GB622579A - Improvements in or relating to driving mechanisms for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

622,579. Road vehicle undercarriages. FORD MOTOR CO., Ltd. March 28, 1947, No. 8514. Convention date, June 26, 1946. [Class 108 (ii)] [Also in Groups XXVII and XXXI] A driving unit for detachably mounting to a motor vehicle frame comprises an engine, an axle housing extending transversely underneath the engine crank-case and secured thereto or formed integral therewith, a change-speed gear in a casing secured to one end of the engine in line with the crank-shaft, a propeller shaft in the change-speed gear casing and connecting the change-speed gear over a bevel-gear with a differential located in the axle housing, axle shafts extending from the differential on each side of the axle housing to road wheels positioned on opposite sides of the engine and road wheel suspension arms pivoted to and extending laterally from the axle housing. As shown, an internal-combustion engine 11 for driving the front steering-wheels is resiliently mounted on the front end of the frame by means of a single front mounting comprising a bracket 14 secured to the crank-case 13, a bracket 16 connected to the front transverse cross-member 17 and rubber pads 18 bonded to the brackets 14 and 16, and two rear side mountings each comprising a bracket 19, Fig. 2, which is bolted to a flange at the side of the crank-case 13, and is of inverted U-shape, supporting a shear type rubber mounting 21 connected to a longitudinal frame-member 22. The drive from the engine 11 is transmitted through a fluid coupling 24 and a multiple planetary gearing system 26 to a shaft 27 which drives a shaft 34 through bevel gearing 32, 33. The shaft 34 carries a gear-wheel 48 meshing with the crown-wheel 47, Fig. 2, of a differential gear housed in a casing 38, preferably integral with the crank-case 13, and disposed beneath the rearward part of the engine. The differential drives constant velocity universal joints 52, axle shafts 53, universal joints 91 and stub axles 59. The stub axle 59 is journalled in the steering knuckle 63 which comprises upper and lower knuckle pins 64, 65 rotatably supported within the steering head. Steering is effected through a steering arm 67 keyed to the lower end of the lower knuckle pin 65. The lower end of the steering head 66 supports a shaft 68 which is pivotally connected at the other ends to a shaft 73 in the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle carried by the axle housing 38; the shaft 73 also carries the ends of the lower suspension arms 74 of the opposite wheel. The upper end of the steering head 66 is pivotally connected to the outer end of an inverted U-shaped upper suspension arm 76, the inner end of which is pivoted to a pair of brackets 77 connected to the axle housing. Splined on the inner end of the arm 76 and supported in the brackets 77 is the forward end of a torsion bar 78. To the rear end of the torsion bar 78 is splined an anchor plate 86 which is pivoted in a boss 84 on a yoke 81 bolted to the gear-casing 23, Fig. 4. The anchor plate 86 carries bolts 89 which engage arcuate slots 88 formed in the yoke 81. A direct acting shock-absorber 93 is connected between the steering head 66 and the bracket 19.