# US 10,370,033 B1 · Sliding sub-frame for heavy-duty vehicle suspension, including torque box, air slider pin, and shear-off nut

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- Number: US 10,370,033 B1
- Document ID: US10370033B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/611,221
- Filed: 2017-06-01
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-01
- Applicants: Jason M. Klein
- Inventors: Jason M. Klein
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10370033B1

## CPC

- B62D 21/14: of adjustable length or width
- B62D 53/068: {having devices to equalise or modify the load between the fifth wheel and the rear wheels (adjustable couping saddles per se B62D53/0807; load transfer devices to permit coupling or uncoupling B62D53/0857; anti jack-knifing devices B62D53/0871)}
- B60G 5/00: Resilient suspensions for a set of tandem wheels or axles having interrelated movements
- B62D 21/11: with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions}
- B62D 21/20: trailer type, i.e. a frame specifically constructed for use in a non-powered vehicle
- B62D 63/061: {Foldable, extensible or yielding trailers (foldable caravans B60P3/34; adjustable chassis frames B62D21/14)}
- B60G 2200/30: Rigid axle suspensions
- B60G 2202/112: longitudinally arranged
- B60G 2204/121: Mounting of leaf springs
- B60G 2204/15: Mounting of subframes
- B60G 2204/43: Fittings, brackets or knuckles
- B60G 2206/0112: Bogies for heavy vehicles
- B60G 2206/604: with two parallel beams connected by cross members
- B60G 2300/042: Semi-trailers
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})

## Abstract

Improvements to a sliding sub-frame for heavy-duty vehicle suspensions include torque boxes, an air slider-pin system, and a heavy-duty shear-off nut. In the prior art, all four sliding pins are linked together with bars so if one sliding pin is stuck they are all stuck. Here, each sliding pin has a dedicated air assist bladder and is independent and can release on its own. That way, if one sliding pin is stuck, it is a much easier job to get it unstuck by moving the vehicle. The torque box relates to stress-relief measures of shear strains at critical fastened (eg., bolted) connections. The shear-off nut has a break-neck flanked between a hex head and collet nut. The clearance between the outside sidewall of the collet nut very nearly fully spans the space between the flats of a hex socket for the hex head, thereby providing light on-axis support.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An air sliding-pin system for a sliding sub-frame of a heavy-duty vehicle suspension, comprising:
a mounting bracket adapted to be affixed to a sliding sub-frame and having an outer sidewall adapted to slide by an underhung track of a vehicle frame;
a sliding pin extending from a shaft at a transition, the sliding pin and shaft reciprocating between an engaged (outer) extreme and retracted (inner) extreme, wherein the shaft has a smaller diameter than the sliding pin, and the transition represents an inner-facing shoulder;
the sidewall having an aperture for the sliding pin to extend out of and retract inside of as well as being adapted to register with location holes in the underhung track of the vehicle frame;
the mounting bracket presenting an inner sidewall with an aperture sized for the shaft to reciprocate therein;
a coil-compression spring inserted over the shaft and confined between (1) an inner-facing shoulder of the sliding-pin to shaft transition and (2) an outer surface of the inner sidewall of the mounting bracket;
a reciprocating yoke having spaced arms reaching around the inner sidewall from inboard of the inner sidewall and coupled to either or both of the shaft or the sliding pin, said spaced arms flanking and joined together by a web;
a gas assist bladder disposed between (1) an inner surface of the inner sidewall of the mounting bracket and (2) the web of the reciprocating yoke; and
a source of pressurized gas for the gas assist bladder whereby inflation of the gas assist bladder pushes the yoke inwards and pulls the sliding pin inside, and, deflation of the gas assist bladder allows the coil-compression spring to push on the inner-facing shoulder and push the sliding pin out.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The air sliding-pin system of claim 1, wherein:
the gas assist bladder deflated has a donut shape and inflated has a tubular shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The air sliding-pin system of claim 1, wherein:
the inner sidewall of the mounting bracket comprises a web of a fixed yoke which has spaced arms projecting from the web of said fixed yoke to fixed ends outward therefrom, and which the fixed yoke is nested inside of said reciprocating yoke.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The air sliding-pin system of claim 3, wherein:
the arms of the fixed yoke are formed with elongated slots; and
further comprising pin fasteners reciprocating in the slots of the arms of the fixed yoke and fastening, thereby linking in unison, (1) the arms of the reciprocating yoke laterally exterior of the arms of the fixed yoke with (2) either the sliding pin or the shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The air sliding-pin system of claim 4, wherein:
the pin fasteners fasten and thereby link in unison (1) the arms of the reciprocating yoke laterally exterior of the arms of the fixed yoke with (2) the sliding pin.