GB2107262A - Motor vehicle suspension - Google Patents

Abstract

A motor vehicle suspension comprises a rigid axle (1) leaf springs (2) connected to the axle and to the sprung part (3) of the vehicle, stub axles (4) universally connected to each end of the front axle (1) and suspension struts (12) connected to the sprung part of the vehicle at their upper ends and to respective stub axes (4) at their lower ends. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Motor vehicle suspension This invention relates to motor vehicle suspensions.

Our British Patent Specification GB-1 360369 discloses a motor vehicle suspension comprising a transverse rigid axle, leaf springs connected to the front axle and adapted to be secured to the spring part of the motor vehicle, and stub axles universally connected to each end of the front axle. The stub axles are mounted on king posts, the lower ends of which are connected to the rigid axle by ball joints, the upper ends being connected by a ball joint to a control arm in the form of a wishbone which is itself mounted on the sprung part of the vehicle body for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis.

The suspension has a number of disadvantages, namely that the control arm requires a relatively large amount of space, and the suspension must be adjusted to within relatively close tolerances in order to ensure proper performance. The system can therefore be relatively difficult to install in a motor vehicle.

According to the present invention, there is provided a motor vehicle suspension comprising a rigid axle, leaf springs connected to the axle and adapted to be secured to the sprung part of the motor vehicle, stub axles universally connected to each end of the front axle, and suspension struts adapted at their upper end for connection to the sprung part of the motor vehicle and connected at their lower end to respective ones of the wheel bearings.

By using a suspension strut instead of a king post and control arms to connect the stub axle to the vehicle body, the construction of the suspension is simplified, and, since the pivot points of the suspension system are widely spaced from each other, the system can be adjusted within relatively wide tolerances without reducing its performance. The suspension is therefore cheaper and more easily installed than that described in GB-1360369, and, in addition, occupies less space between the wheels.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan of a motor vehicle suspension in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the suspension of Figure 1, partly in section; and Figure 3 is a side view of the suspension of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, a motor vehicle suspension comprises a transverse rigid front axle 1 carrying, towards each end a leaf spring 2 which is secured at its mid-point to the axle 1 and at its ends to the sprung part 3 (Fig. 3) of the vehicle body. Since the suspension has a similar construction at each side of the axle 1, only one side of the suspension is shown. A stub axle 4 is universally connected to each end of the axle 1 by means of a ball joint 5 (Figure 2).The stub axle 4 is fixed to a horizontal wheel spindle 6, which rotatably supports a road wheel 7, a steering arm 8, which is connected by a ball joint to the drag link 9 of a conventional steering system, and a track control arm 10, which is connected by a ball joint to one end of a track control rod 1 The other end of the track control rod 11 is connected to the track control arm of the other stub axle.

A McPherson type suspension strut 12 is connected at its lower end to the stub axle 4 and at its upper end to the spring part 3 of the vehicle by means of a conventional flexible connection 13.

The resulting suspension not only has the advantages of the suspension described in GB 1360369, but is more compact, has fewer components and is easier to install and adjust.

The suspension is particularly suitable for light commercial vehicles.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle suspension comprising a rigid axle, leaf springs connected to the axle and adapted to be secured to the sprung part of the motor vehicle, stub axles universally connected to each end of the front axle, and suspension struts adapted at the upper end for connection to the sprung part of the motor vehicle and connected at the lower end to respective ones of the wheel bearings.

2. A motor vehicle suspension substantially as hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in the drawings.

3. A motor vehicle incorporating a suspension according to Claim 1 or Claim 2.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 8 Feb. 1982 Superseded claim 1 New or amended claim:- 1. A motor vehicle suspension comprising a rigid axle, leaf springs connected to the axle and adapted to be secured to the sprung part of the motor vehicle, stub axles universally connected to each end of the rigid axle, and suspension struts adapted at their upper end for connection to the sprung part of the motor vehicle and connected at the lower end to respective ones of the stub axles.

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

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Motor vehicle suspension This invention relates to motor vehicle suspensions. Our British Patent Specification GB-1 360369 discloses a motor vehicle suspension comprising a transverse rigid axle, leaf springs connected to the front axle and adapted to be secured to the spring part of the motor vehicle, and stub axles universally connected to each end of the front axle. The stub axles are mounted on king posts, the lower ends of which are connected to the rigid axle by ball joints, the upper ends being connected by a ball joint to a control arm in the form of a wishbone which is itself mounted on the sprung part of the vehicle body for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis. The suspension has a number of disadvantages, namely that the control arm requires a relatively large amount of space, and the suspension must be adjusted to within relatively close tolerances in order to ensure proper performance. The system can therefore be relatively difficult to install in a motor vehicle. According to the present invention, there is provided a motor vehicle suspension comprising a rigid axle, leaf springs connected to the axle and adapted to be secured to the sprung part of the motor vehicle, stub axles universally connected to each end of the front axle, and suspension struts adapted at their upper end for connection to the sprung part of the motor vehicle and connected at their lower end to respective ones of the wheel bearings. By using a suspension strut instead of a king post and control arms to connect the stub axle to the vehicle body, the construction of the suspension is simplified, and, since the pivot points of the suspension system are widely spaced from each other, the system can be adjusted within relatively wide tolerances without reducing its performance. The suspension is therefore cheaper and more easily installed than that described in GB-1360369, and, in addition, occupies less space between the wheels. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan of a motor vehicle suspension in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the suspension of Figure 1, partly in section; and Figure 3 is a side view of the suspension of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings, a motor vehicle suspension comprises a transverse rigid front axle 1 carrying, towards each end a leaf spring 2 which is secured at its mid-point to the axle 1 and at its ends to the sprung part 3 (Fig. 3) of the vehicle body. Since the suspension has a similar construction at each side of the axle 1, only one side of the suspension is shown. A stub axle 4 is universally connected to each end of the axle 1 by means of a ball joint 5 (Figure 2).The stub axle 4 is fixed to a horizontal wheel spindle 6, which rotatably supports a road wheel 7, a steering arm 8, which is connected by a ball joint to the drag link 9 of a conventional steering system, and a track control arm 10, which is connected by a ball joint to one end of a track control rod 1 The other end of the track control rod 11 is connected to the track control arm of the other stub axle. A McPherson type suspension strut 12 is connected at its lower end to the stub axle 4 and at its upper end to the spring part 3 of the vehicle by means of a conventional flexible connection 13. The resulting suspension not only has the advantages of the suspension described in GB 1360369, but is more compact, has fewer components and is easier to install and adjust. The suspension is particularly suitable for light commercial vehicles. Claims

1. A motor vehicle suspension comprising a rigid axle, leaf springs connected to the axle and adapted to be secured to the sprung part of the motor vehicle, stub axles universally connected to each end of the front axle, and suspension struts adapted at the upper end for connection to the sprung part of the motor vehicle and connected at the lower end to respective ones of the wheel bearings.

2. A motor vehicle suspension substantially as hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in the drawings.

3. A motor vehicle incorporating a suspension according to Claim 1 or Claim 2.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 8 Feb. 1982 Superseded claim 1 New or amended claim:- 1. A motor vehicle suspension comprising a rigid axle, leaf springs connected to the axle and adapted to be secured to the sprung part of the motor vehicle, stub axles universally connected to each end of the rigid axle, and suspension struts adapted at their upper end for connection to the sprung part of the motor vehicle and connected at the lower end to respective ones of the stub axles.