Hendrickson Usa, L L.c.

The Boler Company

Henrickson Usa, L.l.c.

Hendrickson International Corporation

Michael Brannigan

Ashley Thomas Dudding

Christopher Wayne Forrest

Ashley T Dudding

Shawn D Noble

Matthew J Van Meter

Richard Gregory Vogler

Richard John Aumann

Serge A Barlas

Serge Alexander Barlas

Christopher W Forrest

Michael P Robinson

John Wayne Stuart

Tjong T Lie

Christopher J Batsch

Michael Patrick Robinson

Richard J Aumann

Nathan M Leden

Richard S Holum

David Harry Hillman

Jonathan Mark Bunne

Richard Steven Holum

Nathan Michael Leden

Neil James Tomlin

Tjong Thiam Lie

W Stuart John

A suspension assembly having a frame hanger, a first control arm mounted between the frame hanger and an axle attachment member, a second control arm mounted to the frame hanger and to the axle attachment member, wherein the second arm extends from a centerline of the first control arm at an angle alpha such that the first control arm and the second control arm are not parallel to each other, wherein the centerline of the first control arm and the centerline of the second control arm extend to intersect at a point that is at a virtual center of rotation.

Vehicle suspension

A cylinder shock assembly comprising a damper with a first end, and a second end that extends into an air cylinder float. The damper has a rod positioned in the air cylinder float with one end positioned within a cavity of the damper and another end affixed to an end cap attached to the air cylinder float. A primary coil spring is positioned within the air cylinder float, wherein when a load applied to the cylinder shock assembly is increased, an end of the damper move towards the end cap compressing air within the air cylinder float, wherein as the load is increased the primary coil spring is compressed and the volume of air within the air cylinder decreases resulting in an increased air pressure, and wherein the air cylinder float is a solid member that does not expand as the air pressure within increases during compression.

Cylinder shock assembly

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 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 suspension system for supporting an axle and connected to a vehicle frame, including a pair of transversely spaced frame brackets mounted on and depending from the vehicle frame. Each of the frame brackets having one or more mounting points spaced along its perimeter for mounting of suspension components, such as shock absorbers, and having a protruding air spring attachment plate that extends inboard toward the center of the vehicle frame. The suspension system also includes a first pair of air springs, the upper portions of which are mounted to the air spring attachment plates of the frame brackets. The lower portions of the air springs are mounted to suspension arm. The suspension system includes a second pair of air springs that are longitudinally separated from the first pair of air springs and that are connected to the suspension arm assemblies and to the frame. A pair of shock absorbers is connected at their lowest point to the suspension arm assemblies and at their highest point to a mounting point on the frame brackets. The suspension arm assemblies are coupled to and support the axle. The suspension system also includes a torque box coupled to the vehicle frame and the axle.

Vehicle suspension assembly with unique geometry

Suspension assembly

The invention is directed to vehicle suspension systems and components thereof including attachment devices for mounting an axle alignment and/or load reacting mechanism to an axle. Disclosed herein are axle towers used for connecting a torque box to an axle. The axle tower of the present invention can include one or more features to absorb and disperse loads to the axle. The axle tower has a more contoured or curved edge on the side plate that experiences a compressive force than a similar edge on the side plate that experiences a tensile force. Furthermore, the axle tower has appendages that extend out from the side plates providing a large footprint on the axle housing. At least one of the appendages extending from the side plate experiencing a compressive force has a curved or radiused corner. Also, the axle towers include an inner plate having an off-centered slot where the troque box connects. The off-centered slot provides additional material to absorb the compressive force experienced on one side of the inner plate.

Axle tower

An axle connection device designed to be welded to an axle housing to permit a vehicle suspension system to be connected to the axle housing is disclosed. The device includes a generally flat baseplate having curvilinear ends separated by a relatively long and narrow waist. Each end includes a curvilinear side rim and two rounded corners from which longitudinally extending edges positioned on opposite sides of the device smoothly taper towards the waist. The device also includes a generally horizontally projecting plane having a waist aligned with the waist of the baseplate to divide the plane into two distinct portions. The plane also has two supporting sidewalls. Both sidewalls extend from just inside the rounded corners of a respective end of the baseplate and taper towards associated corners of the horizontally projecting plane. Each portion of the plane includes a generally rounded boss extending from the plane. A slot extending from the intersection of the baseplate and the plane is incorporated in each boss to allow a connection bolt to pass through the device. The construction of the device permits it to accommodate varying pinion angles and axle housing mismatch. The preferred method of welding the axle connection device to the axle housing is also disclosed.

Device for connecting suspension system components for axle housing

Vehicles, notably heavy duty trucks, equipped with torque reactive suspensions, such as trailing arm air suspensions, are susceptible to driveline vibration and wheel hop due to engine produced torque. According to this invention such driveline vibration and wheel hop can be suppressed by preventing frame rise from occurring. Suppression can be accomplished by providing one of several forms of frame rise control means operative between the vehicle drive axle and the vehicle frame. One form of frame rise control means utilizes rebound control leaf springs on opposite sides of a vehicle. Another form utilizes shock absorbers each of which incorporates a spring mounted on the piston rod. Another form utilizes hydraulic cylinders, each having a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid connected to the chamber of the cylinder on the rebound side of the piston and the chamber on the opposite side of the piston vented to atmosphere. Another form utilizes hydraulic cylinders each having a source of hydraulic fluid connected to the chambers on opposite sides of the piston with a valve operative to block flow of hydraulic fluid from the chamber on the rebound side of the piston. Still another form utilizes an elongated endless elastic strap embracing the shock absorbers.

Means for and method of controlling frame rise in vehicle suspensions

Growing community of inventors

Narberth, PA, United States of America

Michael Brannigan