Integral suspension member
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a front wheel drive vehicle the rear wheels are carried by a support assembly for connection with the rear of the vehicle frame. Generally, the rear axle shaft is replaced by separate spindles at each of the rear wheels and a forged member supports the spindle. The forged member also supports a backing plate for the purpose of carrying a brake assembly, and couples to a bracket, a traction bar, and a strut, such as a Macpherson strut, in order to mount the forged member relative to the vehicle frame. Although the foregoing support assembly has been satisfactory, changes in design objectives such as weight and cost have limited the desirability for such a support assembly. Consequently, a new support assembly which is light weight is believed to be an advance in the state of the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a suspension member which is used in a rear support assembly for a front drive vehicle. In particular, the suspension member comprises a support which is formed from a stamped piece of metal. Preferably, the stamped support is constructed from a pair of stamped members which are mirror images of each other. When coupled together the stamped members form a vertical seam which is welded together to form the support. 
     In addition, the suspension member includes means, such as a dust shield, for supporting a brake assembly. Preferably, the dust shield carries a wheel cylinder and holddown springs attach a pair of brake shoes to the dust shield. The pair of brake shoes are engageable with the support to anchor the brake shoes thereto. Therefore, torque developed during braking is transferred to the support rather than through the wheel cylinder. 
     In a modified embodiment of the present invention, the support carries the wheel cylinder and forms an anchor to carry the pair of brake shoes and to oppose torque developed during braking. 
     It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a support for a suspension member which fixedly secures a spindle for rotatably carrying a wheel assembly and to integrate a brake assembly with the support for cooperating with the wheel assembly to retard rotation of the latter. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a support assembly showing the suspension member of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the support assembly of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section view of the support and spindle taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the support and spindle; 
     FIG. 5 is a reduced perspective view of a modified embodiment of the support; 
     FIG. 6 is a vertical cross section view of the modified embodiment of FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 7 is a reduced perspective view of another modified embodiment of the support. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In FIG. 1 the suspension member of the present invention is illustrated at 10. The suspension member 10 is pivotally connected via pin 12 with a bracket 14 which is pivotally anchored to the rear of a vehicle frame (not shown). The pin 12 extends through coaxial apertures at 16 on the suspension member 10, and coaxial apertures at 18 are adapted for connection with a traction bar 20. Opposite the aperture 18, a pair of coaxial apertures 22 and 24 receive pins 26 and 28 to secure a shock absorber assembly 30, such as a Macpherson strut which is well known in the industry. 
     In accordance with the invention the suspension member 10 comprises a support 32 which is constructed from a stamped sheet of metal, as described hereinafter. The support 32 fixedly secures a spindle 34 by means of welds at 36 or other suitable fastening technology. The suspension member 10 also includes a dust shield 38 which is secured to the support 32 via bolts 40, see FIG. 2. The dust shield forms an opening 42 for receiving a wheel cylinder 44 of a brake assembly 46 and the brake assembly 46 includes a pair of brake shoes 48 and 50 which are pivotally anchored to the support 32 at an axially extending boss 52. A plate 54 is fastened to the boss 52 by any suitable means to limit axial separation between the brake shoes 48 and 50 and the boss 52. In the alternative the boss 52 can be slit and deformed to define an anchor plate to oppose braking torque. 
     A conventional parking brake mechanism and automatic adjustment mechanism 58 extends between the brake shoes 48 and 50. 
     Turning to FIGS. 3 and 4 it is seen that the support 32 is hollow to form a cavity 60 with a drain opening 61. Transversely extending projections at 62 and 64 define the coaxial apertures 16. The support is preferably constructed from a pair of stamped members 66 and 68 which are mirror images of each other. In other words the seam 70 between the stamped members 66 and 68 as shown in FIG. 4 is substantially vertical and lies in a plane of symmetry of the support 32. The seam 70 is welded by gas or arc welding to form the support 32. 
     The modified embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 shows an inner shell 74 and an outer shell 76 which are fastened together by welding or other suitable means to form the support 32. The support 32 of FIGS. 5 and 6 forms coaxial openings at 78 and 80 which are formed on the inner and outer shells, respectively, in order to receive and support the spindle 34. In addition, the outer shell 76 of the support 32 includes the boss 52 and forms an opening 82 for receiving the wheel cylinder 44 of a brake assembly 46 (not shown). As the support 32 carries the wheel cylinder and forms the anchor boss 52, it is possible to transmit braking torque to the anchor boss 52, as well as to the wheel cylinder 44 with this embodiment. The inner and outer shells are apertured to receive pins for connection with the shock absorber assembly and the bracket and to couple with the traction bar. With the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be appreciated that the strength of a forged support is believed to be substantially duplicated without the inconvenience of the weight of the forged support and a brake assembly is integrally incorporated with the structure of the stamped support 32. 
     In the modified embodiment of FIG. 7 the support 32 is constructed from a single sheet of metal which is deformed to a substantially T shape in horizontal cross section. The support 32 secures the wheel cylinder 44 and forms the anchor plate 84 opposite the wheel cylinder 44. Moreover, the support 32 includes a plurality of fingers at 86 to cooperate with a pair of brake shoes (not shown) so as to guide the radial expansion and contraction thereof. The folded portion 88 of the T-shaped support 32 is apertured to provide for connection with the shock absorber assembly and the bracket. In addition, the folded portion 88 is cut out at 90 to receive the wheel cylinder 44 and is enlarged at 92 to receive the spindle 34. The cutout permits fluid communication to the wheel cylinder and the enlarged portion is fastened to the spindle 34 to fixedly secure the latter to the support 32. The fastening between the spindle 34 and the enlarged portion 92 of the folded portion 88 not only prevents the spindle from separating from the plate 32 but also prevents spreading of the fold 94 so as to retain the wheel cylinder 44 within the cutout 90. 
     The brake assembly 46 is coupled to the suspension member 10 so that a single installation operation will attach the brake assembly 46 and the suspension member 10 to the vehicle. In addition, the suspension member 10 fixedly secures the spindle 34, carries the brake assembly 46 and opposes torque developed during braking. 
     After installation on the vehicle frame the brake assembly 46 and suspension member cooperate in a conventional manner to mount a wheel assembly and to provide for retarding rotation of the latter. 
     Although the shock abosorber 30 is illustrated in attachment with the support 32, it is possible to anchor the shock absorber 30 on the bracket 14 as movement of the support 32 during driving will also be manifested in movement of the bracket 14. In addition, the coil spring shown with the shock absorber assembly 30 can be separated therefrom to anchor on the bracket 14. 
     Another modification of the present invention, which is not shown, provides for eliminating the boss 52 in the embodiments of FIGS. 5-7, so that torque developed during braking is transmitted through the wheel cylinder 44 to the support 32, or through an anchor pin adjacent the wheel cylinder 44 and extending from the support 32. 
     In comparison with a conventional suspension system the present suspension member substantially incorporates the functions of a backing plate within the suspension member, which also functions to support the spindle. 
     Many variations of the present invention are feasible by one skilled in the art and as such are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims.