GB814387A - Improvements in rubber torsional shear springs - Google Patents

Abstract

814,387. Rubber torsion springs; roadvehicle spring suspensions. SPENCER MOULTON & CO. Ltd., G. Sept. 19, 1955 [July 17, 1953], No. 19911/53. Classes 108(2) and 108(3) In a rubber torsional shear spring (Figs. 3, 5) having an inner metal shaft 12 and a thin discontinuous shell 13 between which a body of rubber is constrained so that when one is twisted in relation to the other, the rubber is stressed in torsional shear, the inner shaft 12 and/or the outer shell 13 is of tapering or frustoconical form. As applied to the spring suspension of a road vehicle bogie (Fig. 7), two torsion spring units according to the invention, are carried by a transverse member 36 rigid with the vehicle frame. The spring unit comprises inner and outer frusto-conical tubular members 50, and 45, between which is bonded a rubber sleeve 51. An arm 42 is secured by bolts 47 to a flange rigid with the inner tubular member 50, and carries a member 52 which is in bearing relation with a bearing bush 53 carried by a member 36. The other end of the tubular member 50 carries a bush 54 which is also in bearing relation with the member 36. The arm 42 is connected to one end of one of the bogie axles 35, and the corresponding end of the other axle 34 is connected by an arm 40 to a flange rigid with the outer tubular member 45. The other spring unit 55 is of identical construction to the unit 45, and is connected in the same way to the other ends of the axles 34, and 35. Further transverse location of the axles 34, and 35 is provided by diagonally disposed stays 60, and 61. In the spring unit shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the outer member is of trough shape in cross-section. The mouth of the trough is closed by a plate 26 which bears against the rubber and against the member to which the trough-shaped member 13 is bolted. At one end 27 the inner member has a cylindrical portion. A portion of the trough-shaped member 13 at the other end of the unit is also of non- tapered form. The invention is also described as applied to a simple swinging- arm road-vehicle suspension (Figs. 1 and 2, not shown). Specification 676,098, 676,190 and 743,796 [Group XL(a)] are referred to.