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BR-102019001975-B1 - SPRING FIXING SYSTEM ON VEHICLE AXLE AND ASSEMBLY METHOD

BR102019001975B1BR 102019001975 B1BR102019001975 B1BR 102019001975B1BR-102019001975-B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a spring fastening system on a vehicle axle and mounting method, preferably used in trucks, buses, trailers and semi-trailers, comprising a spring pack (1) and a vehicle axle (2), coupled together by means of a support (3) disposed on the vehicle axle (2), and a torque plate (4) disposed under the vehicle axle (2), such that the support (3) partially surrounds the axle (2), housing a ring (5) integral with said axle (2) and the torque plate (4) partially surrounds the axle (2) in the region opposite to the support, the fastening between the parts being carried out by the tightening force from the nuts (6) in the clamps (7).

Inventors

  • RODRIGO MALACARNE
  • CLÉBER VIGANÓ
  • LEANDRO PASQUALOTTO
  • EDUARDO CARRARO

Assignees

  • CASTERTECH FUNDIÇÃO E TECNOLOGIA LTDA

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20190131

Claims (4)

  1. 1. SPRING FIXING SYSTEM ON VEHICLE AXLE, comprising spring bundles (1) and vehicle axle (2), coupled together by means of supports (3), torque plates (4), rings (5), nuts and clamps (6, 7), characterized by the support (3) being disposed on the vehicle axle (2) and being constituted by a structured body comprising a central hole (9) and two ears (10) with holes (11) disposed at one of the longitudinal ends, further comprising an upper face (8), lateral faces (12) and a lower face (14) provided with a central cavity (15), the lateral faces (12) being provided with salient regions (13) from the center towards the hole (9), and the lower face (14) being concave and provided with a cavity (15); the torque plate (4) being disposed under the vehicle axle (2) and being constituted by a body structured comprising a concave upper face (17) provided with a central recess (18) in the form of a channel, and lateral edges (19), further comprising a lower face (20) provided with projections (21) extending from the body (22), said projections (21) being provided with ears (23) with holes (24) at the ends; wherein the upper face (8) of the support (3) houses the center pin of the spring (1) through the central hole (9), and the cavity (15) of the concave lower face (14) of the support (3) houses the ring (5) integral with the shaft (2); wherein the central recess (18) in the form of a channel of the concave upper face (16) of the torque plate (4) does not touch when coupling the vehicle shaft (2); wherein the fixation between the shaft (2) and the support (3) and the torque plate (4) is carried out by the tightening torque of the nuts (6) in staples (7).
  2. 2. SPRING FIXING SYSTEM ON VEHICLE AXLE, according to claim 1, characterized in that the ears (10) of the support (3) house the eyelet fixing of a suspension arm.
  3. 3. SPRING FIXING SYSTEM ON VEHICLE AXLE, according to claim 1, characterized by the ears (23) of the torque plate (4) fixing the clamps (7).
  4. 4. METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SPRING FIXING SYSTEM ON A VEHICLE AXLE, as defined in any of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising the steps of: - assembling the support (3), housing it in the ring (5) on the axle (2); - assembling the spring (1), housing the center pin of the spring in the hole (9) of the support (3); - assembling the clamps (7) on the spring (1) surrounding the axle (2); - assembling the torque plate (4) on the axle (2), inserting the clamp rods (7) into the holes (24); - assembling and tightening the nuts (6) on the clamp rods (7).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a spring fastening system on a vehicle axle and a mounting method, preferably used in trucks, buses, trailers and semi-trailers. Each fastening comprises a spring pack and a vehicle axle coupled together by means of a support and a torque plate, wherein the support partially surrounds the axle housing a ring integral to it, the torque plate partially surrounds the axle in the region opposite the support, the fastening between the parts being carried out by tightening the nuts on the clamps. [0002] In the present invention, the support consists of a structured body configured so that the upper face has the shape of the lower face of the spring. The front end is provided with lugs to attach an eyelet of the suspension arm. The side faces are provided with convex protruding regions ending at the ends next to the clamps. The lower face of the support is designed with the shape of the axle surface, having in the center a depression region suitable for housing the ring integral to the axle. [0003] The torque plate consists of a structured body configured so that the upper face has the shape of the shaft beam. The distant horizontal ends are provided with holes for the passage of clamps. The opposite face is provided with two protruding regions ending in lugs for clamp attachment. [0004] The arrangement of the components for attaching the spring to the vehicle axle, their sequence and method of assembly, results in a robust attachment that improves structural performance in use, eliminating the need to add welds in critical areas of the axle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] The vehicles for transporting cargo that currently travel on highways are equipped with various types of suspensions, with mechanical suspensions that use leaf springs still being quite common. [0006] Mechanical suspensions are defined as being composed of leaf springs, spring coupling supports fixed to the vehicle chassis, and various mechanical interface components for attaching the leaf springs to the vehicle axle. These components transmit and distribute the load, with the acting forces from the chassis to the vehicle axle. [0007] Among the various models of the aforementioned mechanical suspensions, we highlight those that do not use eyelets at the ends of the leaf springs. These suspensions are equipped with arms with hinged ends attached to supports on the chassis and axle, providing longitudinal support for the vehicle axle. [0008] Among the mechanical suspension models mentioned above, which use leaf springs and longitudinal axle support arms, there are various ways of attaching the spring, which can be by interface components fully bolted to the axle, fully welded components, or a combination thereof. In all these cases, the components attaching the spring to the axle are subject to various stresses resulting from the load and movement of the vehicle. [0009] Due to the forces acting on mechanical spring suspensions, with the axle and suspension acting as a means of transmitting these forces, and because the springs are rigidly fixed to the axle, a large concentration of stress occurs in the fixing region that needs to be dissipated through an efficient and safe connection, without compromising the components involved in the fixing and the structure of the axle itself. [00010] In prior art spring-to-axle mountings, where the spring support and/or torque plate are welded to the axle, we encounter the drawback of the possibility of premature fractures, which can compromise and cause the axle to detach from the vehicle, with the risk of causing accidents on highways. As mentioned above, in these interface regions with the axle there is a high concentration of stresses, generating high tensions; these stresses are amplified due to probable defects generated by the welds and the weakening of the materials involved. [00011] Another drawback found in known prior art vehicle axle spring fastening systems is the need to oversize the axle beam wall, resulting in higher material costs and increased axle beam weight. Patent document BR112015030836-8 refers to a spring seat for a mechanical suspension/spring axle system that includes continuous window welds and facilitates the use of a thin-walled axle, thereby saving weight and cost. The seat attaches at least one mechanical spring of the suspension/axle system to an axle of the suspension/axle system. The spring seat comprises at least one body configured to seat on the axle, and the body forms at least one window when disposed on the axle. The body is rigidly fixed to the axle by a continuous weld formed in the window. The axle seat is free of a line weld between the body and the axle. [00012] The patent document above describes a spring fastening system on a mechanical suspension axle, consisting of a spring seat fixed to the axle by welds located in windows. The objective of the invention is to eliminate the use of line welds in the same region of the