Nai Neway, Inc.

Neway Corp.

Neway Anchorlok International, Inc.

Dana Corporation

Holland Neway International, Inc.

Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC

Holland Usa, Inc.

Gregory A Richardson

William C Pierce

William J Hicks

Gregory T Galazin

David G Moses

Dennis D Dauber

Sean J Barber

John Michael Douglass

Daniel G Greenzweig

A suspension () for coupling a steer axle assembly () to a vehicle frame () is provided that provides lateral stability to the steer axle assembly, increased roll stability for the vehicle and a reduction in axle wind-up during brakingcall without interfering with vertical displacement of the axle assembly. The suspension includes leaf springs () disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle, each of which is coupled to the vehicle frame at first and second ends () and to an axle beam () intermediate the first and second ends. The suspension also includes first and second arms (), each of which is pivotally coupled to the axle beam at a first end () and to the vehicle frame at a second end () proximate one of the ends of a corresponding leaf spring. The suspension may further include a torsion bar () extending between and coupled to the first and second arms.

Steer axle suspension

A steer axle for a vehicle and a method of making the same involves forming portions of a steer axle to have a three sided design. Spring seats that wrap around two of the three sides are secured to the steer axle. Plates are secured to the spring seats. The plates extend over the third surface of the steer axle. Angled spring pads are located over the plates.

Steer axle and method of making the same

A suspension for coupling a steer axle assembly to a vehicle frame is provided that provides lateral stability to the steer axle assembly without the use of a track rod or stabilizer bar. The suspension includes a body that is coupled to the axle beam of the steer axle assembly. An arm extends from the body in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is coupled to the frame at one end. The arm is pivotable about an axis extending generally transversely to the frame rails of the vehicle frame. A male guide member is connected to the body and is received within a female guide member that is in turn disposed in an aperture defined by a bracket of the frame. The guide members are free to move within the bracket vertically or in the fore-aft direction, but are restricted from lateral movement.

A lift axle suspension adapted to be mounted to a vehicle frame for selectively supporting a vehicle frame on an axle with ground engaging wheels includes a pair of trailing arm assemblies each of which includes a hanger bracket adapted to be mounted to the vehicle frame, a trailing arm pivotally mounted to the hanger bracket for pivotal movement relative to the frame about a pivot axis, a spring operably connecting the trailing arm to the vehicle frame for resisting the pivotal movement of the trailing arm about the pivotal axis toward the frame, an inflatable lift bag operably connecting the trailing arm to the hanger bracket and for selectively raising the trailing arm relative to the frame when the lift bag is inflated and an axle rigidly mounted to the trailing arm. The iift bag is positioned inboard of the hanger bracket and the trailing arm. The hanger bracket is adapted to be mounted to the outboard side of the frame rail. Preferably, the lift bag is laterally spaced from a plane in which the trailing aim pivots. The hanger bracket is U-shaped in horizontal cross section and the hanger bracket has a stiffening element mounted vertically within sidewalls of the U-shaped cross section. The pivot axis between the trailing arm and the hanger bracket is between forward and rearward ends of the trailing arm. The axle is mounted rearwardly of the pivot axis and the lift bag is mounted forwardly of the pivot axis. Substantially the entire lift bag is located forwardly of the pivot axis and above the forward end of the trailing arm.

Auxiliary lift axle suspension

A trailing arm suspension, alone or in combination with a vehicle having a vehicle frame supported by an axle with ground engaging wheels. The trailing arm suspension comprises a pair of spaced trailing arm assemblies, each of which includes a trailing arm pivotally mounted to a the vehicle frame and a spring operably coupling the trailing arm to the frame to resist the pivotal movement of the trailing arm. A pneumatic lift mechanism is provided to selectively raise the trailing arm relative to the frame. The axle has at least a portion of which that is hollow and defines a pressurized air reservoir, which is coupled to the spring and/or the pneumatic lift mechanism to provided pressurized air for altering the resistance of the spring and/or actuating the pneumatic lift mechanism to selective lift the trailing arm.

Lift axle suspension with axle reservoir

The invention is a trailing arm suspension with a steerable axle assembly having a caster angle controlling the direction at which the axle steers. A lift axle suspension or a lockout device is provided to lift the wheels from a ground engaging position or to lock the position of the wheels, respectively, permitting the operation of the vehicle in a direction opposite the direction for which the caster angle is designed. Advantageously, the lift axle suspension is of a simplified design and the trailing arm configuration is V-shaped to better absorb lateral forces.

