Hendrickson Usa, L L.c.

Randy Joseph Zimmerman

Shawn D Noble

Matthew J Van Meter

Hormoz Kerendian

Andrew X Rarey

James H Merriman

Carmen D Cardillo

Ashley Thomas Dudding

R Scott Fulton

Donald R Hester

Quang C Nguyen

James J Patterson

Emmanuel Simeakis

Ross Leonard

A bushing is disclosed for pivotally mounting an end portion of an axle-supporting beam of a vehicle suspension system to a hanger bracket of the vehicle with a pair of wear pads positioned between sides of the end portion of the beam and the hanger bracket, where the pair of wear pads each has a central opening defined by an inner edge. The bushing includes a tubular body having a longitudinal axis, a first end portion, a second end portion and a beam support portion positioned between the first and second end portions. A first resilient wear pad retainer extends radially from the first end portion of the body and a second resilient wear pad retainer extends radially from the second end portion of the body. Each of the first and second wear pad retainers are configured to move into a deflected position when contacted by an inner edge of a wear pad central opening and to rebound back to an original position afterwards as the wear pad is positioned on the first or second end portions of the body so that the wear pad is secured to the bushing.

Bushing with wear pad retainer

A bushing assembly for use in a vehicle suspension system includes an outer sleeve, with an elastomeric element at least partially positioned within the outer sleeve. An inner sleeve is at least partially positioned within the elastomeric element, while a bar pin having a central section is at least partially positioned within the inner sleeve. A retaining ring is positioned at or adjacent to a first end of the central section of the bar pin and at least partially within the outer sleeve. The retaining ring is positioned between the inner sleeve and at least one radially enlarged section at the first end of the central section of the bar pin and/or at least one radially inwardly directed section at a first end of the outer sleeve.

Vehicle suspension bushing assemblies and methods for manufacturing such bushing assemblies

A bar pin bushing assembly including a bar pin having at least one end with at least one bore to receive a fastener, the at least one bore extending through the at least one end, the bar pin having a central portion having a diameter that is greater than a width or diameter of the at least one end of the bar pin, a compressible rubber section positioned around the central portion of the bar pin, the compressible rubber section further extending around downwardly tapering surfaces adjacent the central portion of the bar pin, an outer metal shell mold bonded to the compressible rubber section, a first disc insert positioned over a first end of the outer metal shell, a second disc insert positioned over a second end of the outer metal shell, and a tubular outer metal wall positioned over the outer metal shell, the first disc insert, and the second disc insert.

Bar pin bushing for vehicle suspension

A bar pin bushing assembly for connecting components including a bar pin having at least one end with at least one bore to receive a fastener, the bar pin having a central portion having a diameter that is greater than a width or diameter of the at least one end of the bar pin, a compressible rubber section having a uniform thickness positioned around the central portion of the bar pin, the compressible rubber section further extending around downwardly tapering surfaces adjacent the central portion of the bar pin, a plurality of outer metal shells mold bonded to the compressible rubber section, wherein when the bushing assembly is inserted into a hub, the plurality of outer metal shells are configured to radially compress the compressible rubber section to provide a precompressed bushing assembly. A method of assembling the bar pin bushing assembly is also disclosed.

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

A vehicle suspension having a frame attachment portion attached to a saddle, first and second bolster springs mounted to spring mounts on an outboard side of the saddle and mounted on walls of a spring mount on an outboard side of an equalizing beam, and third and fourth bolster springs mounted to walls of a spring mount on an inboard side of the saddle and mounted to spring mounts on an inboard side of the equalizing beam, wherein upwardly extending flanges on the bottom of the first and second bolster springs are mounted to each other using a common fastener, and wherein upwardly extending flanges on the bottom of the third and fourth bolster springs are mounted to each other with a common fastener.

Bolster spring

A vehicle suspension having a frame attachment portion attached to a saddle, first and second bolster springs mounted to spring mounts on an outboard side of the saddle and mounted on walls of a spring mount on an outboard side of an equalizing beam, and third and fourth bolster springs mounted to walls of a spring mount on an inboard side of the saddle and mounted to spring mounts on an inboard side of the equalizing beam, wherein upwardly extending flanges on the bottom of the first and second bolster sprints are mounted to each other using a common fastener, and wherein upwardly extending flanges on the bottom of the third and fourth bolster springs are mounted to each other with a common fastener.

Load cushion

Energy storing suspension components having an end configured to include an eye are disclosed in combinations with bushings for use in suspension systems for wheeled vehicles and trailers. The energy storing suspension components include an axle seat portion, an end, and a limb extending between the axle seat portion and the end. The limb includes a first taper wherein the limb decreases in width as the limb extends toward the end, a second taper wherein the limb decreases in thickness as the limb extends toward the end, wherein along the limb there is at least a portion where both the first taper and second taper are present, and a third taper that is further from the axle seat portion than the first taper and wherein the limb increases in width as the limb extends toward the end.

Multi-tapered suspension component

Energy storing suspension components for use in suspension systems for wheeled vehicles and trailers are disclosed. The energy storing suspension components include an axle seat portion, an end, and a limb extending between the axle seat portion and the end. The limb includes a first taper wherein the limb decreases in width as the limb extends toward the end, a second taper wherein the limb decreases in thickness as the limb extends toward the end, wherein along the limb there is at least a portion where both the first taper and second taper are present, and a third taper that is further from the axle seat portion than the first taper and wherein the limb increases in width as the limb extends toward the end. Also disclosed are combinations of bushings and energy storing suspension components having an end configured to include an eye.

Growing community of inventors

Spencerville, IN, United States of America

Randy Joseph Zimmerman