GB2044694A

GB2044694A - Vehicle Wheel Suspension

Info

Publication number: GB2044694A
Application number: GB7909666A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: COURTBURN Ltd
Current assignee: COURTBURN Ltd
Priority date: 1979-03-20
Filing date: 1979-03-20
Publication date: 1980-10-22
Also published as: IT8035653V0; GB2044694B; FR2451836A3; DE8007544U1; FR2451836B3

Abstract

A vehicle wheel suspension comprises a pair of levers (10, 14) which are made of plates so that the one can lie within the other and are pivoted together, a hydraulic jack (16) joining the levers to effect their pivoting and a torsion beam (11) on one lever and an axle (15) for the wheel on the other lever. It is arranged that when the jack contracts, the torsion beam and a vehicle chassis secured to it are lowered towards the ground and that when the jack expands the beam and chassis are raised. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle Wheel Suspension This invention relates to suspensions for wheels of vehicles and is described herein as applied to vehicles of the trailer type, but it will be understood that the invention is applicable to other forms of vehicle.

The invention provides a simple wheel mounting which can be readily attached to a vehicle chassis and yet incorporates a torsional suspension which can be raised and lowered relatively to the wheel to lower and raise the chassis to which it is attached, e.g. for lowloading purposes in the case of a trailer.

According to the invention, a wheel mounting for a vehicle comprises a plate-like lever pivoted to and swingable between a pair of plates forming a co-operating lever, an expandable actuator joining the levers to effect their relative swinging, one of the levers carrying a torison beam for attaching the mounting to a vehicle, and the other of the levers carrying an axle for the wheel, the arrangement being that, with the mounting attached to a vehicle, the torsion beam will be lowered by contraction of the actuator and will be raised by expansion of the actuator.

The use of plates for the levers enables the suspension to be compact widthwise of the vehicle, and may give cost advantages.

The torsion equipment of the suspension may be of the rubber, leaf spring or other convenient kind housed within an axle beam which in use can be directly secured to the vehicle chassis. The wheels of the vehicle may have suspensions on individual axle beams, or a pair of wheels may have suspensions at the ends of a common axle beam housing torsion equipment for both wheels of the pair.

The accompanying drawings illustrate forms of suspension of this invention and application of one form to a low-loading trailer.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of suspension, Fig. 2 is an end elevation, Figs. 3 and 4 show an associated ram in its running and low-loading positions respectively, and Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 of a second form of suspension.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the wheel suspension comprises a first lever 10 in the form of a spaced pair of triangular plates and carrying adjacent one corner a torsion beam 11 by which the suspension is readily attached to the chassis 12 of a low-loader trailer 1 3 (Figs. 3 and 4). The lever 10 is pivoted at a second corner 1 Oa to a second lever 14 in the form of a pair of spaced plates 1 4a (Fig. 2) between which the lever 10 swings on relative pivoting.

The lever 14 has fitted to it a stub axle 1 5 for the wheel being suspended.

The suspension also comprises an actuator 1 6 in the form of an hydraulic jack which can be extended by operation for instance of a manual oil pump. The cylinder 1 6a of the actuator is pivoted to the lever 14 at a point 1 4b which is on the side of the stub axle 1 5 remote from the pivot 1 Oa so that the lever is a first order lever. The piston rod 1 6b of the actuator is pivoted to the third corner 1 Ob of the lever 10.

Also pivoted at 1 Ob is a U-section bar 17 which can lie on the piston rod 1 6b when the actuator is extended to lock it against contraction.

Alternatively as shown in Fig. 5, the locking of the suspension against collapse with contraction of the actuator 1 6 may be by a pivoted bar 1 8 having a hole 1 9 in it which, when the actuator 1 6 is extended, registers with a hole 20 in a bar 21 rigid with lever 10, the registering holes receiving a locking pin (not shown).

Referring to Fig. 3, the suspension is shown in the running position with the torsion beam 11 raised relatively to the stub axle 1 5 and with the actuator 1 6 locked extended by the bar 1 7 abutting the end of the cylinder 1 6a. Extension of the actuator 1 6 is limited by the lever 14 contacting a plate 22 on the lower end of lever 10.

To lower the suspension to the position of Fig.

4, the actuator 1 6 is expanded slightly, the bar 1 7 is raised clear of the cylinder 1 6a, and the actuator is contracted until a leg 23 on the rear of the chassis 12 contacts the ground.

However when using the arrangement of Fig.

5, the actuator 1 6 is fed with pressure oil to relieve the locking pin of load before removing it to allow contraction of the actuator to lower the suspension.

Claims

1. A wheel mounting for a vehicle comprising a plate-like lever pivoted to and swingable between a pair of plates forming a co-operating lever, an expandable actuator joining the levers to effect their relative swinging, one of the levers carrying a torsion beam for attaching the mounting to a vehicle, and the other of the levers carrying an axle for the wheel, the arrangement being that, with the mounting attached to a vehicle, the torsion beam will be lowered by contraction of the actuator and will be raised by expansion of the actuator.

