leaf springs only characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
Abstract
A suspension system for a forwarder type of vehicle, the vehicle having two rear axles each with its own differential for driving wheels on the ends of the axle. The suspension system includes a leaf spring assembly mounted on each side of each axle.
the front end of each leaf spring assembly is pivotably mounted to the frame of the vehicle. The rear end of each leaf spring assembly on each side of the vehicle is pivotably mounted to a rocker member which in turn is pivotably mounted at its center to the frame over the rearmost rear axle.
the front end of each leaf spring assembly is pivotably mounted to the frame of the vehicle. The rear end of each leaf spring assembly on each side of the vehicle is pivotably mounted to a rocker member which in turn is pivotably mounted at its center to the frame over the rearmost rear axle.
Description
IMPROVED VEHICLE SUSPENSION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed toward an improved rear suspension for a vehicle. The invention is more particularly directed toward an improved rear suspension for a vehicle having two rear axles.
The vehicle preferably is of articulated type such as a forwarder used in carrying trees/logs out of the woods.
BACKGROUND ART
Vehicles, such as forwarders, have a front, engine and cab section and a rear, trailer section, the two sections pivoted together to provide an articulated vehicle. The trailer section of the vehicle usually has a single axle carrying a bogie wheel arrangement. The differential required to provide power to drive each wheel makes the system very expensive. It would be much cheaper to use a pair of simple axles, each axle having a wheel at each end with a simple differential drive to each axle to drive each wheel. However the suspension normally employed with single axles is not very suitable for rough terrain, particularly when compared with bogie wheel arrangements.
SUN~IARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a novel, relatively inexpensive, suspension system for the trailer 1.
section of forwarder type vehicles which section utilizes a pair of rear axles, each with a simple differential. Each rear axle carries a wheel at each end, each wheel being driven through the differential on its axle. The suspension system mounts the rear axles to the frame of the vehicle trailer section. The suspension system includes a leaf spring assembly mounted at its approximate center on top of each axle adjacent the inner side of each wheel on the axle. The front of each leaf spring assembly is pivotably mounted to the frame of the trailer section by pivot means. The suspension system includes a rocker arm on each side of the frame, each rocker arm pivotably fastened at its approximate center to the frame behind the forward, rear axle. The front of each rocker arm is pivotably fastened to the rear end of the front, leaf spring assembly and the rear of each rocker arm is pivotably fastened to the rear end of the rear, leaf spring assembly. This arrangement, with a differential for each rear axle, and the leaf spring and rocker arm assembly for mounting the axles to the frame, provides a relatively inexpensive suspension system for the vehicle while still providing good suspension for the vehicle over rough terrain.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side view of the vehicle;
Fig. 2 is a rear, detail view of the vehicle; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged, rear, detail view of one leaf spring assembly mounting.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed toward an improved rear suspension for a vehicle. The invention is more particularly directed toward an improved rear suspension for a vehicle having two rear axles.
The vehicle preferably is of articulated type such as a forwarder used in carrying trees/logs out of the woods.
BACKGROUND ART
Vehicles, such as forwarders, have a front, engine and cab section and a rear, trailer section, the two sections pivoted together to provide an articulated vehicle. The trailer section of the vehicle usually has a single axle carrying a bogie wheel arrangement. The differential required to provide power to drive each wheel makes the system very expensive. It would be much cheaper to use a pair of simple axles, each axle having a wheel at each end with a simple differential drive to each axle to drive each wheel. However the suspension normally employed with single axles is not very suitable for rough terrain, particularly when compared with bogie wheel arrangements.
SUN~IARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a novel, relatively inexpensive, suspension system for the trailer 1.
section of forwarder type vehicles which section utilizes a pair of rear axles, each with a simple differential. Each rear axle carries a wheel at each end, each wheel being driven through the differential on its axle. The suspension system mounts the rear axles to the frame of the vehicle trailer section. The suspension system includes a leaf spring assembly mounted at its approximate center on top of each axle adjacent the inner side of each wheel on the axle. The front of each leaf spring assembly is pivotably mounted to the frame of the trailer section by pivot means. The suspension system includes a rocker arm on each side of the frame, each rocker arm pivotably fastened at its approximate center to the frame behind the forward, rear axle. The front of each rocker arm is pivotably fastened to the rear end of the front, leaf spring assembly and the rear of each rocker arm is pivotably fastened to the rear end of the rear, leaf spring assembly. This arrangement, with a differential for each rear axle, and the leaf spring and rocker arm assembly for mounting the axles to the frame, provides a relatively inexpensive suspension system for the vehicle while still providing good suspension for the vehicle over rough terrain.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES IN THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side view of the vehicle;
Fig. 2 is a rear, detail view of the vehicle; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged, rear, detail view of one leaf spring assembly mounting.
2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The vehicle 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is an articulated vehicle having a front engine section 3 and a rear trailer section 5. The front and rear sections 3, 5 are pivotably joined together by a vertical pivot connection 7.
The front engine section 3 includes the driver's cab and has a front axle il carrying front wheels 13 for the vehicle. The rear trailer section 5 has a platform 15 carrying a crane 17 at its front end for use in loading cut trees or logs onto the platform.
The platform 15 includes a frame having a pair of laterally spaced-apart u-shaped, side channels 21, 23, the channels opening downwardly as shown in Fig. 3.
