A basic object of any suspension system in a vehicle is to suspend the vehicle body above the vehicle wheels. To achieve this end, suspension systems are typically connected between the axle, or its housing, and the vehicle frame. Suspension systems typically include active components, such as springs and the like, to keep the sprung mass (vehicle body) suspended above the unsprung mass (vehicle wheels). A suspension system preferably permits a relatively smooth, yet stable, ride during acceleration, deceleration and cornering of the vehicle, and during jounce and rebound of the axle when the vehicle is driven over bumpy surfaces and the like.

In vehicles, one or more devices are sometimes welded to the axle housing to provide means for connecting the vehicle suspension to the axle housing. An example of such an arrangement is disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 4,227,716, issued to Nordstrom, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. As disclosed therein, and as shown in Figs 1-5 of the accompanying drawings, an axle housing 20 having a differential gear housing 22 at a central portion thereof is connected between vehicle wheels 24 positioned on opposite sides of a vehicle. Axle connection devices 26, which shall later be described in further detail, are welded to the front and rear faces of axle housing 20 in close proximity to each vehicle wheel 24. These connection devices 26 provide means for connecting a vehicle suspension 30 to the axle housing 20.

The vehicle includes a frame 32 extending longitudinally down each side of thé-vehicle The vehicle suspension 30 is connected between the vehicle frame 32 and the axle housing') to suspend the vehicle body (not shown) above the vehicle wheels 24. The vehicle suspension

30 shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 4,227,716, and in Figs. 1-2 of the accompanying drawings, is generally known in the art as a Hotchkiss-type suspension. As shown, the suspension includes a main multi-leaf leaf spring pack 34 and an auxiliary multi-leaf leaf spring pack 36. The leaf springs that form the main leaf spring pack 34 are bundled together by a series of ties 38. The proximal end of the main leaf spring pack 34 is pivotally connected to a hanger 40, which in turn is fixedly mounted to the vehicle frame 32. The distal end of the main leaf spring pack 34 is connected to another hanger 42, which is also fixedly mounted to the vehicle frame 32. The distal end, however, is connected to hanger 42 through a shackle 44 that permits the distal end to move during deflection of the main leaf spring pack. The central portion of the main leaf spring pack 34 is seated on axle seating 46.

The auxiliary leaf spring pack 36 is seated on, and separated from the main leaf spring pack 34 by, a spacer 48. The leaf springs that form the auxiliary leaf spring pack 36 are bundled together by ties 50. Under normal circumstances, the auxiliary leaf spring pack 36 is inactive. However, if the vehicle is heavily loaded, the opposite ends of the auxiliary leaf spring pack 36 will engage against brackets 52, which are fixedly mounted to frame 32. This, in turn, will cause auxiliary leaf spring pack 36 to deflect during heavy vehicle load conditions.

Several components, a few of which have already been identified, hold the main and auxiliary leaf spring packs together. Those components also connect the leaf spring packs to the axle housing 20. In this arrangement, the threaded ends of two U-bolts 54 are inserted through bores extending through a guide plate 56, which is positioned atop the auxiliary leaf spring pack 36. The U-bolt ends are also inserted through bores extending through the axle seating 46 and bores extending through each of the axle connection devices 26. Nuts 58 are then tightened to the threaded ends of U-bolts 54 to tighten the entire assembly.

Figs. 3-5 illustrate the axle connection devices 26 shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 4,227,716. As shown, these devices include a baseplate 60 having circular ends 62 and a relatively short and narrow waist 64 dividing the ends. As such, the shape of baseplate 60 is similar to the symbol used to identify the mathematical concept of infinity. This shape permits

the welds that connect the baseplate to the axle housing to withstand the forces exerted upon it during torsion of the axle housing.

