David D Perkins

US Patent:

45331570, Aug 6, 1985

Filed:

Mar 19, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/591350

Inventors:

Walter A. Hoenle - Warren MI
David J. Perkins - Royal Oak MI
James L. Schenten - Sterling Heights MI

Assignee:

Chrysler Corporation - Highland Park MI

International Classification:

B60G 1102

US Classification:

280718

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.

US Patent:

46376283, Jan 20, 1987

Filed:

Dec 2, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/803445

Inventors:

David J. Perkins - Royal Oak MI

Assignee:

Chrysler Motors Corporation - Highland Park MI

International Classification:

B60G 1900
B60G 2100

US Classification:

280689

Abstract:

An improved rear axle beam assembly for a trailing arm suspension system. The beam assembly comprises a tubular member extending transversely between the vehicle rear wheels. A pair of first and second outer sleeves, each fixed to the rearward end of a trailing arm, concentrically surround the respective outboard end portions of the tubular member. The first sleeve is fixedly attached to the one end portion of the tubular member while the second sleeve is journally mounted on the other end portion of the tubular member. A pair of first and second wheel support castings each having a collar portion defining an axial bore fixedly receiving therein the outboard end of an associated outer sleeve. An anti-roll torsion bar is axially positioned in the journaled second sleeve end portion of the tubular member. The torsion bar includes a head plate on its outboard end fastened to its associated second casting with the bar's inboard end pinned to the tubular member thereby maintaining the dimensional relationship between the left and right castings.