Abstract: For friction reduction in sliding bearing, it is known to structure the sliding surface (1) by ECM by introducing a plurality of microscopic small indentations (27). According to the invention it is proposed in particular in the same process step to smoothen also the intermediary spaces (6) between the indentations (27), thus to remove the tips of the surface profile.

Abstract: A spring seat is interposed between a spring and a suspension arm supporting the spring. The spring seat includes a support portion for supporting the spring, and an upright partition portion disposed on one side of the spring seat in a lateral direction of the spring seat. The upright partition portion is formed integrally with the support portion for covering a side surface of the spring. The suspension arm includes a recessed portion supporting the spring, and the partition portion has a height equal to or greater than a height of the recessed portion. The partition portion includes a guide surface for upward or laterally guiding foreign matters coming from an outside of the spring seat in the lateral direction of the spring seat.

Abstract: A curved portion, with a curved cross section, is formed at the recess of the pad. The curved portion has a contact portion which contacts the leaf spring's tension surface, which faces the curved portion. The curved portion's thickness decreases from the contact portion to an end portion of the curved portion, thereby being spaced from the leaf spring's tension surface. In the pad, the height of the curved portion of the recess is set such that contact of the leaf spring's tension surface and the corner portion of the end portion of the curved portion can be avoided when the stroke length of the leaf spring's end portion is at maximum. Thus, the tension surface of the leaf spring is not worn by the corner portion of the end portion of the curved portion. As a result, breakage of the leaf spring caused by wear can be prevented.

Abstract: An insert disposed between two cooperating leaf springs. The insert includes a body including a stem having a plurality of radially extending ribs inserted into an aperture in a first leaf spring. The body includes a face which slidably engages a second leaf spring. The face includes a plurality of circular protrusions extending therefrom. A pin is inserted into a central bore formed by cooperating fingers that form the body, causing an outwardly extending radial retention force to be exerted onto the surface of the aperture in the first leaf spring.

Abstract: An insert disposed between two cooperating leaf springs. The insert includes a body including a stem having a plurality of radially extending ribs inserted into an aperture in a first leaf spring. The body includes a face which slidably engages a second leaf spring. The face includes a plurality of circular protrusions extending therefrom. A pin is inserted into a central bore formed by cooperating fingers that form the body, causing an outwardly extending radial retention force to be exerted onto the surface of the aperture in the first leaf spring.

Abstract: An insert disposed between two cooperating leaf springs. The insert includes a body including a stem having a plurality of radially extending ribs inserted into an aperture in a first leaf spring. The body includes a face which slidably engages a second leaf spring. The face includes a plurality of circular protrusions extending therefrom. A pin is inserted into a central bore formed by cooperating fingers that form the body, causing an outwardly extending radial retention force to be exerted onto the surface of the aperture in the first leaf spring.

Abstract: A vehicular leaf spring tip insert is provided. The insert includes a pad portion providing a liner between adjacent leaf spring tips, at least one shank portion extending from the pad portion to a free end, the shank portion having a generally axial bore, the shank portion also having a protuberance extending outward therefrom with a leaf spring engagement surface facing toward the pad portion at an axial distance therefrom, the protuberance being dimensionally adapted and configured so that the protuberance is compressed radially inward sufficiently to be received through the tip opening upon insertion of the shank portion therethrough, and a pin for insertion into the shank bore, the pin retaining the shank protuberance in a position to extend the protuberance radially outward to enable the shank leaf spring engagement surface to become engageable with the leaf spring.

Abstract: A vehicular leaf spring tip insert is provided. The insert includes a pad portion providing a liner between adjacent leaf spring tips, at least one shank portion extending from the pad portion to a free end, the shank portion having a generally axial bore, the shank portion also having a protuberance extending outward therefrom with a leaf spring engagement surface facing toward the pad portion at an axial distance therefrom, the protuberance being dimensionally adapted and configured so that the protuberance is compressed radially inward sufficiently to be received through the tip opening upon insertion of the shank portion therethrough, and a pin for insertion into the shank bore, the pin being formed from a semi-liquid material poured into said shank axial bore or material from the protuberance that has been thermally deformed.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension friction control assembly includes vehicle suspension having at least two elements which are slidable with respect to each other in the fore-and-aft direction thereof. The assembly also includes a friction control device comprising a resiliently deformable member which is located between the suspension elements and means for limiting deformation of the deformable member to a predetermined degree in the fore-and-aft direction of the suspension elements. The suspension elements are slidable with respect to each other against friction when the deformable member has been deformed to the predetermined limited degree.

