GB752284A - Improvements relating to wheel suspensions in motor cycles, motor scooters, or other light vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

752,284. Springs. ZUNDAPP-WERKE GES. June 29, 1954, No. 19041/54. Class 108 (3). [Also in Group XXXI] A road wheel suspension (see Group XXXI) for light vehicles is adjustable to suit altered loading and comprises a strut, having two springs 20 and 21 disposed within telescopic protective sheaths 7 and 30, a member 19 coupling the two springs together and an adjustable abutment operative, in one position to leave the member 19 free to move and both springs active in series, and in another position to hold the member 19 immovable thus putting one of the springs out of action. The main spring 20, Fig. 2, is supported at one end by a carrier 6 connected to the top bearing head 37, and at the other end by a cylinder 19 which is connected to the bottom bearing head 36 directly, or through an auxiliary spring 21, depending on the position of the rotatably adjustable sleeve 28. The abutment ring 25, Fig. 4, has a square aperture corresponding to the shape of the sleeve 28 so that when the sleeve 28 is in a position where the cross section of the sleeve 28 is in register with the aperture in the abutment ring 25 the cylinder 19 can move downwardly and the springs 20 and 21 are coupled in series; when the cross section of the sleeve 28 is not in register the cylinder 19 is held between the top edge of sleeve 28 and bottom edge of the resilient bush 27 lying beneath the collar 26 which supports the base of spring 21, in which position of the sleeve 28 only spring 20 can be displaced by loading the strut. To facilitate adjustment the auxiliary spring may be compressed to take the unloaded weight of the vehicle and hold the cylinder 19 against the bush 27. A rod 10 connected to the bearing head 37 is guided in a tube 15 connected to the bearing head 36 and a buffer spring 12 on the end of rod 10 comes between them for large extensions. A ball catch 34 holds the adjustable sleeve 28 in either of its two positions determined by a grub screw 32 working in an annular slot in the sleeve 28. Figs. 5 and 6 show an alternative construction in which the springs are connected by a sliding ring 19<SP>1</SP> with inwardly directed projections 25<SP>1</SP>. A tube 15<SP>1</SP> connected to the bottom bearing head has fixed at its upper end a ring 27<SP>1</SP> with diametrically opposed recesses 23<SP>1</SP> to receive the projections 251. Abutting the bottom edge of the ring 27<SP>1</SP> is a rotatably adjustable sleeve 28<SP>1</SP> having deep recesses 28<SP>11</SP> which in one position, determined by a projection 32<SP>1</SP> working in a recess 33<SP>1</SP> in ring 27<SP>1</SP>, are opposite the projections 251 and permit movement of the sliding ring 19<SP>1</SP> downwards against the auxiliary spring. In this embodiment the central guiding rod carrying the buffer spring 12<SP>1</SP> also has a piston head to give the strut hydraulic damping.