COMPOSITE SPRING ASSEMBLY

• US 3,558,123 A
• Filed: 10/23/1968
• Issued: 01/26/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yew Ming-Chih
• Original Assignee: Yew Ming-Chih
• Inventors: YEW MING-CHIH
• Application Number:
  US04/769,905
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• US Class Current: 267/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/56 having helical, spiral or coil springs, and also fluid springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0272 the mechanical spring being a coil spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4504 using cable or band to prevent extension

Abstract

A vehicle suspension system in which a vacuum energized auxiliary spring is arranged in opposed relation to a primary suspension spring disposed in compression between the sprung and unsprung mass of the vehicle, with the auxiliary spring being operatively connected to one of the masses by an element which is linearly stable in tension and collapsible in compression.

Claims

1. In a composite spring assembly for a vehicle including a subatmospheric pressure energized auxiliary spring arranged in parallel opposed relation with a primary suspension spring having load supporting capability sufficient to support the adjacent portion of a vehicle at a predetermined design height under full load complement conditions, said auxiliary spring acting to simulate load under less than full load complement conditions, the improvement comprising means for disabling displacement of said auxiliary spring responsive to compression deflection of said primary spring beyond its full load complement compression condition.

2. A composite spring assembly for a vehicle comprising a variable rate coil type primary suspension spring arranged in compression between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass of said vehicle, said primary spring supporting said sprung mass above design height at curb weight, a subatmospheric pressure energized auxiliary spring arranged in a parallel relation with said primary spring and disposed concentrically thereto, said auxiliary spring including a vacuum energized chamber formed by a piston and cylinder connected by a rolling lobe diaphragm, and means connecting said auxiliary spring between said sprung mass and said unsprung mass in a manner providing positive action in tension and impositive action and compression.

3. A composite spring assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein the rate of said primary suspension spring increases approximately inversely proportional to decrease in rate of said auxiliary spring during compression deflection of said sprung mass and said unsprung mass beyond design height.

4. In a vehicle having a primary suspension spring arranged in compression between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass of said vehicle, a vehicle attitude control system comprising a subatmospheric pressure energized auxiliary spring arranged in parallel relation with said primary spring, a source of subatmospheric pressure, valve means operable to energize said auxiliary spring by introducing thereto subatmospheric pressure from said source thereof in response to deviation of the attitude of said vehicle from a predetermined attitude thereby to maintain said predetermined vehicle attitude, and means connecting said auxiliary spring between said sprung and said unsprung masses of said vehicle in a manner providing resilient resistance only to relative separating movement between said sprung and said unsprung masses.

5. In a vehicle having a primary suspension coil spring arranged in compression between a sprung mass and an unsprung mass of said vehicle, a vehicle attitude control system comprising a subatmospheric pressure energized auxiliary a spring arranged in parallel relation with said primary spring and disposed concentrically thereto, said auxiliary spring including a vacuum energized chamber formed by a piston and a cylinder connected by a rolling lobe diaphragm, a source of subatmospheric pressure, valve means operable to energize said auxiliary spring by introducing into said vacuum chamber subatmospheric pressure from said source thereof in response to deviation of the attitude of said vehicle from a predetermined vehicle attitude thereby to maintain said predetermined vehicle attitude, and means connecting said auxiliary spring between said sprung and said unsprung masses in a manner providing resilient resistance only to relative separating movement between said sprung and said unsprung masses.