GB2207975A

GB2207975A - Resilient mounting for a wheeled vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2207975A
Application number: GB08810648A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Evan Davies
Original assignee: STEPHENSON BLAKE
Current assignee: STEPHENSON BLAKE
Priority date: 1987-07-30
Filing date: 1988-05-05
Publication date: 1989-02-15
Anticipated expiration: 2008-05-05
Also published as: GB8810648D0; GB2207975B

Abstract

A resilient mounting suitable for a road trailer comprises an outer tube 10 with a rigid shaft 12 co-axially received therein, and elastomeric tube 16 extending co-axially with the outer tube and receiving and bonded to the shaft. The cross section configuration of the outer tube is square or polygonal to inhibit rotation relative to the elastomeric tube. The torque arm 14 carries a stub axle on which a wheel is mounted. A bush may be provided at the end of the tube 16 adjacent the torque arm to reduce angular movement of the shaft. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Resilient Mounting This invention relates to a resilient mounting for a wheeled vehicle and is concerned particularly, but not exclusively with a resilient mounting for a road trailer.

In United Kingdom patent application No. 2146407 there is described such a resilient mounting comprising an elongate rigid inner member extending substantially co-axially in an outer member, and an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in an outer member and receiving the inner member, the intermediate member being fixed at its outer periphery against rotation relative to said outer member by being bonded thereto.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a resilient mounting in which the cross-sectional shape of the tubular outer member-contains irregularities or other features which inhibit relative rotation between the tubular outer-member and the outer periphery of the elastomeric intermediate member.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a resilient mounting in which a bush is provided between the tubular outer member and the inner member at the outer end of the mounting.

Various embodiments of the invention are described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a suspension system for a road trailer embodying the resilient mounting of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a part of the suspension system shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 111 - 111 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2 showing an alternative construction.

In the drawings, a suspension system for a road trailer comprises a transverse tube 10 to which brackets 20 are welded, whereby the system can be bolted to the carrying parts (unshown) of the trailer. At each end of the tube 10 a torque arm 14 is mounted resiliently thereto and carries a stub axle on which one of a pair of road wheels 18 is mounted.

The outer tube 10 is of commercially available square section steel tubing. A cylindrical steel inner shaft 12 is received substantially co-axially within the tube 10. The torque arm 14 is welded to the inner shaft 12.

An elastomeric tube 16having a square outer sectional periphery and a circular inner periphery is positioned between the tube 10 and the shaft 12. The elastomeric tube 16 is shown as occupying only the end regions of the assembled system but, if desired, can extend the whole length of the tube 10, in which case the shaft 12 may be split into two parts half way along its length.

As may be seen from Figs. 1 and 4 the end of the torque arm 14 remote from the shaft 12 includes an aperture 22 in which one end of a laterally extending stub axle (not shown) is fixed, on which axle the wheel 18 can revolve.

The shaft 12 is preferably bonded to the elastomeric tube 16. The resilient mounting operates in known manner, one major advantage of the present invention over prior mountings being the elimination of the step of pressing the outer tube to provide inwardly directed projectors, or of the need to bond the elastomeric tube 16 to the interior of the tube 10.

Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. For example the tube 10 and shaft 12 could be made of other rigid materials, such as suitable reinforced plastics. Furthermore, the shaft 12 and torque arm 14 could be joined by being formed with co-acting force fit splines.

As with the shafts 12, the tube 10 could be formed in two parts, so that two separate systems are provided, one for each wheel 18.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, road wheel forces transmitted through the torque arm 14 are resisted by a torque and a transverse force acting on the shaft 12. The transverse force tends to tilt the shaft 12 relative to the axis of the tubular outer member 10, causing an angular movement of the wheel 18 (negative camber) with consequent uneven tyre wear at the inner side of the tyre.

To reduce such angular movement, a bush 24 is provided between the outer tube 10 and the inner shaft 12 at the end of the mounting nearest the wheel 18.

The bush 24 may be of any suitable materials exhibiting anti-seizure or lubricating properties, enabling the bush 24 to act as a support without scuffing the shaft 12. The bush 24 is a snug fit between the tube 10 and the shaft 12 without being bonded either. It may be made of a resin bonded cloth material having slight lubricating properties, for example.

Instead of the tubular member 10 being of square cross section, in which case the corners of the square provide the said irregularities, the tube 10 could be of the polygonal shape, conveniently one sold as tube of standard cross-section.

Claims

1. A resilient mounting including an elongate outer tubular member, a substantially co-axial elongate rigid inner member positioned therein, an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member and receiving the inner member, the outer and inner peripheries of the intermediate member respectively being fixed against rotation relative to the outer member and to the inner member in which the cross-sectional shape of the tubular outer member contains internal irregularities to inhibit said rotation to the intermediate member.

2. A resilient mounting including an elongate outer tubular member, a substantially co-axial elongate rigid inner member positioned therein, an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member and receiving the inner member, the outer and inner peripheries of the inner member respectively being fixed against rotation relative to the outer member and to the inner member, a torque arm being affixed to one end of the inner member and a bush extending between the inner and outer members to maintain radial spacing therebetween, the bush being at the ends of the inner and outer members adjacent the torque arm.

3. A resilient mounting as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the cross-sectional shape of the tubular outer member is polygonal.

4. A resilient mounting as claimed in claim 3, in which the cross-sectional shape of the intermediate member is a corresponding polygon.

5. A resilient mounting as claimed in claim 3, in which the cross-sectional shape of the tubular outer member is square.

6. A resilient mounting as claimed in claim 5, in which the cross-sectional shape of the intermediate member is square.

7. A resilient mounting as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6,in which a torque arm is rigidly attached to one end of and extending radially from the axis of the inner member are formed with and joined by co-acting splines.

8. A resilient mounting as claimed in claim 7, in which the splines are a force fit.

9. A resilient mounting as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the tubular member is a single piece and two of said inner members are provided, one at each side of the longitudinal centre of the tubular member 10. A resilient mounting substantively as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A resilient mounting including an elongate outer tubular member, a substantially co-axial elongate rigid inner member positioned therein, an elastomeric tubular intermediate member extending substantially co-axially in the outer member and receiving the inner member, the outer and inner peripheries of the inner member respectively being fixed against rotation relative to the outer member and to the inner member, a torque arm being affixed to one end of the inner member and a bush extending between the inner and outer members to maintain radial spacing therebetween, the bush being at the ends of the inner and outer members adjacent the torque arm.

2. A resilient mounting as claimed in claim 1 in which the rigid inner member is bonded to the elastomeric member.

9. A resilient mounting as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the tubular member is a single piece and two of said inner members are provided, one at each side of the longitudinal centre of the tubular member.

10. A resilient mounting substantively as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in any one of the accompanying drawings.