Other

The Holland Group, Inc.

Holland Neway International, Inc.

Applied Power Inc.

Neway Anchorlok International, Inc.

Thomas A McKenzie

Richard L Conaway

William J Hicks

An air spring comprises a hollow elastic sleeve, an end component for securing the air spring to a first frame, a hollow piston for securing the air spring to a second frame that is movable relative to the first frame, and a cylinder surrounding the hollow elastic sleeve to constrain the diameter of the hollow sleeve. A meniscus loop is formed adjacent the piston to define a major diameter of the air spring and thereby reduce the natural frequency of the air spring.

Air spring with constrained elastic sleeve

A vehicle suspension system includes a pair of equalizing beams, two pairs of axle housings each having a lower portion connected to opposite ends of the equalizing beams, two pairs of linkage arms operably connected to an upper portion of each of the axle housings and with a vehicle frame, and a pair of air cylinders operably connected to the equalizing beams at a point located between the ends of the beams and with the vehicle frame. The system further includes a torsional beam extending between the first and second air cylinders, wherein the torsional beam provides the operable connection between the first cylinder and the point of the first equalizing beam located between the ends of the first equalizing beam, and the operable connection between the second cylinder and the point of the second equalizing beam located between the ends of the second equalizing beam.

Vehicle suspension system

Vibration dampening assembly alone and in vehicle trailing arm suspension has a link member, a shock absorber and a lever member. The link member has a first end pivotally interconnected with either of the trailing arm or the vehicle frame at a first support pivot. A lever member is pivotally interconnected with the link member second end at a link pivot intermediate the first and second ends of the lever member. A shock absorber has a first end of pivotally interconnected with the lever member second end at a shock pivot and has a second end pivotally interconnected with the other of the trailing arm or the vehicle frame at a second support pivot spaced from said first support pivot. The lever member is pivotally interconnected with either the trailing arm or the vehicle frame at a main pivot connection located at the first end of the lever member.

Variable geometry dampening and trailing arm suspension including same

A height control valve is preferably adapted to be mounted in a trailing arm suspension and fluidly interconnected to a source of pressurized air and to an air spring. The height control valve comprises a housing having a cylindrical bore, a supply port, an exhaust port and an air spring port each of which extends through the housing and fluidly communicates with the bore. A rotor is preferably rotatably mounted in the bore and interconnected to the arm wherein pivotal movement of the arm rotates the rotor with respect to the housing between first, second and third rotational positions. A plurality of seals is preferably located between the rotor and the bore defining a flow passage between the bore and the rotor wherein in the first rotational position, the flow passage isolates the air spring port from both the supply port and the exhaust port, in the second rotational position the flow passage interconnects the air spring port with the supply port, and in the third rotational position the flow passage interconnects the air spring port with the exhaust port.

Vehicle suspension and rotary height control valve for same

A vibration dampening assembly and a suspension system for use, for example, between a cab and a flame of a truck, has a link with a first end pivotably interconnected with a second plate at a first support pivot, a lever with a first end pivotably interconnected with the second end of the link at a link pivot, a shock absorber, the first end of which is pivotably interconnected with the lever second end at a shock pivot and the second end of which is pivotably interconnected to a first or the second plate at a second pivot support spaced from the first support pivot wherein the lever is pivotably interconnected with the first plate at a main pivot connection located intermediate the first and second ends thereof. In one embodiment, the shock absorber central axis and the lever longitudinal axis are parallel when the supporting body and the suspended body are in a static condition. In another embodiment, a third plate is interconnected the second plate at a first lever pivot and the first plate is pivotably interconnected with the second plate at a second lever pivot laterally spaced from the first pivot support, and the first lever pivot is intermediate the first support pivot and the second lever pivot. In another embodiment, a second lever is interconnected to the first plate at a first lever pivot, the second plate and the second lever are interconnected at a second lever pivot spaced laterally from the first lever pivot and the first lever pivot is intermediate the link pivot and the second lever pivot. In another embodiment, an air spring is mounted between two of the plates or between a plate and a lever which are pivotably connected together to cushion the movement of one of the plates toward the other of the plates and to form a suspension.

Vibration dampening assembly

A variable geometry linkage configuration for use between a support structure and suspended body comprises a link member having first and second ends, a first pivotal interconnection for pivotally interconnecting the first end of the link member with a support plate for rotation about a support pivot axis of rotation. A lever member is provided which has a longitudinal axis and first and second ends. A second pivotal interconnection for pivotally interconnecting the first end of the lever member with an impact plate for rotation about a main pivot axis of rotation. A shock pivot is mounted to the lever member and is adapted to connect an end of a shock absorber to the lever member for rotation about a shock pivot axis of rotation. A third pivotal interconnection is provided for pivotally interconnecting the lever member to the link member for rotation about a lever pivot axis of rotation. An improved variable geometry linkage is provided in which at least one of the pivotal interconnections comprises a universal pivot joint for articulation of the link member with respect to the support plate and/or the lever member about mutually perpendicular axes to accommodate pitch and roll between the impact plate and the support plate.

Variable geometry linkage configuration

A vibration dampening suspension device for isolating a truck cab from the force vibrations of a vehicle frame, which includes an impact plate mounted to the truck cab, and a support plate mounted to the vehicle suspension. The device further includes a link member pivotally interconnected at one end with the support plate at a support pivot, and a lever member with a first end pivotally interconnected with the impact plate at a main pivot. The link member is pivotally interconnected with the lever member for rotation of the lever member with respect to the main pivot during compression of the shock absorber when the supporting body, suspended body and device are in a dynamic condition. A hydraulic shock absorber is provided with a first end pivotally interconnected with the lever member second end at a shock pivot and the second end pivotally interconnected with the impact plate at a pivot spaced from the main pivot. An air spring interconnected between the impact and support plates, and a torque arm pivotally interconnected between the impact plate and support plate, are also included.

Vibration dampening device

An improved vibration dampening and shock absorber suspension device for the cab of a truck vehicle is set forth having a base member adapted for mounting to the truck frame and an impact plate adapted for attachment to the truck cab where the impact plate has a lateral dimension which is less than the lateral distance between the side beams of the truck frame. Interposed between the base member and the impact plate is a pair of air springs which are maintained at a constant height by a height control valve. A pair of hydraulic shock absorbers are pivotally connected to both the impact plate and base member where the central axis of the shock absorbers form the opposite sides of a trapezoid. In another embodiment of the invention a suspension device is set forth having a base member adapted for attachment to a support body and a pair of air springs intermediate the base member and an impact plate. The displacement axis of the air springs are oppositely inclined to the vertical axis of the base member forming the opposite sides of a trapezoid. A hydraulic shock absorber is pivotally connected to the impact plate and base member such that the inclination of the central axis of the shock absorber with the vertical axis of the base member may be selectively changed.

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Spring Lake, MI, United States of America

Thomas A McKenzie