US2650817A

US2650817A - Spring arc support

Info

Publication number: US2650817A
Application number: US40920A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond P Cover
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1948-07-27
Filing date: 1948-07-27
Publication date: 1953-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 1970-09-01

Description

Sept. 1, 1953 R. P. COVER SPRING ARC SUPPORT Filed July 27, 1948 INVENTOR g) Moud/Qc l/er J $306M ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 1,1953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRING ARC SUPPORT Raymond P. Cover, Springdale, Conn.

Application July 27, 1948, Serial N 0. 40,920

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a spring are support adapted to reinforce a laminated leaf spring such as the standard semi-elliptical type well known in the art. Devices of this class have been known for many years, and there are a great many patents showing various constructions suggested by prior workers in this field. So far as I know, however, no truly successful construction has ever been contributed to the art, although I have achieved a considerable degree of success with a device set forth in my earlier application for Patent No. 635,843 filed December 19, 1945, now Pat. No. 2,525,065 dated October 10, 1950.

It is the object of this invention to contribute a spring are support that will function effectively and with a minimum of friction to reinforce and maintain in an effectively operating position the leaves of a laminated leaf spring.

As a feature of my invention whereby the results thereof are obtained, I utilize a spring-like bar having one end thereof applied directly against substantially the shortest leaf of the spring, the other end of the spring-like bar being applied to the surface of the substantially longest leaf of the laminated leaf spring. Through this arrangement, preferably a considerable length of the spring-like bar at one end thereof is actually supported in position by the entire laminated leaf spring so as to apply through the remainder of the bar a considerable pressure that is effectively utilized to bolster and support the longest leaf of the laminated leaf spring.

As a more particular feature of my invention, the spring-like bar that is utilized as my spring are support is separated from the spring that it reinforces except where it is applied at its ends to the leaves of the spring. Through this arrangement, friction is effectively eliminated and my spring are support operates most eficiently.

As a further feature of the invention, I utilize a shim applied to the leaf spring itself for maintaining my spring are support against linear movement relatively to the leaf spring.

As a still further feature of the invention, I utilize a novel means for securing one end of my spring are support to the leaf spring with a portion thereof operating against the eye of the spring for preventing movement of the springlike bar relatively to the spring.

I have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of my invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that my contribution to the art may be better appre-- ciated. There are, of course, additional features of my invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which my disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of my invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims to be granted me shall be of sufucient breadth to prevent the appropriation of my invention by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation showing approximately one-half of a conventional semi-elliptical spring reinforced by the spring are support of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are sections taken respectively along lines 2-2 and 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows rivets for securing a plate to the flat spring-like bar constituting my spring are support. Fig. 5 shows a modification of the means utilized for securing one end of my spring are support to the longest leaf of the semi-elliptical spring. Fig. 6 is a section taken along lines 66 of Fig. 5, Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a U-bolt utilized as part of the structure of Figs. 5 and 6.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral l5 indicates generally the main frame of an automobile or the like hav-- ing downwardly depending ears H for supporting a bolt 12 that carries the eye [3 of a laminated leaf spring L, the said eye l3 being an integral part of the upper and longest leaf [4 of the said spring. The central portion of the laminated leaf spring L is secured through suit able U-bolts E5 to a part it carried by an axle ll, all as is quite conventional in this art. It is the general purpose of my invention as already .set forth, to apply to the spring L a spring are support for holding it arched as in Fig. 1, my device being especially useful where the spring has been overloaded or through age has 'lost some of its resilience.

The spring are support of my invention comprises a spring-like bar It having a substantial linearly extending surface [9 applied to the underside of what may be the shortest leaf 28 of the several leaves comprising the spring L. For holding the portion I9 of the bar [8 against leaf 2:3 I utilize a U-bolt 2| traversing at its ends a plate 22 that may be welded to the underside of the bar i8 as shown at 23. If desired, and as shown in Fig. 4, the plate 22 may be riveted through rivets 2 3 to the bar l8. Regardless of the manner in which the plate 22 is secured to the bar l8, the tightening of nuts on the ends of the U-bolt 2| will secure the surface 19 against the lower leaf 20 as is well illustrated in Fig. 1.

That portion of the spring-like bar l8 constituting my spring are support that is to the left of the surface portion I9 is preferably so bent as to be spaced from the several leaves of the spring L except at its very extreme left end. Thus, at its extreme left end the spring arc support I8 has a portion 26 that is applied directly to the underside, preferably of the longest leaf M of the leaf spring L. Because of the particular arrangement, it is the heaviest part of the spring L formed by assembly of all its leaves that-supports the spring are support l8 in position for reinforcing at the portion 26 the longest leaf in of the spring. In other words, all the reinforcing stresses are applied through the spring-like bar I8 to substantially the central portion of the.

spring L where substantially all the leaf laminations are secured to one another.

The left end of the spring are support 18 may be secured to the leaf I4 by a stabilizer 21 that is applied initially with its portions 21a as shown in dash and dotted lines in Fig. 3. Once the stabilizer is so applied, the portions 21a will be bent over into the full line position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3.

