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US 12,403,737 B2Granted
Lift axle suspension systems with lift paddle
AssigneeHendrickson USA, L.L.C.
InventorsAshley T. Dudding, Sean T. Lindsay, Ryan M. Ettenhofer, Michael P. Robinson, Richard J. Aumann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift axle suspension system incorporating a lift paddle is disclosed. The lift paddle comprising a first pad, a second pad and a rigid support arm securing the first pad and the second pad in fixed relation to one another. The first pad is attached to a lift spring, the second pad is secured to the bottom surface of the main support member/leaf spring. Actuation of the lift spring causes the axle to be lifted out of contact with the ground surface.
Claims21
A lift axle suspension system comprising,
- hanger bracket configured for attachment to a vehicle frame;
- an axle;
- a leaf spring, comprising a front arm and a seat, the front arm extending forwardly from the seat, the front arm having a top surface and a bottom surface and being of a generally solid construction, the leaf spring configured for coupling at the location of the seat to the axle with the use of an axle coupling fastener, the front arm of the leaf spring including an eye or connected to an eye extension, the leaf spring configured for pivotally mounting to the hangar bracket;
- a lift bracket and a lift spring, the first end portion of the lift bracket secured to the hangar bracket, the second end portion the lift bracket connected to the first end portion of the lift spring;
- a lift paddle comprising a first pad, a second pad, and a first rigid support arm, the first pad providing an engagement surface for attaching the first pad to the second end portion of the lift spring, the second pad providing an engagement surface for securing the second pad to the bottom surface of the front arm of the leaf spring, and the first rigid support arm connecting the first pad and the second pad to support the fixed position of the first pad and the second pad in relation to one another;
- the front arm of the leaf spring defining a bore, the second pad of the lift paddle defining a bore, the bore of the front arm of the leaf spring extending through the leaf spring and positioned in registration with the bore of the second pad, the bores of the front arm of the leaf spring and the second pad receiving a fastener securing the front arm of the leaf spring to the second pad of the lift paddle;
- wherein the lift bracket, the lift spring and the lift paddle are configured for arrangement in an operative relationship with one another wherein by actuation of the lift spring, a load is transmitted from the lift spring to the lift paddle and from the lift paddle to the leaf spring causing the axle to be lifted out of contact with the ground surface.
4 more elements
A leaf spring and lift paddle combination for a lift axle suspension, the leaf spring and lift paddle combination comprising
- a leaf spring comprising a front arm and a seat, the front arm extending forwardly from the seat, the front arm having a top surface and a bottom surface and being of a generally solid construction, the leaf spring configured for coupling at the location of the seat to an axle, the front arm of the leaf spring including an eye or connected to an eye extension to permit the leaf spring and lift paddle combination to be pivotally mounted to a vehicle hangar bracket;
- a lift paddle comprising a first pad, a second pad, and a first rigid support arm, the first pad of the lift paddle providing an engagement surface to attach the first pad to a movable end of a mounted lift spring, the second pad of the lift paddle providing an engagement surface for securing the second pad to the bottom surface of the front arm of the leaf spring, and the first rigid support arm connecting the first pad and the second pad to support the fixed position of the first pad and the second pad in relation to one another,
- the front arm of the leaf spring defining a bore, the second pad of the lift paddle defining a bore, the bore of the front arm of the leaf spring extending through the leaf spring and positioned in registration with the bore of the second pad, the bores of the front arm of the leaf spring and the second pad receiving a fastener securing the front arm of the leaf spring to the second pad of the lift paddle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.