MXPA99003692A

MXPA99003692A - Trailing arm suspension with articulated axle mounting

Info

Publication number: MXPA99003692A
Application number: MXPA/A/1999/003692A
Authority: MX
Inventors: C Pierce William
Original assignee: Neway Anchorlok International Inc
Priority date: 1996-10-23
Filing date: 1999-04-21
Publication date: 1999-10-14

Abstract

A trailing arm suspension for mounting ground-engaging wheels to a vehicle frame has an axle mounted to a trailing arm through an axle-beam connector. The suspension comprises at least two arms adapted to be pivotally mounted to opposite sides of the frame and at least one wheel-carrying axle mounted to the arms through an axle-mounting assembly. Each of the axle-mounting assemblies comprises a pair of beam-axle connectors which are mounted to one of the arms at one end thereof through a bushed connection and are rigidly connected to the axle at another end thereof through compression mounting or by welding. Each of the arms forms a collar which receives the axle. An elastomeric layer is positioned between the axle and the collar for articulation between the axle and the collar. Each of the beam-axle connectors is identical and is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis. Each beam-axle connector is generally triangular in two dimensional configuration and has a reinforcing gusset at an upper portion thereof and at a lower portion thereof. Each beam-axle connector further includes an arcuate plate at the other end thereof and through which the beam-axle connector is mounted to the axle. The compression mounting includes a hollow wrapper band which circumscribes the axle and is under tension sufficient to compress the axle at at least two sets of diametrically opposed and circumferentially spaced external surfaces of the axle and to prevent movement of the axle with respect to the wrapper band under ordinary service conditions.

Description

SUSPENSION OF REAR ARM WITH ASSEMBLY OF ARTICULATED SHAFT Field of the Invention This invention relates to rear arm suspensions for automotive vehicles. In one of its aspects, the invention relates to a rear arm suspension where an axle is mounted on the rear arm for articulation with respect to the rear arm. STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE WO 97/060 ------, published on February 20, 1997, discloses an automotive suspension system in which a shaft is mounted on a pair of shaft clamps by tightening wrapping bands around the shaft to hold the shaft in compression and thus retain the shaft in the wrapping bands by means of of friction forces. The shaft clamps are secured to the rear arm by a pair of bushings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, a rear arm suspension for mounting wheels that link the ground to a vehicle frame has an axle mounted on a post arm through an axle-beam connector. The suspension comprises at least two arms adapted to be secured on opposite sides of the frame and at least one wheel carrying axle mounted on the arms. arms through an axle assembly assembly. Each of the axle assembly assemblies comprises at least one beam-axle connector which is mounted on one of the arms at one of its ends through a bushing connection and is connected to the axle at its other end. Each of the arms forms a collar that receives the shaft. An elastomeric layer is placed between the shaft and the collar for articulation between the shaft and the collar. Preferably, the beam-shaft connector is rigidly mounted on the shaft at the other end thereof. