GB190927150A - Improvements in Spring Suspension Arrangements of Motor Cars and other Vehicles. - Google Patents

Abstract

27,150. Norman, G. H. Nov. 22. Springs, mounting bodies on.-The springs of vehicles are arranged so that the direction of their resistance is inclined to the direction in which the axle moves relatively to the superstructure by the action of the load or of inequalities in the road, the inclination of the springs being varied automatically or by hand to accord with variations of the load, so that the normal displacement of the superstructure due to all loads will be the same. A further improvement consists in arranging the springs so as to resist canting of the superstructure when the vehicle is turning round corners. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the spring d, preferably two helical springs enclosed in a telescopic case c, is jointed at its upper end to a slide i moved longitudinally by a screw j. The screw is rotated automatically by the ratchet mechanism shown in Fig. 2, in which two ratchet-wheels k, l, with teeth in opposite directions, are keyed on the screw and are engaged by pawls k<1>, l<1>. One or other of the pawls is kept out of gear by a shield p, which is fixed to the car frame in such relation to the ratchet-wheels that both pawls are out of action when the axle is in the normal position relatively to the car frame. The pawls are oscillated by an eccentric n on the wheel hub, or otherwise. Thus, as the car frame rises or falls, the slide i is moved to alter the inclination of the spring. In a modification, the upper end of the spring is connected to the apex of a triangle formed by bars jointed together like shear-legs, the lower end of one of the legs being adjustable by means of the slide i. In Fig. 3, the springs are shown arranged transversely of the vehicle and so inclined that their directions intersect the centre-line of the axle in the planes of the wheels, whereby bending strains on the axle are avoided. The pawls for moving the slides i are operated by a rod o connected to the axle. When the car is rounding a curve, the frame swings laterally by centrifugal action, and the inclination of one of the springs is consequently increased while that of the other is decreased. The springs thus resist canting of the car.