US2567594A

US2567594A - Vehicle spring adjuster

Info

Publication number: US2567594A
Application number: US789033A
Authority: US
Inventors: Claus F Bruhn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-12-01
Filing date: 1947-12-01
Publication date: 1951-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 1968-09-11

Description

Sept. 11, 1951 c. F. BRUHN 2,567,594

VEHICLE SPRING ADJUSTER Filed Dec. 1, 1947 Fig. 33 32 30 28 34 1' um O /4 H 22 Q40 I 2; ouln- I O 6 25; 3a 36 I8 52 2;; 20

Fig.3.

Inventor Claus E Bra/m WW EM Patented Sept. 11, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE SPRING ADJUST-ER Claus F. Bruhnfbanvers, Minn. Application December 1, imyser'isi No. 789,633

2 Claims. (01. sci-=) "This invention rel-ates to new and usefulirnprovements in knee action mechanisms'and the primary object of the present invention is to provide novel and improved means for restoring the main spring of a knee action mechanism to its normal operating condition after the tenslon in the same has been reduced from use.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a spring adjuster for knee action mechanisms that may be quickly and readily applied in an operative position relative to the spring of a knee action mechanism in a convenient manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a spring adjuster that is extremely small and compact in structure.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide an attachment for knee action mechanisms that are simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is fragmentary elevation view of a knee action mechanism applied to a vehicle wheel, and showing the present invention operatively connected thereto, and with parts of the mechanism and present spring adjuster broken away and shown in section:

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the present invention per se; and,

Figure 3 is a side elevational View of the present invention and showing the knee action mechanism applied thereto, and with parts broken away and shown in section.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral ll] represents the knee action mechanism of a vehicle generally, comprising a knuckle arm I2 having an integral support arm M, a preferably channel shaped suspension cross member l6, a base member I 8 pivoted at one end 2|] to the lower end 22 of the steering knuckle support arm [4 and at its opposite end 24 to a depending element 26 carried by the cross member [6, a shock absorber mechanism 28 that is pivoted to one end 30 of a knee action upper arm 32 pivotally carried as .2 at '33 to the u per enq 34 6f the-suppers am F4.

The base member i8 is provided with amennular seat 36 that frictionally engages the lower end 38 of a coil spring 40. The upper end 4| of the coil spring 40 normally frictionally engages the cross member [6.

The present invention does not attempt to claim the above conventional structure, but is merely an adjuster for the coil 4|]. The numeral 42 represents a sleeve like body that extends into the upper end 4| of the coil spring 40. This body 42 is provided with an annular flange 44 that frictionally engages the upper end 4! of the coil spring 40. The upper face of the annular flange 44 frictionally engages an annular retaining ring 46 integrally formed with the cross member. The axial bore 48 of the body 42 opposes an opening 50 in the cross member I6 for engaging a usual shock absorber (not shown) which is conventionally employed in use with such a knee action mechanism.

In practical use of the device, the flanged portion 44 of the body will tend to compress the coil spring 40 thus restoring the same to its normally operating condition to prevent the vehicle Wheel 52 from being out of line.

To further compress the spring 40 one or more washers 54 of suitable material may be slidably positioned on the body to extend between the flange 44 and the upper end 42 of the spring 40.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. For use in a knee action construction including a suspension cross member, a base member pivotally connected to said cross member, said base member having an annular seat, an annular ring rigidly secured to said cross member, and a coil spring having its lower end positioned in said seat, the upper end of said spring bearing against said cross member and being concentric with said ring; a spring adjuster comprising a tubular open ended body received in the upper end of said spring, and a flange carried by said body at one end and em braced by said ring for spacing the upper end of said spring relative to the cross member, the upper end of said spring bearing against said flange for compressing the spring between the cross member and the seat, said cross member having an opening in registry with the opening in said body to receive a shock absorber.

2. In a knee action construction including a suspension cross member, a base member pivotally connected to said cross member, said base member having an annular seat, an annular ring rigidly secured to said cross member, and a coil spring having its lower end positioned in said seat, the upper end of said spring bearing against said cross member; a spring adjuster compris ing a tubular body open at both ends and having one end received in the upper end of said spring, a flange carried by said body at one end embraced by said ring for spacing the upper end of said spring relative to the cross member, a washer embracing said body and bearing against CLAUS F. BRUHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 775,582 Shea Nov. 22, 1904 2,070,775 Bell Feb. 16, 1937 2,115,919 Slack May 3, 1938 2,229,354 Utz Jan. 21, 1941 2,320,552 Balz June 1, 1943 2,314,505 McIntyre et a] Mar. 23, 1943