Saf-holland Gmbh

Shape Corporation

Marc Richard Johnson

Richard L Conaway

Daniel R Dykstra

Boyd Freeman

Doug Thole

Mark Molitor

Jeffrey Galla

Larry D Hewitt, Ii

Bryan A Redeker

Boyd J Freeman

Eric M Terpsma

David Roe

Jason Klein

Lance Gage

Arnesh Bose

Justin Fisher

Tave Hass

Jeffrey Michael Galla

Larry D Hewitt

Ii Larry D Hewitt

A vehicle includes a compensation system for holding and guiding supply lines on the vehicle, the compensation system including a fixed part fixed relative to a frame of the vehicle and a movable part configured to adjust to different positions with respect to the frame, a supply line having a first line end connected to the fixed part and a second line end connected to the movable part, a first end section fixed to the fixed part or the movable part, and a second end fixed to the other of the fixed part and the movable part and configured to prevent sagging of the supply line when a distance between the fixed and movable parts is reduced.

Supply line distance compensation system for use in a vehicle

An automated trailer coupling arrangement includes a receiver member fixed to a towed vehicle and including pneumatic and electrical couplers, a shuttle member including pneumatic and electrical couplers, a control arm assembly supported on a towing vehicle and including a carrier member configured to operably couple and uncouple with the shuttle member, and an actuator coupled to the carrier member configured to move the carrier member between a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, and a second position where the pneumatic and electrical couplers are respectively coupled and the carrier member is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member, wherein the control arm is configured to move a vertical and horizontal directions as the carrier member is moved between the first and second positions.

Automated trailer coupling arrangement

Trellis

An automated trailer coupling arrangement includes a receiver member supported on a towed vehicle and including pneumatic and electrical couplers, a shuttle member including pneumatic and electrical couplers configured to couple to pneumatic and electrical supply sources and a control arm assembly supported on a towing vehicle and including a carrier member configured to operably couple and uncouple with the shuttle member, and an actuator coupled to the carrier member configured to move the carrier between a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, and a second position where the second pneumatic coupler is coupled with the first pneumatic coupler and the second electrical coupler is coupled with the first electrical coupler and the carrier is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member.

A vehicle suspension arrangement includes a mounting bracket, a trailing arm, an air spring assembly configured to bias a second end of the trailing arm from a vehicle frame member, an axle assembly couple to the trailing arm, and a trailing arm connection assembly that includes a connector having a first portion received within an aperture of the mounting bracket, and a second portion extending outwardly from the first portion and including an aperture, a bushing member received within a first end of the trailing arm, a pin member received within the bushing member and including a first aperture, and a first mechanical fastener received within the first aperture of the pin member and within the aperture of the second portion of the first connector, thereby pivotably securing the trailing arm to the mounting bracket.

Integrated bar-pin clevis joint connection

A vehicle suspension assembly includes a mounting bracket adapted to couple to a vehicle frame assembly, a trailing arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the first mounting bracket, and a second end, an axle member coupled to the second end of the trailing arm, the axle member configured to support a tire, an actuator operably coupled to the trailing arm and operable between a first state configured to lift the tire away from a ground surface and a second state configured for the tire to contact the ground surface, and an actuator arrangement configured to move from a first position where the actuator arrangement couples the actuator to the trailing arm when the actuator is in the first state, and a second position where the actuator arrangement uncouples the actuator from the trailing arm when the actuator is in the second state.

Isolated lift assembly for vehicle auxiliary suspension arrangement

A vehicle suspension assembly includes providing an axle assembly having a first end including a first mounting structure and a second end, providing a first bearing block and a second bearing block, forming a first aperture in the first bearing block and a second aperture in the second bearing block, attaching the first and second bearing blocks to the first mounting structure subsequent to forming the first and second apertures; and providing a first spindle assembly coupled to the first mounting structure by a first spherical bearing located within the first aperture and a second spherical bearing located within the second aperture, wherein a first kingpin assembly extends through the first and second spherical bearings, thereby coupling the first spindle with the first mounting structure.

