GB2063784A - Twin axle suspensions - Google Patents

Abstract

A pair of axles 18,19 are located in a vehicle chassis by a radius frame 20,21 and leaf springs 13,14. The leaf springs one each side of the vehicle are pivoted at their centres equally dividing the load between the axles, and form locating links for the extremities of the axles in a fore-and-aft plane. The radius frames further locate the axles fore-and-aft and also provide sideways location. All rotating joints are resiliently mounted. This arrangement allows vertical axle movement, fore-and-aft articulation, i.e., axles moving vertically relative to each other, and cross articulation diagonally opposite wheels can move vertically relative to each other. Rotational movement of the axles is controlled by the springs and radius frames. The springs do not encounter any sideways slewing forces since these are fed back to the chassis by the radius frames. Braking and driving forces do not change ground loads. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bogie suspensions This invention relates to bogie suspensions for vehicles and comprises: (a) A pair of brackets mounted one on each side of a vehicle chassis on a common axis perpendicular to the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle.

(b) A pair of axles disposed perpendicular to the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle and mounted one in front and one behind the brackets.

(c) The adjacent ends of the pair of axles being pivotably linked to the extremities of a common leaf spring which is pivotably linked to the common bracket. The leaf spring pivots at the axle ends lying generally below the plane of the axles.

(d) Two radius frames one lying in front and one behind the common bracket axis.

Each radius frame being pivotably linked to the axles at or near the fore-and-aft centre of the vehicle and lying generally above the plane of the axles. The radius frames being pivotably linked to the vehicle chassis one each side of the vehicle near to the brackets.

(e) A crossmember disposed between the vehicle chassis at or near the common bracket axis.

The geometry of the bogie suspension described is such that vehicle loads in the vertical direction are evenly divided between the two axles, the leaf springs on each side acting as a balance. Braking and driving torques do not significantly affect this equal loading of the axles. Lateral location of the axles is by the two radius frames. Slewing forces (as when cornering for example) are fed back into the vehicle chassis by the two radius frames.

The axle movements permitted by this arrangement are: (i) Spring deflection on vertical acceleration.

(2) Fore-and-aft articulation-the axles can be displaced in the vertical plane relative to each other, by the springs rocking on their pivots and the radius frames on their pivots.

(3) Cross articulation-diagonally opposite wheels can roll over bumps at the same time.

(4) Rotational movement of the axles caused by braking and driving torques controlled by the springs and radius frames.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a four wheel bogie according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view.

Figure 3 is a end view.

Figs. 1,2 and 3 show a four wheel bogie suspension for a lorry.

Side members 1 Oa, 1 Ob of a lorry chassis are shown with a pair of brackets 11 a, 11 b shown mounted one on each side member.

Mounted between the side members at the bracket centres a crossmember 1 2 is shown which is fabricated from pressings.

Two leaf springs 13, 14 are shown each made up of a number of tapered leaves. If preferred a plurality of untapered leaves may be used.

The leaf springs 13, 14 are clamped at their centres and pivotably mounted each by two resilient bushes 1 5 at the clamped position one each to the pair of brackets 11 a, 11b.

The extremities of the leaf springs 13, 14 are pivotably linked by resilient bushes 17, to the ends of axles 18, 19.

Two radius frames 20, 21 are pivotably linked by resilient bushes 22, to crossmember 1 2 at the junction of the crossmember to the vehicle chassis side members 1 Oa, 1 Ob.

The radius frames 20, 21 are also pivotably linked by resilient bushes 23 to the axles 18, 1 9 at the fore-and-aft centre of the vehicle.

1. A twin-axle bogie suspension for a vehicle characterised by: (a) A pair of brackets adapted for mounting with one bracket on each side of a vehicle chassis on a common axis perpendicular to the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle.

(b) A pair of axles, each axle being disposed parallel to the common axis, with one axle in front and one axle behind the pair of brackets, the adjacent ends of the pair of axles being pivotably linked to the extremities of a common leaf spring which is pivotably linked to the common bracket and lying generally below the plane of the axles.

(c) A pair of radius frames one frame in front and one frame behind the common bracket axis, each radius frame being pivotably linked to the axles at or near the fore-andaft centre of the vehicle and lying generally above the plane of the axles, the radius frames being pivotably linked to the vehicle chassis at each side of the vehicle at or near to the common bracket axis.

