A suspension strut for an independent wheel suspension of a motor vehicle comprises a telescopic damper with a helical compression spring arranged around the damper and seated at its ends on the cylinder tube and piston rod respectively of the damper. A wheel carrier is connected to the lower end of the damper cylinder tube and projects laterally therefrom. To compensate for the bending moment produced by the offset disposition of the wheel carrier relative to the damper axis, those portions of the convolutions of the helical spring which are disposed on the same side of the spring as the laterally projecting wheel carrier -- corresponding, in use, to the outboard side of the spring convolutions -- are constructed to have a greater polar resistance moment than the portions of the spring convolutions which are disposed on the opposite side of the spring from the spring carrier. The spring starting material may for instance be circular-section spring stock, which, prior to convolution, has its cross-section locally reduced in area or changed in shape, by metal removal or by press-forming, to produce the portions having a smaller polar resistance moment.
Vehicle strut type suspensions are improved against deleterious side loadings and excessive friction in the telescopic strut portions by use of a couple counterbalance secondary spring which imposes a counter-moment on the strut-connected wheel support knuckle.
A vehicle suspension strut for use in a vehicle suspension system for vehicles having sprung and unsprung portions, the strut including a telescopic shock absorbing device having a cylinder and a reciprocal piston rod, means for securing one end of the clyinder to one of the vehicle portions and for securing one end of the piston rod to the other of the vehicle portions, a conversion assembly for selectively converting the strut such that it is adjustable in response to the supply of a pressurized fluid, the assembly comprising an elongated generally tubular flexible diaphragm member and first and second attachment means adapted to be removably connected to the shock absorber so as to define therewith a variable volume gas chamber, and means for selectively communicating a pressurized gas, such as compressed air, to and from the chamber to effect selectively expansion and contraction thereof.
Aircraft supported by rotors have an elastic device (28) that helps to angularly place the body of the aircraft in relation to the rotation axis of the rotor (1). This device has adjusting means (39-40-27) which the pilot can use during flight. The invention is in particular applicable to autogyros.
A suspension member for a frame of a vehicle that permits a coil spring and a shock absorber to be attached as a unit to the vehicle frame and a control arm pivotally attached to the frame. The control arm is attached to the frame so that the suspension member extends between the frame and the control arm, and the coil spring and shock absorber can be adjusted concurrently.
A rear suspension for a vehicle including a vehicle body, front and rear wheels and a steering system for steering both the front and rear wheels by a steering wheel. The rear suspension comprises a rear sheel support member for supporting the rear wheels with respect to the vehicle body and a biasing mechanism, interposed between the vehicle body and the rear wheel support member, for biasing the rear wheel to restore the steering position thereof to the neutral position thereof. The rear wheel support member may comprise a shock absorber and a lower arm while the biasing mechanism may be a rubber bush.
