Vehicle suspension unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10933708-B2
Application number	US-201816208232-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2018
Priority date	Dec 4, 2017
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

A longitudinal leaf spring device for suspending a motor vehicle body or chassis on a vehicle axle thereof. Leaf spring device including an elongated leaf spring unit, a coupling device connecting the leaf spring unit to the vehicle axle, and suspension unit arranged in a substantially vertical direction between a chassis and the axle. The suspension unit including suspension elements providing a spring-back force in the vertical direction and producing an active connection between the chassis and the axle when the distance between the chassis and axle exceeds a predetermined first deflection depth.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A longitudinal leaf spring device for use with a vehicle comprising:
an elongated leaf spring,
a vehicle axle;
a coupler connecting the leaf spring to the vehicle axle;
a suspension unit, separate from said elongated leaf spring, positioned vertically between a vehicle chassis and the vehicle axle, the suspension unit having a plurality of suspension elements exerting a spring-back force, the suspension unit connected to said vehicle chassis and having a free end spaced from said vehicle axle at a predetermined first deflection depth between the free end of the suspension unit and the vehicle axle; and
said suspension unit includes a plurality of concentrically arranged plate springs.

2. The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 1 wherein said suspension unit includes an elastomeric element, the elastomeric element including a rubber material.

3. The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 2 wherein a free end of the elastomeric element is spaced from said free end of said suspension unit at a predetermined second deflection depth, the predetermined second deflection depth is greater than the predetermined first deflection depth.

4. The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 1 including a first connection element connecting a topmost plate spring to the vehicle chassis; and
an elastomeric element, secured to a second connection element connected to a lowermost plate spring at an opposite end of said concentrically arranged plate springs, said elastomeric element having a free end spaced said predetermined first deflection depth wherein during an active connection between the vehicle chassis and the vehicle axle the suspension unit is arranged force-wise in series.

5. The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 1 including a contact bearing element on the vehicle axle arranged adjacent the free end of the suspension unit in a direction of a return spring force of the suspension elements.

6. The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 1 including a connection element having a planar surface fixed to a plate spring.

7. The longitudinal leaf spring device of claim 1 including an insulation element connected to said suspension unit forming a part of said free end of said suspension unit.

8. A vehicle suspension comprising:
an elongated leaf spring,
a vehicle axle;
a vehicle chassis;
a coupler connecting the leaf spring to the vehicle axle;
a suspension unit, separate from said leaf spring, fixed to and depending vertically from said vehicle chassis, said suspension unit including a plurality of concentrically aligned plate springs, a topmost plate spring connected to said vehicle chassis; and
a lowermost plate spring and a connection element fixed to the lowermost plate spring forming a free end of said suspension unit spaced from said vehicle axle at a predetermined first deflection depth.

9. The vehicle suspension of claim 8 wherein said suspension unit includes a bumper fixed on one end to the vehicle chassis, said bumper having a free end spaced from said vehicle axle a predetermined second deflection depth, said connection element positioned between said free end of said bumper and said vehicle axle.

10. The vehicle suspension of claim 9 , wherein said second deflection depth is greater than said predetermined first deflection depth.

11. A vehicle suspension comprising:
an elongated leaf spring,
a vehicle axle;
a vehicle chassis;
a coupler connecting the leaf spring to the vehicle axle;
a suspension unit, separate from said leaf spring, fixed to and depending vertically from said vehicle chassis, said suspension unit including a plurality of concentrically aligned plate springs, a topmost plate spring connected to said vehicle chassis; and
a lowermost plate spring and a connection element fixed to the lowermost plate spring; and
said suspension unit includes a bumper fixed to said connection element, said bumper having a free end, said free end of said bumper forming a free end of said suspension unit spaced from said vehicle axle at a predetermined first deflection depth, said bumper positioned between said plurality of concentrically aligned plate springs and said vehicle axle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• David Wolfgang
• Zandbergen Paul
• Gerhards Thomas
• Hintzen Ralf
• Simon Marc
• Wolf-Monheim Friedrich Peter

Classifications

• B60G2202/14

  Plastic spring, e.g. rubber · CPC title

• B60G11/36

  and also helical, spiral or coil springs · CPC title

• B60G11/38 Primary

  and also rubber springs · CPC title

• B60G11/58

  arranged coaxially · CPC title

• B60G2202/143

  subjected to compression · CPC title