The Boler Company

Hendrickson Usa, L L.c.

International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC

Hendrickson International Corporation

John Wayne Stuart

Ashley Thomas Dudding

Shawn D Noble

Michael P Robinson

Jason Steby Thomas

Christopher Wayne Forrest

Pedro Ramses Banda Marquez

Michael Brannigan

Michael John Eifert

Mark William Dankow

Michael Patrick Robinson

Alan D Osterkil

Pedro Ramses Marquez

Christopher W Forrest

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

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.

Tapered joint for vehicle suspension components

Axle clamp assembly top pad and suspensions incorporating same

Air spring and air spring mounting assembly

Vehicle suspension

An apparatus and method for the balancing of fuel among tanks in a circulating fuel system. The tanks in the system have both a draw conduit and a return conduit mounted to and extending into the tank. Flow restriction devices are mounted in both the draw and the return conduits and are controlled by a fuel level detection system, which detects the fuel in the tank.

Multiple tank circulating fuel system

An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine has special accommodations for preventing the pooling of water in the passageways of the exhaust system. One or more of the components of the exhaust system such as mufflers and or sections of exhaust tubing etc. have absorbent liners disposed at points within said exhaust system where water is likely to pool. The absorbent liners wick moisture away from the inner surfaces of the exhaust components in which they are disposed. Moisture is held within the absorbent liners until the temperature of the exhaust system rises enough to evaporate the moisture at which time the water vapor exits the exhaust system with the combustion products of the internal combustion engine. The absorbent liners are of a size and shape and are positioned within the exhaust system components such that they present minimal restriction to flow of combustion products through the exhaust system.

System moisture absorber

A front axle suspension having on each side of a vehicle a spring beam pivotally attached at its fore or front end to a bracket depending from a chassis frame side beam with its aft or trailing end mounted on the vehicle front axle. An assembly of integrated parts serves to resiliently support each chassis frame side beam on the spring beam and axle below. A key part of each assembly is a multi-functional component having a central body portion mounted on the trailing end of the spring beam which has: (1) fore-and-aft spring support formations projecting in cantilever relationship from its fore and aft sides; (2) seats for the bight portions of U-bolts located inwardly of the spring support formations; (3) a laterally projecting shock absorber mount on its front wheel facing side; and (4) a track rod attachment bracket projecting laterally from its vehicle center facing. In addition each assembly has: (1) U-bolts extending downwardly from the U-bolt seats on opposite sides of the axle; and (2) a shock absorber pivotally attached on its lower end on the shock absorber mount with its upper end pivotally attached to a laterally projecting mount on the outer side of the chassis frame side beam. A track rod is pivotally attached at one end to the track rod attachment bracket and pivotally attached at its opposite end to a bracket mounted on the inner side of the opposing chassis frame side beam.

Front axle air suspension

A dual volume air spring for a truck suspension, which has an air bag chamber providing a variable volume and a fixed volume chamber. The chambers are interconnected by a closable orifice. The air bag is provided with a post-like orifice closer which is pushed into the orifice when the air bag is sufficiently compressed ad withdrawn from the orifice when the air bag is not compressed. In normal operation the orifice is open and the combined volumes of the chambers are available resulting in a low spring rate. The orifice closer has an orifice closing portion which is relatively pliant and a rigid or semi-rigid portion which acts as a bump-stop when the pliant portion is substantially completely compressed. When the orifice is completely closed the spring has a high spring rate.

Dual volume air spring for suspensions

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

John Wayne Stuart