Ridewell Corporation

Bruce Barton

Mark Holt

Matthew Koontz

John Raidel, Ii

Craig Baird

Jason M Klein

William Mattocks

Emmitt A Scammahorn

Provided is a tandem lift auxiliary axle suspension assembly for vehicles which can be selectively raised and lowered to adjust the overall vehicle weight to axle ratio. A tandem wheel mount is connected with a pair of torsion rods to a hanger depending from the vehicle frame. An air spring mounted between the beam and the frame dampen axle movement during use. A lift spring is mounted between the hanger and the torsion rods, or other components of the assembly to selectively raise and lower the tandem axles for ground engagement as needed to decrease the weight to axle ratio.

Tandem lift auxiliary axle assembly

A suspension system with an axle lift system for use on vehicles is described, the axle lift system having control arms with an offset lift air bag configuration. The suspension system includes offset control arms and an off-axis lift air bag. The off-axis lift air bag is disposed away from and sometimes at an angle to the axis of the control arms.

Lift suspension system with offset control arms

An underslung trailing arm suspension assembly is disclosed for use on heavy duty low clearance trailers having a unique beam configuration to provide clearance for a transversely mounted air brake actuator connected directly to a disc brake housing. The suspension beam includes a unique plate mounted near an axle seat below an air spring mounting plate providing clearance for a disk brake actuator.

Trailing arm yoke suspension with brake actuator clearance

Provided are wedging and clamping mechanisms for securing an axle to a suspension member. The suspension member has a integral axle shell for seating the axle to be attached. An axle wedging shell is provided which mates to the axle shell via aligning angled grooves and flanges which, as the flanges are forced into the grooves, creates a significant clamping force trapping the axle in place. The orientation and placement of angled grooves and flanges varies through several embodiments. Some embodiments alternately use a retention plate. Adhesive may be applied to the axle and the inner surfaces of the axle shell and wedge member to limit axle twist or rotation.

Wedged axle connection

The present invention provides a bar pin attachment for bush assembly. The assembly comprises a longitudinally extending control arm, a bush eye clamp, and a hanger bracket. The control arm has a bush end, a mid-region, an axle mount formed opposite of the bush end. A bush, having an integral bar pin molded laterally therethrough, is inserted in the bush eye and retained therein. The hanger bracket is attached to, and depends from, the chassis and includes two spaced-apart, downward oriented flanges between which the bush eye clamp is positioned. The bush end is pivotally attached to the hanger by fastening the bar pin ends directly to each adjacent hanger flange.

Bar pin attachment for bush assembly

The present invention provides a suspension beam and bush attachment assembly. The assembly comprises a longitudinally extending control arm, a bush eye clamp, and a mounting bracket. The control arm has a bush end, a mid-region, an axle mount formed opposite of the bush end, and one or more fastener bore. The bush eye clamp is transversely mounted to the bush end of the control arm and has a center bore configured for receiving a bush therein and an axial slot biasing the bushing eye clamp open for bush insertion. To securely position the bush within the bush eye clamp, the mounting bracket is affixed to the bushing eye clamp and has one or more fastener bores substantially aligned with the one or more fastener bores of the control arm such that securing a fastener through each of the bores of the bracket and control arm couples the bracket to the control arm and biases the axial slot into a substantially closed position to contact and compress a perimeter of the bush with the bush eye clamp.

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Springfield, MO, United States of America

Bruce Barton