FR2535807A1 - Suspension spring for seat or wheel esp. of motorcycle - Google Patents

Abstract

A suspension spring for wheels and seats of vehicles, esp. motor cycles, comprises one or more helical compression springs. The compression spring has a zone, pref. a central zone of its length, in which the spacing of the turns is greater than towards the ends. In this zone a helical insert is placed to fit between the turns; this insert is of a more elastic material than the spring. In the uncompressed state of the spring one of the end turns (3) is held in an appropriately shaped dish. Pref. material for the helical insert is an elastic plastics material, such as superpolyamide. Springs constructed in this manner provide at relatively little expense the desired spring characteristic for a two-wheeled vehicle.

Description

Whereas, "equideflexion", or better, a deflection, that is to say a sag, greater at the front than at the rear; vehicle suspension springs, which is very advantageous, ensuring overall "twists", almost free of "galloping", which is currently possible, due to load variations, only with suspensmons called " complex ", with correction of plate" then very expensive, 19invention aims to approach new results, but much more simply and economically, by the use of coil springs "compression", but perfected by the fact that '' they originally include adjustment means, which are integrated and suitable therefor, to obtain a predetermined deflection, but only under static load and when the vehicle is at rest, so as to limit this adjustment, when the vehicle leaves and depending on the load it supports, thus constituting new original industrial products
CH is what is obtained, in accordance with the invention, by the new appropriation, of the coil springs for suspension of vehicle wheels and in particular and first of all, for those of vehicles, said two-wheel zone 9 ctestwàv say, for motorcycles, mopeds, mopeds or even bicycles, in that each of their springs, of the aforementioned type, combines for example and advantageously, a central fraction, with an enlarged step of the redred of 5 and about I / 3 of the height, with a helical "setting" of substantially equivalent and complementary characteristics, but in so-called "plastic" material, thus substantially even more elastically deformable, to form an adjustment sleeve whose positioning is originally permitted, by simple "screwing", thanks to the additional combination, of a spring end "not close interacting with a support bowl, of complementary and appropriate shape
Indeed, with such an overall interaction, sl the "screwing wedging", is interposed between the turns, of one or the other of the end zones of the spring, or the pitch is normal, it is blocked in the corresponding zone, by "neutralizing" it and consequently, the collapse of this spring, under the effect of the static load which it supports, is only permitted on 2/3 of its height, while will be found total and therefore, increased by 5t-, if the setting is on the contrary placed in the central zone, where the pitch is increased by 5 - so as not to block possible deformations of the spring -, while all intermediate values are possible, by also intermediate screwing, of the setting and that in addition and conversely, equideflexion between two or more springs, would be found, for static loads, respectively variable, in the same proportions.

 Of course, this proportion of increase of 5QJ of sagging, could vary and for example be doubled, by bringing the enlarged step area of the spring, to half its height, while as well, all other proportions are also possible and that in all cases, the field of the invention expressly extends to combinations of the springs thus perfected, with suitable mortisers accordingly, to their original operating law and to be hydraulic or "friction", while preferably being "9elescopic", or even of the so-called "dynamic" type often designated "bafteur" and this field still extends explicitly, to combinations of such sets, with references or "indexes" of concordance, which can be formed by simple variations of colors, between the particularly advantageous deflection zones - determined for example experimentally, to facilitate recovery visually, or on the contrary automatically, by a command, then called "remote".

ûn better understand these new and original features, as well as others, which are attached to them and the advantages of the invention, referring to the following description and to the appended figures; simply giving examples, various advantageous, but in no way limiting, modes of implementation with respect to which:
The lig.I represents, an elevation view, with half-section, of a helical spring for the suspension of a vehicle wheel, combined with an original device, for simultaneous adjustment, of its period called "clean oscillation" and of 1 '"attitude" of the vehicle, which is no less originally integrated therein.

 the "ig.2 represents, a schematic plan view, of the combination of a spring and its adjustment device, according to the fig. I, externally coupled with a mechanism, called a wheel and worm, to allow it the so-called "remote" maneuver, by a 'rotation hose'.

