# US 10,864,791 B2 · Leaf spring suspension for wheeled vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,864,791 B2 - Document ID: US10864791B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/164,407 - Filed: 2018-10-18 - Published: 2019-04-25 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-20 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Thomas Gerhards; Alberto Girelli Consolaro; Ralf Hintzen; Daniel Mainz; Rainer Souschek - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10864791B2 ## CPC - B60G 9/02: the axle or housing being pivotally mounted on the vehicle {, e.g. the pivotal axis being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (B60G9/003 takes precedence)} - B60B 35/007: {for mounting suspension elements to axles} - B60B 35/08: of closed hollow section - B60G 11/04: arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle - B60G 11/113: Mountings on the axle (B60G11/107 takes precedence) - B60B 2360/102: Steel - B60G 2200/326: with two laterally spaced pivots, e.g. trailing frame - B60G 2202/112: longitudinally arranged - B60G 2204/121: Mounting of leaf springs - B60G 2206/428: Leaf springs - B60G 2206/7101: Fiber-reinforced plastics [FRP] - B60G 2206/8207: by screwing - B60G 2800/162: Reducing road induced vibrations - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION ## Abstract A suspension for a wheeled vehicle include an axle with a mid-section and an end comprising an upper portion and a lower portion defining a space therebetween, a leaf spring having forward and rear ends attached to vehicle structure and a mid-section retained in the space and secured between the upper and lower portions, and a closure element attached to the axle end and at least partially closing an outboard end of the space. The upper and lower axle portions may be formed integrally with the axle mid-section or may be a separately-formed component secured to the axle. The space tapers from a greater vertical dimension at the outboard end thereof to a smaller vertical dimension at an inboard end thereof, and the leaf spring mid-section is wedged into the space. An intermediate element is disposed between the mid-section and at least one of the upper and lower axle portions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A suspension for a vehicle, comprising: an axle having a mid-section and an end comprising an upper portion and a lower portion defining a space therebetween; a leaf spring having forward and rear ends attached to vehicle structure and a mid-section retained in the space and secured between the upper and lower portions; and a closure element attached to the axle end and at least partially closing an outboard end of the space. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The suspension of claim 1, wherein the upper and lower portions of the axle are formed integrally with the axle mid-section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The suspension of claim 1, wherein the space tapers from a greater vertical dimension at the outboard end thereof to a smaller vertical dimension at an inboard end thereof, and the leaf spring mid-section is wedged into the space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The suspension of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate element disposed between the leaf spring mid-section and at least one of the upper and lower axle portions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The suspension of claim 1, wherein the axle outboard end comprises a holding element fabricated separately from the axle mid-section and fastened thereto, and the holding element comprises the upper and lower portions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The suspension of claim 1, wherein the leaf spring further comprises at least one retaining feature projecting vertically from the leaf spring mid-section and engaging at least one of the upper and lower portion to restrain against relative lateral movement between the axle and the leaf spring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The suspension of claim 1, further comprising a second leaf spring connected to the axle by a clamping device and vertically spaced from the clamping device. ### Claim 8 A suspension for a vehicle, comprising: an axle having a mid-section and at least one end comprising an upper portion and a lower portion defining a space therebetween; and a leaf spring having forward and rear ends attached to vehicle structure and a mid-section retained in the space and secured between the upper and lower portions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The suspension of claim 8, wherein the upper and lower portions of the axle are formed integrally with the axle mid-section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The suspension of claim 8, further comprising a closure element attached to the end of the axle and at least partially closing an outboard opening of the space. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The suspension of claim 10, wherein the closure element comprises a wheel carrier for attaching a wheel to the axle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The suspension of claim 8, wherein the space tapers from a greater vertical dimension at an outboard end thereof to a smaller vertical dimension at an inboard end thereof, and the leaf spring mid-section is wedged into the space. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The suspension of claim 8, further comprising an intermediate element disposed between the leaf spring mid-section and at least one of the upper and lower axle portions. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The suspension of claim 8, wherein the axle outboard end comprises a holding element fabricated separately from the axle mid-section and fastened thereto, and the holding element comprises the upper and lower portions. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The suspension of claim 8, wherein the leaf spring further comprises at least one retaining feature projecting vertically from the leaf spring mid-section and engaging at least one of the upper and lower portion to restrain against relative lateral movement between the axle and the leaf spring. ### Claim 16 A suspension for a vehicle, comprising: an axle having an end comprising upper and lower portions; and a leaf spring having a mid-section secured within a space defined between the upper and lower portions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The suspension of claim 16, wherein the upper and lower portions of the axle are formed integrally with an axle mid-section. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The suspension of claim 16, wherein the space tapers from a greater vertical dimension at an outboard end thereof to a smaller vertical dimension at an inboard end thereof, and the leaf spring mid-section is wedged into the space. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The suspension of claim 16, further comprising an intermediate element disposed between the leaf spring mid-section and at least one of the upper and lower axle portions. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The suspension of claim 16, wherein the axle end comprises a holding element fabricated separately from an axle mid-section and fastened thereto, and the holding element comprises the upper and lower portions.