GB716563A - Independent wheel suspension - Google Patents

Abstract

716,563. Spring suspensions; rubber springs. METALASTIK, Ltd. March 16, 1953 [Jan. 11, 1952], No. 858/52. Classes 108(2) and 108(3) In an independent suspension for a vehicle wheel in which a wheel hubcarrying member is carried by a linkage which permits and guides deflection of the wheel relative to the superstructure of the vehicle, a rubber sandwich is interposed between mounting plates or abutments on the superstructure and on a part of the linkage movable with respect to the superstructure, the ends of the rubber sandwich being rigidly secured to the respective mounting plates or abutments and the sandwich being so arranged that the relative motion in a vertical plane between its ends at a normal static load position has an instantaneous direction making a small angle with the'plane of the mounting plate or abutment on the superstructure this angle and the rigid fixing of the ends ensuring that vertical loads, for example due to the weight of the vehicle, are borne by the rubber in both compression and shear. In the arrangement according to Fig. 1, in which a wheel hub-carrying member 1 is pivotally connected to a chassis 2 by upper and lower pairs of links 3 and 4 and also by a torque arm 7 rigidly attached to the member 1, a pair of rubber sandwich elements 8, 8 is located between abutments 11 and 12 on the member 1 and chassis 2 respectively. A constraining arm 14 between adjacent ends of the elements 8 is pivotally connected to the links 3. The abutment 12 is vertically adjustable on the chassis 2. pivotal connections between the arm 7 and the chassis and at least three of the pivotal connections between the links 3 and 4 and the member 1 and the chassis 2 include a universal resilient connection, Fig. 4 (not shown), comprising a spherically shaped pivot pin which is located within a complementary hollow casing with the interposition of a rubber element, preferably bonded to the pivot pin, which is precompressed on assembly of the connection. The sandwich elements 8, each comprise rubber blocks 9 of rhomboidal cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the axes of the pivots between the links 3. 4 and the chassis 2, the elements being stressed in shear and compression during assembly into the linkage. In a similar arrangement, Fig. 5 (not shown), comprising upper and lower wishbone links connecting a wheel hub carrying member to a chassis, a single rubber sandwich element is disposed between the hub member and the chassis the connections between the upper link and the chassis member and the hub-carrying member being formed by rubber bushes, preferably of the type disclosed in Specification 581,464. The lower link is connected to the hub-carrying member and to the. chassis by roller hinges of the form disclosed in Specification 714,074. In the arrangement according to Figs. 6 and 7 in which a link 32 comprising two.symmetrical castings or forgings 33 secured together at abutting edges 34, is connected by pivots or hinges 35 to a chassis bracket 36 and is formed with a housing 37 for connection to a hub-carrying member, rubber sandwich springs 3 are interposed between abutments 41 and 42 respectively. The hinges 35 are of the type according to Specification 714.074 A detachable cover plate 47 is fitted to the link to protect the spring 38. A further link may be used above or below the link 32. In a modification of the Fig. 1 arrangement, Fig. 8 (not shown), for a steerable road wheel, a strut member is pivotally connected between the upper and lower links and forms an abutment for the outer end of the rubber spring. The pivotal connections for the strut comprise hinges of the type according to Specification 714 074, seatings for the hinges being provided on housings for ball and socket joints at the upper and lower ends of the hub-carrying member. Vertical adjustment of the pivotal connection of the arm 14 in the Fig. 1 arrangement may be effected by providing the arm with slotted holes by which the arm is attached to a block which is pivotally mounted on the upper link with the interposition of a rubber bush. In an alternative arrangement the arm may be pivotally connected to the link through a constraining link to which the arm is also pivotally connected. Both pivotal connections include rubber bushes. The constraining arm may be extended for pivotal connection to the lower suspension link. According to the Provisional Specification, the outer end of a lower wishbone link, in a construction comprising upper and lower links, includes rubber bushes according to Specification 681,836.