Fig.3 shows, on a small scale, the application by "pair" of improved springs, according to Fig.I-, to a "front fork of a so-called two-wheeled vehicle"
Fig.4 shows, again on a small scale, the application of an improved spring, according to Mg.I, to one of the two usual devices, called rear suspension, of a motorcycle wheel, moped or moped
According to Fig.I, there is a helical suspension spring, called "compression" -I-, for a vehicle wheel, whose normal "pitch" -a-, of end sections, is on the contrary enlarged. in step -b-, in its central area, to be combined with a "wedge", constituting a spacer spacer, in strong ds sleeve, also helical -2-, of a profile and a medium diameter , suitable for spring -I-, but molded in so-called "plastic" material, much more elastic, like that commercially designated "DELRIN", or even in superpolyamide for example and which can therefore be put on originally, between n ' regardless of which turns of the spring -I-, although it is of variable pitch, by introducing it through the end -3- of the spring -I-, thanks to the fact that it is not usually terminated by a turn close together and ground, but in such a way as to co-act, with a support flange -4-, of complementary shape, while the outside of the sleeve -2- advantageously includes engravings p ar example in the form of "knurling", to facilitate maneuvering, in rotation, by simple manual gripping.

 This wedge -2-, in the form of a manual operating sleeve, being shown threaded, at the same time and on the one hand, on three turns with normal pitch -a-, where the spring wire is thus braced and wedged, in -5- and -6-, any sagging is avoided and the elasticity of the spring -I- is therefore "neutralized" in this zone, while, on the contrary, this wedge -2- does not stop at sagging elastic of the same spring -I-, under the effect of its load, in its enlarged pitch area -b-, between the wires -7-, -8-, -9- and -IO-; from where it is then easy to understand, that under a given static load, there will be the greatest subsidence of the spring -I-, and therefore its longest natural period of oscillation, when the helical wedge -2- will be placed, in the central zone of this spring and on the contrary, the weakest slump and the shortest period of oscillation, when this wedge is placed in an end zone, where it "neutralizes" the effect of the spring and that Conversely, there is thus thus the means of compensating for an increase in load, or a load shedding, by maintaining the same subsidence and therefore the same natural period of oscillation, which precisely conditions the comfort of the suspension. It is no less easy to understand that the adjustment means being absolutely progressive, it must be repeated that it will therefore be possible to obtain and maintain the best comfort, intermediate by construction, between the extreme values.

It will also be mentioned that, in this combination, an additional and non-negligible advantage can be obtained in accordance with the invention, by giving the internal face -II-, such a projection, that by sliding on an internal structure, which can before fGre, by a telescopic damper, the risk of "buckling" of the spring will be reduced all the more
According to Fiv.2, there is an illustration of the combination, still in accordance with the invention, resulting from the coupling from the outside, of the shim in the form of a sleeve -2-, with a usual mechanism, called "wheel and worm screw "-I2-, to allow it to move in so-called distance" - for any application - and for example, by a flexible rotation -I3-, so as to allow its new application, in particular to suspension springs which are difficult to maneuver manually, such as, for example, those of automobiles.

 It would be superfluous to repeat, what has already been said above, as regards Figs.2xKX 3 and 4, since they do not require additional explanations.

However, it should be added that the field of the invention is not limited to these only examples of implementation which are explicitly described, represented or simply mentioned - to materialize the invention - but that, on the contrary, it s 'expands express! ier.çi not only to all cor.binaisons of means. of tanks variant, in another, but in addition to all the other variants, of execution or application and especially, to those implementing equivalent or simply comparable means or processes, notably by iSlversion or transposition of the arrangements described, as well as Sa-r transfer from one mode of implementation, to another.

 By way of examples, of variants of application to other vehicles, and first of all "on two wheels", mention will also be made of the new application already mentioned, devices according to the invention to conventional bicycles, that of improved bicycles, in combination with a known articulated system, for connecting the rear wheel with respect to the frame, while also reiterating, for all cases of such two-wheeled vehicles, with or without motors, the application not only to the rear wheels, but also to the front wheels, to improve overall comfort.

