Shock absorbing equalizer for suspension system
AssigneeLippert Components, Inc.
InventorsEvan Whitney, Dominick Bilancio
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An equalizer for a suspension system includes a pivot arm pivotably connected to first and second plates at a pivot point, first and second bump stops connected between the first and second plates on one side of the pivot point, and third and fourth bump stops connected between the first and second plates on the other side of the pivot point. First through fourth shock absorbers are disposed between the pivot arm and the first through fourth bump stops, respectively.
Claims18
An equalizer for a suspension having first and second axles, the equalizer mountable to a frame of a vehicle in pivotable engagement with the frame about a mounting pivot axis, the equalizer comprising:
- a first plate;
- a second plate spaced from, fixed to, and generally parallel to the first plate;
- a first bump stop extending from at least one of the first plate and the second plate to or toward the other of the first plate and the second plate;
- a second bump stop extending from at least one of the first plate and the second plate to or toward the other of the first plate and the second plate;
- a third bump stop extending from at least one of the first plate and the second plate to or toward the other of the first plate and the second plate;
- a fourth bump stop extending from at least one of the first plate and the second plate to or toward the other of the first plate and the second plate;
- a pivot arm having first and second ends and an intermediate portion, the first end configured for pivotal attachment to the first axle about a first pivot arm pivot point, the second end configured for pivotal attachment to the second axle about a second pivot arm pivot point, and the intermediate portion pivotally connected to the first plate and the second plate about a third pivot arm pivot point;
- a first shock absorber disposed between the first bump stop and the pivot arm;
- a second shock absorber disposed between the second bump stop and the pivot arm;
- a third shock absorber disposed between the first bump stop and the pivot arm;
- and
- a fourth shock absorber disposed between the second bump stop and the pivot arm;
- wherein the first and third shock absorbers straddle the intermediate portion of the pivot arm relatively near the first end of the pivot arm and the second and fourth shock absorbers straddle the intermediate portion of the pivot arm relatively near the second end of the pivot arm;
- and
- wherein pivoting of the pivot arm with respect to the pivot arm pivot axis in a first direction of rotation results in compression of both the first shock absorber and the fourth shock absorber, and wherein pivoting of the pivot arm with respect to the pivot arm pivot axis in a second direction of rotation results in compression of both the second shock absorber and the third shock absorber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.