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Home , Independent suspension, Leaf spring, Torsion bar suspension

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(11) EP 2 255 981 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC

(43) Date of publication: (51) Int Cl.: 01.12.2010 Bulletin 2010/48 B60G 21/045 (2006.01) B60G 11/18 (2006.01)

(21) Application number: 09712575.1 (86) International application number: PCT/CN2009/070494 (22) Date of filing: 20.02.2009 (87) International publication number: WO 2009/103241 (27.08.2009 Gazette 2009/35)

(84) Designated Contracting States: (72) Inventors: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR • LI, Xin HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL Shizuishan PT RO SE SI SK TR Ningxia 753000 (CN) Designated Extension States: • LI, Zhidong AL BA RS Shizuishan Ningxia 753000 (CN) (30) Priority: 23.02.2008 CN 200810074135 (74) Representative: Ferreccio, Rinaldo (71) Applicant: Li, Zhidong Botti & Ferrari S.r.l. Shizuishan, Ningxia 753000CN (CN) Via Cappellini, 11 20124 Milano (IT)

(54) TORSION BAR SUSPENSION DEVICE

(57) A vehicular device, the front and rear torsion bar springs on the same side, which comprises a front torsion bar and a rear so that a linkage relationship is established between the torsion bar spring respectively installed at front and rear front and rear torsion bar springs. The device improves suspensions of the vehicle. The opposite ends of the front the vibration situation of the vehicle when driving the ve- and rear torsion bar springs on the same side are con- hicle on an uneven ground, and prevents the vehicle nected mutually by a connection mechanism, and are frame and vehicle body skeleton from suffering torsional connected with a through a positioning de- force. As a result, the usage life of the vehicle is pro- vice. The connection mechanism is mounted between longed. EP 2 255 981 A1

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Description and etc., so as to fix one end to the vehicle frame and the other end to the through the . The Background of the Present Invention torsion bar is made of alloy spring steel, which has very good elasticity and is subject to distortion and restoring; Field of Invention 5 actually, it plays the same role as the spiral spring but with different form. When the vehicle is running, the [0001] The present invention pertains to a vehicle sus- wheels will jolt up and down due to the uneven road, and pension device, especially, a vehicular torsion bar sus- the control arm will also move up and down accordingly. pension device. When the wheels jolts up, the control arm moves up, so 10 that the torsion bar is forced to distort and meanwhile Description of Related Arts absorb the shock energy. When the shock force gets less, the natural restoring capability of the bar is able to [0002] Nowadays, there are two types of suspension restore rapidly to its original position, and in turn makes system. One is neon- ; the other wheels back to oar the ground, preventing the vehicle is independent suspension. The of the independent 15 from bumping. suspension is divided into two sections. Each is [0004] Because the torsion bar spring bears only independently mounted through a spiral spring under the sheering force, a with the same weight can vehicle frame; as a result, when bumping happens to one absorb more than double energy of a leaf plate with the wheel, the other wheel will not be affected, and thereby same weight. The torsion bar spring is applied in auto- the vibrations of the vehicle body will be reduced drasti- 20 mobiles in two ways; one is the longitudinal device and cally and accordingly improve the comfortability effec- the other is the transverse device, the latter being used tively; especially, when driving in a highway, the running more often. In the longitudinal device, the torsion bar is stability will be increase as well. However, this type of used to substitute for the and coil spring, which suspension structurehas complicated structure, little - take up more rooms; for example, in the front suspension rying ability; and correspondingly, it makes the drive sys- 25 of vehicle type, Hiace, Zace, Surf, the torsion bar tem and system of the vehicle get more compli- spring is used to match the A aren type of suspension cated. Thus, current sedans have adopted the independ- system. The torsion bar of a transverse device is used ent suspension system and have become a development to balance the acted force of the left and right wheels and trend. as a balancing bar of anti-tilting, with the exception of [0003] The independent suspension has varieties of 30 fewer vehicle types that use the torsion bar to substitute structures, such as sliding pillar type, MacPherson type, for the coil spring. link type and etc. There are three types of metallic springs [0005] In current auto suspension devices, the torsion among these independent suspensions; they are spiral bar spring is usually installed on the front suspension spring, leaf spring and torsion bar spring. The spiral device of an automobile. Its front and rear elastic com- spring got the name from its spiral line, and has advan- 35 ponents are independent of each other in between, with- tages of light weight and small volume; when the shock out any influence and connection. Even if the vibration force resulting from the road surface acts on the wheels, direction of the front and rear wheels of the automobile the spiral spring will be distorted and absorb the kinetic is opposite, the impact the automobile gets will not be energy of the wheels and convert it into the potential en- increased and the body will move in the manner that the ergy of the spiral spring; accordingly the impact of the 40 front body goes up and the rear body goes down; more- shock from road surface on the vehicle body will be de- over, when four wheels are not in a same surface or a creased.The middlepart ofthe leaf springis fixed through pair of diagonal wheels bears a bigger force, the body a U-shape bolt to the axle; the spring eyes at two ends and frame will get a certain amount of torque force; there- are hinged to the bracket of the vehicle frame through a fore, the current suspension structure still have the fol- peg; in this way, the axle and vehicle body are connected 45 lowing pitfalls, e.g., elastic components are likely subject through the leaf spring; as a result, when the shock force to be broken, the body and frame is likely subject to be resulting from the road surface acts on wheels, the leaf distorted, and so on. In addition, articles carried in vehi- plate will be distorted and therefore bring the effect of cles might be damaged and the passengers will feel un- buffering and shock absorption. The torsion bar spring comfortable. has one end fixedly connected with the vehicle frame and 50 the other end connected with the control arm of the sus- Summary of the Present Invention pension in order to fulfill the shock absorption by virtue of the torsion distortion of the torsion bar. Seen from the [0006] The object of the present invention is to furnish transverse section, the torsion bar spring has the circular a vehicular torsion bar suspension device that has better type, tubular type, rectangular type, stacked type, com- 55 integral elasticity performance with the torsion bar spring bined type and etc. The circular torsion bar is applied the of the front and rear suspension, and obvious shock ab- most. It takes on the shape of a rod, with two ends being sorption effect, thereby to overcome the pitfalls of the able to be processed into the shape of spline, hexagon current technology,.

