GB574406A - Improvements in or relating to the resilient suspension of vehicle wheels - Google Patents

Abstract

574,406. Spring forks. AERO ENGINES, Ltd., and HALLIDAY, G. F. Oct. 5, 1943, No. 16337. [Class 136 (iii)] [Also in Groups XXXII and XXXIII] A resilient mounting for a wheel carried within a fork, e.g. a motor cycle wheel, comprises a pair of torsion bar springs 3 extending along the fork limbs 1, 2 and anchored at the ends 5 remote from the wheel axle 19, the wheel axle being permitted an up and down movement relative to the fork limbs and a radius arm 12 on each torsion bar being coupled to the axle by a link 14 so that as the axle is moved upwards the torsion bars are twisted. The limbs 1, 2 of the fork are hollow and each contains a torsion bar 3 keyed at 4 in a boss 5 secured to the steering column 8 by a plate 6. The lower end of each torsion bar passes freely through a bush 11 and has keyed to it a lever 12 having at its outer end a ball joint 13 engaging one end of.the link 14. A ball joint 15 at the other end of the link 14 connects the link to a radius arm 16 keyed to a spindle 17 to which is fixed a lever 18 carrying the axle 19 of the wheel 20. The mechanism is enclosed in an oil bath 21. As the wheel 20 rises or falls, the torsion bars 3 are twisted in opposite directions. To damp the movement, a plate 24 fixed to the lower end of the torsion bar works in an oil bath 27 and has an aperture over which is located a flap closing in one direction only. A rubber bush 22 supports each torsion bar intermediate its length. The fixed or anchored ends of the torsion bars may have attached to them levers connected by a link.