Abstract: An anti-friction pad for a bushed pivot connection of a main leaf spring and a secondary leaf spring of a spring mounted air spring suspension of a vehicle. The pivot connection includes a bushing, a main leaf spring having an eye receiving the bushing and a secondary leaf spring having an eye receiving the eye of the main leaf spring and the inside surfaces of bushing hanger bracket. The anti-friction pad has an elongated main body portion positioned between and in contact with the main leaf spring and the secondary leaf spring. The anti-friction pad also has side walls which engage the secondary leaf spring. The anti-friction pad has a center post which seats in a socket of the secondary leaf spring. The main body portion of the pad has an outer convex surface which mates with a concave face of the main leaf spring. The anti-friction pad is formed of an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

Abstract: A method for spectral noise abatement from seismic data. The data are decomposed into organizational components from which a noise component can be resolved by well-known iterative methods. A statistic is calculated by comparing the measured spectral content of the data with a model spectrum. The seismic data are scaled in proportion to the ratio between the model spectrum and the measured spectrum, following which the processed signal traces are displayed as representative of a cross section of the earth.

Abstract: When attaching components to composite members, for example leaf springs of composite fibre reinforced resin material, it is necessary to avoid stress concentrations and also the access of foreign matter between the spring and the component since this can cause abrasion and break down of the spring. A composite leaf spring having upper and lower planar surfaces has a two element component clamped to it as indicated by the arrows. Liners of elastomeric material are interposed between one element and the upper planar surface and between the other element and the lower planar surface. Towards their ends the surfaces of the elements adjacent the spring diverge from the spring and the liners are shaped to fill the divergencies. The liners extend beyond the ends of the elements to form sealing lips at the spring surfaces. In an eye end attachment at an end of a composite spring in a one piece component may be used.

Abstract: A composite leaf spring for a motor vehicle has an elongated body of layers of epoxy coated fibers extending in the longitudinal direction of the spring. The composite fiber/adhesive body is formed and cured to provide sufficient strength and flexibility to suspend the vehicle. A synthetic fiber pad is fixed adjacent the end of the spring for engagement with the spring hanger of the suspension system to resist wear of the body at the interface with the hanger. In the preferred embodiment, the pad is a woven fabric of aramid fibers at least some of which extend substantially normal to the wear interface. A specific double plane weave fabric including a warp/fill fiber ratio of approximately 7:1 provides superior results. Epoxy resin is preferred for the adhesive both for the body of the spring and for pre-impregnation of the pad. In the related method, the pre-impregnated pad is applied to the mold contoured to correspond to the shape of the spring and elongated fibers are layered in the mold over the pad.

Abstract: A dual rate leaf spring construction including a main leaf spring, preferably formed of fiber reinforced resin, and having a central section adapted to be connected to an axle of a vehicle and having a pair of ends to be connected to the frame of the vehicle. A secondary leaf spring, having a substantially shorter length than the main leaf spring, is secured beneath and parallel to the main leaf spring, and an elastomeric pad is mounted on each end of the secondary spring. The pads have upwardly facing rounded heads that are spaced out of contact with the lower surface of the main spring under normal load conditions. Under heavy load conditions, the main spring will deflect downwardly into contact with the pads to thereby enable the secondary spring to carry a portion of the load.

Abstract: A suspension system for the rear wheels of a motor vehicle includes a pair of leaf springs having their fore and aft ends pivotally mounted to the vehicle frame or body. The leaf springs flexibly support a tubular rear axle member forwardly and downwardly offset from the rear wheel spindles by a pair of left and right one-piece castings. Each casting has an outboard spindle mounting L-shaped angle portion and an inboard forwardly and downwardly offset collar portion joined by a canted bridging portion. The collars each receive one end of the tubular axle member. The casting include a jounce deflection stop-plate for engaging its associated frame bumper. Leaf springs are seated on each casting below the spindle axis and above the tubular axle member reducing the design height of the vehicle. The tubular axle portion and spindles are constrained to move equal distances during upward jounce deflection.

Abstract: An anti-splay shim 50 and low friction liner 80 are incorporated in the center section 12 of a leaf spring assembly 10 for preventing splaying of the second stage leaf 36 with respect to the first stage leaves 22, 24 and 26. The anti-splay shim 50 has an upturned flange 50 which abuts edges of 62 and 64 of the first stage leaves 24 and 26 and a downward turned flange 58 which abuts an opposite facing edge 66 of the second stage leaf 36. In addition, a low friction liner 80 is interposed between a second stage leaf 36 and a spring seat 34 which is fixed to an axle 14. The low friction liner 80 minimizes torque transfer about a vertical axis from the axle 14 to the second stage leaf 36.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the friction between the leaf springs of a laminated leaf spring assembly comprises a clamping mechanism, a hydraulic cylinder mechanism, a hydraulic control mechanism and a detecting mechanism. The clamping mechanism includes a guide member and a press member. The guide member and the press member hold and clamp the laminated leaf spring assembly. The hydraulic cylinder mechanism has a cylinder and a piston movable in the cylinder and presses the press member to urge the laminated leaf spring assembly against the guide member. The hydraulic control mechanism has a pressure reducing value for controlling the pressure of a liquid supplied to the cylinder of the hydraulic cylinder mechanism. The detecting mechanism detects the values of the predetermined factors of a body supported by the laminated leaf spring assembly and supplies signals representative of the values to the pressure reducing valve.