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[0007] According to the present invention, the vehicu- side of the vehicle, specifically, owing to the gears pro- lar torsion bar suspension device comprises a front tor- vided at the ends of the two torsion bar springs, the link- sion bar spring mounted on the front suspension of a age relationship can be established between the front vehicle, and a rear torsion bar spring mounted on the and rear torsion bar spring on the same side, and as a rear suspension of the vehicle; the opposite end of the 5 result, improves the vibration effectively of a running ve- front and the rear torsion bar spring mounted on the same hicle on uneven roads. If the front wheels are given an side of the vehicle is connected with each other through upward force, the control arm of the suspension connect- a connection mechanism, and connected with the vehicle ed with the front wheels will transmit the force to the front frame through a positioning device. torsion bar spring; at the moment, the front torsion bar [0008] Said connection mechanism is a group of gears 10 spring will be distorted, and bring along the rear torsion installed respectively at the opposite ends of the front bar spring to be twisted and distorted as well through the and the rear torsion bar spring. The gears of the front gear installed at its end and engaged with the end of the and rear torsion bar spring on the same side of the vehicle rear torsion bar spring, the rear torsion bar spring having are engaged with each other. an opposite distortion direction with the front torsion bar [0009] One end of two reset torsion bar springs is con- 15 spring; that way, the front and rear wheels are given op- nected to the vehicle frame fixedly; the other end is fixedly posite force applied by the front and rear torsion bar installed with a reset gear. The reset gear is engaged spring, whereby the buffering is achieved, with about 1/2 with one of two engaging gears of the front and rear tor- of amplitude being offset, and accordingly the horizontal sion bar springs on the same side. vibration is reduced. If the front wheels are given a down- [0010] When the structure type of the front and rear 20 ward force or the rear wheels are given an upward or suspensions is the double wishbone, one end of the front downward force, the transmitting process of the force is and rear torsion bar spring is mounted on the upper or the same as in the case where the front wheels are given lower arm of the control arm of the front and rear sus- an upward force; the action of the front and rear torsion pension; one end of both the front and the rear reset bar spring can fulfill the buffering, with 1/2 of amplitude torsion bar spring is connected with the lower or upper 25 offset. When the front and rear wheels have the opposite arm of the control arm of the front and rear suspension, vibration direction but the same amplitude of vibration, respectively; the other end of the front and rear reset the torsion distortion of the front and rear torsion bar torsion bar spring is connected fixedly to the vehicle spring will be null, and the vibration of whole vehicle body frame. is approximately null, which is the best status of the [0011] The positioning device mentioned above is a 30 present suspension device because the shock absorp- gear box with gears engaging with each other installed tion effect in this situation is the best and the vehicle can inside. The gear box is connected fixedly with the vehicle keep running horizontally. When four wheels are not on frame. the same level, due to the counterforce of the front and [0012] The connection mechanism said above is a dif- rear torsion bar spring, the front and rear wheels get the ferential device installed between the front and rear tor- 35 same force, and accordingly the wheels that are in the sion bar spring at the same side of the vehicle. The po- diagonal positions get the same force, therefore the ve- sitioning device is the case of the differential device; the hicle frame and body skeleton will not be acted upon by case is connected fixedly with the vehicle frame. the torque force, and thus the life of the vehicle can be [0013] Two bevel gears that are positioned opposite prolonged. to each other inside said differential deviceare connected 40 fixedly with the front and rear torsion bar spring respec- Brief Description of the Drawings tively, Another bevel gear that is next to the two bevel gears is connected fixedly with one end of the reset tor- [0016] sion bar spring. The other end of the reset torsion bar spring is connected fixedly to the vehicle frame. 45 Fig.1 is the schematic structural diagram of one em- [0014] When the structure type of the front and rear bodiment of the present invention; suspensions are double wishbone, one end of the front Fig.2 is the schematic structural diagram of second and rear torsion bar spring is mounted on the upper or embodiment of the present invention; lower arm of the control arm of the front and rear sus- Fig.3 is the schematic structural diagram of third em- pension; the other end is connected fixedly with the two 50 bodiment of the present invention; opposite bevel gears in the differential device respective- Fig.4 is the view from A direction of Fig.3 of the ly; one end of both the front and rear reset torsion bar present invention; spring is connected with the upper or lower arm of the Fig.5 is the schematic structural diagram of the gears control arm of the front andrear suspension, respectively; of the present invention; the other end of the front and rear reset torsion bar spring 55 Fig.6 is the schematic structural diagram of the fourth is connected fixedly to the vehicle frame. embodiment of the present invention; [0015] Owing to the connection mechanism provided Fig.7 is the schematic structural diagram of the firth between the front and rear torsion bar spring on the same embodiment of the present invention;

