US2148029A

US2148029A - Independently sprung front wheel

Info

Publication number: US2148029A
Application number: US157671A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip E Matthews
Original assignee: Mack Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Mack Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1937-08-06
Filing date: 1937-08-06
Publication date: 1939-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-21

Description

Feb. 21, 1939. P. E. MATTHEWS 2,148,029

INDEPENDENTLY SFRUNG FRONT WHEEL Filed Aug. 6, 193 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 N VE NTOR.

JAIL' 'vEMQIMZV,

BY 9 t 1 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INDEPENDENTLY SPRUNG FRONT WHEEL Application August 6,

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to independently sprung wheels and embodies, more specifically, an improved mounting by means of which wheels may be mounted independently upon vehicle 3 frames. In this connection, the present invention relates generally to the subject matter shown and described in applicants copending applications Serial No. 757,089, filed December 12,

1934 for Independently sprung front wheel and Serial No. 48,802 filed November 8, 1935 for Independently sprung front wheel.

The invention is particularly useful in connection with wheel mountings of the above character wherein torsion springs are utilized to cushion the movement of the wheel with respect to the frame, and the present invention contemplates the provision of an independent wheel mounting by means of which adequate vertical movement of the wheel is permitted while pro- .0 viding a mechanism which is sufficiently strong to withstand the shocks and stresses to which it is subjected during operation.

An object of the invention, accordingly, is to provide an independently sprung wheel mechanism of an improved character wherein means is provided to prevent excessive vertical movement of the wheel. A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the above character wherein torsion springs are incorporated to cushion relative vertical movement of the wheel with respect to the frame, supplementary mechanism being provided to reinforce the wheel mounting mechanism against stresses subected thereto in a direction parallel to the vehicle frame.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent as it is described in greater detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation, partly in section, on the line l-l of Figure 2, of an independently sprung front wheel, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2.is a view in section taken on the line 45 22 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation similar to Figure 1 and shows a modified form of the invention.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view in section taken on the line 1937, Serial No. 157,671

6-6 of Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the device taken in section along lines I-I of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the construction shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the side frame channel member of a vehicle is shown at Ill and a wheel to be independently mounted thereon is indicated at H by the dot and dash lines in Figure 1. This wheel is adapted to be mounted upon a cylinder l2 which is carried by a knuckle member l3 which serves as a steering pivot. This knuckle member is adapted to be mounted upon the frame member I 0 by means of upper and lower pivot pins l4. Upper and lower pantograph arms l5 and I6, respectively, are formed with bifurcated extremities l I in which the pivot pins H are received.

The other ends of arms l5 and I6 are secured to torsion springs l8 and I9, respectively, through spline connections 20 in order that the rocking movement of the arms l5 and I8 may be transmitted to the respective torsion springs l8 and IS. A hearing block 2| is secured to the frame member l0 and is provided with journal members 22 within which the torsion springs l8 and I9 are journalled. The remote ends of the springs l8 and I9 are splined at 23 within anchor brackets 24 which are carried by an anchor block 25, secured to the frame member ID.

As will be seen in Figure 2, the spline portion of the torsion spring l8 extends beyond the arm l5 and carries an arm 26 which is splined there- 5 toand secured in position by means of a threaded cap 21 which is secured to the end of the spring l8. Arm 26 extends downwardly and is received within a vertical slot 28, formed in an upper extension 29 of a block 30 which is slidably mounted within an elongated chamber 3! formed by a. cylindrical housing 32. The housing 32 is formed with a flange 33 which is adapted to be secured to the frame member l0 and. serves as a cylinder within which pistons 34 are slidably received. The pistons 34 are secured to block 30 by means of rods 35, a bearing sleeve 36 being provided, if desired, between the housing 32 and the block 30. By-passes 31 restrict the flow of fluid between opposite sides of the respective pistons 34, thus serving as a. cushioning or shock absorbing mechanism. The passages 31 may be provided with adjusting means 38 in order that the efiectiveness of the shock absorbing mechanism may be controlled. A cap 39 is provided for the outer end housing 32, being secured thereto in a suitable fashion and provided with a lug 40 which serves as an abutment to limit the outward sliding movement of block 30 and, correspondingly, the excessive collapse of the front end of the vehicle in case of a failure of the torsion rods l8 and IS.

in the modification shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and '7, the wheel ii is independently mounted on the frame l0. As before, the wheel II is adapted to be mounted on the cylinder I! which is connected to the steering knuckle l3. This steering knuckle I3 is held in the bifurcations H of the arms 4| and 42 by the pivot pins l4.