 It will be mentioned, on the other hand, the particular interest and still in accordance with the invention, to transpose the above-mentioned provisions, for example to vehicle seat springs and for example, in particular to truck seats.

 Finally, it should be mentioned that, in the case in particular of springs for suspending automobile wheels, where the springs are difficult to access, as well as those of canions, coaches and the like, the field of the invention extends, to be carried over from a distance , electrically or by flexible transmission and for example, on the dashboard, the situation of the calibration "indexes", so as to allow actuation also remotely of the device according to FIG. 2, either manually or automatically, while that it might as well be automatically "slaved to attitude correctors", as is already known, notama-ilent for hydraulic attitude correctors, while, on the other hand, greater progressiveness of these trimming, would be obtained; using a helical wedge -2-, of variable decreasing section.

 It will also be mentioned that the field of the invention also extends to the possibility of producing the helical wedge -2-, more simply and more economically - in the case of small suries - by simple winding in the manner of helical springs, of an elastic metal profile, substantially of the same section, but with thin curved lateral edges in the shape of lifts, for beech even more elastic on the edges, by them mimics, or by coating, of vinyl plastisol for example .

Claims (1)

 I * - Devices, called elastic suspension devices, of wheels or vehicle seats, improved and characterized by the fact: that they comprise, at least one spring, of the type known as "helical compression" -I-, improved in that that it comprises, originally, a fraction of its length, the "pitch -b- of which is enlarged", in combination with a shim, also of helical shape 2- interposed over a fraction of its length and of complementary characteristics, but in materials noticeably more elastic and no less original and economically mixed in place, thanks to the combination, of one of its end turns -3- "not close together", with a support bowl -4-, also of complementary shape .  20- Devices according to claim I * -, characterized in that the helical adjustment shim -2-, possibly of decreasing section is advantageously made of so-called elastic plastic material and for example that called SUPERPOLYAMIDE, or better that commercially designated DELRIM and preferably molded into a sleeve shape, with engravings or external protrusions, to facilitate manual operation and internal sliding projections -II-, on a cylindrical structure, to avoid "buckling" of the spring -I -.  30 Devices, according to claims I * or 2, characterized in that: any indexes of location, sagging of the spring -I-, -considered by construction the most favorable, with respect to its environment and for example, a protective skirt, facilitating the visual recovery of this predetermined slump, depending on the load variations, while the relative position of these tracking indexes can also be transmitted remotely, on the "dashboard" by example.  40 Devices according to any one of claims IO, 2 or 30, characterized in that the restoration of the sagging of the most favorable spring -I- is then also carried out remotely, by combining by an external coupling , the ring -2- with a 'dft "wheel and worm gear reducer mechanism-12-, driven for example by the" rotation hose "-'3-.  5 - Devices, according to any one of claims T ", 2 *, 3 or 4, characterized in that they are advantageously a-plicated, in particular to" forks ", or to so-called" suspension devices " '9 rear wheels, so-called two-wheeled vehicles, with or without motors.  60-Devices according to any one of claims IO, 20, 30 or d *, characterized by the fact: that they are advantageously applied, 1 of any vehicles, in particular with three, four or six wheels or with seats of such vehicles, or even rail, sea or air.  7 * - Devices, according to any one of claims 10, 20, 30, 40, v or o, characterized by the fact: that they constitute new original industrial products and interacting advantageously, with internal tubular structures, avoiding the buckling of springs such as -I- and econo Rically constituted by the tubular bodies of teleccopic shock absorbers either hydraulic, friction or even dynamic type, generally called "drummer".  8 * - Devices according to any one of claims IO or 20, charac  terrified by the fact: that they are still new industrial products  els originals, in that the helical wedge -2-, is originally and economical  mically produced, without molding tools, by simple winding - at the  like helical springs - of a metal profile, substantially the same  section, but with curved side edges, for elastic beech  by themselves, or by plasticization.