Renault Vehicules Industriels

Francois Mounier-Poulat

Marcel Savoie

Raymond Armanet

Patrick Gardier

Patrick Berthon

Jean Beaupellet

A suspension for a vehicle having tandem axles includes a composite leaf spring connected between the axles. The leaf spring is constrained to bend about a transverse axis by a fixed elastic support having a concave, arcuate bottom surface whose center coincides with the transverse axis. The elastic support engages the top surface of the leaf spring at two points on opposite sides of the transverse axis, and is opposed by a central elastic element. The ends of the leaf spring are connected to the tandem axles by ball joints having elastic pads.

Device for mounting a composite material leaf spring

Axle-chassis connecting device is particularly for a commercial vehicle having two tandem axles of the hydropneumatic suspension type. The vertical load coming from the chassis is transmitted directly to the wheels by jacks (23) without passing through the axle tanks, and is taken into account near the wheel plane by means of a multifunction part (20) which further assures, simultaneously, the connection of the axle to the chassis by a longitudinal guide rod (26) and the transmission of the braking torques coming from the braking means (35).

Axle-chassis connecting device

Fastening of a leaf spring of composite material to a heavy vehicle is accomplished by the clamping of clamps acting on metal shoes located on both sides of the leaf spring, on the surface of which are inserted two U-shaped rubber pieces. On the inner face of said rubber pieces steel sheets are adhered, whose free face is glued to the leaf of the spring.

Growing community of inventors

Heyrieux, France

Francois Mounier-Poulat