| 摘要 |
<p>A trailing arm axle suspension system includes rigid or spring beams for mounting the axle (28) directly to the beam (24) without any or minimal, respectively, additional mounting hardware of structure. An axle mounting plate (43) is formed as part of the preassembled rigid beam or attached to the spring beam, and is formed with a recess (46) that is slightly smaller than or the same size as the smallest axle which will be seated therein. The axle is force fit in the recess under force sufficient to eliminate clearance and create intimate contact between the axle and the axle mounting plate. The force typically deforms the axle from its normal cross-sectional shape, such as round, into a generally oval or ellipitical cross-section shape. Such a force fit also creates a preload or compression between the axle and the axle mounting plate in the recess area. Continuous welds (58) disposed in windows formed in the axle mounting plate are circumferentially offset from recess-defining edges of the axle mounting plate and the vertical axis plane of the axle. The vertical height of the beam in the area of the axle mount, in rigid top mount beam applications, is relatively small to improve clearance in low ride-height applications, and an insert is disposed in this highly loaded area to strengthen the beam.</p> |
