GB2069946A

GB2069946A - Wheel suspension in horse- drawn carriages

Info

Publication number: GB2069946A
Application number: GB8006418A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mart M R
Current assignee: Mart M R
Priority date: 1980-02-26
Filing date: 1980-02-26
Publication date: 1981-09-03

Abstract

In a wheel suspension wherein a torsion bar arrangement includes a bar 20 with socket ends which hold resilient material 24, and a pair of spigots 25 of non-circular section, which engage in the resilient material at opposite ends of the bar, each spigot 25 is fixed to one end of a transverse arm 26, the other end of which is fixed to a cross-bar 27 between the arms. The cross-bar mounts at each end a spindle 28 rotatably supporting a wheel 29, and incorporates an arcuate leaf spring 30. The resilient material 24 permits resilient angular movement of the spigots, which is damped by the leaf spring. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wheel suspension in horse-drawn carriages This invention relates to horse-drawn carriages and to wheel suspension arrangements therefor.

It is usual to provide multiple leaf spring arrangements for wheel suspension in horsedrawn carriages to provide either common suspension, or independent suspension for a pair of co-axial wheels The present invention provides an improved suspension arrangement.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a wheel suspension arrangement for a horse-drawn carriage comprising a torsion bar adapted for mounting on the body of a vehicle, a pair of arms extending from the torsion bar at locations spaced lengthwise thereof, mounting means on the arms for mounting respective wheels, and damping means connected between the arms and spaced from the torsion bar.

The damping means may comprise a resilient tension member, which is preferably in the form of an arcuate leaf spring.

The torsion bar preferably comprises a bar having socket ends, resilient material in the socket ends, and spigots held in the resilient material whereby angular movement of each spigot deforms the resilient material, the arms being mounted on the spigots.

The invention also resides in a horse-drawn carriage having a suspension arrangement as defined above, a body mounted on the torsion bar and wheels mounted on the mounting means therefor. Preferably, the means mounting the body on the torsion bar provides for adjustable positioning of the body forwardly and rearwardly of the wheel axis.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a horse-drawn carriage according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional view on line A-A of Figure 1.

The carriage shown comprises a body 11 mounted on a wheel suspension arrangement 12.

The body includes a seat 13, shafts 14 and mounting plate 1 5.

The suspension arrangement 1 2 comprises a torsion bar including a rectangular section hollow bar 20 extending widthwise of the carraige. A pair of plates 21 are welded on the bar 20 near opposite ends thereof, and the mounting plates 1 5 are bolted to the plates 21 to mount the body 11 on the suspension arrangement 1 2. The body can be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly of the suspension arrangement by selection of bolt holes 22 in the mounting plates 1 5.

Each socket end of the bar 20 houses a rubber block 24 (Figure 2) and a rectangular section spigot 25 is held in each block 24, so that twisting of the spigot deforms the rubber block. A corresponding arcuate arm 26 is welded near one end to each spigot 25 and a cross-bar 27, which extends parallei to the bar 20 is welded to the two arms 26 at their opposite ends. The cross-bar mounts spindles 28 for wheels 29. The cross-bar includes damping means in the form of an arcuate leaf spring 30 forming the central portion of the bar.

The torsion bar 20, 24, 25 permits independent movement of the suspension arms 26, but this movement is restricted and damped by the crossbar 27 with its leaf spring 30. The maximum independent movement of the arms is determined by the amount of curvature in the lead spring 30.

1. A wheel suspension arrangement for a horse-drawn carriage, comprising a torsion bar adapted for mounting on the body of a vehicle, a pair of arms extending from the torsion bar at locations spaced lengthwise thereof, whereby the arms are relatively angularly movable with resilient resistance provided by the torsion bar, mounting means on the arms for mounting respective wheels, and damping means connected between the arms and spaced from the torsion bar.

2. A wheel suspension arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein the damping means comprises an arcuate leaf spring.

3. A wheel suspension arrangement according to Claim 1 or 2, including a cross-bar connected between the arms and fixed thereto, the cross-bar incorporating the damping means and defining said mounting means for the wheels.

4. A wheel suspension arrangement according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the torsion bar comprises a bar having socket ends, resilient means in the socket ends, and spigots extending into the socket ends whereby the resilient means resists angular movement of each spigot relative to the bar, the spigots being secured to the arms.

5. A wheel suspension arrangement according to Claim 4, wherein the resilient means comprises deformable material fitted in each socket end and receiving a non-circular part of the respective spigot, so that angular movement of each spigot deforms the deformable material.

6. A horse-drawn carriage having a suspension arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, a body of the carriage being mounted on the torsion bar and wheels rotatably carried by the mounting means.

7. A horse-drawn carriage according to Claim 6, comprising an attachment member on the body having a plurality of selectable attachment positions permitting adjustment of the body laterally relative to the torsion bar.

8. A wheel suspension arrangement for a horse-drawn carriage constructed substantially as

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Wheel suspension in horse-drawn carriages This invention relates to horse-drawn carriages and to wheel suspension arrangements therefor. It is usual to provide multiple leaf spring arrangements for wheel suspension in horsedrawn carriages to provide either common suspension, or independent suspension for a pair of co-axial wheels The present invention provides an improved suspension arrangement. In accordance with this invention, there is provided a wheel suspension arrangement for a horse-drawn carriage comprising a torsion bar adapted for mounting on the body of a vehicle, a pair of arms extending from the torsion bar at locations spaced lengthwise thereof, mounting means on the arms for mounting respective wheels, and damping means connected between the arms and spaced from the torsion bar. The damping means may comprise a resilient tension member, which is preferably in the form of an arcuate leaf spring. The torsion bar preferably comprises a bar having socket ends, resilient material in the socket ends, and spigots held in the resilient material whereby angular movement of each spigot deforms the resilient material, the arms being mounted on the spigots. The invention also resides in a horse-drawn carriage having a suspension arrangement as defined above, a body mounted on the torsion bar and wheels mounted on the mounting means therefor. Preferably, the means mounting the body on the torsion bar provides for adjustable positioning of the body forwardly and rearwardly of the wheel axis. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a horse-drawn carriage according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a sectional view on line A-A of Figure 1. The carriage shown comprises a body 11 mounted on a wheel suspension arrangement 12. The body includes a seat 13, shafts 14 and mounting plate 1 5. The suspension arrangement 1 2 comprises a torsion bar including a rectangular section hollow bar 20 extending widthwise of the carraige. A pair of plates 21 are welded on the bar 20 near opposite ends thereof, and the mounting plates 1 5 are bolted to the plates 21 to mount the body 11 on the suspension arrangement 1 2. The body can be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly of the suspension arrangement by selection of bolt holes 22 in the mounting plates 1 5. Each socket end of the bar 20 houses a rubber block 24 (Figure 2) and a rectangular section spigot 25 is held in each block 24, so that twisting of the spigot deforms the rubber block. A corresponding arcuate arm 26 is welded near one end to each spigot 25 and a cross-bar 27, which extends parallei to the bar 20 is welded to the two arms 26 at their opposite ends. The cross-bar mounts spindles 28 for wheels 29. The cross-bar includes damping means in the form of an arcuate leaf spring 30 forming the central portion of the bar. The torsion bar 20, 24, 25 permits independent movement of the suspension arms 26, but this movement is restricted and damped by the crossbar 27 with its leaf spring 30. The maximum independent movement of the arms is determined by the amount of curvature in the lead spring 30. CLAIMS

8. A wheel suspension arrangement for a horse-drawn carriage constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A horse-drawn carriage constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.