Auxiliary axle and suspension assembly

A vehicle suspension assembly includes an axle member movable between a first position and a second position, mounting brackets adapted to couple to a vehicle frame assembly, trailing arms pivotably coupled to mounting brackets and pivotably coupled to the axle member, a lift arrangement including a pair of diaphragm chambers each having a push plate and a flexible bladder, the push plate of the diaphragm chamber dividing the associated diaphragm chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment of each diaphragm chamber being adjustably pressurized to move the push plate of the associated diaphragm chamber, and at least one push rod defining a single longitudinal axis and connected to each push plate such that pressurization of the diaphragm chambers cause a translational movement of the at least one push rod, thereby causing the axle member to move between the first and second positions.

A vehicle suspension assembly includes first and second mounting brackets each adapted to couple to a vehicle frame assembly, first and second trailing arms each having a first end pivotably coupled to the mounting brackets, and a second end located outboard of the first end of the associated trailing arm; an axle member having a first end and a second end; an integrated first mounting arrangement and an integrated second mounting arrangement coupled to the associated ends of the axle member, wherein the mounting arrangements pivotably couple the second end of the associated trailing arm to one of the ends of the axle member, and wherein the mounting arrangements couple one of the ends of the axle member to the spindle assembly.

A suspension assembly includes a pair of frame brackets adapted to couple to a vehicle frame, an axle assembly, a torsional member having reliefs located proximate each end thereof, and a pair of trailing arms each operably coupled to the axle assembly, and pivotably coupled to one of the frame brackets by an associated bushing assembly, wherein each bushing assembly includes a pin member and a flexibly resilient bushing member extending about at least a portion of the pin member, and wherein the pin member of each bushing assembly extends into one of the reliefs of the torsional member, and wherein each pin member is secured to one of the frame brackets.

Vehicle suspension assembly with integrated torque member and trailing arm mount

A vehicle suspension system includes a first trailing arm assembly and a second trailing assembly each including a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle frame and a trailing arm member pivotably coupled to the associated mounting bracket and adapted to be operably coupled to an axle member, wherein the trailing arm members each include an aperture extending therein, wherein the aperture has a relatively constant cross-sectional configuration along a depth thereof. The vehicle suspension system further includes a torsional member extending between the first and second trailing arm members and frictionally secured within the apertures thereof, wherein the torsional member has a relatively constant cross-sectional configuration along a length thereof that is received within the apertures of the trailing arms.

Suspension system for heavy and vocational vehicles

A vehicle suspension assembly that includes first and second main beams each having a first end operably coupled to a vehicle frame, and a second end having a cavity formed therein, and first and second extension members each having an aperture extending therethrough, wherein the first and second extensions are interference-fit within and extend outwardly from the cavity of the first and second main beams, respectively. The assembly further including a torsion member having apertured first and second ends that receive the first and second extension members therein, and threaded mechanical fasteners extending through the apertures of the first and second extension members and engage nuts that are frictionally engaged by the first and second main beams.

Vehicle suspension assembly

A trailing beam suspension comprises a hanger bracket adapted to be mounted to a vehicle frame, wherein the hanger bracket includes a mounting aperture, and a trailing beam pivotally mounted to the hanger bracket by a pivot pin extending through the mounting aperture of the hanger bracket. The trailing beam suspension also comprises an adjustable mechanism operably coupled to the hanger bracket including a selector member in operable engagement with the pivot pin and having a plurality of first coupler portions, and at least one second coupler portion that is selectively engageable with at least one of the first coupler portions, wherein adjusting the selector member such that alternative first coupler portions engage the at least one second coupler portion adjust the position of the trailing beam with respect to a vehicle frame rail in a fore-or-aft direction.

Trailing beam suspension with alignment adjustment assembly

A tubular bumper beam for automobiles includes a rollformed tubular beam and tubular inserts positioned transversely in end sections of the beam. The illustrated tubular insert includes front and rear ends positioned adjacent the front and rear walls of the tubular beam in a manner that reinforces the front and rear walls for improved corner impact strength. Material is extruded from the beam walls into the ends of the insert to form deformed tubular portions that telescopingly extend into the tubular insert to retain the insert in the beam, and further include radiused annular root sections that connect the tubular portions with the walls of the beam, and still further optionally include dished areas around the root sections that help stabilize the beam walls. A method related to the above is also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Marc Richard Johnson