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two beam-shaft connectors, one on each side of each arm, and each beam-shaft connector is connected to the arm and the shaft in the same manner. In addition, each of the beam-shaft connectors is identical and is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis. Each beam-shaft connector is generally triangular in two-dimensional configuration and has a reinforcement bracket on an upper portion thereof and on a lower portion thereof. Preferably, each beam-shaft connector further includes an arcuate plate at the other end thereof and through which the beam-shaft connector is mounted on the shaft. In one embodiment, the beam-shaft connector is mounted to the shaft through a hollow wrapping band circumscribing the shaft and is under sufficient tension to compress the shaft into at least two sets of diametrically opposed and spaced outer surfaces. circumferentially of the axis and for preventing movement of the shaft with respect to the wrapping band under ordinary service conditions- For this purpose, the arcuate plate extends about 180 ° about the axis and pairs with a second arcuate plate to form a circumscribing hollow wrapping band the y-axis is under sufficient tension to compress the shaft into at least two sets of diametrically opposed outer surfaces spaced circumferentially from the axis and to prevent movement of the shaft with respect to the wrapping band under ordinary service conditions. In another embodiment of the invention, the beam-shaft connector is welded to the shaft. Description of the Di-bu-ios The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a suspension system according to the invention, attached to a vehicle frame; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the suspension system illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view taken along lines 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the area within a circle identified as IV in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a partial sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of Figure 3; Figure 7 is an exploded view of the beam and axle connections of the suspension system illustrated in Figures 1-6; Figure 8 is a side elevational view, like Figure 1, showing a modified form of the invention; Figure 9 is a side elevational view, like Figure 1, showing the use of the invention in a high-bay suspension system; Figure 10 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of a suspension system according to the invention; and Figure 11 is a perspective view of the suspension illustrated in Figure 10. Description of Preferred Embodiment Forms Referring now to the drawings and to Figure 1 in particular, there is shown a portion of a frame 10 of a vehicle that it has its forward direction to the left, as seen in Figure 1, and a suspension system 1 according to the invention secured to the underside of the frame 10. The suspension system 1 comprises a rear arm assembly that includes a 16 frame clamp, one arm post 18, a beam extension 19 and an air spring 20. The frame clamp 16 is rigidly secured to the frame 10 by means of welding and / or bolts in a conventional manner. The rear arm 18 is pivotally mounted in the frame bracket 16 through a pivot assembly 26, in a conventional manner. A damper 22 is mounted between the frame clamp 16 and the beam 18 to dampen the pivotable movement of the beam 18 with respect to the frame 16. The damper 22 is mounted to the frame clamp 16 by a pivot assembly 30 and is mounted pivotably to the beam 18 through a pivot assembly 28. A round shaft 24 is secured to the beam 18 through a pair of beam-shaft connector 64 (only one of which is shown in Figure 1) ) and a pin 82. The suspension system according to the invention includes two rear arm assemblies, one on each side of the vehicle frame, although only one such assembly is shown in the drawings. The other rear arm assembly is a mirror image of the described assembly. The rear arm assemblies are joined by the shaft 24. Referring now to Figures 2, 3, 4 and 7, the beam 18 has an upper plate 32, a pair of side plates 34 and 36 and a lower plate 38, all rigidly joined together, for example by welding, to form a rigid elongated beam that is rectangular in cross section.

