US3704740A - Suspension systems - Google Patents

Suspension systems Download PDF

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Publication number
US3704740A
US3704740A US147382A US3704740DA US3704740A US 3704740 A US3704740 A US 3704740A US 147382 A US147382 A US 147382A US 3704740D A US3704740D A US 3704740DA US 3704740 A US3704740 A US 3704740A
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Prior art keywords
spoke
member according
rim
hub
resilient
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Expired - Lifetime
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US147382A
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English (en)
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John Russell Crompton Moore
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
    • B60B9/00—Wheels of high resiliency, e.g. with conical interacting pressure-surfaces
    • B60B9/26—Wheels of high resiliency, e.g. with conical interacting pressure-surfaces comprising resilient spokes

Definitions

  • a rotatable member for a suspension system comprises a hub and a rim joined by at least two compliant spoke structures each having two portions connected in series at an angle to each other between hub and rim and each portion having two substantially parallel spoke members forming a compliant parallelogram arrangement.
  • the present invention relates to suspension systems and is particularly concerned with compliant rotatable members, such as wheels, pulleys and gears, for such systems.
  • the present invention is a development of the subject of U.S. Pat. application No. 315 of 1970 now Pat. No. 3,610,652 and is primarily intended for use in conjunction with the suspension system therein described, i.e. a system comprising a rotatable member having torque-transmissible compliant means joining a hub and rim of the member, the system having control means coupled to said rim by bearing means to constrain said rim to bodily movement along a predetermined path relative to a suspension support.
  • the difficulty arises of providing a rotatable member or wheel which does not produce cyclic disturbances between its hub and rim, i.e. cyclic angu- LII lar changes between hub and rim, when the hub is offi set from the rim.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a conformable rotatable member in which, for a given hub deflection range, the hub exhibits substantially no bodily angular variation relative to the rim.
  • a rotatable member having a hub and a rim and torquetransmissible compliant means joining the hub and rim, the compliant means comprising at least two spoke structures each comprising first and second spoke portions coupled in series at an angle to each other between the hub and rim and each portion comprising two members each mounted at two distinct mounting regions, the mounting regions at the series junction of the spoke portions being joined so that the four mounting regions of each spoke portion are substantially at the corners of a parallelogram, as seen axially of the member.
  • each spoke portion is not necessarily precisely at the corners of a parallelogram, as some difference may be desirable to compensate for non-linearity in a particular suspension system.
  • the angle between the lines joining the two distinct mounting regions of each member of the first portion and the corresponding lines of the second portion is in the region of 90.
  • junction device which forms part of one of the spoke portions or which is a separate component introduced between the two portions.
  • a device forms a common member which may complete the parallelograms of the portions along substantially a common line or may complete the parallelograms along distinct lines.
  • each spoke portion provides a parallelogram configuration, and one extends between the hub and the junction of the portions and the other extends between the rim and the junction.
  • the characteristics just described would ensure a positive drive substantially free from cyclic disturbances between hub and rim without the need for tie-bars between spoke structures.
  • deliberate errors may be introduced in optimizing the overall suspension design, such as by providing a castor angle in the suspension deflection path. Where the spoke portions are of resilient material, they would produce a spring wheel having negligible torsional resilience.
  • spoke portions described above may be of pivotally hinged construction and formed of many substantially rigid materials. Alternatively, they may be made of resilient sheet material, possibly spring steel.
  • Rigid spoke members may be pivoted by resilient or free bearing means of many descriptions, including rubber bushes and rubber bonded strip or flexible metallic hinges.
  • Resilient spoke members may conveniently be fixed at their ends but they might alternatively have a combination of fixed and hinged joints. It will be understood that where two parallel and equal lengths of resilient material are fixedat a given separation to two unyielding side members, resilient deflections comparable to those possible with rigid but pivotally hinged parts are obtainable, and accordingly substantially similar geometrical movements may be provided. Further, any single spoke portion need not be limited to two parallel spoke members provided all its similarly curved path is provided for the mounting regions at the junction;
