GB2026404A - Motor vehicle suspension strut - Google Patents

Motor vehicle suspension strut Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2026404A
GB2026404A GB7918841A GB7918841A GB2026404A GB 2026404 A GB2026404 A GB 2026404A GB 7918841 A GB7918841 A GB 7918841A GB 7918841 A GB7918841 A GB 7918841A GB 2026404 A GB2026404 A GB 2026404A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
strut
suspension
motor vehicle
wheel
flange
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB7918841A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fiat Auto SpA
Original Assignee
Fiat Auto SpA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fiat Auto SpA filed Critical Fiat Auto SpA
Publication of GB2026404A publication Critical patent/GB2026404A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G7/00—Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof
    • B60G7/005—Ball joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B27/00—Hubs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B27/00—Hubs
    • B60B27/0005—Hubs with ball bearings
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B27/00—Hubs
    • B60B27/0015—Hubs for driven wheels
    • B60B27/0021—Hubs for driven wheels characterised by torque transmission means from drive axle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B27/00—Hubs
    • B60B27/0047—Hubs characterised by functional integration of other elements
    • B60B27/0057—Hubs characterised by functional integration of other elements the element being a brake drum
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G13/00—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or type of vibration dampers
    • B60G13/001—Arrangements for attachment of dampers
    • B60G13/005—Arrangements for attachment of dampers characterised by the mounting on the axle or suspension arm of the damper unit
    • B60G13/008—Arrangements for attachment of dampers characterised by the mounting on the axle or suspension arm of the damper unit involving use of an auxiliary cylinder
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/10—Mounting of suspension elements
    • B60G2204/12—Mounting of springs or dampers
    • B60G2204/129—Damper mount on wheel suspension or knuckle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
    • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
    • B60G2206/40—Constructional features of dampers and/or springs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
    • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
    • B60G2206/50—Constructional features of wheel supports or knuckles, e.g. steering knuckles, spindle attachments
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
    • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
    • B60G2206/70—Materials used in suspensions
    • B60G2206/72—Steel
    • B60G2206/722—Plates
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
    • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
    • B60G2206/80—Manufacturing procedures
    • B60G2206/81—Shaping
    • B60G2206/8103—Shaping by folding or bending

