THE RELATED ART

Invention relates to leaf spring connector system where the assembly changing spring coefficient of leaf springs used in vehicles as estimated is integrated and application of it to leaf springs.

BACKGROUND OF THE RELATED ART

Today leaf springs are used as suspension members storing the energy generated by loads to chassis and transmission organs because of road conditions and then releasing it and providing driving comfort and safety.

In the related art, the most basic feature of leaf springs is the force value responded to certain displacement. Ratio of generating force to displacement is called spring coefficient. Spring coefficient is assigned based on features expected from vehicle.

In some cases, leaf spring may be expected to have more than one spring coefficient subject to load and collapsing amount. In such cases, auxiliary layer or layers is/are used in addition to main layer or layers in order to provide more than one spring coefficient. Auxiliary layer or layers increases/s spring coefficient by increasing shape changing resistance by contacting main layer or layers after certain displacement of main layer or layers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Present invention uses a spring connection system run in a manner to increase spring coefficient after a certain displacement without need for auxiliary layers.

Main purpose of the invention is to eliminate need for auxiliary layers forming high weight and provide reduction in weight. Another purpose of the invention is to eliminate need for auxiliary leaf spring layer or layers and lower end product cost.

A further purpose of the invention is to eliminate wearing, friction, sound and comfort faults by an agent a way that might be pressed between main layer and auxiliary layer in current art.

In order to achieve above described purposes, the leaf spring connection system used in the invention forms a mechanism increasing leaf spring coefficient upon starting to apply force onto main layer via compressing wedge after a leaf spring deformation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1 gives view of the case where leaf spring connector of the invention is mounted to leaf spring.

Figure 2 gives distributed view of the case where leaf spring connector of the invention is mounted to leaf spring.

Figure 3 gives view of leaf spring connector of invention with leaf spring under low load and graphic of force vs. displacement.

Figure 4 gives view of leaf spring connector of invention with leaf spring under full vehicle load and graphic of force vs. displacement.

Figure 5 gives view of leaf spring connector of invention with leaf spring under the highest load and graphic of force vs. displacement.

Figure 6 gives view of leaf spring connector of invention with leaf spring under low load with alternative connection and graphic of force vs. displacement.

Figure 7 gives view of leaf spring connector of invention with leaf spring under full vehicle load with alternative connection and graphic of force vs. displacement. Figure 8 gives view of leaf spring connector of invention with alternative connection under the highest load and graphic of force vs. displacement.

Figure 9 gives view of leaf spring of former related art in low load vehicle and graphic of force vs. displacement. Figure 10 gives view of leaf spring of former related art in full load vehicle and graphic of force vs. displacement.

Said parts are given with following reference numbers whenever referred to under detailed description and claims for better understanding of figures and description.

1. Compressing Wedge a. Elastic Surface

2. Frame

3. Vehicle Connection Axis 4. Spring Connection Axis

5. Wedge Connection Axis

6. Connection Flole

7. Flousing component

8. Leaf Spring Surface 9. Leaf Spring Hub area

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the former related art, a leaf spring bending motion is performed as a result of force transmitted through leaf spring central area. The distance between front and rear eyelets of switch is tend to change as a result of such motion. In order to enable this relative motion freedom created between front and rear eyelets, while one eye let is housed to bottom body of vehicle enabling rotation around one axis, other eyelet is connected to bottom body of vehicle by means of leaf spring ring rather than direct connection. The motion created during sprig motion of leaf spring bending and motion of leaf spring ring as a result thereof is show in figure 9 and figure 10.

Integrated spring connection changing spring coefficient of invention is shown in figure 2 with distributed view.

In figure 1 , the leaf spring connector is housed in vehicle bottom body from a vehicle connection axis (3) on the frame (2) in a manner allowing rotation on axis to the area prepared by vehicle producer. Meanwhile, subject to vehicle producer's design, connector may be connected to its place on the vehicle directly by means of the connection holes (6) located on the frame (2) or may be connected to its place on the vehicle by means of a housing component (7) to be provided on the connection member frame (2). It is also housed on another spring connection axis (4) passing from spring connection component frame (2). A third axis provided on spring connection component frame (2) provides connection of compression wedge (1 ) to wedge connection axis (5). Three connection axis are parallel to each other.

In figure 1 leaf spring main layer is sprung slightly as a result of low force in upward direction from the leaf spring hub area (9) and hub point is moved upward. Leaf spring working mechanism as a result of low force is similar to former mechanism.

In the force and displacement curves given in Figures 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 vertical axis shows force quantity corresponding to leaf spring hub area (9) while horizontal axis shows displacement made upward by leaf spring hub area (9). Slope of the curve gives spring coefficient of leaf spring.

When quantity of force is increased, while leaf spring springs in upward direction, spring connector compressing wedge (1 ) approaches upper surface of leaf spring and then goes into contact form. Thus arm length of leaf spring capable to spring upward is decreased in a certain amount and stiffness is increased.

The angular differences which occur between leaf spring surface (8) and contact surfaces of compressing wedge (1 ) are eliminated by help of arrangement of compressing wedge (1 ) in a manner allowing connection component frame (2) to rotate around a wedge connection axis (5) and compressing wedge(1 ) capability to adjust its compressing angle in respect to leaf spring surface (8). In addition, in the area to contact leaf spring surface (8) in compressing wedge (1 ), thanks to material having high flexibility to be used, the elastic surface (1a), the angular difference to occur between leaf spring surface (8) and compressing wedge (1 ) can be tolerated by help of material of said high elasticity even it is fixed to connection component frame (2).

After compressing wedge (1 ) gets in contact with leaf spring main layer, already increased spring coefficient can be arranger to increase with increasing displacement or decrease with increasing displacement in such manner that leaf spring connection assembly remains fixed subject to distances between angular and rotating axis where it is located.

In the study the load displacement graphic as a result of mechanism given in Figure (3-4-5) is shown. It is seen that slope of load displacement curve after said contact point in the graphic, that is, spring coefficient decreases as the displacement increases.

As a result of another study, it is seen that leaf spring connection member shown in figure (6-7-8), slope of load displacement curve after said compressing wedge (1 ) contact point, that is, spring coefficient increases when displacement increases.