Trailing arm suspension

A vehicle suspension comprising first and second arms mountable to a vehicle frame for vertical swinging movement adjacent opposite sides of the vehicle frame, each of which mounts an axle for rotatably supporting at least one ground-engaging wheel thereon. Air springs are mounted between the arms and the frame in load-transmitting relation therebetween. An improved axle lift mechanism for lifting the axles and the at least one wheel responsive to relief of air pressure in the air springs is provided which comprises first and second telescoping guide members mountable to the frame, each of which have a distal end adapted to be positioned adjacent opposing sides of the frame and being movable between a retracted position and an extended position. A first lever mechanism is adapted to be mounted to the frame, and is mounted to the distal end of the first telescoping guide member and to the first arm. A second lever mechanism is adapted to be mounted to the frame, and is mounted to the distal end of the second telescoping guide member and to the second arm. The arms are raised with respect to the frame when the first and second telescoping guide members move between the extended and the retracted positions. A spring is mounted to the first and second telescoping guide member to bias the first and second telescoping guide members into the retracted position.

Axle lift mechanism

Air spring with internal support member

A mud flap bracket assembly (16) for a slider suspension has a forward portion (22) adapted to be fixedly secured to a shortened slider rail (14), and a rearward portion (28) adapted to be slidably mounted to a body rail (12). Mud flaps (30) are suspended from the rearward portion (28).

Slider suspension with mud flap mounting bracket assembly

A trailing arm suspension (10) has a trailing arm (12) comprising a central rib (32) to which opposing U-shaped side plates (52, 54) are welded. The central rib (32) and the opposing side plates (52, 54) have congruent semicircular recesses (34, 38) disposed at one end of the trailing arm to define a first seat (55) for receiving a mounting collar (36) to mount the one end of the trailing arm to a hanger bracket (16). The central rib (32) and opposing side plates (52, 54) have further congruent semicircular recesses (56, 58) that define a second seat (57) in which is mounted a cast member (40) for mounting an axle (24). A portion of the central rib extends above the opposed side plates and defines a shock absorber mount (42). The other end of the central rib (32) has a rectangular recess (46) for receiving an end shaft (48) to mount a transverse beam.

A retractable suspension (10) comprises a trailing arm (22) pivotally mounted to a vehicle frame (12), an air spring (30) mounted between the trailing arm and the frame, and a lifting device (32) mounted between the trailing arm and the frame. The lifting device (32) comprises a strut (60) pivotally mounted between the frame (12) and a lever arm (64) that is fixedly mounted to the trailing arm (22). The strut (60) applies a force to the lever arm (64) that imparts a moment to the trailing arm (22) to urge the trailing arm and attached wheels (14) to a retracted position. The force of the air spring (30) can be adjusted to counter the upward movement of the wheels (14).

Trailing arm suspension with lever arm

A lock mechanism for an axle lift suspension comprises a support bracket mounted to the frame of a vehicle and a latch plate pivotably mounted to the support bracket. The latch plate has a hook portion and a cam portion and is manually rotatable against a spring bias. A pin is provided on a suspension arm, and when the arm is in a lifted position relative to the frame, the pin will be in nested engagement with the hook portion of the latch plate.

Lock mechanism for an axle lift suspension

An improvement is provided for a vehicle suspension of the type comprising a pair of control arms pivotally mounted to a frame of the vehicle and carrying ground-engaging wheels. A transverse beam extends between the free ends of the control arms and supports a pair of air springs. A carriage is also pivotally connected to the frame which is mounted to an upper portion of the air springs so that the air springs are disposed between the carriage and the transverse beam. The carriage includes a brace for bracing the carriage relative to the frame when the wheels are in a highway mode. During retraction of the wheels from engagement with the ground surface, the brace is released from engagement with the frame during a first stage of retraction, and the control arms and carriage are moved toward the frame during a second stage of retraction.

Two-stage retractable suspension

An axle suspension assembly for a low-bed trailer wherein the frame is formed of I-beams at each side thereof and each I-beam has an intermediate portion sloping upwardly and rearwardly between a low central portion and a higher rear portion. The customary trailing arm or equalizing beam is pivotally mounted on the web of this sloping portion of the I-beam utilizing a bushing assembly. Basically, the bushing assembly includes two pivot brackets which are bolted to opposite sides of the web and which carry, by way of a resilient bushing a bushing core through which a fastener may pass so as to clamp opposite arms of a yokelike forward portion of the trailing arm to the bushing core. The bushing core passes through an opening formed in the web with the opening being elongated in a fore and aft direction whereby the bushing assembly may be adjusted so as to accurately position the mounted axle transversely of the trailer frame. Each pivot bracket includes a collar and in a preferred embodiment of the bushing, separate bushings are pressed into the collars with the bushings being bonded to separately formed bushing cores.

Growing community of inventors

Muskegon, MI, United States of America

Gregory A Richardson