Leaf spring

Abstract

A leaf spring assembly for use as an active component in vehicle suspension systems is disclosed. The leaf spring assembly includes a full leaf leaf spring component and a half leaf leaf spring component connected thereto. The full leaf leaf spring extends substantially the entire length of the leaf spring assembly and the half leaf leaf spring extends substantially the entire length of one of the cantilevers. In a preferred form, when the leaf spring assembly has front and rear cantilevers of substantially unequal length, the leaf spring assembly provides for a constant caster angle for its associated axle during deflection of the assembly due to jounce and rebound. In another preferred form, when the leaf spring assembly has front and rear cantilevers of substantially equal length, the leaf spring assembly provides for a varying caster angle for its associated axle during deflection of the assembly due to jounce and rebound. In yet another preferred form, the axle seat portion of the full leaf leaf spring is designed such that it biases the position of the axle associated with the leaf spring assembly to a predetermined caster angle.

1 . A leaf spring assembly for use as an active component in vehicle suspension systems, comprising: 
 a first cantilever portion;    a second cantilever portion adjacent to said first cantilever portion;    a full leaf leaf spring component extending substantially along said first and second cantilever portions;    a half leaf leaf spring component connected to said full leaf leaf spring component and extending substantially along said first cantilever portion.    
     
     
         2 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 1  wherein said half leaf leaf spring component extends along at least part of said second cantilever portion.  
     
     
         3 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 1  wherein one of said full leaf leaf spring and half leaf leaf spring components includes an eye in said first cantilever portion.  
     
     
         4 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 1  wherein said full leaf leaf spring component includes an eye in said first cantilever portion and said half leaf leaf spring component includes a wrap in said first cantilever portion.  
     
     
         5 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 1  wherein said first cantilever portion and said second cantilever portion are substantially equal in length.  
     
     
         6 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 1  wherein said first cantilever portion and said second cantilever portion are substantially unequal in length.  
     
     
         7 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 1  further comprising an axle seat portion having a first end and a second end.  
     
     
         8 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 1  wherein said full leaf leaf spring component includes a full leaf upper surface and a full leaf lower surface, wherein said half leaf leaf spring component includes a half leaf upper surface and a half leaf lower surface, and wherein in said axle seat portion the upper and lower surfaces for one of said full leaf leaf spring and said half leaf leaf spring components extend in nonparallel planes.  
     
     
         9 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 8  wherein said lower surface for said one of said full leaf leaf spring and said half leaf leaf spring components tapers continuously through substantially all of said axle seat portion so that said one of said full leaf leaf spring and said half leaf leaf spring components is thicker at said second end of said axle seat portion than it is at said first end of said axle seat portion.  
     
     
         10 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 9  wherein said one of said full leaf leaf spring and said half leaf leaf spring components is said full leaf leaf spring component.  
     
     
         11 . A leaf spring assembly for use as an active component in vehicle suspension systems, comprising: 
 a first cantilever portion;    a second cantilever portion adjacent to said first cantilever portion;    an axle seat portion having a first end in said first cantilever portion and a second end in said second cantilever portion;    a full leaf leaf spring component extending substantially along said first and second cantilever portions, said full leaf leaf spring having an upper surface and a lower surface and being constructed so that said upper surface and said lower surface extend in nonparallel planes through said axle seat portion of said leaf spring assembly;    a half leaf leaf spring component connected to said full leaf leaf spring component and extending substantially along said first cantilever portion.    
     
     
         12 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 11  wherein said half leaf leaf spring component extends along at least part of said second cantilever portion.  
     
     
         13 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 11  wherein said first cantilever portion and said second cantilever portion are substantially equal in length.  
     
     
         14 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 1  wherein said first cantilever portion and said second cantilever portion are substantially unequal in length.  
     
     
         15 . The leaf spring assembly as defined by  claim 11  wherein said lower surface of said full leaf leaf spring component tapers continuously through substantially all of said axle seat portion so that said full leaf leaf spring component is thicker at said second end of said axle seat portion than it is at said first end of said axle seat portion.