  • Wheels thus constructed with resilient spoke members can be self-supporting, and may bear vehicle loads especially where the vehicle concerned is of simple type or light construction, but it is otherwise preferred that they be employed in a suspension system as already described in which higher loads can be home by additional spring means, proper controls can be implemented? and a much greater effective deflectional range can be provided.
  • Wheels constructed with rigid and freely hinged spoke members can support no loads in their unconstrained state and are intended solely for use in combination with the aforesaid suspension system. Where rigid spokes are used in combination with resilient hinges, the characteristics of the wheel compare with wheels using resilient spokes and, depending on the degree of resilience provided by the hinges, they may be used alone and are self-supporting.
  • the least amount of space within the wheel is consumed by deflections in the spoke structures for a design of given transverse rigidity when the spoke structures are formed by direct superimposition or coupling of the spoke portions, that is to say, when both spoke portions are in the same radial plane.
  • a cross-over or staggered spoke construction may be employed.
  • spoke construction for example, the crowding of too many separate spokes in a wheel may limit deflection by conflict between the movable parts.
  • Rigid spoke members may conveniently be cast or forged in light alloy, stamped from steel sheet or fabricated or moulded of non-metals such as reinforced plastics. Some such plastics have excellent bearing properties in which cases separate bushes or,other bearings could be obviated. Webs, ribs, corrugations and the like may be formed in the parts to enhance their rigidity.
  • a preferred arrangement of hinge comprises cylindrical rubber bushes secured by pressure or bonding or both pressure and bonding, used in a mortise or tenon type of hinge in which one part meshes with another part and a hinge-pin is inserted through both parts and the bushes.
  • a hinge-pin which is advantageously tapered at its leading end, is pressed into the complete assembly, preferably with a bonding or locking agent which, while liquid,acts as a lubricant but which subsequently cures, The tapered end finally projecting through the hinge is subsequently severed.
  • the pin diameter may be designed to compress the rubber to a desired extent.
  • hinged components Because of the self-return action of resilient bushes and in order to equalize the overall action, it is desirable that the hinged components should be assembled with the parts concerned substantially at the mean angle to be assumed when in use.
  • One economical method of forming rigid spoke parts is to extrude light alloy in a dumb-bell section which is cut into lengths determined by the transverse spoke width, bored transversely at the ends to suit the diameter of the bush to be used, and mortized or slotted in one operation with a multiple miller.
  • FIG. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 show diagrammatically different embodiments of a compliant wheel
  • FIG. 2 shows a part of the wheel of FIG. 1
  • FIG. 7 shows a portion of a spoke member
  • FIG. 8 shows a knuckle or junction member
  • FIG. 9 is a view of one form of resilient hinge
  • FIG. shows a cross-over spoke arrangement
  • FIG. 11 shows a spoke junction of resilient sheet metal
  • FIG. 12 shows a wheel with rim control means
  • FIG. 13 shows the control means of FIGURE 12.
  • substantially rigid spoke members 5 are hinged by pivots 4 between junction devices 3 and rim 1 and between hub 2 and junction devices 3 in such manner that rim and hub remain in proper spatial relationship when they undergo relative displacement from the coaxial condition.
  • the hub spoke members are all of equal length and in each spoke are parallel; likewise the rim spoke members are of equal length and are parallel
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a convenient spoke member construction for the embodiment of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates diagrammatically one proposed layout for spring spokes which are rigidly fixed to the rim, hub and junction devices 3, and FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 show alternative lay-outs with spring spokes with fixed oints.
  • FIG. 7 is a view showing a dumb-bell shaped end of an extruded light alloy spoke member 5 after boring for the hinge and mortising for meshing with its complementary member.
  • the fingers may be bushed with slidable bearings, needle-roller cartridges or the like, but preferably with rubber.
  • FIG. 8 is an end-on view of a knuckle or junction member 3 suitable for spoke members formed as shown in FIG. 7 and assembled with rubber bushes 6 and center-pins 7. It will be obvious that such junction devices may also be cut from extruded sections to provide completed components by boring and mortising.
  • FIG. 9 is a view of an alternative hinge in which the fingers of the hinge mesh with wide clearance to allow provision for a continuous rubber sleeve 6 to twist when adjacent fingers undergo relative angular displacement as the wheel rim is deflected, thus eliminating sliding surfaces between the fingers.
  • FIG. 10 illustrates one convenient cross-over spoke arrangement in which the hub spoke members are staggered across the hub and the rim spoke members are staggered across the rim.
  • spoke member A By turning spoke member A to a vertical position and by lowering spoke B, such a layout could be used to stagger the radial fixing plane at the hub in relation to that at the rim.
