Weight saver suspension
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A PROGRESSIVE-rate rubber suspension has been developed by Rydewell Suspensions Ltd, Brighouse, West Yorkshire for the drive axles of trucks, including tractive units.
In this latest Rydewell design, two rubber-sandwich springs span the drive axle on each side where they thrust against an inclined pad bolted to each chassis side-member.
On each side, each pair of rubber spring is inclined (the rubber being compressed as well as being loaded in shear).
Rydewell claims the axle is thus self-centralised transversely, eliminating the need for an A-frame or Panhard rod.
There is an upper torque rod which, in conjunction with lower radius rods from each side of the axle, controls braking and driving torque reaction as well as providing longitudinal location.
Depending on the leaf spring arrangement being replaced, Rydewell claims a saving in weight of something like 100kg or 2cwt with the system. An additional advantage of the system, according to Rydewell, is that wheelbase extensions, particularly on tractive units can often be carried out without the need for a chassis extension.
With this design, no bracket or suspension parts project rearwards beyond the tyres, as is the case with leaf springs. Thus an axle can simply be repositioned if a wheelbase extension is required.