# US 10,308,088 B2 · Mechanical down-stop for axle/suspension systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,308,088 B2 - Document ID: US10308088B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/690,341 - Filed: 2017-08-30 - Published: 2019-02-28 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-30 - Assignees: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C. - Applicants: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C. - Inventors: Nicholas J. Giamati; Jacob D. Andreasen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308088B2 ## CPC - B60G 3/06: the arm being rigid - B60G 9/003: {the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device} - B60G 2200/31: with two trailing arms rigidly connected to the axle - B60G 2204/41: Elastic mounts, e.g. bushings - B60G 2204/4504: using cable or band to prevent extension - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A mechanical down-stop for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems which includes an angled bracket that is rigidly/stiffly attached to the vehicle frame at one end, and is attached to a flexible portion of the mechanical down-stop at its other end. The flexible portion is attached to a beam of the axle/suspension system. The angled bracket is formed of an elastically deformable material and includes a bend that enables the bracket to act as a spring. The angled bracket and the flexible portion limit downward movement and react the downward force of the beam. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system, said heavy-duty vehicle having a frame and said axle/suspension system having a beam pivotally attached to a hanger depending from said frame, said down-stop comprising: a first portion formed of an elastically deformable material including a first end and a second end, said first end of said first portion being rigidly attached to a selected one of the frame, said hanger, or said beam; and a flexible second portion including a first end and a second end, said first end of said second portion being directly attached to only said second end of the first portion, said second end of the second portion being attached to a selected one of said frame, the hanger, or the beam, said first portion and said second portion limiting downward movement and reacting downward force of said beam, the first portion elastically deforming to react the beam downward force. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said first portion include a bend having an angle, said bend angle increasing when said first portion is elastically deformed to react said beam downward force. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 2, wherein said angle is from about ninety degrees to about one hundred eighty degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said first end of said first portion is predominantly under a sheer force relative to a selected one of said frame, said hanger, or said beam while reacting the beam downward force. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said first portion is formed of a metal or a composite. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said flexible second portion is formed of a member selected from the group consisting of rope, strap, and wire. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said flexible second portion is formed of a plurality of interlinked chain links. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 7, wherein said first end of said flexible second portion is welded to said first portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1 further including a connector attached to said second end of said flexible second portion, said connector attaching the second end to a selected one of said frame, said hanger, or said beam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 9, wherein said connector is a U-shaped connector. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 10, wherein said U-shaped connector includes a bushing, said bushing being capable of elastically deforming to react said beam downward force. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 11, wherein said bushing is formed of an elastomeric material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 11, wherein said bushing is a mechanical spring. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1 further including a sleeve surrounding at least a portion of said down-stop. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 14, wherein said sleeve is formed of a member selected from the group consisting of rubber, composite, and a form-fitting coating. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said first portion is rigidly attached to an inner surface of a cross member of said frame and said flexible second portion second end is attached to said axle/suspension system beam. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The down-stop for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system of claim 1, wherein said first portion acts as a spring and distributes said beam downward force.