A horizontal plane 65 projects outwardly from baseplate 60. Horizontal plane 65 includes a relatively flat and horizontally projecting upper surface 66 and a relatively flat and horizontally projecting lower surface 67. Upper surface 66 is generally parallel with lower surface 67. Horizontal plane 65 also includes a waist 68 correspondingly positioned with waist 64 of baseplate 60 to divide plane 65 into two portions, each having a bore 70 extending straight through it. Bores 70 accommodate the threaded ends of U-bolts 54 when the leaf spring packs 34,36 are connected to the axle housing 20. Each axle connection device 26 is welded to the axle housing 20 by way of a continuous weld 72 formed along the edge of baseplate 60 and extending about its entire perimeter.

Although these axle connection devices have proven suitable for permitting connection of a vehicle suspension to an axle housing, they have had some drawbacks. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, each vehicle make and model typically has its own set of pinion angles for each of its axles. The set of pinion angles used for one vehicle is typically not the same used for another. Furthermore, the pinion angle used for one axle of a vehicle is typically not the same used for another axle of that vehicle. All of this considered, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that axle housings typically are not positioned so that they extend straight up and down. Rather, they are rotated to an extent to accommodate the required pinion angle.

In light of the construction of the aforementioned axle connection devices, it was often necessary to use additional parts and components to attach the vehicle suspension to the axle housing. These additional parts and components were required in order to accommodate the pinion angle. Such additional parts and components might, for instance, be uniquely designed shims or washers. Use of these additional parts and components added weight and expense to the suspension system, and required additional worker time and expense to design these components and to position, assemble and service them while the suspension system is

connected to the axle housing.

As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, axle housings are ordinarily constructed in two halves that are fused or welded together. Often, the two axle housing halves have at least a slight mismatch, and use of the above-described axle connection devices required use of additional parts and components to accommodate this mismatch. Again, this added considerable weight and expense to the suspension system design, and required additional worker time and expense to design these components and to position, assemble and service them while the suspension system is connected to the axle housing.

Another drawback of these welded axle connection devices is that they were welded to the axle housing by a continuous weld run that traversed about the entire perimeter of the device. Use of this much metal added significant weight to the vehicle and amounted to additional expense. In practice, it has been typically necessary to use a continuous triple pass weld about the entire perimeter of the device to hold it to the axle housing. This even further added to the weight of the vehicle and amounted to even further additional expense.

In light of the foregoing, it is desirable to reduce the weight of vehicles that include welded axle connection devices.

It is also desirable to reduce the expense associated with such vehicles.

It is further desirable to eliminate the necessity of including additional components in such vehicles.

It is yet further desirable to design a welded axle connection device that has built-in features to accommodate varying pinion angles.

It is still further desirable to design a welded axle connection device that has built-in features to accommodate axle housing mismatch.

It is also desirable to design a welded axle connection device and devise a method for welding the device to an axle housing so that substantially less metal is used during the welding process.

These and other objects of the preferred form of the invention will become apparent

from the following description. It will be understood, however, that an apparatus or method could still appropriate the invention claimed herein without accomplishing each and every one of these objects, including those gleaned from the following description. The appended claims, not the objects, define the subject matter of this invention. Any and all objects are derived from the preferred form of the invention, not necessarily the invention in general.

Summary of the Invention The present invention is directed to an axle connection device that is designed to be welded to an axle housing to permit a vehicle suspension system to be connected to the axle housing. The axle connection device includes a generally flat baseplate having curvilinear ends separated by a relatively long and narrow waist. Each end includes a curvilinear side rim and two rounded corners from which the rim of the baseplate smoothly tapers towards the waist.

The device also includes a generally horizontally projecting plane having a waist aligned with the waist of the baseplate to divide the plane into two distinct portions. The plane also has two supporting sidewalls. Both sidewalls extend from just inside the rounded comers of a respective end of the baseplate and taper towards associated corners of the horizontally projecting plane. Each portion of the plane includes a generally rounded boss extending from the plane. A slot extending from the intersection of the baseplate and the plane is incorporated in each boss to allow a connection bolt to pass through the device. The construction of the device permits it to accommodate varying pinion angles and axle housing mismatch.