A beam in I can be used in place of a box beam. Aligned openings 40 are provided in the side plates 54 and 36. A sleeve 42 is provided at a rear end of the beam and is formed by arcuate plates 44 and 48 which are joined at the edge surfaces 46 and 50, respectively. As shown in Figure 7, a front end of the beam 18 has a cylindrical collar 52 having an opening 54 ~ therethrough to receive the pivot assembly 26. Referring once again to Figure 4, a set of sleeve 56 is mounted on beam openings 40 and comprises an outer sleeve 58, a rubber bushing 60 and an inner sleeve 62, assembled together as a unit. The sleeve 62 and the rubber bushing 60 are bonded together and then pressed into the sleeve 58. As shown in Fig. 4, the outer sleeve 58 and the inner sleeve 62, as well as the bushing 60, are slightly longer that the distance between the outer surfaces of the side plates 34 and 36. The inner sleeve 62 is longer than the outer sleeve 58 and the bushing 60- Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 7, there are two beam-shaft connectors 64 joined together to the shaft 24 at one end and to the beam 18 at the other end by the bushing assembly 56 in each rear arm assembly. Each one of the beam-shaft connectors 65 is identical in construction and is oriented in a mirror image orientation on the axes. Only from will describe one of the beam-shaft connectors 64. In Figure 7, the beam-shaft connector 64 comprises a wrap band 66 at one end formed by an arched plate 68 having an edge 70 and an arched plate 72 having an edge 74. A triangular plate 76 is welded to the arched plate 72 on one side of the arcuate plate adjacent to the beam. A three-way perforation 78 is excended through the triangular plate 76 at a front apex end of the plate 76. Triangular square plates 80 are mounted on the upper part and the lower part of the triangular plate 76, of preference by means of welding, and are secured at the rear end thereof to the arcuate plate 72 along its axial length in its upper and lower portions. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a bolt 82 extends through the transverse perforations 78 in each pin of the vi-ga-shaft connectors 64 and through the bushing assembly 56, in particular, through the inner sleeve. 62 to mount the beam-axle connector 64 on the beam 18. For this purpose, a nut 84 is threaded on the bolt 82. As shown in Figure 4, wear rollers 92 are provided between the triangular plates 76 and the sleeve 62 to provide a wear surface. As also illustrated in FIG. 4, the inner sleeve 62 extends beyond the axial length of the outer sleeve 58 so that the beam-shaft connectors 64 are free to articulate with respect to the beam 18 to accommodate bearing forces and inclination on the shaft 24 with respect to the frame 10. Sheaves 92 are mounted on the bolt 82 between the head of the bolt 82 and the triangular plate "76 on one side of the beam ~ and between the nut 84 and the triangular plate. 76 on the other side of the beam As shown in Figure 5, the arched plates 68 and 72 surround the shaft 24 and are joined together by welds 86 at the edges 70 and 74, respectively. and 72 are tightened about the axis 24 to maintain the axis in compression before the welding operation The welds 86 are made while the compression forces are applied to the shaft 24 by means of the arched plates 68 and 72. When the joint is cooled of welding, it shrinks, thereby increasing the compression forces against the shaft 24. The shaft 24 is thus connected to the beam-shaft connectors 64 through the wrap bands 66 and is maintained essentially by friction between the flanges. wrapping band 66 and axis 2 4 due to the high compressive load on the axis 24 by the wrapping band 66. The method of assembling the shaft to the wrapping bands is disclosed and claimed in the publication WO 97/06022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Various embodiments of the wrapping bands are disclosed and claimed in this application. Any of the various round shaft wrapping band connections disclosed in WO 97/06022 can be used in the invention of the present application. In addition, any- -any of the various multiple side wrapping band connections disclosed in WO 97/06022 can be used with the corresponding multi-sided axes in the present invention. Reference will now be made to Figure 6 for a description of the relationship between the beam and the axis at the rear end of the beam. The arcuate plates 44 and 48 form a collar that receives the shaft 24. An elastomeric sheet 88 is placed between the shaft 24 and the arcuate plates 44 and 48. The arcuate plates 44 and 48 are joined by means of a weld 90 or eyelashes of bolt (not shown). The elastomeric sheet 88, for example, can be made of a urethane or rubber sheet material approximately 3/16 inch thick and about 4 inches wide. The sheet is approximately as wide in the collar on beam 18, but slightly shorter. Unlike the wrapping band 66, the collar on the beam 18 does not tighten the shaft 24. Rather, the shaft can articulate something within the beam collar by virtue of the rubber sheet 88.