Abstract

A motor vehicle suspension strut (1) is pressed from sheet metal and has an upper tubular portion (2), into which a shock-absorber (3) is welded, and a lower box-shaped housing (6) which has a centrally apertured flange (7) for the attachment of a wheel bearing (11), drive shaft (24) and universal joint (17) in a space-saving manner. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motor vehicle suspension strut The present invention relates to motor vehicle suspension struts.
The invention is concerned with suspension struts particularly, but not exclusively, for use with the front wheels of a motor vehicle.
Suspension struts are known whereby an alloy is cast into a box configuration which, after the interpositioning of a roller bearing, houses a wheel hub, and includes a speciallyshaped bracket which forms an abutment for a shock absorber.
Suspension struts of this type are structurally complex and contain an appreciable number of components, which, as well as increasing production costs by necessitating laborious machining and assembly operations, results in their having an appreciable weight and size.
The object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle suspension strut which eliminates the aforesaid disadvantages by having a simple structure and a reduced number of parts which are easily manufactured and simple to assemble.
A further object is provide a suspension struct which can be easily disassembled for maintenance and replacement of parts.
According to the present invention there is provided a motor vehicle suspension strut comprising an upper tubular portion housing a shock absorber and a lower, box-shaped, portion having a flange adapted for mounting a wheel bearing, said strut being pressed from sheet metal.
A strut of the this type is more compact than known struts and despite its smaller axial size can, in a suspension for a driven front wheel of a vehicle, accommodate internally the coupling between the wheel and its drive shaft, adjacent the flange and not externally, as in known struts which are conventionally made.
One embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic partial section taken on the axis of a front axle of a front wheel drive motor vehicle incorporating a suspension strut according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a part of the strut of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the part of Fig. 2 rotated through 90 , and Figure 4 is a plan view of the part of Figs.
2 and 3.
Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a suspension strut, generally indicated 1, for a front wheel 1 5 a of a motor vehicle which comprises a sheet metal pressing.
The strut 1 includes an upper, tubular portion 2, which houses a shock absorber 3 of known type, fixed to the strut 1 solely by means of a weld 4, and a lower housing portion 6 which is connected to the upper tubular portion 2 by means of a substantially frusto-conical wall 5. The lower portion 6 is box-shaped and has a substantially square shape in plan (Fig. 4) and includes a substantially square flange 7 (Fig. 3) which is dependant from the wall 5.
As shown in Fig. 3, the flange 7 has a central aperture 7afor a drive shaft, comprising a half shaft 24, of the wheel and four holes 8aarranged radially and equally spaced around the aperture 7a.
As shown in Fig. 1, the holes 8a receive mounting screws 8 for a brake-holder disc 9 and, with the interpositioning of a spacer 10, a twin-race rolling bearing 11 with its sealing end gaskets 12, 1 3 respectively.
The rolling bearing 11 includes an internal ring 14, which is adapted to act as a wheel hub, being connected to a rim 1 sub of the wheel 1 5a by an end flange 1 5 with the interpositioning of a brake drum (not shown), and thus replaces the traditional wheel hub. The ring 14 has a splined axial bore into which a correspondingly splined end 1 6 of the torque transmitting half shaft 24 is coupled, the shaft 24 being restrained axially by a self-locking nut 1 8 which abuts the end flange 1 5 of the ring 1 4. The drive shaft 24 is coupled to the associated front wheel drive axle 25 by a universal joint 1 7 which is accommodated within the box-shaped lower portion 6 of the strut 1.
it is therefore evident, that, since the joint 1 7 is housed within the strut 1, there is a considerable reduction in overall axial size.
A ball and socket joint 21, for the connection of a suspension arm 22 to the wheel, having a small size, is mounted directly on the flange 7 of the strut 1 by means of a small mounting block 1 9 and a locking member 20.
A spacer 23 is interposed between the flange 7 and the block 19.
1. A motor vehicle suspension strut comprising an upper tubular portion housing a shock absorber and a lower, box-shaped, portion having a flange adapted for mounting a wheel bearing, said strut being pressed from sheet metal.
2. A suspension strut as claimed in Claim 1, in which the shock absorber is fixed within said upper portion by a weld.
3. A suspension strut as claimed in Claim 1, in which said lower portion comprises a housing for a universal joint which couples a drive shaft to a drive axle.
4. A suspension strut as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3, in which said lower portion further includes attachment means for a ball
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Motor vehicle suspension strut The present invention relates to motor vehicle suspension struts. The invention is concerned with suspension struts particularly, but not exclusively, for use with the front wheels of a motor vehicle. Suspension struts are known whereby an alloy is cast into a box configuration which, after the interpositioning of a roller bearing, houses a wheel hub, and includes a speciallyshaped bracket which forms an abutment for a shock absorber. Suspension struts of this type are structurally complex and contain an appreciable number of components, which, as well as increasing production costs by necessitating laborious machining and assembly operations, results in their having an appreciable weight and size. The object of the present invention is to provide a motor vehicle suspension strut which eliminates the aforesaid disadvantages by having a simple structure and a reduced number of parts which are easily manufactured and simple to assemble. A further object is provide a suspension struct which can be easily disassembled for maintenance and replacement of parts. According to the present invention there is provided a motor vehicle suspension strut comprising an upper tubular portion housing a shock absorber and a lower, box-shaped, portion having a flange adapted for mounting a wheel bearing, said strut being pressed from sheet metal. A strut of the this type is more compact than known struts and despite its smaller axial size can, in a suspension for a driven front wheel of a vehicle, accommodate internally the coupling between the wheel and its drive shaft, adjacent the flange and not externally, as in known struts which are conventionally made. One embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic partial section taken on the axis of a front axle of a front wheel drive motor vehicle incorporating a suspension strut according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of a part of the strut of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the part of Fig. 2 rotated through 90 , and Figure 4 is a plan view of the part of Figs. 2 and 3. Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a suspension strut, generally indicated 1, for a front wheel 1 5 a of a motor vehicle which comprises a sheet metal pressing. The strut 1 includes an upper, tubular portion 2, which houses a shock absorber 3 of known type, fixed to the strut 1 solely by means of a weld 4, and a lower housing portion 6 which is connected to the upper tubular portion 2 by means of a substantially frusto-conical wall 5. The lower portion 6 is box-shaped and has a substantially square shape in plan (Fig. 4) and includes a substantially square flange 7 (Fig. 3) which is dependant from the wall 5. As shown in Fig. 3, the flange 7 has a central aperture 7afor a drive shaft, comprising a half shaft 24, of the wheel and four holes 8aarranged radially and equally spaced around the aperture 7a. As shown in Fig. 1, the holes 8a receive mounting screws 8 for a brake-holder disc 9 and, with the interpositioning of a spacer 10, a twin-race rolling bearing 11 with its sealing end gaskets 12, 1 3 respectively. The rolling bearing 11 includes an internal ring 14, which is adapted to act as a wheel hub, being connected to a rim 1 sub of the wheel 1 5a by an end flange 1 5 with the interpositioning of a brake drum (not shown), and thus replaces the traditional wheel hub. The ring 14 has a splined axial bore into which a correspondingly splined end 1 6 of the torque transmitting half shaft 24 is coupled, the shaft 24 being restrained axially by a self-locking nut 1 8 which abuts the end flange 1 5 of the ring 1 4. The drive shaft 24 is coupled to the associated front wheel drive axle 25 by a universal joint 1 7 which is accommodated within the box-shaped lower portion 6 of the strut 1. it is therefore evident, that, since the joint 1 7 is housed within the strut 1, there is a considerable reduction in overall axial size. A ball and socket joint 21, for the connection of a suspension arm 22 to the wheel, having a small size, is mounted directly on the flange 7 of the strut 1 by means of a small mounting block 1 9 and a locking member 20. A spacer 23 is interposed between the flange 7 and the block 19. CLAIMS
1. A motor vehicle suspension strut comprising an upper tubular portion housing a shock absorber and a lower, box-shaped, portion having a flange adapted for mounting a wheel bearing, said strut being pressed from sheet metal.
2. A suspension strut as claimed in Claim 1, in which the shock absorber is fixed within said upper portion by a weld.
3. A suspension strut as claimed in Claim 1, in which said lower portion comprises a housing for a universal joint which couples a drive shaft to a drive axle.
4. A suspension strut as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 3, in which said lower portion further includes attachment means for a ball and-socket joint of a suspension arm.
5. A motor vehicle suspension strut as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.
GB7918841A 1978-07-27 1979-05-30 Motor vehicle suspension strut Withdrawn GB2026404A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT5359278U IT7853592V0 (en) 1978-07-27 1978-07-27 MAST FOR FRONT SUSPENSION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2026404A true GB2026404A (en) 1980-02-06

Family

ID=11283927

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB7918841A Withdrawn GB2026404A (en) 1978-07-27 1979-05-30 Motor vehicle suspension strut

Country Status (5)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS5519693A (en)
DE (1) DE7916783U1 (en)
FR (1) FR2431928A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2026404A (en)
IT (1) IT7853592V0 (en)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0025744A1 (en) * 1979-09-13 1981-03-25 AUTOMOBILES DANGEL Société dite: Motor vehicle front suspension assembly
DE3339358A1 (en) * 1982-11-08 1984-05-10 Skf Kugellagerfabriken Gmbh, 8720 Schweinfurt FASTENING A WHEEL BEARING UNIT TO A SPRING STRUT OR THE LIKE
DE3403464A1 (en) * 1983-02-02 1984-08-09 Honda Giken Kogyo K.K., Tokio/Tokyo SPRING SUSPENSION FOR AUTOMOTIVE
EP0477645A1 (en) * 1990-09-25 1992-04-01 FIAT AUTO S.p.A. Procedure for constructing a support for the front wheel suspension of a motor vehicle
NL1017842C2 (en) * 2001-04-12 2002-10-15 Skf Ab Shock absorber module.
WO2007016903A1 (en) * 2005-08-10 2007-02-15 Schaeffler Kg Connection of a suspension strut to a wheel carrier of a motor vehicle
FR2988646A1 (en) * 2012-04-03 2013-10-04 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa MacPherson type suspension assembly for front axle of car, has telescopic shock absorber including body having plane face placed parallel to axis of shock absorber, for receiving corresponding plane face of upper part of hub carrier
US9085211B2 (en) * 2012-09-13 2015-07-21 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Top mount for strut
CN110107601A (en) * 2019-05-16 2019-08-09 万向钱潮传动轴有限公司 A kind of light-duty intermediate connecting fork of integrated bearing inner race
CN110107603A (en) * 2019-05-16 2019-08-09 万向钱潮传动轴有限公司 A kind of heavy intermediate bead of integrated bearing inner race

