Torsion axle suspension system apparatus and method

A vehicle used for transporting cargo, the vehicle comprising:

• a vehicle body, an undercarriage, and a suspension system interconnecting the undercarriage to the vehicle body;
• wherein the suspension system includes a torsion axle assembly for supporting the vehicle body on the undercarriage, wherein the vehicle body has a measurable weight;
• and wherein the torsion axle assembly includes:
• a) an elongated inner member having an inward end, an outward portion, and an outer engaging surface, the elongated inner member also having an inner member longitudinal axis extending through the inward end and the outward portion;
• b) an elongated enclosure for interconnection to the vehicle body, the elongated enclosure having an inward portion and an outward end, the elongated enclosure having an inner engaging surface at least partially defining an interior space, the interior space extending from the outward end to the inward portion, the elongated enclosure further including an enclosure longitudinal axis extending through the inward portion and the outward end;
• and wherein the outward end is configured to receive the elongated inner member so that the elongated inner member resides at least partially within the interior space;
• and
• c) resilient material residing within the interior space to engage and support the elongated inner member when the elongated inner member resides within the interior space, such that the inner member longitudinal axis resides at an unloaded camber angle to the enclosure longitudinal axis when none of the weight of the vehicle body is borne by the torsion axle assembly;
• and wherein the inner member longitudinal axis resides at a loaded camber angle to the enclosure longitudinal axis when the weight of the vehicle body is borne by the torsion axle assembly, such that the unloaded camber angle is greater than the loaded camber angle.

A method of supporting a vehicle body on an undercarriage, wherein the vehicle body has a measurable weight, the method comprising the step of:

• providing a vehicle body, an undercarriage, and a suspension system interconnecting the undercarriage to the vehicle body;
• wherein the suspension system includes a torsion axle assembly for supporting the vehicle body on the undercarriage, and wherein the torsion axle assembly includes:
• a) an elongated inner member having an inward end, an outward portion and an outer engaging surface, the elongated inner member also having an inner member longitudinal axis extending through the inward end and the outward portion;
• b) an elongated enclosure for interconnection to the vehicle body, the elongated enclosure having an inward portion and an outward end, the elongated enclosure having an inner engaging surface at least partially defining an interior space, the interior space extending from the outward end to the inward portion, the elongated enclosure further including an enclosure longitudinal axis extending through the inward portion and the outward end;
• and wherein the outward end is configured to receive the elongated inner member so that the elongated inner member resides at least partially within the interior space;
• and
• c) resilient material residing within the interior space to engage and support the elongated inner member when the elongated inner member resides within the interior space, such that the inner member longitudinal axis resides at an unloaded camber angle to the enclosure longitudinal axis when none of the weight of the vehicle body is borne by the torsion axle assembly;
• and wherein the inner member longitudinal axis resides at a loaded camber angle to the enclosure longitudinal axis when the weight of the vehicle body is borne by the torsion axle assembly, such that the unloaded camber angle is greater than the loaded camber angle.