Leaf springs of composite material

ABSTRACT A fibre reinforced composite leaf spring 10 is provided at its end with an end fitting 11 for attachment to a rigid part of a vehicle. The end fitting 11 comprises an attachment member 12 which fits snugly within an arcuate recess 13 defined by a terminal portion of the spring 10. An sheet metal clamping member 14 surrounds and reinforces the attachment member 12 and recess 13 and is rivetted or otherwise fastened to the leaf spring 10 at a position remote from its terminal portion. The terminal portion 13 of the spring 10 extends around the attachment member 12 at least beyond a position at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the spring.

Leaf springs of composite material

A fibre reinforced composite leaf spring is provided at its end with an end fitting for attachment to a rigid part of a vehicle. The end fitting 11 comprises an attachment member which fits snugly within an arcuate recess defined by a terminal portion of the spring. A sheet metal clamping member surrounds and reinforces the attachment member and recess and is rivetted or otherwise fastened to the leaf spring at a position remote from its terminal portion. The terminal portion of the spring extends around the attachment member at least beyond a position at right-angles to the longitudinal axis of the spring.

Assemblies of springs of composite material

A leaf spring assembly with first (10, 110, 210) and second (9, 109, 209) leaves of composite, fibre reinforced plastics, material, the first leaf having an end portion (11, 111, 211) defining a transverse recess and which is held between upper and lower members (12, 112, 212; 13, 113, 213) secured together to hold them to the leaf. One of the members has an abutment (24, 124, 224) to be engaged by the second spring leaf.

HETEROGENEOUS COMPOUND MATERIAL SPRING SETS