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Fig.8 is the schematic structural diagram of the dif- torsion bar springs at the same side can be positioned, ferential device of the fourth embodiment. so as to ensure that the three gears can be engaged with one another, and dispense with the three bearing seats. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment In addition, two extra reset torsion bar springs are in- 5 stalled to make the front and rear torsion bar springs re- Example I store rapidly after being distorted, which are front reset torsion bar spring 5-1 and rear reset torsion bar spring [0017] Referring to Fig.1 the upper end of front torsion 5-2. bar spring 3 is connected with the control arm 1 of the front suspension of the vehicle; the control arm is con- 10 Example III nected with the front wheel 2; the lower end of the rear torsion bar spring 11 is connected with the control arm [0021] Based on Example II, when the suspension 12 of the rear suspension; at the lower end of the front control arm is the double wishbone structure, as shown torsion bar spring and the upper end of the rear torsion in Fig.3 and Fig.4, the upper end of the front torsion bar bar spring on the both side, the left and the right, is in- 15 spring 3 of the left and right side is respectively mounted stalled with gears 7 and 8 respectively, wherein the a pair on the upper arm 1-1 of the control arm 1 of the front of gears on the same side is engaged with each other. suspension of the left and right side; the lower end of the The upper ends of two reset torsion bar springs 5 are rear torsion bar spring 11 of the left and right side is re- connected fixedly with the vehicle frame 4, and the lower spectively mounted on the upper arms of the control arm ends are installed with reset gears 10. The reset gear 10 20 12 of the rear suspension of the left and right side; the is engaged with the gear 8 of the rear torsion bar spring reset torsion bar spring 4 comprises of two front reset on the same side. The three torsion bar springs on the torsion bar springs 5-1 and two rear reset torsion bar same left side and the same right side said above, are springs 5-2, wherein the upper end of the front reset tor- connected with the vehicle frame 13 respectively through sion bar spring 5-1 is connected with the lower arm 1-2 the bearing seat 6 of the front torsion bar spring, the bear- 25 of the double wishbone of the control arm 1 of the front ing seat 9 of the rear torsion bar spring, and the bearing suspension, and the lower end of the rear reset torsion seat 13 of the reset torsion bar spring. Key connection bar spring 5-2 is connected with the lower arm of the or splined connection can be used at the two ends of the control arm 12 of the rear suspension, and the lower ends front and rear torsion bar springs in order to connect the of the front reset torsion bar springs and the upper ends suspension control arms and with the gears; thereby,30 of the rear reset torsion bar springs are connected with when the front wheels and rear wheels are acted upon the vehicle frame; therefore, through the action of the by a force, the torsion directions of the front and rear front and rear torsion bar springs that get distorted, the spring at the same side are opposite through the two front and rear control arms can be restored to their orig- pairs of gears, therefore offset the applied force of the inal positions rapidly. front and rear wheels, and further reduce the vibration of 35 [0022] Among the three examples said above, the the vehicle. gears can be made in a fan- shape for the sake of material [0018] The function of the reset torsion bar spring is to saving, as in Fig.5. The engaging gears on the same side make the front and rear torsion bar springs restore rapidly can be arranged according to their spacial distribution after they get distorted, so as to reduce the vibration and situation, such as arranged in a triangle form or arranged amplitude of the vehicle. 40 with some on the upper place and others on the lower [0019] To reduce the amplitude of the vehicle when place. break happens, a device that have linkage relationship with the break system is installed among the three gears Example IV engaging with one another; the linkage device will pre- vent the occurrence of the relative motion among the45 [0023] Based on the structure of example II, the three three gears engaging with one another, when the action gears at the same side are replaced with a differential of break goes. The existing break system can be used device 15 in this embodiment. As shown in Fig.6 and Fig. as the linkage device; for example, install a clamshell 8, the differential device is the common one that is used break or other type of breaks on one of the three gears. in the current , which is comprised of four bevel 50 gears engaging with one another installed in a case 15-1; Example II the case is fixed to the vehicle frame 4 for the sake of positioning. The lower end of the front torsion bar spring [0020] Based on Example I, to prevent the engaging 3 of the both sides is connected fixedly with the first bevel gears from being polluted by various impurities, which gear 15-2; the upper end of the rear torsion bar spring will affect their life, as shown in Fig.2, the three gears at 55 11 of the both sides is connected fixedly with the third the same side can be put in a gear box 14; by doing so, bevel gear 15-4; the right end of the left reset torsion bar not only the working status is changed, but also when springs and left end of the right reset torsion bar spring the gear box 14 is fixed to the vehicle frame 4, the three are connected with the vehicle frame 4, respectively; the