As shown in Figure "I, one end of the arm 4| is adapted to be secured to the bushing 44 which receives the spline section 20 of the torsion spring l8. The bushing 44 is adapted to receive the tapered roller bearing 45, the inner race 45 of which is suitably secured thereto. The outer race 41 is secured to the bearing housing 48 which is carried by the bearing block 2| which is secured to the frame It. The roller bearing 45 is held in position by means of the spacing ring 52, and the flanged collar 49 which is secured to the bearing housing 45. The collar 49 is grooved to receive a suitable packing material 50, thus keeping dust or other harmful substances out of the roller bearing 45. The spacing ring 52 and the inner race 45 of the roller bearing 45 are secured to the bushing 44 by means of the threaded lock nut 5| which is adapted to fit the threaded section of the bushing 44.

The anchor block 25 is formed with the

bifurcations

53 and 54 which are adapted to receive the remote end of the torsion spring i8. A spline section 23 of the torsion spring I5 is received in the bifurcation 54 which acts as an anchor bracket to secure the torsion spring I! to the frame In through the anchor block 25. Beyond the spline section 23 lies an extension 55 which is journalled in the bifurcation 53 and which is secured thereto by means of the lock nut 59, which is received by the threaded end of the extension 55.

The arm 4| extends rearwardly, terminating in a Journal member 55 by means of which it is journalled to the frame Hi. The journal member 55 houses a roller bearing 51 which is journalled on the extension 55 of the torsion spring l8. A spacing ring 58 positions the roller bearing 51, and in conjunction with the

bifurcations

53 and 54 acts to prevent axial motion thereof.

A circular opening 50 is formed on the arm 4| to facilitate the removal of the torsion spring It in case of failure thereof. In normal operation the opening 5|! is closed by means of a cover plate 5| suitably secured to the arm 4|.

It will be seen that the invention provides for greater vertical front wheel movement than in existing designs, and by means of 'the shock absorbing mechanism augments the action of the torsion bars. It further prevents excessive collapse of the front end of the vehicle in case the torsion rods fail. The modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 4-7 further provides a more rigid structure characterized by greater stiffness in a forward and rearward direction. In addition this structure facilitates the removal and replacement of the torsion spring it upon failure thereof.

I claim:

1. An independent wheel mounting comprising a vehicle frame, a wheel mounting member, spaced arms journaled at one end on the wheel mounting member, whereby vertical movement of the wheel mounting member with respect to the frame is permitted, a bushing on the other end of at least one of the arms journaled to the frame, a torsion spring member splined to the bushing on the end of at least one of the arms, rearward extensions on the arms, and means to journal the said extensions on the frame coaxial with the journal of the said respective arms on the frame.

2. An independent wheel mounting comprising a vehicle frame, a wheel mounting member, spaced arms journaled at one end on the wheel mounting member, whereby vertical movement of the wheel mounting member with respect to the frame is permitted, a bushing on the other end of at least one of the arms, a tapered roller bearing mounted on the bushing and journaled to the frame, a torsion spring member splined to the bushing on the end' of at least one of the arms, rearward extensions on the arms, and means to journal the said extensions on the frame coaxial to the journal of the said respective arms on the frame.

3. An independent wheel mounting comprising a vehicle frame, a wheel mounting member, spaced arms Journaled at one end on the wheel mounting member, whereby vertical movement of the wheel mounting member with respect to the frame is permitted, a bushing on the other end of at least one of the arms, a tapered roller bearing mounted on the bushing and Journaled to the frame, a torsion spring member splined at one end thereof to the bushing on the end of at least one of the arms, means to mount the other end of the torsion spring on the frame, rearward extensions on the arms, a rearwardly extending element on the torsion spring member, and means to journal the extremity of at least one of the arm extensions on the torsion spring.

PHILIP E. MATTHEWS;