GB233089A - Improvements in springs and shock absorbing devices for road vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

233,089. Ellingham, E. H. March 4, 1924. Laminar springs.-A spring suspension for road vehicles comprises two springs, mounted separately or combined in a single mounting, one of which is always in action while the other is brought into action under increasing loads by levers bearing at one end on the second spring and shaped at the other end to have variable contact with either of the springs without shortening its effective length. In a modification the first spring is omitted, the second spring being acted upon by both ends of the levers. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the spring A is connected at its ends to the frame E by links, and the spring B is attached, rigidly, or by a link, to the centre of the spring A to which the axle F is secured. The levers C comprise two side-plates connected together by parts G, H, I. The parts I bear on the ends of the spring B, the parts H bear against brackets D on the frame E, and the parts G bear on the centre of the spring A or B according as the central connection between the springs is rigid or otherwise. Antifriction rollers may be provided at H and I or the parts H may bear on rubber buffers The parts G and, if desired, the parts H are curved so that the ratio of the lengths of the lever-arms varies with the load. The plates of the spring A are thinner than usual, the top plate being thicker, and less cambered before assembly, than the lower ones so that the spring undergoes a considerable deflection before the top plate commences to carry a load. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4, a spring N is mounted at its centre to move vertically relatively to a full cantilever spring M. A lever K, connected to a link L at the axle end of the springs, is pivoted at O to the central pivotal mounting of the cantilever and carries a cam which deflects the spring N. The spring N may be actuated bv a lever of the form shown in Fig. 1. The lever-actuated spring may be arranged transversely of the vehicle so as to work in conjunction with the suspensions at both sides thereof.