For preventing endwise movement of the spring are support to the left in Fig. 1, I may utilize a shim 28 formed of metal and inserted between the leaves of the spring. The ends of the shim 28 extend outwardly, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, to obstruct movement of the U-bolt 2| and the spring are support to the left in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 5, 6, and '7, I show a U-bolt 30 that is used in the place of stabilizer 21 and the shim 28. Thus, U-bolt 30 is adapted to have its screwthreaded ends 3| traverse holes 32 in a plate 33 that is welded or otherwise secured to the left end of the spring are support 18. Through nuts 34 the U-bolt 3G is applied to the leaf M of the leaf spring L for holding the surface-26 at the left end of the spring are support against the underside of leaf l4 and thereby, I very effectively secure the spring arc support l8 relatively to the leaf [4. A lug 35 formed integrallywith the U-bolt 30 extends to the left therefrom as shown in Fig. 5, whereby to impinge against the eye l3 of the leaf spring L. It is quite obvious that with this relationship of the parts, the lug 35 will prevent any movement to the left of the spring are support [8. Thereby, the lug 35 will replace the shim 28 rather effectively, while the U-bolt 30 will function more efficiently than does the stabilizer 21.

I believe that the considerable merits of my invention and my contribution to the art will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

I now claim:

1. A spring are support for supporting and reinforcing a laminated leaf spring of the type having a series of leaves with the longest leaf terminating in an eye comprising a spring-like bar having one end section thereof formed with a substantial linearly extending surface applied directly against a similarly extending surface of substantially the shortest leaf of the laminated spring where substantially all the leaves of said spring are assembled, clamping means at substantially the beginning of said end section clamping said spring are support to said lami nated leaf spring with the said surface of said end section applied against said shortest leaf, the other end of the spring-like bar having a surface applied to the longest leaf of said laminated spring and extending substantially to the eye thereof, the bar portion between said surfaces being spaced from said spring, and means additional to said clamping means for preventing said bar from sliding in the direction of the eye of said longest leaf.

2. A spring are support for supporting and reinforcing a curved laminated leaf spring of the type having a series of leaves with the longest leaf terminating in an eye comprising a springlike bar having one end section thereof formed. with a substantial linearly extending surface applied directly against a similarly extending surface of substantially the shortest leaf of the spring, said spring are support curving generally in the same direction as said longest leaf, clamping means at substantially the beginning of said end. section clamping said spring arc support to said laminated leaf spring with the said surface of said end section applied against said shortest leaf so that said spring-like bar is in effect a part of said laminated spring, the other end of the spring-like bar having a surface applied to the longest leaf of said laminated spring and extending adjacent to the eye thereof whereby the stress applied to said longest leaf is transmitted to said spring are support and in turn to said entire leaf spring at that portion thereof where all the leaves of the leaf spring are assembled, the bar portion between its said surfaces bein spaced from the intervening leaves of said spring.

3. A spring are support for supporting and reinforcing a laminated leaf spring of the type having a series of leaves graduated in length with the longest leaf terminating in an eye comprising a spring-like bar having one end section thereof formed with-a substantial linearly extending surface applied directly against a similarly extending surface of substantially the shortest leaf of the spring, means at substantially the beginning of said end section clamping said spring arc support to said laminated leaf spring with the said surface of said end section applied against said shortest leaf, a second linear section at the other end of the spring-like bar having a substantial linearly extending surface applied to the longest leaf of said laminated spring and extending substantially to the eye thereof, the bar portion be tween said sections being spaced from said spring, means at the beginning of said second section securing said bar relatively to said longest leaf, and a part integral with said means to abut the eye of the spring for preventing said bar from sliding toward the eye of said laminated spring.

4. A spring arc support for supporting and reinforcing a curved laminated leaf spring of the type having a series of leaves graduated in length with the longest leaf terminating in an eye, comprising a spring-like bar having one end section thereof formed with a linearly extending surface applied directly against a linearly extending surface of substantially the shortest leaf of the spring where substantially all the leaves of said spring are assembled, said spring arc support curving generally in the same direction as said longest leaf, clamping means clamping said section of said spring are support directly against said laminated leaf spring and applied to said leaf, the other end of the spring-like bar having a surface applied to the longest leaf of said laminated spring and extending adjacent the eye thereof, whereby the stress applied to said longest leaf is transmitted to said spring are support and in turn to said entire leaf spring at the part of said leaf spring where all its leaves are assembled.

5. A spring are support for supporting and reinforcing a laminated leaf spring of the type having a series of leaves graduated in length with the longest leaf terminating in an eye, comprising a spring-like bar having one end surface applied directly against a surface of substantially the shortest leaf of the spring where substantially all the leaves of said spring are assembled, a U-bolt securing said end of said spring are support to said laminated leaf spring with the said end applied against said shortest leaf, the other end of the spring-like bar having a surface applied to the longest leaf of said laminated spring and extending substantially to the eye thereof, the bar portion between said ends being spaced from said leaf spring, a second U-bolt at the said other end of said bar securing said bar relatively to said longest leaf, and means integral with said second U-bolt for preventing said bar from sliding in the direction of the eye of said spring.

6. A spring are support for supporting and reinforcing a laminated leaf spring of the type having a series of leaves graduated in length with the longest leaf terminating in an eye, comprising a spring-like bar having one end applied directly against a surface of substantially the shortest leaf of the spring where substantially all the leaves of said spring are assembled, clamping means securing said end of said spring are support to said laminated leaf spring with the said end applied against said shortest leaf, the other end of the spring-like bar being applied to the longest leaf of said laminated spring, the bar portion between said ends being spaced from said spring, a clamping means at the said other end of said bar securing said bar relatively to said longest leaf, and means integral with said second clamping means adapted to abut the eye of the spring for preventing said bar from sliding in the direction of the eye of said laminated spring. RAYMOND P. COVER.

References Cited in the file Of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,385,872 Hood July 26, 1921 1,538,188 Hopper a May 19, 1925 1,671,675 Hansen May 29, 1928 2,112,148 Drolet Mar. 22, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 216,825 Great Britain June 5, 1924 451,657 Germany Mar. 21, 1928