Dec- 9, 1952 1.. E. w. MONTROSE-OSTER 2,621,058 SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Filed May 24, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l

Inventor

A Home y Dec- 9, 1952 1.. E. w. MONTROSE-OSTER 2,621,053 SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Filed May 24, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2

FIGJI.

| 14 1215 16 ‘171 .

5811106

Inventor Lav}: Eu?em: km‘la?- mwAnu- 08th?

2M? wfée'mmwAttorney Dec. 9, 1952 L. E. w. MONTROSE-OSTER 2,621,053 SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Filed May 24, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3

Attorney Dec. 9, 1952 L. E. w. MONTROSE-OSTER 2,621,058 SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES

Filed May 24, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4

FIGECU..

46474S

Inventor Lbms Euqma Lmdu?' Mon‘rwse’Os‘rer

i mggqkzmqF/m,Attorney Patented Dec. 9, 1952 2,621,058

UNITED STATES TENT. OFFICE 2,621,058 SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR VEHICLES Louis Eugene Widolt ’ Montrose-Oster, ~ Brussels, Belgium, assignor of one-halfto Pollopas. Pat ents Limited, London, England, a British com Ila/11y Application May 24, 1946, Serial No. 672,057 In France December 29, 1943 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expiresDecember 29, 1963 11 Claims. 1 2-1 his invention relates" to a. selfestabilizing , according to the invention applied to automobile ~’ resilient conjugate suspension system for;vehicles' vehicle chassis, these embodiments in particular which move mainly in onedirecti'on "and have illustrating the manner of modifying, in ‘accord four effective or virtual, suspension’ points, ance with the present invention, certain ;'of the namely, two arranged one behind the other at embodiments illustrated in my copendingappli- ' each side of the vehicle. Suspension ‘systems of cation-Serial ‘No.- 672,056-aforesaid. ~ this character are disclosed in my copending In the drawings: ' applications Serial Number 672,055, ?led May 24, Fig; 1 is-a fragmentary perspective 'view of » 1946, now Patent No. 2,563,261, dated August '7, one half of a "chassis having independently-Y - 1951, and Serial Number 672,056, ?led May 24, 10 mounted ‘front wheels and a rear'axle'provid‘ed ' 1946, in which two lateral conjugatesuspensions with - a "conjugate 'suspensionlsystem~of two‘ are provided, one at each side of the vehiclegforv lateral conjugate- suspensions-each of>-'~which¥has? -‘ the two wheels or virtual suspension points at a single torsion bar conjugatingthe suspension» that side, and in each of these suspensions one of the two wheels at the same side of the chassis.‘ and the same member acts at the same time both 15 Fig. 2 depicts the rear portion r-of-ithé vchassisw as an interconnecting or conjugating member looking in the running direction.~Fig‘.‘- 3 shows, a and as a resilient member of the suspension, such on a vertical plane through-- the spindles ‘of the dual-purpose member preferably being in ,the front wheels; a section of thei-front looking form of a torsion bar. against the running direction/and Figs; 4 and It has been found in cases where'it is ‘desired’ 5 show, on-‘a ‘horizontal plane-‘through ‘the to impart very great ?exibility to the suspen spindles of the front wheels,rth’e lower and upper sion, that unless the vehicle is abnormally light parts of the front arrangement respectively, ‘the " and has an abnormally long wheelbase,,a torsion helical springs being removed. i‘ bar conjugate suspension may be insuiiicient'to Fig.’ 6 is a fragmentary perspective view ‘of provide the ?exibility required, even when the 25 one half of a chassis havinganother form of-the bar is nearly the same length as the vehicle suspension system in which each of > the two. - wheelbase. In order to overcome this dif?culty lateral conjugate suspensions comprises! two‘ - and meet requirements for greater ?exibility, the torsion bars and a supplementary» centralspring.‘ - flexibility of the suspension-is increased, in ac provided in accordance with the present-invenl cordance with the present invention, by coupling tion, all these resilient elements beingmount'ed ~ one or more supplementary resilient elements in 30 in series. series with the torsion bar. According to a fea Fig. 7 shows on a larger scale the central ture of this invention, such a supplementary ele device Which is employed in this embodiment-to - ment is, however, not-merely added to the sus produce thestabilizing couples, and is at-the pension to constitute a mere adjunct thereto, but same time'resilient. 35 is substituted for a rigid element already em Fig.6 shows‘ the ‘rearof a chassis andillus bodied in the suspension In this way, the num trates-another'embodiment in which’ a supple—~ ber of parts comprising the suspension is not mentary resilient‘ element‘ is interposed, in‘ ace‘ increased, and any increase in weight of the - cordance with‘ this invention, betweeneach rear~ suspension that may result from this substitu 40 wheerand the corresponding torsion bar. ‘ tion is negligible. In the drawings, the-parts of the suspension The present invention may 'be- carried into are ‘depicted ‘in heavy lines, all other parts being effect in various ways, varying with the particu indic-atedin light lines. Also, “for clarity and’ ~1 lar constructional form of the conjugate suspen simpli?cation in ‘Figs. 1, 2 and 8, the various axle ‘ sion system to which it is applied. Thus, for guide members which form no part of the present ' instance, where there were small‘ front or ‘rear invention are not shown: connecting rods linking the torsion bar to the Figs. 1 to 5 illustrate a modi?cation, *in 3'ac-- ‘ front or rear wheel carriers, one or more of ‘such cordance with the present invention, ofithe form > rigid rods may be replaced by a coil spring; or of suspension illustrated in Figs; -1 to 4 of -'my-- ~ in the case of a lever rigid with the torsion bar, 50. copending; application Serial ~No.*6'72,056- aforef ' it may be replaced by a leaf spring. said. In order that the invention may be more ' chassis Thel in doubleFigs‘; 1 crossto- 5 supportsmember the-joints2—'2~of' the '3 » clearly understood, the accompanying drawings and 5 of the double triangular‘xupper ‘lever'4 "‘ diagrammatically illustrate, by way of example, and the lowerlever 6 respectively; The-spindle " three embodiments of conjugate? "suspension 55 carrier '1 of ‘ the‘ front'wheel" is linkedmtothev 2,621,058 3 4 two levers 4 and 6. A helical spring 8 links there would be every advantage in replacing a the upper lever 4 and a lever ll keyed on the rigid element subjected to compression or to torsion bar [2, the spring 8 being connected traction by a helical spring, the simplest solution at its ends to the levers 4 and II by suitable in the case of an element subjected to ?exion elements such as silent-block bushings 9 and would be to replace it by a leaf spring. As an I0. The lever H is pivoted to the cross member example of this application, Fig. 8 shows a modi 2--2 by means of suitable bearings (similar to ?cation of the suspension of the rear axle shown bearings I3’ and Ba’ shown in Fig. 4 for the in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the rigid levers (viz. corresponding lever H’ at the other side of the l6, l6’) integral with the torsion bars (l2, 12') chassis) allowing an easy connection between are replaced by corresponding but resilient ele the lever H and the torsion bar l2. The latter ments, namely, leaf springs. is guided, in the neighbourhood of the rear axle In the parts 42, 42’ of the chassis 4| in Fig. I4, by a bearing I5 integral with the chassis 8 are arranged the bearings of the torsion bars I. A lever 16 keyed on the extremity of the 43, 43’. Leaf springs 45, 45’ are ?xed to the torsion bar 12 is connected to the rear axle [4 15 ends of the bars 43, 43’ by means of shackles through a link I‘! attached to the collar [3 fast 44, 44’. Small connecting rods 46, 45' link the on the rear axle l4. ends 41, 4'!’ of the leaf springs 45, 55' to the As Figs. 2 to 5 indicate, the two sides of the collars 48, 48’ on the rear axle 49. chassis are provided with similar members, those The described embodiments make it possible at one side being designated by the same ref 20 to increase the ?exibility of the conjugate sus erence numerals as those at the other side, but pension as compared with the corresponding em distinguished by indexes. bodiments described in my copending applica It will be observed by comparison with Figs. tion Serial No. 672,056 aforesaid, by putting in 1 to 4 and relevant description in my copending series with the torsion bars supplementary resil application Serial No. 672,056 aforesaid that the ient elements which simply take the place of small connecting rod or link 8 in that embodi previously rigid elements, the result being a ment has been replaced by the spring 8 in the maximum effect with a minimum dead weight. present embodiment. Otherwise than conse Theoretically, the total flexibility of the con quential upon this substitution, the construction jugate suspension system can be distributed at is substantially unchanged. Just as is the case will over the various resilient elements mounted in the original embodiment, stability about the in series, but since the behaviour of the char transverse axis is obtained solely by a restoring acteristics of the action of the wheels on the or stabilizing couple produced as a function of suspension and of the reaction thereto of the the inclination of the chassis about that axis, resilient suspension is in?uenced thereby, the and consequently no additional restoring or possibilities of such distribution are limited in stabilizing device need be provided. practice. In such a case as exempli?ed by Figs. 5 to 8 Although some particular embodiments of the of my copending application Serial No. 672,056 aforesaid, where the torsion bar is made integral invention have been described, those are merely illustrative and not limitative since the inven with the lever support for a front wheel, rear 40 tion is susceptible of numerous constructional wheel, or both, and the device producing the stabilizing couple is arranged at a central point variations. As applied to automobile vehicles, near the middle of the bar which consequently the invention may be utilized equally well for is divided into or replaced by two bars, the front-wheel drive vehicles as for rear-wheel substitute spring provided by the present in drive vehicles. vention may conveniently take the place of the I claim: rigid central small connecting rod or link 28 of 1. In a vehicle adapted to move mainly in one the corresponding original embodiment described running direction and comprising a chassis sup in my copending application Serial No. 672,056 ported on wheels at four supporting points, two aforesaid. at each longitudinal side of the chassis, disposed Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate this modi?cation. one near the front end and the other near the Similarly as in the original embodiment, the rear end of the chassis, a resilient conjugate spindle carrier of each front independently suspension system comprising two self-stabiliz mounted wheels 2| is linked to the chassis 22 ing resilient conjugate suspensions, arranged one by means of a lower simple lever 23 and a at each longitudinal side of the chassis, each of triangular upper lever 24. A torsion bar 25 rigid said two conjugate suspensions being independent with the lever 24 or with its spindle extends of the other, and each including two levers ful approximately to half way between the front crumed to the chassis respectively at the front and rear wheels, where it is guided by a bearing end and rear end supporting points at the same 26 integral with the chassis 22. In accordance 60 side of the chassis and extending in the same di with the present invention, a helical spring 28 rection laterally thereof, a plurality of wheel movable in space is substituted for the rigid supporting means each supporting a wheel, means link 28 in the original embodiment, to link the connecting the free extremities of said levers re corresponding lever 21 keyed to the bar 25, with spectively to the adjacent wheel-supporting the similar lever 29 rigid with the torsion bar 65 means, the angle between each such connecting 30 which is guided at its front part by the means and the lever to which it is connected bearing 3|, and at its rear end is rigid with being other than a right angle, means including the triangular lower lever 32 (or its spindle) torsion spring means extending longitudinally of of the spindle carrier of the rear wheel 33. The the chassis and resiliently and mechanically in latter spindle carrier is also linked to the chassis 70 terconnecting said levers in such manner that by means of a simple upper lever 34 as in the vertical displacements in like sense of the front original embodiment. The enlarged view of the and rear wheels relative to the chassis apply op central device given in Fig. 7 clearly shows the posed torsional leverage to said torsion spring way in which the stabilizing couple is produced. means tending to move said levers in opposite di Whilst in the above-described embodiments 75 rections whereby said angle at one displaced end 2,621,058 5 6 tends to depart further from a right-angle under and its connected lever becomes more acute under increasing static load upon said end. ‘ “ incréasi'ngistatic load. ' " ' ' " ‘ ' 2. In a vehicle adapted to move mainly in one 5. In a vehicle adapted to move mainly in one running direction and comprising a chassis sup running’ direction, the combination of a chassisv ported on wheels at four supporting points, two supported on .wheels at. four supporting points, at each longitudinal side of the chassis‘ disposed two at each longitudinal side of the chassis. dis? ' one near the front end and the other near’the . posed one atthe front end and the other at the. . rear end of the chassis, a resilient conjugate rear end of‘the chassis, torsion bars rotatably suspension system comprising two self-stabiliz carried by said chassis'andextending .longitu- . ing resilient conjugate'sus‘pensions arranged one 10 dinally thereof between the twosupporting points . at each longitudinal side of the chassis, each of at. each side of said’ chassis, levers fast on ‘the’. said two conjugate suspensions being independent four ends of. said bars, two of said levers atone of the other, and each including two levers ful- ' end of the chassis being directed outwardly'and crumed to the chassis respectively at the front downwardly from their associated bar, .. and the end and rear end supporting points at the same other two of'saidlevers. at the other end of said . side of the chassis and extending in the same ' bars being directed outwardly andiupwardly of.‘ direction laterally thereof, a plurality of‘ wheel-i said bar, a link extending upwardly andoute supporting means each supporting a Wheel, means wardly fromthe free extremities of each-of said connecting the free extremities of said levers re downwardly-directed levers and at an obtuse ._ spectively to the adjacent wheel-supporting 20 angle thereto,.and a link extending upwardly and . means, the angle between each such connecting inwardly from the free extremities of .each of. means and the lever to which it is connected said upwardly-directed levers and at an acute . being other than a right angle, means including angle thereto, said links connecting the extremi torsion spring means extending longitudinally of ties of said levers to the adjacent wheel support the chassis and resiliently and mechanically in means, .at least one of said levers and links com terconnecting said levers in such manner that prising a spring member and the arrangementv vertical displacements in like sense of the front being such that said obtuse angles become more. and rear wheels relative to the chassis apply obtuse and said acute angles become more acute. opposed torsional leverage to said torsion spring under increasing static load. thereby producing an means tending to de?ect said levers in opposite 30 unbalanced couple of. forces tending to restore directions whereby said angle at one displaced said chassis to normal equilibrium. ' end tends to depart further from a right-angle 6. In a vehicle adapted to move mainly in one under increasing static load upon said'end, the running direction, the combination of a chassis means connecting the free extremities of said supported on wheels at four supporting points, levers at one end of the chassis to said adjacent 35 two at each longitudinal side .of the chassis wheel-supporting means each comprising a spring disposed one at the front end and the other. at I member. the rear end of. the chassis, torsion bars rot'atably 3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 in carried by said chassis and extending longitudi which the levers fulcrumedto said supporting nally thereof between the two supporting points points at the opposite end of the chassis from at each side of said chassis, levers fast on the said spring linked end comprise spring'members. four ends of said torsion bars arranged in pairs 4. In a vehicle adapted to move mainly in one extending in opposite directions laterally at op-. running direction and comprising a chassis sup posite sides of said chassis, the levers on the ends ported on Wheels at four supporting points, two of the same bar each extending in the same di-» at each longitudinal side of the chassis disposed 45 rection laterally, a plurality of wheel-supporting one at the front end and the other at the rear means each supporting a wheel, links connecting end of the chassis, a resilient conjugate suspen thefree extremities of said levers respectively’ to sion system comprising two self-stabilizing re the adjacent wheel-supporting- means in such. silient conjugate suspensions arranged one at manner that vertical displacements in like sense. each longitudinal side of the chassis, each of said 50 of the front and rear wheels relative to the chassis: two conjugate suspensions being independent of apply opposed torsional leverage to the associated] the other, and each including two levers respec— torsion bar, the angle between each link and. tively fulcrumed at the front and rear supporting its connected lever being other than a right-angle, points at the same side of the chassis, means in and each of said links connecting the free extrem cluding torsion spring means extending longitu 55 ities of said front levers to said adjacent wheel dinally of the chassis and resiliently and me supporting means comprising a spring member, chanically interconnecting said levers, one of the arrangement being such that said angle at said levers being directed downwardly and out one displaced end tends to depart further from a wardly from its fulcrum point and the other of right-angle under increasing static load at said said levers being directed upwardly and outward 60 end. ly from its fulcrum point, a link member extend 7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 6, in ing upwardly and outwardly from the free ex which each of said levers fulcrumed to said rear tremity of said downwardly-directed lever at an supporting points comprises a spring member. obtuse angle thereto and connecting said ex 8. In a vehicle adapted to move mainly in one tremity of said last-mentioned lever to adjacent 65 running direction and comprising- a chassis sup wheel-supporting means, and a link member ex ported on wheels at four supporting points, two tending upwardly and inwardly from said up at each longitudinal side of the chassis disposed wardly-directed lever at an acute angle thereto one at the front end and the other at the rear and connecting said last-mentioned lever to ad end of the chassis, a self-stabilizing resilient con jacent wheel-supporting means, at least one of 70 jugate suspension system comprising two resilient said levers and links comprising a spring mem conjugate suspensions arranged one at each lon ber, the arrangement being such that the said gitudinal side of the chassis, each of said two obtuse angle between the appropriate link and conjugate suspensions being independent of the its connected lever becomes more obtuse and other, and each including two levers respectively the said acute angle between the appropriate link 75 fulcrumed at the front and rear supporting points 2,621,05é - 7 8 at the same side of the chassis, means including 10. In a vehicle adapted to move mainly in one torsion spring means extending longitudinally of running direction, the combination of a chassis the chassis and resiliently and mechanically in supported on wheels at four supporting points, terconnecting said levers, one of said levers being two at each longitudinal side of the chassis dis directed downwardly and outwardly from its ful posed one near the front end and the other near crum point and the other of said levers being di the rear end of the chassis, torsion bars rotatably rected upwardly and outwardly from its fulcrum carried by said chassis and extending in pairs point, a link member extending upwardly and longitudinally thereof between the two support outwardly from the free extremity of said down ing points at each side of said chassis, rigid levers wardly-directed lever at an obtuse angle thereto 10 fast on the adjacent ends of each said pair of bars and connecting said extremity of said last-men and extending laterally in opposite directions, tioned lever to adjacent wheel-supporting means, there being one such a pair on the adjacent ends and a link member extending upwardly and in of each pair of torsion bars, means connecting wardly from said upwardly-directed lever at an the free extremities of said rigid levers, a plural acute angle thereto and connecting said last 15 ity of wheel-supporting means each supporting a mentioned lever to adjacent wheel-supporting wheel, levers fast on the front and rear ends of means, the arrangement being such that the said said torsion bars, and means pivotally connect obtuse angle between the appropriate link and ing the free extremities of said last named levers its connected lever becomes more obtuse and the respectively to the adjacent wheel-supporting said acute angle between the appropriate link 20 means whereby vertical displacements in like and its connected lever becomes more acute un sense of the front and rear Wheels relative to the der increasing static load. chassis apply opposed torsional leverage to the 9. In a vehicle adapted to move mainly in one associated torsion bars, the angle between each running direction, the combination of a chassis of at least one pair of connecting means and its supported on wheels at four supporting points, two 25 connected lever being other than a right-angle at each longitudinal side of the chassis disposed and the arrangement being such that said angle one at the front end and the other at the rear at a displaced end tends to depart further from end of the chassis, torsion bars rotatably carried a right-angle under increasing static load upon by said chassis and extending longitudinally said end. thereof between the two supporting points at 30 11. In a vehicle as described in claim 10, ?ex each side of said chassis, levers fast on the four ible means comprising spring members connect ends of said bars, two of said levers at one end ing the free extremities of the levers of each mid of the chassis being directed outwardly and dle pair of levers. downwardly from their associated bars, and the LOUIS EUGENE WIDOLT other two of said levers at the other end of said MONTROSE-OSTER. chassis being directed outwardly and upwardly of said bars, a link extending upwardly and out REFERENCES CITED wardly from the free extremity of each of said downwardly-directed levers and at an obtuse an The following references are of record in the gle thereto, and a link extending upwardly and 40 ?le of this patent: inwardly from the free extremity of each of said UNITED STATES PATENTS upwardly-directed levers and at an acute angle thereto, said links connecting the extremities of Number Name Date said levers to the adjacent wheel support means, 1,396,549 Beatty ______Nov. 8, 1921 the arrangement being such that said obtuse an 45 2,099,819 Mercier ______Nov. 23, 1937 gles become more obtuse and said acute angles 2,168,630 Schi? ______Aug. 8, 1939 become more acute under increasing- static load, 2,333,008 Holmstrom et al. ____ Oct. 26, 1943 thereby producing an unbalanced couple of forces 2,416,388 Hendrix ______Feb. 25, 1947 tending to restore said chassis to normal equilib rium. 50