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AssigneeVette Products, Inc.
InventorsJohn E. Thompson, Angelo Gonzalez, Joseph S. Bursel, Hampton L. Aust, III
Estimating the term…
An upwardly bowed single transverse leaf spring is provided and includes longitudinally spaced central mounting areas between which a longitudinal mid-portion of the spring extends. The spring includes opposite end portions on remote sides of said mounting areas for anchoring relative to vehicle wheel supporting spindle structures and the mounting areas of the spring have mounts stationarily mounted relative thereto but adjustably positionable longitudinally of the spring and the mounts are pivotally mounted from the stationary mounting structures for oscillation about horizontal parallel axes extending transversely of the leaf spring with the pivotal mounting of the mounts from the stationary mounting structures being such that each axis of oscillation of a mount relative to the corresponding stationary mounting structure may be adjusted transversely of the corresponding vehicle.
In combination, a vehicle incorporating a suspension system including opposite vehicle side ground wheel portions mounted for up and down guided movement and stationary central frame portions horizontally spaced apart and between said wheel mounting portions, an elongated, generally horizontal and transverse vehicle mono-leaf spring disposed transverse to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle including an upwardly bowed static condition, with the weight of the vehicle thereon, and having a pair of longitudinally spaced central mounting areas for mounting from said vehicle frame portions and opposite end portions for mounting relative to said opposite vehicle side ground wheel mounting portions, a pair of stationary mount portions mounted from said frame portions, a pair of mounting members, pivot means mounting said mounting members from said mount portions for pivotal oscillation relative thereto about generally horizontal parallel axes disposed transverse to said spring, said mounting members including mounting means releasably mounting said leaf spring central mounting areas for substantial stationary support of said mounting areas relative to said mounting means, said central mounting areas being spaced predetermined distances beneath said parallel axes, such that upward displacement of said opposite end portions of said spring due to downward loading on said spring central mounting areas by said mount portions and the resultant flexure of the longitudinal central zone of said spring extending between said central mounting areas toward a straightened condition and the attendant increase in the effective horizontal spacing between said central mounting areas will automatically be compensated for by angular displacement of said mounting members in opposite directions about said parallel axes to increase the effective horizontal spacing between said mounting means and eliminate substantially all shear forces, due to flexing of said leaf spring, acting upon said mounting means, said leaf spring, between said mounting areas, being free of contact and connection with portions of said vehicle.
In combination with a pair of stationary mount portions supported from vehicle frame portions spaced apart transversely of the longitudinal axis of the associated vehicle, an elongated, generally horizontal transverse single leaf spring including an upwardly bowed static condition, with the weight of the vehicle thereon, and having longitudinally spaced central mounting areas, a longitudinal mid-portion extending between said mounting areas and opposite end portions disposed on remote sides of said mounting areas, said end portions including means for connection with vertically movable opposite vehicle side wheel spindle mounting portions, and mounting structures mounted from said mounting areas and pivotally mounted from said stationary mount portions for pivotal oscillation about generally horizontal parallel axes extending transversely of said leaf spring and spaced predetermined distances above said mounting areas such that upward displacement of said opposite end portions of said spring due to downward loading on said spring central portion mounting areas by said mount portions and the resultant flexure of said longitudinal mid-portion toward a straightened condition and the attendant increase in the effective horizontal spacing between said central mounting areas will automatically be compensated for by angular displacement of said mounting structures in opposite directions about said parallel axes to increase the effective horizontal spacing between said mounting structures and eliminate substantially all shear forces, due to flexing of said leaf spring, between said mounting structures and mounting areas, said leaf spring, between said mounting areas, being free of contact and connection with portions of said vehicle.
In combination with a vehicle including mounting structures spaced apart transversely of the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, an elongated, horizontal transverse single leaf spring including an upwardly bowed static condition, with the weight of the vehicle thereon, and having longitudinally spaced central mounting areas, a longitudinal mid-portion extending between said mounting areas and opposite end portions disposed on remote sides of said mounting areas, a pair of mounts stationarily mounted from said mounting areas for independent adjustable shifting relative thereto longitudinally of said leaf spring, said mounts and mounting structures including coacting means pivotally mounting said mounts from said mounting structures for pivotal oscillation about parallel horizontal axes generally paralleling said longitudinal axis and spaced predetermined distances above said mounting areas such that upward displacement of said opposite end portions of said spring due to downward loading on said longitudinal mid-portion mounting areas and the resultant flexure of said longitudinal mid-portion toward a straightened condition and the attendant increase in the effective horizontal spacing between said central mounting areas will automatically be compensated for by angular displacement of said mounts in opposite directions about said parallel axes to increase the effective horizontal spacing between said mounts and eliminate substantially all shear forces, due to flexing of said leaf spring, between said mounting structures and said mounting areas, said end portions of said spring including means for attachment to vehicle opposite side wheel spindle support structures mounted from said vehicle for vertical shifting relative thereto, said leaf spring, between said mounting areas, being free of contact and connection with portions of said vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.