The present invention is also directed to a method of welding an axle connection device to a face of an axle housing. The method includes forming two continuous welds along both longitudinal edges of the device. Each weld begins longitudinally inward of one of the rounded comers of the device, preferably one of the rounded comers positioned closest to the spindle end of the axle. The weld is formed such that it extends longitudinally outwardly towards that rounded corner to a weld end, which is positioned longitudinally inward of that comer. The weld is then turned back on itself and extends longitudinally inwardly along the

tapering slope of the end of the device towards the waist portion thereof to form a double-pass weld at its end. The weld then extends through the waist portion, then longitudinally outwardly along the tapering slope of the opposite end of the device to a point just shy of the rounded comer at that end. At that point, the weld is again turned back on itself to form a double-pass weld at its end. The weld is then terminated. Another continuous weld is made in like fashion along the opposing longitudinal edge of the device. Under this method, substantially less weld is used and the weld lines do not traverse over, along and/or around the rounded corners of the device. As a result, the axle housing (as opposed to the weld runs) primarily absorbs any torsional loading.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the following detailed description, reference will frequently be made to the following drawing, in which like reference numerals refer to like components, and in which: FIG. 1 is a side view of a leaf spring attachment arrangement of the type utilizing axle connection devices that are conventionally used in prior art suspension systems; FIG. 2 is a rear view of the leaf spring attachment arrangement of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3 is a front view of the axle connection device used in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a top view of the axle connection device used in FIG. 1 ; FIG. 5 is a side view of the axle connection device used in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a front view of the axle connection device of the present invention, shown attached to a face of an axle housing ; FIG. 7 is a top view of two axle connection devices of the present invention, shown attached to opposite faces of an axle housing; FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the axle connection device of the present invention, taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7; FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the axle connection device showing the detail of the welding process of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a side view of a suspension system utilizing the axle connection device of the present invention to attach active components of the suspension system to the axle housing Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring to FIGS. 6-8, an axle connection device 100 is shown. Axle connection device 100 is similar to axle connection device 26, described above, to the extent that it permits the connection of a vehicle suspension system to an axle housing. In that regard, axle connection device 100 could replace the axle connection devices 26 and be mounted to opposite faces of axle housing 20 shown in FIG. 1. So mounted, it would permit vehicle suspension 30 to be connected to axle housing 20.

Referring now briefly to FIG. 10, two axle connection devices 100 are shown as being mounted to the front and rear faces of an axle housing 102. FIG. 10 further illustrates a longitudinally extending vehicle frame 104 that is sprung above a vehicle axle by a vehicle suspension 106. The vehicle suspension 106 shown in FIG. 10 is generally referred to as a trailing arm suspension by those skilled in the art. In suspension system 106, one end of a Z- shaped spring 108 is pivotally connected to a hanger 110, which, in turn, is mounted to vehicle frame 104. The opposite end of Z-shaped spring 108 is connected to an air spring 112, which is connected to the vehicle frame 104 through a mounting bracket 114.

One end of a shock 116 is attached to a mounting bracket 118, which is mounted to vehicle frame 104. The other end of shock 116 is received within a port included in a shock mounting device 120, which is attached to the axle housing 102 by an axle attachment assembly 122.

Axle attachment assembly 122 includes a guide plate 124, an axle seat 126, two U- bolts 128, fasteners 130, and two axle connection devices 100 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Much as described above with reference to FIG 1, the

U-bolts 128 connect the active components of vehicle suspension 106 with the axle housing 102. As shown, however, the axle housing 102 is shown as being rotated slightly in FIG. 10 to accommodate the pinion angle. Under these circumstances, use of axle connection device 100, which has built-in features to accommodate the pinion angle, provides substantial benefits beyond those derived from the axle connection devices 26 illustrated in FIGS. 1-5.

Referring back to FIGS. 6-8, as shown, the axle connection device 100 is designed to be welded to opposing faces of the axle housing 102. The axle connection device 100 includes a generally flat baseplate 132 having curvilinear ends 134 separated by a relatively long and narrow waist 136. In this configuration, axle connection device 100 resembles a dog bone-like shape. Each end 134 includes a curvilinear side rim 138 and two rounded corners 140,142 from which the rim of the baseplate smoothly tapers towards waist 136.

