Chrysler Corporation

Chrysler Motors Corporation

James L Schenten

David J Perkins

Walter A Hoenle

An improved vehicle load sensing mechanism for a brake proportioning system including a suspension spring follower lever. The follower lever is mounted co-axially with a leaf-type spring mounting fastener and utilizes a low-friction sleeved bearing assembly to thereby exactly duplicate pivotal movements of the spring end caused by road irregularities without creating significant force levels between portions of the lever and the end of the spring.

Rear spring actuated brake proportioner

An improved brake proportioning system, particularly for a vehicle such as a truck, subject to relatively large differences in loading, includes a force responsive proportioning valve inserted between a master brake cylinder and the rear brakes of the vehicle for increasing the rear braking effort relative to the front braking effort as the vehicle load increases. A device which senses the position of the rear spring of the vehicle operably connected to the force input of the proportioning valve by responding to angular movements of the pivotally mounted end portion of the rear leaf spring whereby spring flexure due to changes in vehicle load produce a corresponding input force to the proportioning valve.

An improved braking system, particularly for a vehicle such as a truck, subject to relatively large differences in loading, including a force responsive proportioning valve inserted between a master brake cylinder and the rear brakes for increasing the rear braking effort relative to the front as the load on the vehicle increases. A spring position follower device is operably connected to the force input of the proportioning valve to respond to angular movements of the pivotally mounted end portion of the rear leaf spring whereby an increased input force is transmitted to the proportioning valve as the spring flexes due to vehicle load increases.

A suspension system for the rear wheels of a motor vehicle includes a pair of leaf springs having their fore and aft ends pivotally mounted to the vehicle frame or body. The leaf springs flexibly support a tubular rear axle member forwardly and downwardly offset from the rear wheel spindles by a pair of left and right one-piece castings. Each casting has an outboard spindle mounting L-shaped angle portion and an inboard forwardly and downwardly offset collar portion joined by a canted bridging portion. The collars each receive one end of the tubular axle member. The casting include a jounce deflection stop-plate for engaging its associated frame bumper. Leaf springs are seated on each casting below the spindle axis and above the tubular axle member reducing the design height of the vehicle. The tubular axle portion and spindles are constrained to move equal distances during upward jounce deflection.

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Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

James L Schenten