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US 2016/0220431 A1Published application
Low floor chassis conversion method and apparatus
AssigneeDallas Smith Corporation
InventorsStephen A. Asztalos, Garrett J. Smith, Judson L. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for converting an OEM ladder frame chassis. Various embodiments include modifying the front and rear suspensions to allow increased lowering of the payload section and cab sections, and further to incorporate a payload section having a lowered floor.
Claims20
A method of modifying a chassis for a road vehicle, comprising:
- providing an OEM ladder frame chassis having a pair of right and left substantially straight longitudinal channel members each having a forward end adapted and configured to suspend corresponding right and left front wheels from respective right and left OEM springs each spring having an OEM spring stiffness;
- replacing each OEM spring with a corresponding replacement spring having a replacement spring stiffness less than the OEM spring stiffness;
- lowering the front jounce limit for each front suspended wheel;
- and
- suspending the right and left wheels with corresponding right and left air springs, each air spring acting in parallel with the corresponding right or left replacement spring.
2 more elements
A method of modifying a chassis for a road vehicle, comprising:
- providing an OEM ladder frame chassis having a pair of right and left substantially straight longitudinal channel members each having a forward end adapted and configured to suspend corresponding right and left front wheels below the channel members and an aft end adapted and configured to suspend corresponding right and left rear wheels below the channel members, each rear wheel being driven by a driveshaft;
- removing the OEM midsection of each channel member and thereafter inserting into each channel member corresponding right or left dropped height midsections, each dropped height midsection having a top surface lower than the top surface of the corresponding OEM channel member, each dropped height midsection having a bottom surface lower than the bottom surface of the corresponding OEM channel member;
- lowering the driveshaft;
- lowering the front jounce limit for each front suspended wheel;
- and
- lowering the rear jounce limit for each rear suspended wheel.
3 more elements
A chassis for a road vehicle, comprising:
- a rear axle for rotatably supporting a pair of right and left rear wheels about a centerline;
- a ladder frame including a pair of substantially straight longitudinal members each extending above said rear axle and from in front of the rear axle to behind the rear axle and each on opposite right or left sides of said frame;
- a pair of axle support members each located on opposite right or left sides of said frame, each said support member being located outboard of the corresponding said right or left longitudinal member and extending above said rear axle, the forward end of each said support member being coupled to said corresponding longitudinal member to permit vertical movement of said rear axle relative to said ladder frame, the rear end of each said support member including an air spring support located aft of the centerline and behind a respective said rear wheel;
- and
- a pair of air springs each having a top and a bottom, each said air spring being located outboard of said corresponding longitudinal member and behind a respective rear wheel and each reacting loads between said ladder frame and the bottom of the corresponding said air spring support.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.