GB2146407A

GB2146407A - A resilient mounting

Info

Publication number: GB2146407A
Application number: GB08324010A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Allan Edwards; Anthony Trevelyn Penhale; Vincent Charles Walters
Original assignee: STEPHENSON BLAKE
Current assignee: STEPHENSON BLAKE
Priority date: 1983-09-07
Filing date: 1983-09-07
Publication date: 1985-04-17
Also published as: GB8324010D0

Abstract

A light trailer suspension unit comprises a tube 2 made of standard, commercially available tubing, two tubular members 3 of hard rubber in the ends of the tube 2, two shafts 4 to which the members 3 are bonded, and a pair of semi-cylindrical steel shells 8 at each end of the tube 2 and bonded to their member 3 and frictionally engaging the tube 2 owing to precompression of the member 3. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A resilient mounting According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a resilient mounting, comprising an elongate rigid tubular outer member, an elongate rigid inner member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member, and an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member and receiving the inner member, the intermediate member being fixed at its outer periphery against rotation relative to said outer member and at its inner periphery against rotation relative to said inner member, and said outer member being made of standard, commercially available tubing.

The intermediate member is advantageously fixed at its inner periphery to the inner member by having been bonded thereto, and is advantageously fixed at its outer periphery to the outer member by having been bonded to a plurality of outer peripheral elongate rigid elements extending along the outer member and themselves frictionally engaging the outer member owing to precompression of the intermediate member between the inner and outer members. If necessary, in order to reinforce the frictional fixing of the intermediate member at its outer periphery to the outer member, the outer member can be formed with outer peripheral indentations to give inner peripheral projections to engage in gaps between the elongate elements.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a resilient mounting comprising an elongate rigid tubular outer member, an elongate rigid inner member extending substantially co axially in the outer member, an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member and receiving the inner member, and elongate rigid elements extending along the outer periphery of the intermediate member, indentations in the outer periphery of the outer member, and corresponding projections at the inner periphery of the outer member and securing said elements against rotation relative to said outer member, the intermediate member being fixed against rotation at its outer periphery relative to said elements and at its inner periphery relative to said inner member.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a light trailer suspension unit for mounting a wheel on a chassis of the trailer, for example a boat trailer, a compressor trailer, or a light goods trailer, Figure 2 shows an axial sectional view through the suspension unit, and Figure 3 shows a section taken on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the suspension unit inlcudes a plurality of mounting brackets (of which one is shown and referenced 1) whereby the unit is bolted to the trailer chassis. The unit also includes an elongate rigid outer member in the form of a tube 2 extending from one side of the trailer to the other. Each end of the tube 2 contains a tubular intermediate member 3 of hard rubber extending substantially co-axially in the tube 2 and bonded at its inner periphery to a co-axial shaft 4 received therein. At its outer end, each shaft 4 is fixed to a roughly horizontal arm 5 formed with a horizontal bore 6 for receiving a stub axle (not shown) mounting a wheel of the trailer.The arm 5 can either be fixed to the shaft 4 by means of welding 7 shown, or be removably fixed thereto by being internally splined to co-operate with external splining on the shaft 4 and with a bolt passed through the arm 5 and the shaft 4 to retain the arm 5 axially on the shaft 4. At its outer periphery, the member 3 is bonded to two semi-cylindrical steel shells 8, the external radii of which are the same as each other and the internal radius of the tube 2.

Prior to insertion of the items 3, 4 and 8 as a unit into the tube 2, i.e. in the free state of the items 3 and 8, the shells 8 do not lie on a true circular cylinder, but lie displaced outwardly away from such true circular cylinder. To insert the items 3, 4 and 8 into the end of the tube 2, the shells 8 are pressed radially inwardly towards each other to pre-compress the member 3, and the items 3, 4 and 8 are inserted axially into the tube 2, whereupon the shells 8 come to lie face-to-face against the tube 2, whereby they come to lie upon the true circular cylinder, with gaps 9 between them, but the member 3 remains pre-compressed between them.Immediately following insertion of the items 3, 4 and 8 into the tube 2, which has been performed with the aid of an hydraulic ram, other hydraulic rams act laterally inwards to form indentations 10 in the outer periphery of the tube 2, whereby forming corresponding projections 11 at the inside of the tube 2 protruding into the gaps 9, thereby securely keying the shells 8 against rotation relative to the tube 2.

The tube 2 is made of standard, commercially available tubing. Such conventional tubing has either no discontinuities, such as welds, or has only one such discontinuity. The advantage of the use of standard, commercially available tubing at the tube 2 is that the cost of the tube 2 is minimized. The use of the indentations 10 for aiding fixing of the shells 8 to the tube 2 also has the advantage of minimizing the fixing costs.

