Hendrickson Usa, L L.c.

The Boler Company

Watson & Chalin Manufacturing, Inc.

Hendrickson International Corporation

R Scott Fulton

John Edward Ramsey

Phillippi R Pierce

Donald R Hester

Andrew J Westnedge

Brett L Muckelrath

Thomas J Long

James J Patterson

Jeffrey R Wittlinger

Jacob D Andreasen

Dane Gregg

Kimm L Carr

Benedetto A Naples

Keith D McComsey

Ryan J Lippincott

Sri Satya Kakarla

John E Ramsey

Jay D White

Michael J Keeler

James Harold Patterson

Randy Joseph Zimmerman

Matthew P Karich

Damon Delorenzis

Dmitriy Enrikovich Rubalskiy

Brian Richard Morris

Kevin J Erdmann

Sri Satya Teja Kakarla

Matthew J Boler

Greg Copeland

Matthew VanMeter

Brian R Anderson

Gavin M Rundell

Jason W Jones

Dominic J Romito

William W Brewer

Sri Satya T Kakarla

Ross Leonard

Jeffrey D Beaver

Brian Anderson

Keith D Mccomsey

Keith Mccomsey

Kimm Carr

Brian Morris

Kevin Erdmann

Jacob Andreasen

Brett Muckelrath

Matthew Vanmeter

Randy J Zimmerman

Benedetto Naples

Matthew Karich

An under beam lift assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle that is removably connectable with an axle/suspension system of the heavy-duty vehicle. The under beam lift assembly includes structure that enables the lift assembly to pivot in an axis different than an axis of a pivotal connection between a suspension assembly and a hanger of the axle/suspension system. The under beam lift assembly is free of contact with the pivotal connection between the suspension assembly and the hanger of the axle/suspension system.

Under beam lift assembly for heavy-duty vehicles

A brake system component axle mount for a vehicle axle/suspension system includes an axle having at least one depression formed therein. A sleeve is formed with at least one depression and disposed about the axle so that the axle depression and the sleeve depression matingly engage one another to form a mated pair of depressions. A brake mount assembly is rigidly attached to the sleeve. A method of forming the brake system component axle mount includes providing an axle and disposing a sleeve about the axle. At least one mated pair of depressions is simultaneously formed in the axle and the sleeve. A brake mount assembly is rigidly attached to the sleeve.

Brake system component axle mount

An axle/suspension assembly for a heavy-duty vehicle supported by a frame and a hanger includes a beam, an axle, and a bumper. The axle is supported by a first portion of the beam for pivotal movement of the beam relative to the hanger at a pivot joint. The first portion of the beam is located on a first side of the pivot joint. The bumper is fixed to at least one of the frame, the hanger, and a second portion of the beam. The second portion of the beam is located on an opposite second side of the pivot joint. The bumper includes a portion for contacting structure of at least another of the frame, the hanger, and the beam to limit pivotal movement of the axle in one direction.

Axle/suspension system with down stop

A bushing for use in an axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle. A beam supports an axle for pivotal movement with a hanger of the heavy-duty vehicle at a pivot connection. A bumper is fixed to the beam and contacts an engagement member of the heavy-duty vehicle to limit the relative pivotal movement of the beam and axle in one direction. A force is applied to the pivot connection in a force application direction that is angularly spaced from horizontal and vertical planes. The pivot connection includes a bushing to connect the beam and the hanger. The bushing includes an elastomeric bushing body with at least one void for decreasing rigidity of the bushing body in a substantially vertical direction. The one void is located in the bushing body angularly spaced from the force application direction. The bushing body is substantially solid along the force application direction.

Multi-functional suspension bushing

An axle and wheel end assembly includes a tubular axle housing with an annular end surface. The axle and wheel end assembly also includes a spindle with an annular end surface welded to the annular end surface of the tubular axle housing at an attachment periphery. The axle and wheel end assembly further includes reinforcing structure fixed to the tubular axle housing and spindle. The reinforcing structure is located to encompass at least a portion of the attachment periphery.

Reinforced axle joint

An air disc brake system for a heavy-duty vehicle comprising an axle. A spindle is attached to an end portion of the axle. At least a portion of an air disc brake assembly is supported by the spindle. A suspension beam has an axle support portion connectable with the axle. An end portion of the suspension beam is spaced from the axle support portion for attachment with the heavy-duty vehicle. The suspension beam may pivot about the end portion of the suspension beam. An actuator actuates the air disc brake assembly. The actuator has a movable member to actuate the air disc brake assembly. Structure is associated with the suspension beam for supporting at least a portion of the actuator. A surface defines an opening in the suspension beam through which the movable member may extend or that may receive and support a portion of the actuator.