  • FIG. 11 shows one method by which a junction may be formed from resilient sheet metal used for forming resilient spoke members.
  • Each spoke pair is formed by bending the sheet metal into a U configuration in'such manner as to leave an angled limb 8 between the two members at their correct distance of separation, and the angled limbs 8 are then secured together by their facing surfaces by brazing, clamping or the like.
  • the spoke members may be shaped instead of straight, the ends may be cranked to improve clearances or for other purposes, dimensional allowances may be made for resilient bush distortion when loaded, the spokes may be attached directly to the rim or the hub, or to integral parts thereof, or to parts thereto attached, and so forth.
  • other hinge constructions may be employed, for example a .resilient hinge comprising a cylindrical or male part and a co-operating hollow cylindrical or female part open along one side and of a width determined by the angular travel requirements of the hinge.
  • the male part is placed coaxially within the female part and rubber, such as a synthetic resin, is moulded into the annular cavity between the parts.
  • a split rubber tube may be drawn into the cavity and bonded to the surfaces therein.
  • FIG. 12 being an axial section of a wheel with hinged spoke members 5 in the manner of FIG. 8, and FIG. 13 showing a cycloid-like lever mechanism seen in section in FIG. 12 and contained within the confines of the rim 1.
  • the wheel hub 2 is mounted by two bearings on a hub spindle 9 one end of which is mounted in a fixed hub carrier 10.
  • the carrier 10 is encircled by-a brake disc secured to the hub 2.
  • An inwardly facing flange 12 on the rim 1 co-operates with a peripheral spigot 13 of a disc 14.
  • At the center of the disc 14 is a locking spindle 15 and nut 16, the spindle carrying a bearing 17 by which rim control means can be coupled to the rim to bypass the hub.
  • the rim control means to cause the rim to move in a substantially straight line relative to the hub, can take a variety of forms, such as a Watts linkage or a hypocycloid gear arrangement coupling the hub spindle 9 to the bearing 17, and also being coupled to a shaft 18 such that the shaft 18 rotates with rim deflection.
  • the rim control means is a lever mechanism (FIG. 13) which is equivalent to a hypocycloid gear arrangement, and thus operates to restrain the rim deflections to a substantially linear path.
  • the mechanism comprises an arm 19 clamped to the hub spindle 9 and rotatably supporting an arm 20 at its free end.
  • the arm 20 is pivotally coupled to one end of a lever 21 the other end of which is connected to the rim bearing 17.
  • the center of lever 21 is pivotally connected to an arm 22 clamped to the shaft 18. Where the shaft 18 emerges from the hub carrier 10, vehicle restraint is applied to the shaft by conventional means such as a normal suspension spring.
  • Such a spring may be designed to maintain a predetermined position of the rim relative to the hub with a predetermined load on the wheel, to take into account desired deflections for both bump and recoil.
  • damping means and anti-roll devices can also be applied.
  • the above embodiments when for a road vehicle, may be designed to provide a diametrical range for the hub in the range from at least 15 to 25 percent of the effective outer diameter of the spoke structures or of the inner diameter of whatever the structures are attached to, be it the rim or means attached to the rim.
  • a rotatable member having a hub and a rim and torque-transmissible compliant means comprising at least two spoke structures joining said hub and. rim, the improvement which comprises:
  • each of said spoke structures having two spoke portions
  • each of said spoke portions comprising two spoke members each mountedat two distinct mounting regions;
  • each of said resilient hinges comprises two parts relatively rotatably mounted and a resilient member bonded between said parts.
  • each of said resilient hinges comprises two relatively rotatable parts having interdigitate, hollow, fingers, a hinge-pin which passes through said fingers, and at least one resilient bush interposed in a compressed condition between saidhinge-pin and said fingers.
  • each of said spoke portions is a sheet of resilient material formed in U-shape the limbs of which are said spoke members and the bight of which forms a junction by which said portion is secured in series to the associated one of said spoke portions.
  • a member according to claim 1 wherein, in each of said spoke structures, the angle between said two spoke portions is about 16.
  • said compliant means are constructed so that said hub can deflect diametrically to at least l5 percent of the effective outer diameter of said spoke structures.
  • a member according to claim 1 comprising a bearing coupled to said rim so that rim control means can be applied to said rim while bypassing said hub.
  • control means has a portion which moves with said relative movement so that a suspension spring can be coupled to said portion to impart resilience to said relative movement.
  • control means is a lever mechanism simulating a cycloid mechanism.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
US147382A 1970-05-28 1971-05-21 Suspension systems Expired - Lifetime US3704740A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2585770A GB1357894A (en) 1970-05-28 1970-05-28 Compliant rotatable members for suspension systems

