Vehicle suspensions
AssigneeDunlop Limited
InventorDennis Kenyon
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tandem axle vehicle suspension comprising a beam extending between and pivotally connected at each end to a respective one of a pair of axles and a spring acting between the beam and a vehicle mounting. The spring comprises a pair of springs the axes of which are inclined at equal and opposite angles to the vertical. Each spring comprises layers of elastomeric material interleaved with and bonded to reinforcing elements wherein at least some of the elastomeric layers and elements are curved about a common center of curvature.
Claims11
A tandem axle vehicle suspension comprising a beam extending between and pivotally connected at each of its ends to a respective one of a pair of axles, spring means acting between a central portion of said beam and a vehicle mounting, said spring means comprising a pair of springs the axes of which are inclined at equal and opposite angles to the vertical, each spring being rigidly mounted to an inclined surface on the central portion of said beam and to said vehicle mounting so that pivotal movement of the beam in relation to the vehicle takes place in the spring itself, each said spring comprising layers of elastomeric material interleaved with and bonded to reinforcing elements of which at least some of said elastomeric layers and elements of each spring are curved about a common centre of curvature and the elastomeric layers and elements of each spring lie in planes extending substantially parallel to said axles.
A tandem axle vehicle suspension comprising a beam extending between and pivotally connected at each end to a respective one of a pair of axles, spring means acting between a central portion of said beam and a vehicle mounting, said spring means comprising a pair of springs the axes of which are inclined at equal and opposite angles to the vertical, each spring being rigidly mounted to an inclined surface on the central portion of said beam and to said vehicle mounting so that pivotal movement of the beam in relation to the vehicle takes place in the spring itself, each said spring comprising layers of elastomeric material interleaved with and bonded to reinforcing elements of which at least some of said elastomeric layers and elements of each spring are curved about a common centre of curvature and the curved elastomeric layers and elements of each spring are pivotal about an axis parallel to the axles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.