Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Arvin Meritor Technology, LLC

John E Mutzner

Tomaz Dopico Varela

David K Platner

Arnett Ryan Weber

Holly Ann Giangrande

Rajesh J Somnay

Benjamin R Reineck

Norman Austin

Gary Pitt Ford

Thomas E Rau

John F Eilerman

Brian J Knouff

David S Richard

A leaf spring for a vehicle suspension is formed from a composite material and includes first and second ends that are longitudinally spaced apart from each other. A resilient element is attached to at least one of the first and second ends. The resilient element includes at least one hole that receives a connecting element. The resilient element and the connecting element cooperate to attach the leaf spring to a vehicle structure. In one example, the resilient element comprises a rubber block that is bonded to the leaf spring. In another example, the resilient element comprises a longitudinally orientated bushing that is inserted through a thickness of the leaf spring.

Composite spring with resilient attachment interface

A composite leaf spring for a motor vehicle has an elongated body of layers of epoxy coated fibers extending in the longitudinal direction of the spring. The composite fiber/adhesive body is formed and cured to provide sufficient strength and flexibility to suspend the vehicle. A synthetic fiber pad is fixed adjacent the end of the spring for engagement with the spring hanger of the suspension system to resist wear of the body at the interface with the hanger. In the preferred embodiment, the pad is a woven fabric of aramid fibers at least some of which extend substantially normal to the wear interface. A specific double plane weave fabric including a warp/fill fiber ratio of approximately 7:1 provides superior results. Epoxy resin is preferred for the adhesive both for the body of the spring and for pre-impregnation of the pad. In the related method, the pre-impregnated pad is applied to the mold contoured to correspond to the shape of the spring and elongated fibers are layered in the mold over the pad. Sufficient heat and pressure is applied to integrally bond the pad to the spring to form the wear surface.

Method of forming a composite leaf spring with fabric wear pad

In a preferred embodiment a hydraulic brake hose comprises a polychloroprene inner tube, a reinforcing braid of twisted glass fiber yarn around the tube, a styrene-butadiene copolymer rubber cushion layer over the glass braid, a second reinforcing braid of nylon fiber yarn over the cushion layer and a cover layer of polychloroprene rubber.

Braid reinforced flexible brake hose

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Covington, OH, United States of America

John E Mutzner