# US 10,500,913 B1 · Shock absorbing equalizer for suspension system

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- Number: US 10,500,913 B1
- Document ID: US10500913B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/050,615
- Filed: 2018-07-31
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-31
- Assignees: Lippert Components, Inc.
- Applicants: Lippert Components, Inc.
- Inventors: Evan Whitney; Dominick Bilancio
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10500913B1

## CPC

- B60G 5/00: Resilient suspensions for a set of tandem wheels or axles having interrelated movements
- B60G 5/047: at least one arm being resilient, e.g. a leafspring (B60G5/053 takes precedence)
- B60G 11/12: Links, pins, or bushes
- B60G 11/38: and also rubber springs
- F16F 3/12: the steel spring being in contact with the rubber spring {(F16F1/12 takes precedence)}
- B60G 11/04: arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle
- B60G 2200/30: Rigid axle suspensions
- B60G 2200/318: two or more axles being mounted on a longitudinal rocking or walking beam
- B60G 2202/112: longitudinally arranged
- B60G 2204/121: Mounting of leaf springs
- B60G 2204/125: Mounting of rubber type springs
- B60G 2204/421: Pivoted lever mechanisms for mounting suspension elements, e.g. Watt linkage
- B60G 2204/4502: using resilient buffer
- B60G 2204/8302: Mechanical
- B60G 2206/10: Constructional features of arms
- B60G 2206/42: Springs
- B60G 2206/722: Plates
- B60G 2206/73: Rubber; Elastomers
- B60G 2300/042: Semi-trailers
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The equalizer of claim 1 wherein the distance between the first end of the pivot arm and the second end of the pivot arm is substantially greater than the distance between the first bump stop and the third bump stop and the distance between the second bump stop and the fourth bump stop.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The equalizer of claim 1 wherein the first pivot arm pivot point and the second pivot arm pivot point are equidistant from the pivot arm pivot axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The equalizer of claim 1 wherein one of the first pivot arm pivot point and the second pivot arm pivot point is nearer to the pivot arm pivot axis than is the other of the first pivot arm pivot point and the second pivot arm pivot point.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The equalizer of claim 1 wherein the pivot arm defines a first trough receiving a portion of the first shock absorber and configured to inhibit lateral motion of the first shock absorber with respect to the first pivot arm.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The equalizer of claim 5 wherein the pivot arm defines one or more of:
a second trough receiving a portion of the second shock absorber and configured to inhibit lateral motion of the second shock absorber with respect to the first pivot arm;
a third trough receiving a portion of the third shock absorber and configured to inhibit lateral motion of the third shock absorber with respect to the first pivot arm; and
a fourth trough receiving a portion of the fourth shock absorber and configured to inhibit lateral motion of the fourth shock absorber with respect to the first pivot arm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The equalizer of claim 6 wherein each trough comprises a bottom and two sides.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The equalizer of claim 1 wherein a first distance between the mounting pivot axis point and the third pivot arm pivot axis is substantially less than a second distance between the first pivot arm pivot axis and the second pivot arm pivot axis.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The equalizer of claim 8 wherein the first distance is between about 10% and 90% of the second distance.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The equalizer of claim 8 wherein the first distance is between about 20% and 80% of the second distance.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The equalizer of claim 8 wherein the first distance is between about 30% and 70% of the second distance.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The equalizer of claim 8 wherein the first distance is between about 40% and 60% of the second distance.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The equalizer of claim 8 wherein the first distance is between about 45% and 65% of the second distance.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The equalizer of claim 1 further comprising a push plate operably associated with the pivot arm and the first shock absorber wherein substantially the entirety of the surface of the first shock absorber facing the pivot arm bears against the push plate.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The equalizer of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first bump stop and the second bump stop is monolithically formed with at least one of the first plate and the second plate.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The equalizer of claim 1 further comprising a mounting sleeve connecting the first plate to the second plate, the mounting sleeve configured for pivotal connection to the frame of the vehicle, wherein the mounting sleeve defines the mounting pivot axis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The equalizer of claim 1 wherein the first plate defines a first aperture and the second plate defines a second aperture corresponding to and in registration with the first aperture, the equalizer further comprising a first mechanical fastener extending through the first aperture and the second aperture, wherein the first plate, the second plate, and the first mechanical fastener cooperate with any one of the first shock absorber, the second shock absorber, the third shock absorber, and the fourth shock absorber cooperate to capture the respective one of the first bump stop, the second bump stop, the third bump stop, and the fourth bump stop therebetween.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The equalizer of claim 17 wherein the first plate defines a third aperture and the second plate defines a fourth aperture corresponding to and in registration with the third aperture, the equalizer further comprising a second mechanical fastener extending through the third aperture and the fourth aperture, wherein the second mechanical fastener cooperates with the first plate, the second plate, the first mechanical fastener mechanical fastener and the any one of the first shock absorber, the second shock absorber, the third shock absorber, and the fourth shock absorber cooperate to further capture the respective one of the first bump stop, the second bump stop, the third bump stop, and the fourth bump stop therebetween.