1. A resilient mounting, comprising an elongate rigid tubular outer member, an elongate rigid inner member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member, and an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member and receiving the inner member, the intermediate member being fixed at its outer periphery against rotation relative to said outer member and at its inner periphery against rotation relative to said inner member, and said outer

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A resilient mounting According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a resilient mounting, comprising an elongate rigid tubular outer member, an elongate rigid inner member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member, and an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member and receiving the inner member, the intermediate member being fixed at its outer periphery against rotation relative to said outer member and at its inner periphery against rotation relative to said inner member, and said outer member being made of standard, commercially available tubing. The intermediate member is advantageously fixed at its inner periphery to the inner member by having been bonded thereto, and is advantageously fixed at its outer periphery to the outer member by having been bonded to a plurality of outer peripheral elongate rigid elements extending along the outer member and themselves frictionally engaging the outer member owing to precompression of the intermediate member between the inner and outer members. If necessary, in order to reinforce the frictional fixing of the intermediate member at its outer periphery to the outer member, the outer member can be formed with outer peripheral indentations to give inner peripheral projections to engage in gaps between the elongate elements. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a resilient mounting comprising an elongate rigid tubular outer member, an elongate rigid inner member extending substantially co axially in the outer member, an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member and receiving the inner member, and elongate rigid elements extending along the outer periphery of the intermediate member, indentations in the outer periphery of the outer member, and corresponding projections at the inner periphery of the outer member and securing said elements against rotation relative to said outer member, the intermediate member being fixed against rotation at its outer periphery relative to said elements and at its inner periphery relative to said inner member. In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a light trailer suspension unit for mounting a wheel on a chassis of the trailer, for example a boat trailer, a compressor trailer, or a light goods trailer, Figure 2 shows an axial sectional view through the suspension unit, and Figure 3 shows a section taken on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2. Referring to the drawings, the suspension unit inlcudes a plurality of mounting brackets (of which one is shown and referenced 1) whereby the unit is bolted to the trailer chassis. The unit also includes an elongate rigid outer member in the form of a tube 2 extending from one side of the trailer to the other. Each end of the tube 2 contains a tubular intermediate member 3 of hard rubber extending substantially co-axially in the tube 2 and bonded at its inner periphery to a co-axial shaft 4 received therein. At its outer end, each shaft 4 is fixed to a roughly horizontal arm 5 formed with a horizontal bore 6 for receiving a stub axle (not shown) mounting a wheel of the trailer.The arm 5 can either be fixed to the shaft 4 by means of welding 7 shown, or be removably fixed thereto by being internally splined to co-operate with external splining on the shaft 4 and with a bolt passed through the arm 5 and the shaft 4 to retain the arm 5 axially on the shaft 4. At its outer periphery, the member 3 is bonded to two semi-cylindrical steel shells 8, the external radii of which are the same as each other and the internal radius of the tube 2. Prior to insertion of the items 3, 4 and 8 as a unit into the tube 2, i.e. in the free state of the items 3 and 8, the shells 8 do not lie on a true circular cylinder, but lie displaced outwardly away from such true circular cylinder. To insert the items 3, 4 and 8 into the end of the tube 2, the shells 8 are pressed radially inwardly towards each other to pre-compress the member 3, and the items 3, 4 and 8 are inserted axially into the tube 2, whereupon the shells 8 come to lie face-to-face against the tube 2, whereby they come to lie upon the true circular cylinder, with gaps 9 between them, but the member 3 remains pre-compressed between them.Immediately following insertion of the items 3, 4 and 8 into the tube 2, which has been performed with the aid of an hydraulic ram, other hydraulic rams act laterally inwards to form indentations 10 in the outer periphery of the tube 2, whereby forming corresponding projections 11 at the inside of the tube 2 protruding into the gaps 9, thereby securely keying the shells 8 against rotation relative to the tube 2. The tube 2 is made of standard, commercially available tubing. Such conventional tubing has either no discontinuities, such as welds, or has only one such discontinuity. The advantage of the use of standard, commercially available tubing at the tube 2 is that the cost of the tube 2 is minimized. The use of the indentations 10 for aiding fixing of the shells 8 to the tube 2 also has the advantage of minimizing the fixing costs. CLAIMS

1. A resilient mounting, comprising an elongate rigid tubular outer member, an elongate rigid inner member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member, and an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member and receiving the inner member, the intermediate member being fixed at its outer periphery against rotation relative to said outer member and at its inner periphery against rotation relative to said inner member, and said outer member being made of standard, commercially available tubing.

2. A mounting as claimed in claim 1, wherein said intermediate member has been bonded at its inner periphery to said inner member.

3. A mounting as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said intermediate member is fixed at its outer periphery to a plurality of outer peripheral elongate rigid elements extending along said outer member and themselves frictionally engaging said outer member owing to pre-compression of the intermediate member between the inner and outer members.

4. A mounting as claimed in claim 3, wherein said intermediate member is bonded at its outer periphery to said rigid elements.

5. A mounting as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said outer member has inner peripheral projections to engage in gaps among said rigid elements.

6. A mounting as claimed in claim 5, wherein said outer member has been formed with outer peripheral indentations to produce said inner peripheral projections.

7. A mounting as claimed in claim 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein said rigid elements are respective circular arcuate shells.

8. A mounting as claimed in claim 7, wherein said shells are semi-cylindrical.

9. A resilient mounting comprising an elongate rigid tubular outer member, an elongate rigid inner member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member, an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member and receiving the inner member, and elongate rigid elements extending along the outer periphery of the intermediate member, indentations in the outer periphery of the outer member, and corresponding projections at the inner periphery of the outer member and securing said elements against rotation relative to said outer member, the intermediate member being fixed against rotation at its outer periphery relative to said elements and at its inner periphery relative to said inner member.

10. A resilient mounting, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. In a vehicle, a resilient mounting as claimed in any preceding claim.