GB781455A - Improvements in or relating to the springing and suspension of vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

781,455. Motor vehicles. SALZMANN, W. E. July 8. 1953 [July 9, 1952], No. 18950/53. Classes 79(2); 79(3) and 79(4) [Also in Group XXXII] In a vehicle suspension for the driven wheels of a road vehicle comprising a swing axle with a main suspension system supported on the one hand by the vehicle frame or body and on the 'other by the swing axle in the vicinity of the driven road wheels, a differential with neighbouring transmission parts capable of free movement relative to the vehicle frame or body is supported in part through a secondary suspension system by the driven wheels. In the arrangement according to Fig. 1, in which a drive-shaft housing 1 rigid with a differental housing 2 is secured to the vehicle body or gear box at its forward end and in'which road wheels 5, 5<SP>1</SP> are driven by two half axles 4, 4<SP>1</SP>, the latter are carried near the ends of leaf springs 8, 8<SP>1</SP>, attached to the vehicle body and the differential casing 2 is carried by leaf spring 9 the ends of which are connected to the respective ends of the leaf springs 8, 8<SP>1</SP>. Shock absorbers 10, 10<SP>1</SP> and 11 may be provided as shown. In another arrangement, Fig. 2 (not shown), in which the differential is driven by an open drive shaft, the differential casing is supported by a pair of transversely disposed leaf springs arranged forwardly and rearwardly respectively of the casing and connected at their ends to longitudinally disposed leaf springs secured intermediate their ends to the respective half axles. In the arrangement according to Fig. 3 (not shown), in which the driven half axles are enclosed in axle tubes, sprung by coil springs, each axle tube carries a lever within the differential casing and a spring is located between the respective levers. An anti-roll bar is connected between the vehicle body and one axle tube. In another arrangement, Fig. 4, in which a combined gear box and differential casing is pivoted about an axis 25 on a bracket 24 and in which the pivotal movement is guided by a slide element fixed to the vehicle body and engaging in a guideway 26 the two half axles are connected through links 31, 31<SP>1</SP>, to main torsion bars 32, 32<SP>1</SP>, the links 31, 31<SP>1</SP>, being connected through levers 33, 33' to auxiliary torsion bars 34, 34<SP>1</SP>. In another arrangement Fig. 5 (not shown) the differential casing of the Fig. 1 arrangement is replaced by a single cylinder engine and transmission unit pivoted at its forward end to the vehicle body. In a modification, the arrangement of Fig. 2 may be used with an engine mounted vertically above the differential casing 2. As appled to a rear-engined commercial vehicle, Fig. 6, an engine, gear box and differential gear unit is pivotally mounted about an axis 39, 39<SP>1</SP> on the vehicle body and is also secured to, the latter by spring supports 44, 44<SP>1</SP>. Camber adjustment of the road wheels 'may be effected by insertion of distance pieces between the spring 40 and a bracket 45 on the differential casing. In a modification of the Fig. 3 arrangement half-axle tubes 51, 51<SP>1</SP>, Fig. 7 are connected to the differential casing by rubber rings 53, 53<SP>1</SP> and are pivoted about bearings 55, 55<SP>1</SP> and 56, 56<SP>1</SP>, which are lubricated by oil from the differential gear. The bearings 55-56 may be knife edge bearings. Small angle universal joints are located on either side of the differential on the pivot axes of the bearings 55-56. An extension 56A of the differential casing is resliently connected to the vehicle body through an arm 58. In a further modification, in which a single joint between driven half axles 66, 67, Fig. 10 is embodied in a differential gearing a two-part differential casing 69, 70, enclosing the differential and universal joint 64 is mounted on a casing 73 and in a flared tube 74 attached thereto. A driving shaft 75 is mounted in an extension 74A of the casing 73, the extension 74A also housing a hexagonal shaft enclosed in a two part rubber tube 77, 78 which is compressed within an outer two part tube 79, 80. A torsionally resistant arm 81 supports the axle tube 82 which is pivoted by means of an arm 83 and a resilient connection 85 to the casing 73 on the axis of the shaft 75. The rubber tube 77, 78 may be supplemented or replaced by a leaf spring as in Figs, 1 and 6.