In this way, the shaft is rigidly connected to the beam shaft connectors 64 through the wrap bands 66. The beam-shaft connectors 64 are rigid in nature and are connected to the beam through the bushing assemblies. 56. The rubber bushing 60 is deformable and will thus deform when t-orsion stresses are applied to the beam-shaft connectors 64. In this way, the shaft can articulate with respect to of the sleeve 42 of the beam 18 due to the rubber sheet 88 and also in view of the bushing connection 56 between the beam 18 and the beam-shaft connector 64. In this way, the shaft 24 can articulate with respect to the beam 18 but is held rigidly in beam-axle connectors 64. This suspension prevents the tension lifts between the shaft and the shaft clamp, but the shaft can articulate with respect to the beam. The bushing connection between the beam-axle connectors and the beam also provides a degree of tolerance in mounting the suspension on the frame. If there is a slight degree of misalignment between the shaft and the frame, irrational stresses may be established in a rigid shaft connection, resulting in premature shaft failure. The bushing connection between the beam and beam-shaft connectors 64 provides a tolerance level for slight misalignment in mounting the suspension to the frame and minimizes stress on the shaft due to misalignment of the suspension to the frame. The invention also provides economies of scale in manufacturing. The basic beam 18 is symmetrical about a horizontal axis and can thus be used on both sides of the suspension. In this way, there is less use of tools and fewer parts of inventory. The cost of the beam is thus lower. The beam can also be used for different suspensions simply by adding the basic beam structure to - -----different types of beams. These other suspensions are illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, to which reference will now be made: Figure 8 shows a suspension system according to the invention, where similar numbers have been used to designate similar parts. , a suspension system 12 has a beam 100 of construction substantially identical to the beam 18, except that it accommodates a square axis 104. The shaft 104 is attached to the beam through a beam connector a, axis 106 through a bushing joint 108. The construction of the beam-to-beam connector 106 is essentially the same as the beam-shaft connector 64 except that it accommodates a square shaft.The beam-shaft connector 106 has a wrap band 107 which tightens the shaft 104 when assembling the wrapping band on the shaft in a manner described in WO 97/06022 The suspension of Figure 8 accommodates a rubber spring 102 more than an air spring as in the previous embodiment Now moving to the fi 9, another embodiment of the invention is shown and similar reference numerals are used to designate similar parts. A beam 110 of substantially identical construction to the beam 18 is pivotably mounted to a frame bracket 16 in a pivotable assembly 26. A shaft 24 is mounted to a beam-shaft connector 64 through a wrapping band 66 of a manner identical to the first embodiment described above. In this embodiment, a beam extension 112 is welded to the end of the beam 110 and supports an air spring 20 in a low disposition position for a low mounting height configuration. Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown, where similar reference numerals are used to designate similar parts. In this form of the invention, the beam-shaft connector is modified to some degree and is welded to the shaft 24 rather than tightened on the shaft as in the previous embodiments. More particularly, a modified beam-shaft connector 122 comprises a triangular plate 129, which has an opening at a front end thereof and has a bolt 82 extending therethrough to connect the plate 129 to the rear arm 18 by means of a seal of sasquillo identical to that illustrated in figure 4 and described above. The triangular plate 129 has an arcuate plate 124 mounted at a rear end thereof, an upper bracket plate 126 mounted on an upper portion thereof and a lower bracket plate 128 mounted on a lower portion thereof. As illustrated in Figure 10, the arched plate has a circumferential arc of about 90 °. The edges of the arcuate plate 124 are welded to the shaft 24 in the welding eye 130 in an upper portion and in a welding eye 132 in a lower portion. As in the previous embodiment, a beam-shaft connector 122 is provided on each side of the beam 18 and each of the beams 18 has two beam-shaft connectors. "The beam-shaft connectors illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 mount shaft 24 on beam 18 through a pair of articulated joints, one of which is the bushing seal illustrated in FIG. 4 and the other of which is the connection between the shaft 24 and the beam 18 by the sleeve 42 and the elastomeric sheet 88. In this measure, the beam-to-shaft connector works in the same way in the embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11 that in the embodiments shown in Figures 1-9 The invention provides articulation between the axes and "beams to give flexibility to the beams to accommodate stresses due to the shaft bearing. In addition, the suspensions avoid the problem of tolerances and stresses of the mounting brackets that result from the misalignment of the suspensions to the frame. Still further, the lateral movement of the axle with respect to the frame is accommodated in the suspension as a coupling due to the suspension assemblies of the two beams to axle. The coupling will react to lateral movement and avoid the need for a rail rod between the shaft and the beam. Reasonable variations and modifications are possible within the scope of the above disclosure and the drawings, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

