IP Library Granted Patent US 8,998,183
Granted Patent B2
US 8,998,183 · App. 13/262,346 · Granted Apr 7, 2015

Suspension apparatus

Inventors: Mamoru Akeda (Yokohama, JP); Nobuhiro Shibuya (Yokohama, JP); Mitsuru Enomoto (Hino, JP)
Assignee: NHK Spring Co., Ltd.
B60G11/10B60G11/04B60G11/12B60G2200/30B60G2202/112B60G2204/121B60G2204/45
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,998,183
App. No.
13/262,346
Granted
Apr 7, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A suspension apparatus 100 includes a leaf spring 110 in which a front end and a rear end are rotatably supported by a frame 2 of a car and an intermediate portion thereof in a longitudinal direction is attached to an axle 3 ; and a stay 160 having an engaging portion 161 for blocking rotation of a portion to a rear of a breaking point of the leaf spring 110 when the leaf spring 110 is broken at a portion to a rear of the intermediate portion thereof.

Claims (21)

1. A suspension apparatus comprising:

a leaf spring in which a front end and a rear end are rotatably supported by a frame of a car and an intermediate portion in a longitudinal direction is attached to an attaching member for a wheel, wherein only one leaf spring is equipped in the apparatus, and is supported by the frame such that a portion to a rear of a breaking point of the leaf spring can rotate and contact the ground in a case of the breakage of the leaf spring at a portion to a rear of the intermediate portion; and

a blocking means for blocking rotation of the portion to the rear of the breaking point of the leaf spring only when the leaf spring is broken at the portion to the rear of the intermediate portion,

wherein the blocking means is a stay in which the portion to the rear of the breaking point of the leaf spring rotates and comes into contact with the stay in a case of the breakage of the leaf spring at the portion to the rear of the intermediate portion, and

wherein the stay is supported by the frame so as not to rotate

wherein the stay is spaced a predetermined distance from the leaf spring before breakage of the leaf spring, wherein the predetermined distance is greater than a maximum deflection of the leaf spring so that the leaf spring and the stay do not come into contact with each other unless the leaf spring is broken at the portion to the rear of the intermediate portion.

2. The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprising:

an eye formed at the rear end of the leaf spring; and

a pin to which the eye is wound around is hanged in an inclinable condition; wherein the blocking means is provided with an engaging member fixed to the eye and a stopping member fixed to the pin, and

the stopping member stops the engaging member moved by rotation of the eye in the case of the breakage of the leaf spring at the portion to the rear of the intermediate portion.

3. The suspension apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the apparatus further comprising:

a shackle rotatably supported by the frame and rotatably supporting the rear end of the leaf spring;

a stopper for blocking tilting of the shackle at an angle greater than a predetermined angle toward the portion to the rear of the car.

4. The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprising:

a shackle rotatably supported by the frame and rotatably supporting the rear end of the leaf spring;

a stopper for blocking tilting of the shackle at an angle greater than a predetermined angle toward the front side of the car.

5. The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stay supports only a lower surface of the leaf spring.

6. The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stay is substantially L-shaped when viewed from a front of the car, and comprises a vertical portion supported by the frame and extending downwardly, and an engaging portion horizontally extending from a lower end of the vertical portion for blocking rotation of a portion to the rear of the breaking point of the leaf spring in a case of the breakage of the leaf spring.

7. The suspension apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the engaging portion has a projection portion at an end thereof so that a condition in which the leaf spring is engaged with the engaging portion is not cancelled.

8. The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stay comprises a pair of substantially L-shaped portions facing each other when viewed from a front of the car, the substantially L-shaped portions comprising a vertical portion supported by the frame and extending downwardly, and an engaging portion horizontally extending from a lower end of the vertical portion toward each other for blocking rotation of a portion to the rear of the breaking point of the leaf spring in a case of the breakage of the leaf spring.

9. The suspension apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the stay is substantially U-shaped when viewed from a front of the car, and comprises a pair of vertical portions supported by the frame and extending downwardly, a screw member penetrating an end portion of the vertical portions, a nut attached to the screw member, and an engaging portion for blocking rotation of a portion to the rear of the breaking point of the leaf spring in a case of the breakage of the leaf spring.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2011
From: AKEDA, MAMORU; SHIBUYA, NOBUHIRO; ENOMOTO, MITSURU
To: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 027213/0158 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2009-095189 · Apr 9, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120043707A1 · Feb 23, 2012