US 4,226,441 AGranted

Auxiliary vehicle spring for lightly loaded conditions

AssigneeCambria Spring Company

InventorAlbert J. Lampert

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A vehicle suspension system in which an auxiliary spring having a lower spring rate than the mainspring provides a resilient ride under empty or lightly loaded conditions by urging the mainspring toward the lower limit of its vertical travel. The auxiliary spring, which can be added to an existing suspension system of conventional design, extends along the underside of the vehicle frame toward a hanger in which the mainspring is inserted. A sliding bracket with an anti-friction liner is carried by the auxiliary spring and engages the mainspring to reduce wear. The size of the auxiliary spring is minimized by the use of multiple leaves. A pivoted attachment of the auxiliary spring permits its position to be adapted to the dimensions of a particular vehicle by varying the size or configuration of a spacer.

Claims3

Dependent claims

A suspension system for a vehicle comprising:

a main leaf sring connected to at least one axle of said vehicle;
hanger means attached to said vehicle for retaining said mainspring while permitting vertical travel thereof within a predetermined range;
an auxiliary spring disposed between said frame and said mainspring to downwardly bias said mainspring toward the lower limit of said range of travel, said auxiliary spring comprising a first auxiliary leaf extending continuously along and beneath said frame toward said hanger and a second auxiliary leaf coextensive with a portion of said first auxiliary leaf;
an attachment plate underlying a portion of said frame;
clamp means for securing said attachment plate to said frame;
a spacer supported by said attachment plate between said frame and said auxiliary spring;
spring securement means for pivotally attaching said auxiliary spring to said frame at location spaced horizontally from said hanger means, said spring securement means comprising a pin extending crosswise with respect to said frame and an eye found by said first and second auxiliary leaves that surrounds said pin;
and
a slider plate secured to said first auxiliary leaf that slidably engages said mainspring, said slider plate including an anti-friction liner;
said auxiliary spring having a spring rate substantially lower than that of said mainspring, whereby said vehicle rides on said auxiliary spring when lightly loaded but rides on said mainspring when heavily loaded.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/891,847Filed 30 Mar 1978 · continuation in part
Priority: 1 Apr 1977
Granted: 7 Oct 1980
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60G 17/023
Spring characteristics , e.g. mechanical springs and mechanical adjusting means: the mechanical spring being a leaf spring
B60G 11/04
Having leaf springs only: arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle
B60G 2202/112
Leaf spring: longitudinally arranged
B60G 2500/20
Indexing codes relating to the regulated action or device: spring action or springs