850,560. Road vehicle spring suspensions. COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLIS SEMENTS MICHELIN RAISON SOCIAL R. PUISEUX & CIE. Feb. 5, 1959 [Feb. 5, 1958], No. 4123/59. Classes 108(2) and 108(3). Leaf springs 2a, 2b, are disposed respectively above and below a vehicle axle 1 and are connected at their ends to the vehicle frame 4, the axle 1 being connected to the springs 2a, 2b, at spaced resilient connections 27, and also being supported from the frame 4 by a pneumatic spring 15, 16. The latter comprises a bellows 16 and a rigid reservoir 15. The supply of air to, and exhaust from, the spring is controlled by a levelling valve 31 mounted on the frame 4 and connected by a linkage 32, 21, to the axle 1. The axle 1 has limited lateral and longitudinal movement relative to a member 29 (which carries the connections 27 and supports the pneumatic spring 16) by virtue of the pair of rubber bush mountings 14, 14. Compression and rebound are limited respectively by resilient stops 20 and 23. The latter is adapted to engage an abutment 22 carried by the link 21. Each leaf spring 2a, 2b, is of constant thickness between the resilient connections 27, but its thickness decreases parabolically between each connection 27 and the associated connection to the frame 4. Over the latter portion of the spring, the width decreases progressively as shown in Fig. 7. In a modified construction (Figs. 1-4, not shown), the connections 27 are replaced in the case of each spring 2a, 2b, by rigid connections between the member 29 and the spring, these connections being relatively close together.
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