GB799555A - Rear axle system for passenger cars - Google Patents

Abstract

799,555. Road-vehicle spring suspensions. FORD MOTOR CO., Ltd., (Ford Motor Co.). May 11, 1956, No. 14765/56. Class 108(2) A road-vehicle spring suspension comprises an axle 14 carrying road wheels 10, 11, on a common wheel axis O, O<SP>1</SP>, means 21, 22 for constraining the axle 14 to rotation about a deflection axis P, P<SP>1</SP>, parallel to, but below, and to the rear of, the wheel axis O, O<SP>1</SP>, bearing means S fixed to the chassis frame 30 forming a role axis Q, Q<SP>1</SP> and co-operating with connecting means 32 to restrain the axle 14 from vertical or lateral translatory motion, and radius arms 25, 26, pivotally connecting the means 21, 22 to fixed points 27, 28 on the frame 30. As shown, each road wheel 10, 11 is journalled on a respective spindle 13 rigid with the corresponding end of the axle 14. Two pairs of brackets 21, 22 rigid with the axle 14 are pivotally connected to the ends of respective links 25, 26, the other ends of which are journalled on the frame 30 at 27, 28. The means 32 comprises brackets 32, 33 rigid with the axle 14 and journalled at their lower ends on a pin 44, Fig. 3, carried by a bearing block S which itself is pivotally mounted by means of rubber bushings 39, 40 and brackets 41, 42 rigid with the frame 30. Spring suspension is provided by torsion bars 54, 57 connected respectively to opposite ends of the axle 14 by arms 50, 51. A differential gear which also carries the brake drums is mounted on a rubber block carried by a chassis-frame member 67. As shown, the axis Q, Q<SP>1</SP> which is coincident with the axis of the block S and the brackets 41, 42, intersects the axis P, P<SP>1</SP>. The latter lies behind and below the normal position of the axis O, O<SP>1</SP> so that on upward deflection of the road wheels 10, 11, the axis O, O<SP>1</SP> moves upwardly and rearwardly. In the normal position the axis 27, 28 lies below the axis P<SP>1</SP>, S, P. Thus on the occurrence of roll about the axis Q, Q<SP>1</SP>, the link say 26 corresponding to the rising wheel 11 assumes a greater inclination than the link 25, and this results in a forward movement of the wheel 11 relative to the wheel 10 which accentuates the degree of understeer. Modified dispositions of the links 25, 26, the brackets 21, 22, and the brackets 32, 33 are described. In Fig. 10 (not shown) the layout is the same as that described above except that the links 25, 26 extend rearwardly from the axis P, P<SP>1</SP>.