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US 12,491,742 B1Granted
Vehicle suspension systems, retrofit kits, and methods of retrofitting vehicle suspensions
OwnerCody Bakkerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retrofit kit for replacing an existing leaf spring suspension system, methods of replacing the existing leaf spring suspension systems, and suspension systems may include an upper load beam having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured to pivotally mount to a vehicle. A lower control arm includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a mounting location positioned between the proximal end distal ends. The distal end of the lower control arm is configured to pivotally engage a leaf spring mounting eye provided on the vehicle. The mounting location on the lower control arm is configured to pivotally receive the proximal end of the upper load beam.
Claims21
A retrofit kit for replacing an existing leaf spring suspension system, the existing leaf spring suspension system mounting a beam axle to a vehicle, the retrofit kit comprising:
- an upper load beam having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said upper load beam defining first and second mounting locations in spaced-apart relation, the distal end of said upper load beam being configured to pivotally mount to the vehicle;
- a lower control arm having a proximal end, a distal end, and a mounting location positioned between the proximal end distal ends, the distal end of said lower control arm being configured to pivotally engage a mounting eye provided on the vehicle, the mounting location being configured to pivotally engage with the first mounting location defined by the proximal end of said upper load beam;
- and
- an axle wrap control arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end of said axle wrap control arm being configured to pivotally engage with the second mounting location defined by the proximal end of said upper load beam.
1 more element
A method of retrofitting an existing leaf spring suspension system, the existing leaf spring suspension system mounting a beam axle to a vehicle, the method of retrofitting comprising:
- removing from the vehicle and the beam axle a right side leaf spring of the existing leaf spring suspension system;
- pivotally mounting a proximal end of a first lower control arm to a right side of the beam axle;
- pivotally mounting a distal end of the first lower control arm to a right side mounting eye provided on the vehicle;
- pivotally mounting a proximal end of a first axle wrap control arm to a right side of the beam axle;
- pivotally mounting a first mounting location defined by a proximal end of a first upper load beam to the first lower control arm at a position between the proximal end and the distal end of the first lower control arm;
- pivotally mounting a second mounting location defined by the proximal end of the first upper load beam to a distal end of the first axle wrap control arm;
- pivotally mounting a distal end of the first upper load beam to a first end of a first shackle, a second end of the first shackle being pivotally mounted to a right side shackle mount provided on the vehicle;
- and
- mounting a first spring member to the beam axle and the first upper load beam.
6 more elements
A suspension system for mounting a beam axle to a vehicle, comprising:
- a right side lower control arm having a proximal end, a distal end, and a mounting location positioned between the proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said right side lower control arm being pivotally mounted to a right side of the beam axle, the distal end of said lower control arm being pivotally mounted to a right side mounting eye provided on the vehicle;
- a right side axle wrap control arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said right side axle wrap control arm being pivotally mounted to the right side of the beam axle;
- a right side upper load beam having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said right side upper load beam defining first and second mounting locations in spaced-apart relation, the first mounting location of said right side upper load beam being pivotally mounted to the mounting location of said right side lower control arm, the second mounting location of said right side upper load beam being pivotally mounted to the distal end of said right side axle wrap control arm;
- a right side shackle having a first end and a second end, the first end of said right side shackle being pivotally mounted to the distal end of said right side upper load beam, the second end of said right side shackle being pivotally mounted to a right side shackle mount provided on the vehicle;
- a right side spring member mounted to the right side of the beam axle and the right side upper load beam;
- a left side lower control arm having a proximal end, a distal end, and a mounting location positioned between the proximal and distal ends, the proximal end of said left side lower control arm being pivotally mounted to a left side of the beam axle, the distal end of said lower control arm being pivotally mounted to a left side mounting eye provided on the vehicle;
- a left side axle wrap control arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said left side axle wrap control arm being pivotally mounted to the left side of the beam axle;
- a left side upper load beam having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of said left side upper load beam defining first and second mounting locations in spaced-apart relation, the first mounting location of said left side upper load beam being pivotally mounted to the mounting location of said left side lower control arm, the second mounting location of said left side upper load beam being pivotally mounted to the distal end of said left side axle wrap control arm;
- a left side shackle having a first end and a second end, the first end of said left side shackle being pivotally mounted to the distal end of said left side upper load beam, the second end of said left side shackle being pivotally mounted to a left side shackle mount provided on the vehicle;
- and
- a left side spring member mounted to the left side of the beam axle and the left side upper load beam.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.