4 7 EP 2 255 981 A1 8 other end of the two reset torsion bar springs of the left is connected with each other; and and right side is connected with the fourth bevel gear a positioning device, through which the opposite 15-5; the second bevel gear 15-3 is positioned inside the end of the front and the rear torsion bar spring case through a short shaft. mounted on the same side of the vehicle is con- [0024] When the front or rear wheels are acted upon 5 nected with the vehicle frame (4). by an upward force, the control arm 1 of the front sus- pension or the control arm 12 of the rear suspension is 2. The vehicular torsion bar suspension device, as re- brought upward, so that the front and rear torsion bar cited in claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism springs get distorted; the distortion force is transmitted is a group of gears installed respectively on the op- through the bevel gears in the differential device to the 10 posite end of the front and the rear torsion bar spring; left and right reset torsion bar springs, so that the reset the gears of the front and the rear torsion bar spring torsion bar springs get distorted as well. Because of the on the same side of the vehicle are engaged with function of the differential device, the distortion directions each other. of the front and rear torsion bar springs are opposite; therefore, the acted force of the front and rear wheels 15 3. The vehicular torsion bar suspension device, as re- will be offset, and further reduces the vibration of the cited in claim 2, further comprises two reset torsion vehicle. bar springs (5), each one having one end connected fixedly with the vehicle frame (4) and the other end Example V installed with a reset gear (10); the reset gear (10) 20 is connected with one of two engaging gears on the [0025] This embodiment is changed according to the front and the rear torsion bar spring on the same side. structure of the fourth embodiment. When the control arm of the front and rear suspension is the structure of double 4. The vehicular torsion bar suspension device, as re- wishbone, as in Fig.4, the lower end of the front torsion cited in claim 2, wherein when the front and rear sus- bar spring of both sides is connected fixedly with the first 25 pension is double wishbone type, one end of the front bevel gear 15-2; the upper end of the rear torsion bar and the rear torsion bar spring is mounted on the spring 11 of both sides is connected fixedly with the third upper or lower arm of the control arm of the front and bevel gear 15-4; the lower end of the upper reset torsion the rear suspension; one end of the front and the bar spring 5-1 of both left and right sides is connected rear reset torsion bar spring is connected with the independently on the vehicle frame 4, and the upper end 30 lower or upper arm of the control arm of the front and is fixed on the lower arm 1-2 of the control arms 1 of the the rear suspension, respectively, and the other end front suspension of both sides; the upper end of the lower of the front and rear reset torsion bar spring is con- reset torsion bar springs 5-2 of both left and right sides nected fixedly to the vehicle frame. is independently connected on the vehicle 4, and the low- er end is fixed on the lower arm of the control arm 12 of 35 5. The vehicular torsion bar suspension device, as re- the rear suspensions of both sides. cited in claim 2, 3, or 4, wherein the positioning de- [0026] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present vice is a gear box (14) with engaging gears installed invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. inside;the gear box (14) is connected with the vehicle Its embodiments have been shown and described for the frame (4). purpose of illustrating the functional and structural prin- 40 ciples of the present invention and is subject to change 6. The vehicular torsion bar suspension device, as re- without departure from such principles. Therefore, this cited in claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism invention includes all modifications encompassed within is adifferential device (15) installedbetween the front the spirit and scope of the following claims. and the rear torsion bar spring on the same side of 45 the vehicle; the positioning device is the case (15-1) of the differential device (15); the case is (15-1) con- Claims nected fixedly with the vehicle frame (4).