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US3704740A true US3704740A (en) 1972-12-05

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US147382A Expired - Lifetime US3704740A (en) 1970-05-28 1971-05-21 Suspension systems

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US (1) US3704740A (show.php)
CA (1) CA924622A (show.php)
DE (1) DE2126701A1 (show.php)
FR (1) FR2096762B2 (show.php)
GB (1) GB1357894A (show.php)
IT (1) IT982343B (show.php)
SE (1) SE367963B (show.php)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4301533A1 (de) * 1993-01-21 1994-07-28 Thomas Steffan Rad mit Eigenfederung, dessen Felge mit der Nabe durch mehrere von Federn stabilisierten Gelenkhebelsystemen verbunden ist für alle mit Rädern versehenen Gegenstände insbesondere Fahrzeuge
US6575271B2 (en) 2001-03-02 2003-06-10 S.C. Wheel, Llc Brake mechanism for resilient wheel
US20050134019A1 (en) * 2003-12-22 2005-06-23 Salvio Plana Stabilizer training wheel with integral suspension
US20160001602A1 (en) * 2013-02-20 2016-01-07 Bridgestone Corporation Tire
US20200324571A1 (en) * 2019-04-12 2020-10-15 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Non-pneumatic tires with brake cooling spokes

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2519910A1 (fr) * 1982-01-19 1983-07-22 Ouest Cie Produits Ind Roue a suspension centrale integree
GB8608270D0 (en) * 1986-04-04 1986-05-08 Jones S Ground-engaging wheels for vehicles
CN110614877B (zh) * 2019-09-25 2023-04-18 乐芙麦迪高有限公司 一种具有缓冲功能的车轮以及带有轮的可行走装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1166697A (en) * 1915-10-27 1916-01-04 Charles H Likely Spring-wheel.
US1199346A (en) * 1916-05-25 1916-09-26 Chalmer Carpenter Vehicle-wheel.
US1211504A (en) * 1916-04-27 1917-01-09 Oskar Thuren Wheel structure.
US1399220A (en) * 1919-11-24 1921-12-06 Daniel J Mccluskey Spring-wheel

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1166697A (en) * 1915-10-27 1916-01-04 Charles H Likely Spring-wheel.
US1211504A (en) * 1916-04-27 1917-01-09 Oskar Thuren Wheel structure.
US1199346A (en) * 1916-05-25 1916-09-26 Chalmer Carpenter Vehicle-wheel.
US1399220A (en) * 1919-11-24 1921-12-06 Daniel J Mccluskey Spring-wheel

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4301533A1 (de) * 1993-01-21 1994-07-28 Thomas Steffan Rad mit Eigenfederung, dessen Felge mit der Nabe durch mehrere von Federn stabilisierten Gelenkhebelsystemen verbunden ist für alle mit Rädern versehenen Gegenstände insbesondere Fahrzeuge
US6575271B2 (en) 2001-03-02 2003-06-10 S.C. Wheel, Llc Brake mechanism for resilient wheel
US20050134019A1 (en) * 2003-12-22 2005-06-23 Salvio Plana Stabilizer training wheel with integral suspension
US7032916B2 (en) 2003-12-22 2006-04-25 Brevets Futek-Msm Ltee Stabilizer training wheel with integral suspension
US20160001602A1 (en) * 2013-02-20 2016-01-07 Bridgestone Corporation Tire
US20200324571A1 (en) * 2019-04-12 2020-10-15 Ford Global Technologies, Llc Non-pneumatic tires with brake cooling spokes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2126701A1 (de) 1971-12-02
IT982343B (it) 1974-10-21
FR2096762A2 (show.php) 1972-02-25
SE367963B (show.php) 1974-06-17
GB1357894A (en) 1974-06-26
CA924622A (en) 1973-04-17
FR2096762B2 (show.php) 1975-07-04

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