Hendrickson Usa, L L.c.

The Boler Company

Henrickson Usa, L.l.c.

Christopher Wayne Forrest

Shawn D Noble

Ashley Thomas Dudding

Mark William Dankow

Michael P Robinson

Michael Brannigan

John Wayne Stuart

Thomas Sholeen

Vincent Mastrangelo

Hormoz Kerendian

Jason Steby Thomas

Richard Gregory Vogler

Michael Patrick Robinson

Pedro Ramses Banda Marquez

Lynn Lash

Raymond A Hewitt

Pedro Ramses Marquez

A lightweight heavy duty bushing assembly for use in a vehicle suspension system and being low cost and having a high assembly tolerance is disclosed. A metal bar pin is press fit into a bushing formed from a metal sleeve bonded to an elastomeric housing. The metal sleeve is deformable such that exact tolerances of the metal sleeve and the bar pin are not required. The metal bar pin has extended ends with a hole in each end for attachment of the metal bar pin to vehicle suspension components, mounting brackets, or to the vehicle frame.

Lightweight heavy duty bushing with easy assembly

An elastomeric spring suspension is described for supporting a longitudinally extending vehicle frame rail above first and second axles forming a tandem axle configuration. The suspension includes a frame hanger assembly mounted to the vehicle frame rail. The frame hanger assembly has two full spring modules, each of which includes two shear springs, a progressive spring rate load cushion having a pyramidal shape with a flattened top surface and a spring mount for mounting the springs. A saddle assembly is connected to the spring mount, and an equalizing beam is connected to the saddle assembly and further connected to the axles. The spring rate for the suspension increases almost linearly as a function of sprung load, resembling a pneumatic suspension. Accordingly, the suspension exhibits excellent ride quality, without sacrificing roll stability.

Modular suspension system and components thereof

An elastomeric spring suspension is described for supporting a longitudinally extending vehicle frame rail above first and second axles forming a tandem axle configuration. The suspension includes a frame hanger assembly mounted to the vehicle frame rail. The frame hanger assembly has two full spring modules, each of which includes two elastomeric shear springs, an elastomeric progressive spring rate load cushion having a pyramidal shape with a flattened top surface and a spring mount for mounting the springs. A saddle assembly is connected to the spring mount, and an equalizing beam is connected to the saddle assembly and further connected to the axles. The spring rate for the suspension increases almost linearly as a function of sprung load, resembling a pneumatic suspension. Accordingly, the suspension exhibits excellent ride quality, without sacrificing roll stability.

Elastomeric spring vehicle suspension

Suspension spring

Suspension assembly

Shear spring for a suspension

A non-torque reactive air suspension exhibiting excellent roll stability characteristics is shown to include frame hangers mounted to frame rails extending longitudinally on opposite sides of a vehicle. Longitudinally extending beams are connected to the frame hangers at one end and extend parallel to the frame rails. At their other ends, the beams are joined by a crossbrace extending laterally across the vehicle centerline. In a central portion thereof, the beams have an axle pivot bore to which an axle clamp assembly is connected, the axle clamp assembly clamping a drive axle housing for the vehicle. The axle pivot bore is generally aligned with the drive axle. A control rod assembly is connected to suspension or frame components. Together with the beams, the control rod assembly forms a parallelogram configuration wherein the beams form the lower linkages of that configuration and the control rods included within the control rod assembly form the upper linkages of that configuration.

Vehicle suspension

A suspension system component for use in association with a leaf spring eye wrap of a leaf spring is shown to include a generally rigid planar base portion and a generally rigid scarf gap cover portion extending from the base portion in a direction generally normal to the base portion. The scarf gap cover portion includes first and second cover portion portions extending in different planes and adjoined at a seam. The component further includes a generally rigid first stop portion formed as a peg-like structure extending from the base portion in the same direction as the scarf gap cover portion. The component also includes a generally rigid second stop portion formed as a curved engagement surface extending from the base portion in that same direction. When installed in a leaf spring eye wrap, the component covers the scarf gap formed by the end of the eye wrap and provides a protective barrier between a sleeveless bushing installed in that eye wrap and the scarf gap for allowing connection of the leaf spring to a pivot point established by a frame hanger mounted on a frame rail.

Leaf spring eye wrap scarf gap cover component

A fabricated control rod is disclosed having a spacer with a &ldquo;C&rdquo; or &ldquo;U-shaped&rdquo; channel cross-section. The spacer also has a bushing tube welded to each of its ends. Each end of the spacer is shaped to have a substantially continuous mating engagement with the exterior side surface of the adjacent bushing tube. Also, at least a substantially complete perimeter weld joins both the interior and exterior of each shaped end to the bushing tube.

Control rod

A fabricated control rod having a spacer with a &ldquo;C&rdquo; or &ldquo;U-shaped&rdquo; channel cross-section. The spacer also has a bushing tube welded to each of its ends. Each end of the spacer is shaped to have a substantially continuous mating engagement with the exterior side surface of the adjacent bushing tube. Also, at least a substantially complete perimeter weld joins both the interior and exterior of each shaped end to the bushing tube.

Growing community of inventors

Auburn, IN, United States of America

Christopher Wayne Forrest