Filament wound composite material leaf spring
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorRichard E. Robertson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A constant cross-sectional area filament wound composite material leaf spring of optional energy storage efficiency given the constraints of filament winding and maximum spring width comprises a portion which widens toward the end of the spring, the rate of increase of width of the spring being such that the longitudinal side surfaces of the spring along such portions follow a lateral, outwardly convex curve of radius R.sub.I, wherein R.sub.I at each point is substantially equal to the camber, i.e., the longitudinal radius of curvature R.sub.C at that point.
Claims6
A filament wound composite material leaf spring having upper and lower surfaces of length L.sub.M and of width W.sub.M at the widest point and having longitudinal portions in which the width of the leaf spring changes substantially, and having longitudinal camber such that said upper and lower surfaces each have a longitudinal radius of curvature R.sub.C, where R.sub.C is not necessarily constant over length L.sub.M, and said leaf spring having a right and a left longitudinal side surface and a substantially constant total cross-sectional area, said leaf spring characterized in that the longitudinal side surfaces of the leaf spring in said portions of the leaf spring wherein the width of the leaf spring changes substantially, are outwardly convex and define a curve, the radius of which at each point is equal to the longitudinal radius of curvature, R.sub.C, of the spring at that point.
A filament wound composite material leaf spring having upper and lower surfaces of length L.sub.M and of width W.sub.M at the widest point and having longitudinal camber such that said upper and lower surfaces have longitudinal radius of curvature R.sub.C, where R.sub.C is not necessarily constant over length L.sub.M, and said leaf spring having a right and a left longitudinal side surface and a substantially constant total cross-sectional area, said leaf spring comprising:
- a first portion of length L.sub.A about (0-0.4)L.sub.M and substantially uniform width W.sub.A less than W.sub.M ;
- an intermediate portion of length L.sub.I about (0.1-0.5)L.sub.M, extending longitudinally from said central portion and having width W.sub.I which increases continuously over length L.sub.I from about W.sub.A adjacent said first portion to about W.sub.M at its widest point, the rate of increase of said width W.sub.I being such that the longitudinal side surfaces of said leaf spring along said intermediate portion each follows a lateral, outwardly convex curve of radius R.sub.I, said radius R.sub.I at each point along L.sub.I being substantially equal to the longitudinal radius of curvature R.sub.C at the point;
- a third portion of length L.sub.W about (0-0.3)L.sub.M and substantially constant width W.sub.M, extending longitudinally from said intermediate portion;
- and
- an end portion of length L.sub.E about (0.0-0.2)L.sub.M integral with and extending longitudinally from said third portion, having width W.sub.E which decreases continuously over length L.sub.E from W.sub.M adjacent said intermediate portion to less than W.sub.M, the rate of decrease of width W.sub.E being such that the longitudinal side surfaces of the leaf spring along said end portion each follows a lateral, outwardly convex curve of radius R.sub.E, which radius R.sub.E is substantially equal to said radius R.sub.C at that point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.