Suspension arrangement for a vehicle
A suspension arrangement for a vehicle including a leaf spring element having a substantially longitudinal configuration. Also included is a deflection limiting element coupled to said leaf spring element at an intermediate location thereof, wherein said deflection limiting element comprises a J-shaped spring element. Further included is a resilient element attached to said J-shaped spring element.
1. A vehicle suspension arrangement for a vehicle having a chassis rail and a longitudinal axle arranged substantially ortho oval to the chassis rail the vehicle suspension arrangement comprising:
a primary leaf spring having a plan view longitudinal configuration, a first end for pivotally coupling to the chassis of the vehicle at a first pivot coupling, and a second end for coupling to the chassis of the vehicle at a second pivot coupling;
a secondary leaf spring having a plan view longitudinal configuration, a first end for pivotally coupling to the chassis of the vehicle at a pivot coupling, and a second end for coupling to the longitudinal axle;
a deflection limiting element disposed between the primary and secondary leaf springs for controlling a distance therebetween, the deflection limiting element disposed at an intermediate location relative to the first end and the second end of the secondary leaf spring; and
a coupler portion arranged intermediate of the first and second ends.
2. The vehicle suspension arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the deflection limiting element comprises a J-shaped spring element.
3. The vehicle suspension arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the deflection limiting element is coupled to a selectable one of said primary and secondary leaf springs.
4. A vehicle suspension arrangement for a vehicle of the type having a chassis rail and a longitudinal axle arranged substantially orthogonal to the chassis rail the vehicle suspension arrangement comprising:
a primary leaf spring having a plan view longitudinal configuration, a first end for pivotally coupling to the chassis of the vehicle at a first pivot coupling, and a second end for coupling to the chassis of the vehicle at a second pivot coupling;
a secondary leaf spring having a plan view longitudinal configuration, a first end for pivotally coupling to the chassis of the vehicle at a pivot coupling, and a second end for coupling to the longitudinal axle; and
a deflection limiting element disposed between the primary and secondary leaf springs for controlling a distance therebetween, the deflection limiting element disposed at an intermediate location relative to the first end and the second end of the secondary leaf spring;
wherein the deflection limiting element comprises a J-shaped spring element;
wherein the J-shaped spring element is coupled to a selectable one of said primary and secondary leaf springs.
5. A vehicle suspension arrangement for a vehicle having a chassis rail and a longitudinal axle arranged substantially orthogonal to the chassis rail, the vehicle suspension arrangement comprising:
a primary leaf spring having a plan view longitudinal configuration, a first end for pivotally coupling to the chassis of the vehicle at a first pivot coupling, and a second end for coupling to the chassis of the vehicle at a second pivot coupling;
a secondary leaf spring having a plan view longitudinal configuration, a first end for pivotally coupling to the chassis of the vehicle at a pivot coupling, and a second end for coupling to the longitudinal axle;
a deflection limiting element disposed between the primary and secondary leaf springs for controlling a distance therebetween, the deflection limiting element disposed at an intermediate location relative to the first end and the second end of the secondary leaf spring; and
a principal resilient element having a determinable resilience characteristic, the principal resilient element having a first portion for coupling to the chassis of the vehicle and a second portion for coupling to the longitudinal axle.
6. The vehicle suspension arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the principal resilient element is a coil spring.
7. The vehicle suspension arrangement of claim 5 , wherein the principal resilient element is an air-pressure-responsive resilient element.