GB775086A - Improvements in or relating to engine-driven vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

775,086. Motor vehicles. FERGUSON RESEARCH, Ltd., H. Dec. 8, 1953 [Dec. 8, 1952], No. 31038/52. Classes 79(2), 79(3) and 79(4). [Also in Group XXXII] A vehicle comprises a chassis frame, a driving unit which includes an engine with laterallydirected output drive-shafts geared to it and which is sprung on the frame, and half-axle assemblies independently sprung on the chassis frame for up and down movement, each half axle assembly including on the one hand an upper suspension link pivoted to the chassis frame for up and down movement, an outer road-wheel carrying non-driven stub-axle pivoted to the outer end of the suspension link through a hollow ball joint for up and down swinging movement relatively to the suspension link, and a control linkage between the chassis frame and the non-driven stub-axle to give a compensating movement thereto opposite to the up and down movement of the suspension link, and each half axle assembly including on the other hand a driving half shaft which extends in proximity to the upper suspension link and is supported partly by this link and partly by a universal connection with the associated output drive shaft, so that relative up and down angular movement between the half shaft and the suspension link is allowed, and an engine driven stub shaft mounted on the non-driven stub axle end connected to the half shaft through a universal joint, which is located within the ball joint. As shown a chassis frame 1 comprises a box-section member which is forked at each end. A driving unit comprising an engine and casing is mounted over front half axle assemblies, the casing 5 containing a clutch, change-speed gearing and gearing which drives a front wheel differential gear 7A and a transmission shaft driving a rear wheel differential gear. The gearing is of the form disclosed in Specification 731,938, which permits free differential action, within limits, between the front and rear road wheels. Each front wheel 26 is carried by a half-axle assembly in which a non-driven stub axle 28 is connected through a ball joint 32 to a suspension link 37 and in which the wheel is driven by a " live " half axle 35 through a universal joint 30A and a stub shaft 30, the arrangement also including linkage 34, a strut 58 and coil suspension spring 46, Each rear wheel is carried by an assembly in which a differential gear is resiliently mounted on the chassis frame and drives the rear wheels through " live " half axles. As in the case of the front assemblies, brakes are provided on the output shafts of the differential gear. The front brakes may be arranged to provide about 70 per cent of the total braking effort. The driving unit is mounted at its front end on rubber pads 60 and at its rear end on rubber pads 61 inclined so that they are normal to lines passing through centres C4, C5, Figs. 4 and 4A, on an axis about which the driving unit tends to oscillate, this axis inclining downwardly towards the rear of the vehicle. In a modification, Figs. 5 and 6, the front mountings are located upon the sides of the casing 5 and each comprises a rubber block located between brackets 63, 64, the bracket 64 also mounting a buffer 66. Each rear mounting comprises a rubber sleeve 75 located between brackets 70, 71 with the interposition of a flanged casing 74 and a shouldered sleeve 73. Specifications 773,671 and 773,672 also are referred to.