The rear trailer section has a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart first and second rear axles 25, 27, each axle carrying a rear wheel 31, 33 at each end. Each axle 25, 27 has a simple differential 33, 35 for providing power from the engine to drive the wheels on each axle.
The first and second rear axles 25, 27 are mounted to the platform 15, one behind the other, with a unique suspension system 41. The suspension system 41 includes a first leaf spring assembly 43, on each side of the first rear axle 25, mounted at its center to the top of the first rear axle 25 and a second leaf spring assembly 45, on each side of the second rear axle 27, mounted at its center to the top of the second rear axle 27 which is behind the first rear axle 25. The front end 49 of each first leaf spring
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The vehicle 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is an articulated vehicle having a front engine section 3 and a rear trailer section 5. The front and rear sections 3, 5 are pivotably joined together by a vertical pivot connection 7.
The front engine section 3 includes the driver's cab and has a front axle il carrying front wheels 13 for the vehicle. The rear trailer section 5 has a platform 15 carrying a crane 17 at its front end for use in loading cut trees or logs onto the platform.
The platform 15 includes a frame having a pair of laterally spaced-apart u-shaped, side channels 21, 23, the channels opening downwardly as shown in Fig. 3.
The rear trailer section has a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart first and second rear axles 25, 27, each axle carrying a rear wheel 31, 33 at each end. Each axle 25, 27 has a simple differential 33, 35 for providing power from the engine to drive the wheels on each axle.
The first and second rear axles 25, 27 are mounted to the platform 15, one behind the other, with a unique suspension system 41. The suspension system 41 includes a first leaf spring assembly 43, on each side of the first rear axle 25, mounted at its center to the top of the first rear axle 25 and a second leaf spring assembly 45, on each side of the second rear axle 27, mounted at its center to the top of the second rear axle 27 which is behind the first rear axle 25. The front end 49 of each first leaf spring
3.
assembly 43 is pivotably mounted, via a pivot connection 51, to the bottom of the channels 21, 23. The front end 53 of each second leaf spring assembly 45 is mounted, via pivot connection 55, to the bottom of channels 21, 23 between the two axles 25, 27. The suspension system 41 includes an elongated rocker member 61 on each side, that is pivotably mounted, via a pivot connection 63 within the channels 21, 23 generally over the second axle 27. The front end 65 of each rocker member 61 is pivotably mounted, via a pin 67, to the rear end 69 of the first leaf spring assembly 43 and the rear end 71 of the rocker member 61 is pivotably mounted, via a pin 73, to rear end 75 of the second leaf spring assembly 45.
The use of the rocker members 61 permits the rear axles to each have their own differential providing power to each of the rear wheels on each axle while at the same time providing for a wide range of movement for the axles over rough terrain. The rocker member 61, when one rear wheel on one side is lifted up passing over a bump, forces the other rear wheel on the same side on the adjacent axle down so as to provide good traction at all times.
Having the channels of the platform opening downwardly allows the suspension means to be partly mounted within the channels thereby reducing the height of the vehicle and thus making it more stable.
assembly 43 is pivotably mounted, via a pivot connection 51, to the bottom of the channels 21, 23. The front end 53 of each second leaf spring assembly 45 is mounted, via pivot connection 55, to the bottom of channels 21, 23 between the two axles 25, 27. The suspension system 41 includes an elongated rocker member 61 on each side, that is pivotably mounted, via a pivot connection 63 within the channels 21, 23 generally over the second axle 27. The front end 65 of each rocker member 61 is pivotably mounted, via a pin 67, to the rear end 69 of the first leaf spring assembly 43 and the rear end 71 of the rocker member 61 is pivotably mounted, via a pin 73, to rear end 75 of the second leaf spring assembly 45.
The use of the rocker members 61 permits the rear axles to each have their own differential providing power to each of the rear wheels on each axle while at the same time providing for a wide range of movement for the axles over rough terrain. The rocker member 61, when one rear wheel on one side is lifted up passing over a bump, forces the other rear wheel on the same side on the adjacent axle down so as to provide good traction at all times.
Having the channels of the platform opening downwardly allows the suspension means to be partly mounted within the channels thereby reducing the height of the vehicle and thus making it more stable.
4.
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2239944 CA2239944A1 (en) | 1998-06-08 | 1998-06-08 | Improved vehicle suspension |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2239944 CA2239944A1 (en) | 1998-06-08 | 1998-06-08 | Improved vehicle suspension |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2239944A1 true CA2239944A1 (en) | 1999-12-08 |
Family
ID=29275852
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2239944 Abandoned CA2239944A1 (en) | 1998-06-08 | 1998-06-08 | Improved vehicle suspension |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2239944A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012082022A1 (en) * | 2010-12-17 | 2012-06-21 | Volvo Lastvagnar Ab | Frame-steered vehicle |
| WO2012082021A1 (en) * | 2010-12-17 | 2012-06-21 | Volvo Lastvagnar Ab | Wheel-steered vehicle |
-
1998
- 1998-06-08 CA CA 2239944 patent/CA2239944A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012082022A1 (en) * | 2010-12-17 | 2012-06-21 | Volvo Lastvagnar Ab | Frame-steered vehicle |
| WO2012082021A1 (en) * | 2010-12-17 | 2012-06-21 | Volvo Lastvagnar Ab | Wheel-steered vehicle |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |