GB560080A - Improvements in or relating to vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

560,080. Vehicle spring suspensions. AYERS, A. L. April 7, 1942, No. 4570. Convention date, April 7, 1941. [Classes 103 (vi) and 108 (ii)] In a rail or road vehicle having a pair of tandem axles 12, 13, the rear axle 13 is provided with bearing pads 23 near its ends which are slidably engaged by other pads 20 carried by the frame 10, the two sets of pads constituting guides constraining the axle 13 to swing about a centre intermediate the axles, and the upper pads 20 being connected by a tie-rod 21 which can be locked to the axle 13 so as to keep the latter from swinging movements. In the construction shown, the axles are connected to the frame by springs 14, 15, the pads 20 being secured to the centres of the springs 15. Rollers 24 carried by the pads 20 bear on the pads 23 which are curved in plan to an arc concentric with the point about which it is desired that the axle 13 should swing. The pads 23 are preferably of T-section and are engaged by extensions 22 of the pads 20. The lateral movement of the axle 13 relatively to the frame 10 as the pads 20 move over the pads 23 is preferably used to cause the frame to tilt inwards towards the centre of the curve which the vehicle is describing, by making the pads 23 higher at their outer ends than at their inner ends. 'The axle 13 can be locked in its normal position by the engagement of teeth or stops on the tie-rod 21 and a sliding member 34 carried by a member 30 fixed to the axle 13. The member 34 is actuated by a power cylinder 31 whenever the gear lever is put in reverse.