1. A vehicular torsion bar suspension device, compris- 7. The vehicular torsion bar suspension device, as re- ing: 50 cited in claim 6, wherein there are bevel gears in- stalled in the differential device (15), among which front torsion bar springs mounted on the front two bevel gears positioned opposite to each other suspension of a vehicle; are connected fixedly with the front and rear torsion rear torsion bar springs (11) mounted on the rear bar spring respectively; another bevel gear that is suspension of the vehicle; 55 adjacent to the two bevel gears is connected fixedly a connection mechanism, through which the op- with one end of the reset torsion bar spring (5), and posite end of the front and the rear torsion bar the other end of the reset torsion bar spring is con- spring mounted on the same side of the vehicle nected fixedly to the vehicle frame (4).

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8. The vehicular torsion bar suspension device, as re- cited in claim 6, wherein when the structure of the front and rear suspension is double wishbone, one end of the front and rear torsion bar spring is installed on the upper or lower arm of the control arm of the 5 front and rear suspension, and the other end is fix- edly connected with the two bevel gears in the dif- ferential devices (15) that are positioned opposite to each other, respectively; one end of both the front and the rear reset torsion bar spring is connected 10 respectively with the lower or upper arm of the control arm of the front and the rear suspension, and the other end is connected respectively with the vehicle frame. 15

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