# US 2019/0168560 A1 · Vehicle suspension unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168560 A1 - Document ID: US20190168560A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/208,232 - Filed: 2018-12-03 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-04 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Wolfgang David; Paul Zandbergen; Thomas Gerhards; Ralf Hintzen; Marc Simon; Friedrich Peter Wolf-Monheim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168560A1 ## CPC - B60G 11/38: and also rubber springs - B60G 11/08: arranged substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle - B60G 11/36: and also helical, spiral or coil springs - B60G 11/42: the rubber springs being attached to sprung part of the vehicle - B60G 11/58: arranged coaxially - B60G 11/62: having both rubber springs and fluid springs - B60G 2202/112: longitudinally arranged - B60G 2202/12: Wound spring - B60G 2202/14: Plastic spring, e.g. rubber - B60G 2202/143: subjected to compression - B60G 2202/152: Pneumatic spring - B60G 2204/45: Stops limiting travel - B60G 2204/4502: using resilient buffer - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A longitudinal leaf spring device for suspending a motor vehicle body or chassis on a vehicle axle thereof. Leaf spring device including an elongated leaf spring unit, a coupling device connecting the leaf spring unit to the vehicle axle, and suspension unit arranged in a substantially vertical direction between a chassis and the axle. The suspension unit including suspension elements providing a spring-back force in the vertical direction and producing an active connection between the chassis and the axle when the distance between the chassis and axle exceeds a predetermined first deflection depth. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A longitudinal leaf spring device for use with a vehicle comprising: an elongated leaf spring, a vehicle axle; a coupler connecting the leaf spring to the vehicle axle; and a suspension unit, separate from said elongated leaf spring, positioned vertically between a vehicle chassis and the vehicle axle, the suspension unit having a plurality of suspension elements exerting a spring-back force, the suspension unit connected to said vehicle chassis and having a free end spaced from said vehicle axle at a predetermined first deflection depth between the free end of the suspension unit and the vehicle axle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 1 wherein said suspension unit includes a plurality concentrically arranged plate springs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 1 wherein said suspension unit includes an elastomeric element, the elastomeric element including a rubber material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 3 wherein a free end of the elastomeric element is spaced from said free end of said suspension unit at a predetermined second deflection depth, the predetermined second deflection depth is greater than the predetermined first deflection depth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 2 including a first connection element connecting a topmost plate spring to the vehicle chassis; an elastomeric element, secured to a second connection element connected to a lowermost plate spring at an opposite end of said concentrically arranged plate springs, said elastomeric element having a free end spaced said predetermined first deflection depth wherein during an active connection between the vehicle chassis and the vehicle axle the suspension element is arranged force-wise in series. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 1 including a coil spring and an elastic element made from a rubber elastic material, wherein the coil spring is embedded in the elastic element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 1 including a contact bearing element on the vehicle axle arranged adjacent the free end of the suspension unit in a direction of a return spring force of the suspension elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 1 including a connection element having a planar surface fixed to a plate spring. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 5 including an insulation element connected to said suspension unit forming a part of said free end of said suspension unit. ### Claim 10 A vehicle suspension comprising: an elongated leaf spring, a vehicle axle; a vehicle chassis; a coupler connecting the leaf spring to the vehicle axle; a suspension unit, separate from said leaf spring, fixed to and depending vertically from said vehicle chassis, said suspension unit including a plurality of concentrically aligned plate springs, a topmost plate spring connected to said vehicle chassis; and a lowermost plate spring and a connection element fixed to the lowermost spring plate forming a free end of said suspension unit spaced from said vehicle axle at a predetermined first deflection depth. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle suspension of claim 10 wherein said suspension unit includes a bumper fixed on one end to the vehicle chassis, said bumper having a free end spaced from said vehicle axle a predetermined second deflection depth, said connection element positioned between said free end of said bumper and said vehicle axle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The vehicle suspension of claim 11, wherein said second deflection depth is greater than said predetermined first deflection depth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The vehicle suspension of claim 10 wherein said suspension unit includes a bumper fixed to said connection element, said bumper having a free end, said free end of said bumper forming said free end of said suspension unit spaced from said vehicle axle at a predetermined first deflection depth, said bumper between said plurality of concentrically aligned spring plates and said vehicle axle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The vehicle suspension of claim 10 wherein said suspension unit includes an elastomeric bumper element and a coil spring embedded in said elastomeric bumper element.