Hendrickson Usa, L L.c.

Watson & Chalin Manufacturing, Inc.

Damon Delorenzis

Jeff R Zawacki

John Edward Ramsey

Michael John Gottschalk

R Scott Fulton

Andrew J Westnedge

Matthew J Van Meter

Kimm L Carr

Brett L Muckelrath

Thomas J Long

William W Brewer

Jeffrey Layne

Christopher Mlinarich

John E Ramsey

A damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems. The damping air spring includes a piston chamber and a bellows chamber and at least one opening between the chambers to provide restricted fluid communication between the chambers. A relationship between a cross-sectional area of the at least one opening in square inches to a volume of the piston chamber in cubic inches to a volume of the bellows chamber in cubic inches to a mean effective area of the air spring in square inches, or of the at least one opening in square inches to a volume of the piston chamber in cubic inches to a volume of the bellows chamber in cubic inches to a unitless ratio of the volume of the bellows chamber to the volume of the piston chamber, provides damping characteristics to the air spring over a first and second critical range of frequencies.

Damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems

A damping air spring for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems. The damping air spring includes a first chamber and a second chamber and at least one opening between the first chamber and second chamber to provide restricted fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber. An adsorptive material is disposed within the first chamber or the second chamber and works in conjunction with the at least one opening to provide damping characteristics to the air spring over a first and second critical range of frequencies.

An axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle includes a suspension assembly, an axle, and a damping means. The suspension assembly is operatively connected to the heavy-duty vehicle. The axle is operatively connected to the suspension assembly. The damping means is operatively connected to and extends between the suspension assembly and the heavy-duty vehicle. The axle/suspension system has a motion ratio of between about 1.4 to about 1.7. A method for optimizing damping of an axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle includes the steps of: calculating a curve representing a damping energy relating to load on a damping air spring; calculating a curve representing a damping energy relating to air flow velocity through at least one opening of the air spring; calculating an optimized motion ratio by determining an intersection of the curves; altering the geometry of the axle/suspension system to provide the axle/suspension system with the optimized motion ratio.

Heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system with optimized damping

A damping convoluted air spring for use in vehicle axle/suspension systems includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a bellows. The bellows includes a first lobe, a second lobe, and a third lobe operatively connected to one another. The first lobe being in fluid communication with the second lobe. The second lobe being in fluid communication with said third lobe. The first lobe operatively mounted on the top plate. The third lobe operatively mounted on the bottom plate. The second lobe includes a fixed volume under pressure to provide damping to the air spring during operation of the vehicle.

Damping convoluted air spring

An air spring with damping characteristics for a suspension assembly of a heavy-duty vehicle includes a first chamber, a second chamber and an intermediate chamber. The intermediate chamber is operatively connected between the first chamber and the second chamber. A first means provides restricted fluid communication between the intermediate chamber and the first chamber. A second means provides restricted fluid communication between the intermediate chamber and the second chamber. The first and second means for providing restricted fluid communication between the intermediate chamber and the first and second chambers, respectively, provide damping characteristics to the air spring during operation of the heavy-duty vehicle.

Damping air spring with staged openings

A suspension system can include an air spring, an air reservoir external to the air spring, and a flow control device which variably restricts flow of air between the air spring and the air reservoir. Flow between the air spring and the air reservoir may be permitted in response to compliance of the suspension system, and the air spring can have an internal air volume at least 2&#xbd; times as great may permit flow between the air spring and the air reservoir in response to a predetermined pressure differential level across the flow control device. Multiple air reservoirs can be internal to an axle, or other suspension system or vehicle component, and can be isolated from each other.

Vehicle suspension system with reservoir for air spring damping

A tag axle suspension system can include a tire and at least one hanger bracket pivotable relative to a vehicle frame to deployed and lifted configurations. In the lifted configuration, the tire can be a lowest component of the suspension system, and can be a first component to engage a road surface. A tag axle suspension system can include an air spring and a travel limit device that limits compression of the air spring in a lifted configuration of a hanger bracket. A tag axle suspension system can include an axle, a suspension arm pivotably connected between a hanger bracket and the axle, and a travel limit device that limits displacement of the suspension arm in a lifted configuration of the hanger bracket. The travel limit device can limit displacement of the axle toward an air spring support in the lifted configuration of the hanger bracket.

Tag axle suspension system with tire at lowest point when lifted

A suspension system can include an air spring, an air reservoir external to the air spring, and a flow control device which variably restricts flow of air between the air spring and the air reservoir. Flow between the air spring and the air reservoir may be permitted in response to compliance of the suspension system, and the air spring can have an internal air volume at least 2&#xbd; times as great as a volume of the air reservoir. The flow control device may permit flow between the air spring and the air reservoir in response to a predetermined pressure differential level across the flow control device. Multiple air reservoirs can be internal to an axle, and can be isolated from each other in the axle.

A vehicle suspension system can include a steering knuckle assembly with a steer return device, and a biasing device comprising an elastomeric toroid which is deformed by the steer return device. Another suspension system can include a king pin having opposite ends, and a steering knuckle assembly including a steer return device, a steer lock, and a biasing device which is deformed by the steer return device. The steer return device, steer lock and biasing device can be positioned at a same opposite end of the king pin. Another suspension system can include a king pin, and a steering knuckle assembly including a steer return device which encircles the king pin. The steering knuckle assembly can be rotated relative to the king pin, without axial displacement relative to the king pin, by a biasing force which results from deformation of a biasing device by the steer return device.

Growing community of inventors

Plainfield, IL, United States of America

Damon Delorenzis