2. A twin axle bogie suspension as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that each linked radius frame and leaf spring are linked by way of a resilient bush.

3. A twin axle bogie suspension as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that each leaf spring comprises at least two tapered leaves.

4. A vehicle equipped with a twin axle bogie suspension according to any one of the preceding claims.

5. A twin axle bogie suspension as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bogie suspensions This invention relates to bogie suspensions for vehicles and comprises: (a) A pair of brackets mounted one on each side of a vehicle chassis on a common axis perpendicular to the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle. (b) A pair of axles disposed perpendicular to the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle and mounted one in front and one behind the brackets. (c) The adjacent ends of the pair of axles being pivotably linked to the extremities of a common leaf spring which is pivotably linked to the common bracket. The leaf spring pivots at the axle ends lying generally below the plane of the axles. (d) Two radius frames one lying in front and one behind the common bracket axis. Each radius frame being pivotably linked to the axles at or near the fore-and-aft centre of the vehicle and lying generally above the plane of the axles. The radius frames being pivotably linked to the vehicle chassis one each side of the vehicle near to the brackets. (e) A crossmember disposed between the vehicle chassis at or near the common bracket axis. The geometry of the bogie suspension described is such that vehicle loads in the vertical direction are evenly divided between the two axles, the leaf springs on each side acting as a balance. Braking and driving torques do not significantly affect this equal loading of the axles. Lateral location of the axles is by the two radius frames. Slewing forces (as when cornering for example) are fed back into the vehicle chassis by the two radius frames. The axle movements permitted by this arrangement are: (i) Spring deflection on vertical acceleration. (2) Fore-and-aft articulation-the axles can be displaced in the vertical plane relative to each other, by the springs rocking on their pivots and the radius frames on their pivots. (3) Cross articulation-diagonally opposite wheels can roll over bumps at the same time. (4) Rotational movement of the axles caused by braking and driving torques controlled by the springs and radius frames. An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a four wheel bogie according to the invention. Figure 2 is a side view. Figure 3 is a end view. Figs. 1,2 and 3 show a four wheel bogie suspension for a lorry. Side members 1 Oa, 1 Ob of a lorry chassis are shown with a pair of brackets 11 a, 11 b shown mounted one on each side member. Mounted between the side members at the bracket centres a crossmember 1 2 is shown which is fabricated from pressings. Two leaf springs 13, 14 are shown each made up of a number of tapered leaves. If preferred a plurality of untapered leaves may be used. The leaf springs 13, 14 are clamped at their centres and pivotably mounted each by two resilient bushes 1 5 at the clamped position one each to the pair of brackets 11 a, 11b. The extremities of the leaf springs 13, 14 are pivotably linked by resilient bushes 17, to the ends of axles 18, 19. Two radius frames 20, 21 are pivotably linked by resilient bushes 22, to crossmember 1 2 at the junction of the crossmember to the vehicle chassis side members 1 Oa, 1 Ob. The radius frames 20, 21 are also pivotably linked by resilient bushes 23 to the axles 18, 1 9 at the fore-and-aft centre of the vehicle. CLAIMS

1. A twin-axle bogie suspension for a vehicle characterised by: (a) A pair of brackets adapted for mounting with one bracket on each side of a vehicle chassis on a common axis perpendicular to the fore-and-aft axis of the vehicle.

(b) A pair of axles, each axle being disposed parallel to the common axis, with one axle in front and one axle behind the pair of brackets, the adjacent ends of the pair of axles being pivotably linked to the extremities of a common leaf spring which is pivotably linked to the common bracket and lying generally below the plane of the axles.

(c) A pair of radius frames one frame in front and one frame behind the common bracket axis, each radius frame being pivotably linked to the axles at or near the fore-andaft centre of the vehicle and lying generally above the plane of the axles, the radius frames being pivotably linked to the vehicle chassis at each side of the vehicle at or near to the common bracket axis.

2. A twin axle bogie suspension as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that each linked radius frame and leaf spring are linked by way of a resilient bush.

3. A twin axle bogie suspension as claimed in any of the preceding claims characterised in that each leaf spring comprises at least two tapered leaves.

4. A vehicle equipped with a twin axle bogie suspension according to any one of the preceding claims.

5. A twin axle bogie suspension as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.