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5462534U (en) * 1977-10-13 1979-05-01
FR2503054A1 (en) * 1981-04-03 1982-10-08 Thimon Ets Drive for vehicle front wheel - has single leaf spring suspension with ball end resting on wheel support
US4491340A (en) * 1982-12-13 1985-01-01 Itt Industries, Inc. Vehicle wheel axle and brake mounting assembly
JPH0218046Y2 (en) * 1985-08-07 1990-05-21

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB897646A (en) * 1957-06-13 1962-05-30 Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman Improvements in or relating to suspension systems for vehicle wheels
DE1968944U (en) * 1965-02-13 1967-09-21 Ford Werke Ag JOURNAL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.
GB1254553A (en) * 1968-05-02 1971-11-24 British Motor Corp Ltd Motor vehicle wheel mountings
GB1462771A (en) * 1973-04-19 1977-01-26 Armstrong Patents Co Ltd Vehicle suspension assemblies
GB1429225A (en) * 1973-05-10 1976-03-24 Armstrong Patents Co Ltd Vehicle suspension assemblies
DE2505550A1 (en) * 1975-02-10 1976-08-19 Volkswagenwerk Ag SINGLE WHEEL SUSPENSION FOR MOTOR VEHICLES

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0025744A1 (en) * 1979-09-13 1981-03-25 AUTOMOBILES DANGEL Société dite: Motor vehicle front suspension assembly
DE3339358A1 (en) * 1982-11-08 1984-05-10 Skf Kugellagerfabriken Gmbh, 8720 Schweinfurt FASTENING A WHEEL BEARING UNIT TO A SPRING STRUT OR THE LIKE
DE3403464A1 (en) * 1983-02-02 1984-08-09 Honda Giken Kogyo K.K., Tokio/Tokyo SPRING SUSPENSION FOR AUTOMOTIVE
US4620720A (en) * 1983-02-02 1986-11-04 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Strut type suspension for automobile
USRE33148E (en) * 1983-02-02 1990-01-16 Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Strut type suspension for automobile
EP0477645A1 (en) * 1990-09-25 1992-04-01 FIAT AUTO S.p.A. Procedure for constructing a support for the front wheel suspension of a motor vehicle
NL1017842C2 (en) * 2001-04-12 2002-10-15 Skf Ab Shock absorber module.
WO2002083438A1 (en) * 2001-04-12 2002-10-24 Ab Skf Shock absorber module
CN100377898C (en) * 2001-04-12 2008-04-02 Skf公司 Shock absorber module
WO2007016903A1 (en) * 2005-08-10 2007-02-15 Schaeffler Kg Connection of a suspension strut to a wheel carrier of a motor vehicle
FR2988646A1 (en) * 2012-04-03 2013-10-04 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa MacPherson type suspension assembly for front axle of car, has telescopic shock absorber including body having plane face placed parallel to axis of shock absorber, for receiving corresponding plane face of upper part of hub carrier
US9085211B2 (en) * 2012-09-13 2015-07-21 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Top mount for strut
CN110107601A (en) * 2019-05-16 2019-08-09 万向钱潮传动轴有限公司 A kind of light-duty intermediate connecting fork of integrated bearing inner race
CN110107603A (en) * 2019-05-16 2019-08-09 万向钱潮传动轴有限公司 A kind of heavy intermediate bead of integrated bearing inner race

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT7853592V0 (en) 1978-07-27
FR2431928A1 (en) 1980-02-22
DE7916783U1 (en) 1979-09-20
JPS5519693A (en) 1980-02-12

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