The Boler Company

Link Manufacturing Ltd

Hendrickson International Corporation

Tjong T Lie

John Edward Ramsey

Michael J Keeler

Ronald J McLaughlin

Michael Brannigan

Gilbert Olvera

Roger D Jable

Charles A Van Breemen

Gareth A Wallace

Serge Alexander Barlas

Allen Hatch

Chris Koumbis

Jonathan Mark Bunne

David Harry Hillman

Richard S Holum

Michael Gottshalk

Martin A Ekonen

Charles A Vanbreemen

A linkage-type air suspension system for supporting either a front steer axle or a rear drive axle includes a lower structure assembly which combines the lower control rods, a transverse rod and a stabilizer control system which functions as a single structure. The transverse control system includes a pair of lower beams which have one end thereof pivotally connected to mounting brackets secured to the frame members of the vehicle by pivot bearings. The other ends of the lower beams are pivotally connected to axle and wheel supports. A transverse control is secured to and extends between the lower beams.

Linkage-type air suspension system

A composite structure for method of mounting a vehicle suspension member, such as a leaf spring or a main support member, to an axle housing is disclosed. The invention is particularly useful in the truck and trailer industry. An axle bracket is welded to the axle housing. A cover and an axle seat are clamped so as to compress the suspension member and a top pad between them The cover and axle seat are then welded together. The axle seat and axle bracket may then be bolted together. A spacer plate may be inserted between the rear portions of the axle seat and axle bracket so as to increase the pinion angle of the vehicle axle. This allows the invention to be utilized in a variety of installations

Assembly for and method of mounting a suspension member to an axle

A system for mounting a vehicle axle housing to a vehicle suspension member, such as a main support member, Z-spring or a gooseneck spring, is disclosed. The invention utilizes a bracket welded onto the axle housing so as to eliminate excessive compressive stresses on the axle housing. The suspension member is sandwiched between a top pad and an axle seat. A pair of downwardly extending U-bolts have their bight portions seated on the top pad with their distal ends extending through holes in the axle bracket. Nuts are attached to the U-bolt distal ends to secure the entire assembly together. The system can accommodate a variety of axle seat sizes which in turn allows for a variety of pinion angles to be effected without necessitating the use of a different axle bracket design for each pinion angle.

Weld-on axle bracket with U-bolt connection

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

A flexible bolster for installation between two load-carrying members in a vehicle suspension. The bolster comprises a block of rubber or rubber-like elastomer sandwiched between two end plates. The block of rubber preferably has molded thereon a plurality of metal washers or plates oriented parallel to each other and the end plates. A bore extends axially through the end plates and block of rubber. A rebound control restraint is disposed in the bore. The restraint comprise a length of cable having retainers swaged to its opposite ends. Each retainer has an enlarged part or assembly which bears against the outer side of one of the end plates. The restraint acts to limit the extent to which the end plates separate when the bolster is under tension and thereby controls rebound. The restraint is free so as not to absorb compression or shear forces applied to the bolster.

Flexible bolster

A vehicle suspension system particularly useful in the heavy duty truck and trailer industry is disclosed. The suspension features lower control rods that are pivotally connected at their leading ends to hangers attached to each side frame member. The rearward ends of the lower control rods are attached to axle seats, one at each end of the axle, which are connected to the axle of the vehicle. Air springs and shock absorbers or, alternatively, hydraulic cylinders with accumulators, are mounted between each axle seat and each side frame member. The lower control rods are in an inclined orientation with their forward ends above their trailing ends. Additionally, some embodiments of the suspension feature upper control rods with their forward ends pivotally attached to the two opposing truck side frame members. The rearward ends of the upper control rods are attached to the top center of the axle by either a bolt and bushing mount or a ball and socket mount so that the upper control rods form a 'V'. The upper control rods lay in a nearly horizontal plane. As an alternative to the 'V' configuration of the upper control rods, a single, nearly horizontal, longitudinal upper control rod mounted between the centers of the frame cross member and the vehicle axle may be used in conjunction with either a control rod or a Watt linkage transverse to the side frame members. The suspension eliminates the heavy and costly Z-springs commonly used in air or hydraulic suspensions. The suspension has a lower frequency and is not torque reactive. Both of these features reduce vibration and provide for a better vehicle ride. The suspension also offers improved vehicle traction.

Linkage suspension system

In a tandem wheel and axle suspension for suspending a vehicle chassis, a flexible joint assembly for connecting the underside of each distal end of a fore-and-aft leaf spring equalizer beam to the subadjacent end of a transverse axle comprising a downwardly projecting spring anchor mounted on the underside of the distal end of the bottom leaf of the leaf spring, a load cushion formed of elastomeric material having an upwardly open socket in which the projecting portion of the spring anchor is embedded, and an axle bracket mounted on the subadjacent end of the axle having an upwardly open socket formation into which the load cushion is seated. An elastomeric rebound cushion is mounted over each distal end to prevent the spring anchor from disengaging the load cushion axle and is without upper torque rods.

Tandem wheel and axle suspension

Growing community of inventors

Naperville, IL, United States of America

Tjong T Lie