Vehicle leaf spring with a longitudinal discontinuity for crack propagation
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorRichard F. Pierman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle suspension member such as a leaf spring (50) is provided comprising at least one composite leaf or plate (2) having a second layer (12) sandwiched within a first layer (10) in such a manner as to provide at least one discontinuity therein effective to divert crack propagation in a direction generally parallel to a longitudinal axis ("L/A") extending between opposite ends of plate (2).
Claims4
A vehicle suspension composite member having a longitudinal axis extending between opposite ends therealong, said suspension member having a second layer disposed within a first layer and in general parallel alignment with the longitudinal axis, said second layer having properties that differ from corresponding properties of the first layer to the extent necessary to create at least one discontinuity within the suspension member that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and effective to divert crack propagation in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.