Suspension hanger bracket
AssigneeRockwell International Corporation
InventorLawrence G. Barnes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an automotive axle of the type having a hanger bracket attached to the axle by horizontal welds, the hanger bracket is capable of receiving a suspension member therein, the improvement comprising: a fulcrum element on the hanger bracket; the fulcrum element interposed between the point where the load is imparted by the suspension member to the hanger bracket and the weld on the mounting flange of the hanger bracket, the fulcrum element capable of preventing load reversals from occurring in the welds thereby adversely affecting the fatigue life of the welds, the fulcrum element is at least one bolt in the hanger bracket, the bolt extending through the hanger bracket and into contact with the axle.
Claims5
In an automotive axle of the type having a hanger bracket attached to said axle by horizontal welds, said hanger bracket is capable of receiving a suspension member therein, the improvement comprising:
- a fulcrum element on said hanger bracket;
- said fulcrum element interposed between the point where the load is imparted by said suspension member to said hanger bracket and said weld on the mounting flange of said hanger bracket, said fulcrum element capable of preventing load reversals from occurring in said welds thereby adversely affecting the fatigue life of said welds, said fulcrum element is at least one bolt in said hanger bracket, said bolt extending through said hanger bracket and into contact with said axle.
A method for preventing stress reversals from occurring in weld joints between a first member and a second member wherein said second member is cyclically loaded by forces perpendicular to said welds first in one direction then in opposite directions, said forces applied to said second member a predetermined distance from said weld joints, said method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a fulcrum element through said second member and into contact with said first member when said weld joint is in an unstressed condition;
- and locking said fulcrum element onto said second member for movement therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.