SUBMISSIONS 1. In a vehicle suspension for mounting the wheels that link to the ground in a vehicle frame, the suspension comprises at least two arms adapted to be mounted pivotably at one end to opposite sides of the frame; at least one wheel carrying shaft mounted on the arms by an axle assembly assembly; an air spring mounted on each of the arms at another end thereof and adapted to be mounted between the arms and the frame of the vehicle, characterized in that: each of the axle assembly assemblies comprises at least one beam-shaft connector which is mounted on one of the arms at one of its ends by a bushing connection and is connected to the shaft at another end thereof; each of the arms forms a collar that receives the shaft; and an elastomeric layer is placed between the shaft ~ and the collar for articulation between the shaft and the collar.
2. A vehicle suspension according to claim 1, wherein the beam-shaft connector is rigidly mounted on the shaft at the other end thereof.
A vehicle suspension according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein there are two beam-shaft connectors, one on each side of each arm, and each beam-shaft connector is connected to the arm and to the axle of the beam. same way. .
A vehicle suspension according to claim 3, wherein each of the beam-shaft connectors is identical and is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis.
5. A vehicle suspension according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein each beam-axle connector is generally triangular in "two-dimensional" configuration and has a reinforcing bracket in an upper portion thereof and in a lower portion thereof
6. In a vehicle suspension for mounting the wheels that link to the ground in a vehicle frame, the suspension comprising at least two arms adapted to be secured to opposite sides of the frame, at least one wheel carrying axle mounted on the arms by means of an axle assembly assembly, each of the axle assembly assemblies comprises at least one beam-axle connector which is mounted on one of the arms at one end thereof by a bushing connection and is - connects to the shaft at the other end of the same, and each of the arms forms a collar that receives the shaft, and an elastomeric layer between the shaft and the collar for articulation between the shaft and the collar ín, characterized in that: each beam-shaft connector further includes an arched plate at the other end thereof and through which the beam-shaft connector is mounted on the shaft.
7. A vehicle suspension according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the beam-shaft connector is mounted on the shaft by a hollow wrapping band circumscribing the shaft and is under sufficient tension to compress the shaft into at least two sets of diametrically opposed outer surfaces spaced circumferentially of the shaft and to prevent movement of the shaft with respect to the band of the shaft. wrapping under ordinary service conditions.
A vehicle suspension according to claim 6, wherein the arcuate plate extends about 180 ° about the axis and pairs with a second arcuate plate to form a hollow wrapping band circumscribing the axis and is under sufficient tension to compressing the shaft into at least two sets of diametrically opposed outer surfaces spaced circumferentially from the axis and to prevent movement of the shaft with respect to the wrapping band under ordinary service conditions.
9. A vehicle suspension according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the beam-shaft connector is welded to the shaft.
10. In a vehicle having a suspension for mounting the wheels that link to the ground in a vehicle frame, the suspension comprising at least two arms secured to opposite sides of the frame; at least one wheel carrying axle mounted on the arms by an axle assembly assembly, each of the axle assembly assemblies comprising at least one beam-axle connector that is mounted on one of the arms at one end thereof by means of a bushing connection and connected to the shaft at another end thereof; and each of the arms forms a collar at a rear end thereof and the shaft is received in the collar; and the elastomeric layer between the shaft and the collar for articulation between the shaft and the collar, characterized in that: each beam-shaft connector further includes a plate arched at the other end thereof and through which the connector connects- Shaft is mounted on the shaft.
A vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the beam-shaft connector is rigidly mounted on the shaft at the other end thereof.
12. A vehicle according to any of claims 10 or 11, wherein there are two beam-shaft connectors, one on each side of each arm, and each beam-shaft connector is connected to the arm and to the shaft in the same manner .
A vehicle according to claim 12, wherein each of the beam-shaft connectors is identical and is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis.
A vehicle according to any of claims 10-13, wherein each beam-axle connector is generally triangular in two-dimensional configuration and has a reinforcing bracket at an upper portion and at a lower portion thereof.
15. A vehicle according to any of the claims 10-14, wherein the beam-shaft connector is mounted on the shaft through a hollow wrapping band circumscribing the shaft and is under sufficient tension to compress the shaft into at least two sets of diametrically opposed and spaced outer surfaces circumferentially of the axis and to prevent movement of the shaft with respect to the wrapping band under ordinary service conditions. -
16. A vehicle according to any of claims 10-14, wherein the beam-shaft connector is welded to the shaft.
17. A vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the arcuate plate extends about 180 ° about the axis and pairs with a second arcuate plate to form a hollow wrap band circumscribing the shaft and is under tension to compress the axis in at least two sets of surfaces diametrically opposed and spaced circumferentially from the axis and to prevent movement of the axis with respect to the wrapping band under ordinary service conditions.
18. The invention defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the axis is substantially round in cross section.
19. The invention defined in any of the preceding claims, wherein the axis is of polygonal cross section. Res _ _ A rear arm suspension for mounting wheels that link to the ground in a vehicle frame has an axle mounted on a rear arm by means of an axle-beam connector. The suspension comprises at least two arms adapted to be pivotally mounted on opposite sides of the frame and on at least one pair of beam-axle connectors which are mounted on one of the arms at one of their ends by means of a -deck connection and are connected. rigidly to the shaft in another of its ends by assembly by compression or by means of welding. Each of the arms forms a collar that receives the shaft. An elastomeric layer is placed between the shaft and the collar for articulation between the shaft and the collar. Each of the beam-shaft connectors is identical and is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis. Each beam-shaft connector is generally triangular in two-dimensional configuration and has a reinforcement bracket on an upper portion thereof and on a lower portion thereof. Each beam-shaft connector further includes a plate arched at one end thereof and through which the beam-shaft connector is mounted on the shaft. The compression assembly includes a hollow wrapping band circumscribing the shaft and is under sufficient tension to compress the shaft into at least two sets of diametrically opposed outer surfaces circumferentially spaced apart from the shaft and to prevent movement of the shaft with respect to the belt. low wrap ordinary conditions of service.