Apparatus for mounting an air disc brake actuator

An air-ride axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle. A frame and at least a pair of suspension assemblies support opposite ends of an axle for movement relative to the frame. An air spring is associated with one of the suspension assemblies that establishes a first relative position between the axle and the frame as a function of fluid pressure in the air spring. A tire and wheel assembly is operatively mounted to an end portion of the axle associated with the air spring. A sensor detects an inflation condition of the tire and wheel assembly. A venting system exhausts fluid pressure from the air spring to establish a second relative position between the axle and the frame that is different than the first relative position in response to detecting a predetermined inflation condition of the tire and wheel assembly.

Heavy-duty vehicle air-ride suspension

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 damping air spring and shock absorber combination for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems includes a damping air spring and a shock absorber both operatively attached to the axle/suspension system. The damping air spring primarily provides damping to the axle/suspension system over a first range of frequencies. The shock absorber primarily provides damping to the axle/suspension system over a second range of frequencies. The first range of frequencies is from about 0.0 Hz to about 6.0 Hz and the second range of frequencies is from about 0.0 Hz to about 13.0 Hz.

Damping air spring and shock absorber combination for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems

An axle/suspension system for heavy-duty vehicles having a frame and at least one suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame, the axle/suspension system including a mechanical stop having a plurality of links and a first end and a second end, the second end rigidly attached to the suspension assembly and the first end rigidly attached to the vehicle frame, wherein the first end and the second end control a distance between the first end and the second end, and control the plurality of links to attain a movement tolerance range of said mechanical stop from about 0.0 inches to about 2.0 inches.

Mechanical stop for axle/suspension systems

An axle mount for a brake system component of an axle/suspension system includes a weld disposed on and between the axle of the axle/suspension system and a brake system component. The weld secures the brake system component to the axle of the axle/suspension system to form a bracket-to-axle connection. The connection includes a peened portion that is formed by working the surface of the connection by mechanical means. The peened portion of the connection exhibits residual compressive stresses that increase the durability of the brake bracket-to-axle connection and also the durability of the axle itself.

Axle mount for heavy-duty vehicle brake system components

A directional damper for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems includes damping means disposed at least between the vehicle and a suspension assembly of the vehicle. The damping means provides directional damping to the suspension assembly with respect to a selected datum, such as the beam or the main member of the vehicle.

Directional damper for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems

A shock mount support assembly for a shock absorber of a suspension assembly of an axle/suspension system includes a shock support bracket formed with an opening. A fastener is disposed through the opening in the shock support bracket and an eyelet of the lower end of the shock absorber to loose-fit the shock support bracket to the shock absorber, and to the suspension assembly beam in a transverse direction. The shock support bracket includes at least one transversely elongated or oversized opening that aligns with an opening formed in the beam. A fastener is disposed through the pair of aligned openings in order to loose-fit attach the shock support bracket to the beam. During assembly, the eyelet fastener is tightened first drawing the shock support bracket transversely outboardly. The fastener disposed through the shock support bracket-to-beam attachment is tightened, rigidly attaching the shock support bracket to the suspension assembly.

Shock mount support assembly for heavy-duty vehicles

An air-ride beam-type axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle with a gross axle weight rating of greater than 23,000 lbs./axle includes a pair of transversely spaced beams. Each one of the beams includes inboard and outboard sidewalls. A large diameter axle extends between and is rigidly connected to the beams via a pair of axle-to-beam connections. Each one of the axle-to-beam connections includes a sleeve having an increased thickness rigidly connected to the axle and the beam. Each sleeve is formed with at least a front and a rear window located between the beam sidewalls. The inboard and/or outboard edges of the sleeve windows are spaced relatively far from the beam sidewalls. The sleeve windows are asymmetrically angled with respect to the horizontal centerline of the axle at design ride height. The axle/suspension system reduces weight while maintaining desired stiffness and durability of the axle/suspension system.

Heavy-duty axle/suspension system

An axle-to-beam connection for axle/suspension systems includes a pair of U-bolt brackets that extend generally to or beyond a selected centerline of the axle. The U-bolt brackets are located a distance from one another so that the distance between the U-bolt brackets is equivalent to or preferably less than the outside diameter of the axle resulting in a slight deformation of the axle and a compressive preload between the axle and the U-bolt brackets when the axle is seated between the U-bolt brackets. A weld is placed between the U-bolt brackets and the axle at or beyond the horizontal centerline of the axle within the residual compressive stress field on the axle created by the interference fit of the axle into the U-boll brackets. Means for securing connection of the axle to the beam includes a U-boll or other similar means to provide additional locating support to the axle.

Heavy-duty axle-to-beam connection

Growing community of inventors

Hudson, OH, United States of America

R Scott Fulton