Leaf spring device for suspension system for vehicle

1 . A leaf spring device for a suspension system for a vehicle, the leaf spring device comprising:

a center leaf spring;

side leaf springs respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the center leaf spring; and

bracket modules, each of the bracket modules comprising a center bracket configured to accommodate an end of the center leaf spring, and a side bracket connected to the center bracket and configured to accommodate an end of a side leaf spring, wherein the center bracket and the side bracket are separate and rigidly coupled by a fastening part that prevents relative movement between the center bracket and the side bracket, wherein the center bracket comprises:

a center bracket body connected to the side bracket;

a center accommodation part disposed on the center bracket body and configured to accommodate the center leaf spring, the center accommodation part having a first side opened so that the center leaf spring is inserted into the center accommodation part;

a center shim accommodated in the center accommodation part and configured to adjoin the center leaf spring; and

a center cover coupled to the center accommodation part by center fastening parts to close the opened first side of the center accommodation part, wherein the center cover includes center cover through holes, the center fastening parts are configured to be inserted into the center cover through holes and penetrate the center cover,

wherein the center bracket further comprises a center shim fastening part configured to penetrate the center accommodation part and be fastened to the center shim so that the center shim presses the center leaf spring.

2 . The leaf spring device of claim 1 , wherein the center accommodation part comprises:

a center upper plate;

a center lower plate disposed to be spaced apart from the center upper plate; and

a center connection plate configured to connect the center upper plate and the center lower plate, and

wherein the center shim is disposed on the center lower plate.

3 . The leaf spring device of claim 2 , wherein an interval between an upper surface of the center shim and a lower surface of the center upper plate is smaller at an inlet of the center accommodation part than at an inner side of the center accommodation part.

4 . The leaf spring device of claim 3 , wherein a vertical thickness of a portion of the center leaf spring, which is adjacent to the inner side of the center accommodation part, is larger than a vertical thickness of a portion of the center leaf spring that is adjacent to the inlet of the center accommodation part.

5 . The leaf spring device of claim 4 , wherein a vertical thickness of a portion of the center shim, which is adjacent to the inlet of the center accommodation part, is larger than a vertical thickness of a portion of the center shim that is adjacent to the inner side of the center accommodation part.

6 . The leaf spring device of claim 2 , wherein the center bracket further comprises a center stopper formed on the center connection plate and configured to prevent the center leaf spring from moving toward an inner side of the center accommodation part.

7 . The leaf spring device of claim 6 , wherein the center stopper comprises:

a center protrusion protruding from the center connection plate toward the center leaf spring; and

center grooves respectively formed in a connection portion between the center upper plate and the center connection plate and a connection portion between the center lower plate and the center connection plate.

8 . The leaf spring device of claim 1 , wherein the side bracket comprises:

a side bracket body connected to the center bracket;

a side accommodation part disposed on the side bracket body and configured to accommodate the side leaf spring, the side accommodation part having a first side opened so that the side leaf spring is inserted into the side accommodation part;

a side shim accommodated in the side accommodation part and configured to adjoin the side leaf spring; and

a side cover coupled to the side accommodation part to close the first side of the side accommodation part.

9 . The leaf spring device of claim 8 , wherein the side bracket further comprises a side shim fastening part configured to penetrate the side accommodation part and be fastened to the side shim so that the side shim presses the side leaf spring.

10 . The leaf spring device of claim 8 , wherein the side accommodation part comprises:

a side upper plate;

a side lower plate disposed to be spaced apart from the side upper plate; and

a side connection plate configured to connect the side upper plate and the side lower plate, and

wherein the side shim is disposed on the side lower plate.

11 . The leaf spring device of claim 10 , wherein an interval between an upper surface of the side shim and a lower surface of the side upper plate is smaller at an inlet of the side accommodation part than at an inner side of the side accommodation part.

12 . The leaf spring device of claim 11 , wherein a vertical thickness of a portion of the side leaf spring, which is adjacent to the inner side of the side accommodation part, is larger than a vertical thickness of a portion of the side leaf spring that is adjacent to the inlet of the side accommodation part.

13 . The leaf spring device of claim 12 , wherein a vertical thickness of a portion of the side shim, which is adjacent to the inlet of the side accommodation part, is larger than a vertical thickness of a portion of the side shim that is adjacent to the inner side of the side accommodation part.

14 . The leaf spring device of claim 10 , wherein the side bracket further comprises a side stopper formed on the side connection plate and configured to prevent the side leaf spring from moving toward an inner side of the side accommodation part.

15 . The leaf spring device of claim 14 , wherein the side stopper comprises:

a side protrusion protruding from the side connection plate toward the side leaf spring; and

side grooves respectively formed in a connection portion between the side upper plate and the side connection plate and a connection portion between the side lower plate and the side connection plate.

16 . The leaf spring device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the center leaf spring, the side leaf spring, and a combination thereof includes glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).