2. A wheel mounting as claimed in claim 1, wherein the torsion means is formed from rubber or leaf spring or the like and is housed in an axle beam.

3. A wheel mounting as claimed in claim 2 for a single wheel, wherein the axle beam is individual to that mounting.

4. A wheel mounting as claimed in claim 2 for a pair of wheels, wherein the axle beam houses at its ends the torsion means of the respective mountings of the wheels.

5. A wheel mounting as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, comprising means to lock the suspension in a position with the torsion beam raised.

6. A wheel mounting as claimed in claim 5,

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vehicle Wheel Suspension This invention relates to suspensions for wheels of vehicles and is described herein as applied to vehicles of the trailer type, but it will be understood that the invention is applicable to other forms of vehicle. The invention provides a simple wheel mounting which can be readily attached to a vehicle chassis and yet incorporates a torsional suspension which can be raised and lowered relatively to the wheel to lower and raise the chassis to which it is attached, e.g. for lowloading purposes in the case of a trailer. According to the invention, a wheel mounting for a vehicle comprises a plate-like lever pivoted to and swingable between a pair of plates forming a co-operating lever, an expandable actuator joining the levers to effect their relative swinging, one of the levers carrying a torison beam for attaching the mounting to a vehicle, and the other of the levers carrying an axle for the wheel, the arrangement being that, with the mounting attached to a vehicle, the torsion beam will be lowered by contraction of the actuator and will be raised by expansion of the actuator. The use of plates for the levers enables the suspension to be compact widthwise of the vehicle, and may give cost advantages. The torsion equipment of the suspension may be of the rubber, leaf spring or other convenient kind housed within an axle beam which in use can be directly secured to the vehicle chassis. The wheels of the vehicle may have suspensions on individual axle beams, or a pair of wheels may have suspensions at the ends of a common axle beam housing torsion equipment for both wheels of the pair. The accompanying drawings illustrate forms of suspension of this invention and application of one form to a low-loading trailer. In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of suspension, Fig. 2 is an end elevation, Figs. 3 and 4 show an associated ram in its running and low-loading positions respectively, and Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 1 of a second form of suspension. Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the wheel suspension comprises a first lever 10 in the form of a spaced pair of triangular plates and carrying adjacent one corner a torsion beam 11 by which the suspension is readily attached to the chassis 12 of a low-loader trailer 1 3 (Figs. 3 and 4). The lever 10 is pivoted at a second corner 1 Oa to a second lever 14 in the form of a pair of spaced plates 1 4a (Fig. 2) between which the lever 10 swings on relative pivoting. The lever 14 has fitted to it a stub axle 1 5 for the wheel being suspended. The suspension also comprises an actuator 1 6 in the form of an hydraulic jack which can be extended by operation for instance of a manual oil pump. The cylinder 1 6a of the actuator is pivoted to the lever 14 at a point 1 4b which is on the side of the stub axle 1 5 remote from the pivot 1 Oa so that the lever is a first order lever. The piston rod 1 6b of the actuator is pivoted to the third corner 1 Ob of the lever 10. Also pivoted at 1 Ob is a U-section bar 17 which can lie on the piston rod 1 6b when the actuator is extended to lock it against contraction. Alternatively as shown in Fig. 5, the locking of the suspension against collapse with contraction of the actuator 1 6 may be by a pivoted bar 1 8 having a hole 1 9 in it which, when the actuator 1 6 is extended, registers with a hole 20 in a bar 21 rigid with lever 10, the registering holes receiving a locking pin (not shown). Referring to Fig. 3, the suspension is shown in the running position with the torsion beam 11 raised relatively to the stub axle 1 5 and with the actuator 1 6 locked extended by the bar 1 7 abutting the end of the cylinder 1 6a. Extension of the actuator 1 6 is limited by the lever 14 contacting a plate 22 on the lower end of lever 10. To lower the suspension to the position of Fig. 4, the actuator 1 6 is expanded slightly, the bar 1 7 is raised clear of the cylinder 1 6a, and the actuator is contracted until a leg 23 on the rear of the chassis 12 contacts the ground. However when using the arrangement of Fig. 5, the actuator 1 6 is fed with pressure oil to relieve the locking pin of load before removing it to allow contraction of the actuator to lower the suspension. Claims

6. A wheel mounting as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking means is a bar pivoted to one of the levers and co-operating with the expandable actuator to prevent its contraction.

7. A wheel mounting as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking means comprises a bar pivoted to one lever and connectable to the other lever to prevent relative swinging of the levers.

8. A wheel mounting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings or these Figs. as modified by Fig. 5.