The Patent

	Patent - Legend a Rear driving axles b Universal joints c Casing (also encludes transmission) d Engine e Longitudinal frame members f Bearers g Transverse plate h Wheel i Coil spring or india rubber buffer j Limbs j1 Conical socket j2 Yoke k Plate l Transverse beam m Pivoted about a fore and aft axle
Patent 375.877 - Application Date 7th April, 1931 - Complete Accepted 7th July 1932 Title: Improvements in the Rear Suspension of Motor Vehicles

We, THE ROVER COMPANY LIMITED, British Company, and Colonel FRANK SEARLE, British Subject, both of Meteor Works, Coventry, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:

This invention relates to the rear suspension of motor vehicles of the kind in which the differential shafts are mounted in a casing carried by the frame of the chassis and are connected with the road wheels by means of universally jointed driving axles.

According to the present invention each rear wheel, with its universally jointed axle, is carried by the frame which is independently mounted and free to rise and fall relatively to the frame of the chassis about an axis passing through, or approximately through, the centre of the universal joint against the action of a spring or india rubber buffer arranged between the outer end of the axle and the end of a transverse beam pivoted at the centre about a fore and aft axis. Alternatively, the springs may be dispensed with and the beam replaced by a transverse laminated spring pivoted at the middle about a fore and aft axis.

Each of the universally jointed axles is supported at its outer end by means of a vee-shaped frame the members of which constitute radius rods and are pivoted at their inner ends about an axis passing through the centre of the universal joint.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practical effect, reference is made in the following description to the accompanying drawing which shows the application of the invention to a vehicle in which the engine and transmission gear are located on the frame of the chassis rearward of the driving axles.

Figures l, 2 and 3 are side, front and plan views respectively of so much of the vehicle chassis as is necessary to illustrate the application of the present invention thereto.

Referring to the drawing, in the several figures of which like parts are designated by similar reference characters, a, a represent the rear driving axles which are connected by means of universal joints b, b with differential shafts mounted in the casing c. It is important that the universal joints b, b of the driving axles should he placed as near the centre line of the vehicle as the exigencies of design will permit. In the example shown the said casing also encloses the transmission gear and, together with the engine d, is secured as one unit to the longitudinal members e, e of the frame of the chassis by the bearers f, f and at the forward end by the transverse plate g.

The bearings for the outer ends of the driving axles are in each case carried at the apex of a vee-shaped frame which is independently mounted and arranged in a substantially horizontal plane laterally of and above the frame of the chassis. The limbs j, j of said frame constitute radius rods and are pivoted at their inner ends to the plate g and engine casing d respectively about an axis passing through, or approximately through, the centre of the universal joint b.

Each said frame with its wheel h and universally jointed axle a is free to rise and fall relatively to the frame of the chassis about the said axis independently of each other against the action of a coiled spring i, or india rubber buffer, arranged between a plate k bridging the outer end of the vee-shaped frame, and the end of a transverse beam l pivoted at m about a fore and aft axis to the top of the casing c above the differential gear.

Each pivoted end of the limbs of the vee-shaped frame may be formed with a conical socket j1 adapted to take a bearing upon a correspondingly coned boss or projection on the transverse plate g and the engine casing respectively. A conical metal washer lined on the inside with rubber or fibre may be introduced between the bearing surfaces and the two parts can be held together by means oi a yoke j2 which makes a central single point contact with the outside of the conical socket by means of a ball and is bolted to the transverse plate g in the one case and to the engine casing d in the other case.

The limbs of the vce-shaped frame may be of channel or angle section steel with the conical sockets formed in one piece therewith by a pressing operation.

Instead of the beam l and coiled springs, a transverse laminated spring may be employed pivoted at the centre to the top of the casing c and connected at its ends with the outer ends of the vee-shaped frames carrying the bearings for the driving axles.

It is found that with the rear wheels carried in the manner above described and with the rear part of the chassis suspended about the pivot of the transverse beam or its equivalent, the tendency of the vehicle to roll when cornering is very materially reduced.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :
1. Motor vehicles of the kind herein referred to characterised by a rear suspension in which each rear wheel with its universally jointed axle is carried by a frame which is independently mounted and free to rise and fall relatively to the frame of the chassis about an axis passing through, or approximately through, the centre of the universal joint against the action of a spring or rubber buffer arranged between the outer end of the axle and the end of a transverse beam pivoted at the centre about a fore and aft axis.
2. Motor vehicles according to claim 1 in which the springs are dispensed with and the beam replaced by a transverse laminated spring pivoted at the middle about a fore and aft axis.
3. Motor vehicles according to claim 1 in which each universally jointed axle is supported at its outer end by means of a vee~shaped frame, or radius rods, pivoted at the inner ends about an axis passing through, or approximately through, the centre of the universal joint.
4. Motor vehicles of the kind herein referred to in which the rear portion thereof is suspended substantially in the manner herein described and as shown in the accompanying drawing.