The axle connection device 100 also includes a horizontally projecting plane 144 having a waist 146 correspondingly positioned with the waist 136 of baseplate 132. Waist 146 divides plane 144 into two distinct portions. Plane 144 includes two supporting sidewalls 148.

Sidewalls 148 extend from just laterally inward of the rounded comers 140,142 of a respective end of the baseplate 132 and taper towards the corresponding corners of horizontally projecting plane 144.

Each portion of plane 144 includes a generally rounded boss 150 extending from the plane. A slot 152 extending from the intersection of baseplate 132 and plane 144 is indexed with and incorporated in each boss 150 to allow a connection bolt, such as the aforementioned U-bolts 128, to pass through the axle connection device 100. The geometry and construction of axle connection device 100, and particularly its bosses 150, permit the device to accommodate varying pinion angles and axle housing mismatch.

Referring now to FIG. 9, two continuous weld runs 160,162 are used to weld axle connection device 100 to axle housing 102. As shown, axle connection device 100 is connected to axle housing 102 such that one base end portion is closer to the spindle end

163A of the axle housing while the other base end portion is closer to the bowl end 163B of the axle housing. Weld runs 160,162 preferably extend over opposite longitudinal edges of the rim of baseplate 132. Unlike the continuous weld run shown in FIG. 3, weld runs 160, 162 do not traverse about the entire perimeter of baseplate 132. This reduction of metal is a result of the unique weld technique described below and the geometry and construction of axle connection device 100.

As shown, weld 160 is preferably formed by beginning the welding process at a point longitudinally inwardly of one of the rounded corners positioned at the top longitudinal edge of device 100. It will be understood, however, that the first weld run could be along the bottom longitudinal edge of device 100.

Preferably, weld 160 begins closest to rounded corner 140, as that corner is closest to the spindle end 163A of the axle housing 102. From its beginning point 164, weld 160 is formed such that it extends longitudinally outwardly towards rounded corner 140 to a weld end 166, which is positioned longitudinally inward of corner 140. Weld 160 is then turned back onto itself and extends down the tapering slope of device 100 towards waist 136 to form a double-pass weld between beginning point 164 and weld end 166.

Weld 160 then extends through waist 136, upward along the tapering slope of the opposite end of device 100, and longitudinally outward towards rounded corner 142. Just shy of rounded corner 142, weld 160 is again turned back on itself at weld end 168 and continues to a weld termination point 170. As a result, weld 160 forms another double-pass weld between weld end 168 and termination point 170.

Weld 162 is formed in a similar fashion along the bottom longitudinal edge of device 100. In particular, weld 162 preferably begins closest to rounded corner 140, as that corner is closest to the spindle end 163A of the axle housing 102. From its beginning point 172, weld 162 is formed such that it extends longitudinally outwardly towards rounded corner 140 to a weld end 174, which is positioned longitudinally inward of corner 140. Weld 162 is then

turned back onto itself and extends down the tapering slope of device 100 towards waist 136 to form a double-pass weld between beginning point 172 and weld end 174.

Weld 162 then extends through waist 136, upward along the tapering slope of the opposite end of device 100, and longitudinally outward towards rounded corner 142. Just shy of rounded corner 142, weld 162 is again turned back on itself at weld end 176 and continues to a weld termination point 178. As a result, weld 162 forms another double-pass weld between weld end 176 and termination point 178.

As a result of this unique method, less metal is used. Furthermore, in light of the geometry and construction of device 100 and weld runs 160,162, the axle housing 102 primarily absorbs any torsional loading. As a result, the extent to which the weld runs 160, 162 are subjected to torsional loading is minimized, thereby reducing the possibility of cracking.

While this invention has been described with reference to an illustrative embodiment, it will be understood that this description shall not be construed in a limiting sense. Rather, various changes and modifications can be made to the illustrative embodiment without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Furthermore, it will be appreciated that any such changes and modifications would be recognized by those skilled in the art as an equivalent to one element or more of the following claims, and shall be covered by such claims to the fullest extent permitted by law.