Wear pad in a spring suspension system and method thereof
AssigneeMac Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorScott A. Kibler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wear pad having a sacrificial surface is disposed between a leaf spring in a leaf spring suspension system of a vehicle and a portion of a mounting bracket coupled to the leaf spring. The sacrificial surface is configured to contact the leaf spring and wear down in response to movement of the leaf spring. The sacrificial surface is configured to protect at least one of the portion of the mounting bracket and the leaf spring from frictional wear-and-tear.
Claims20
A wear pad comprising:
- a sacrificial surface that is disposed between a leaf spring in a leaf spring suspension system of a vehicle and a portion of a mounting bracket coupled to the leaf spring;
- wherein the sacrificial surface is configured to protect at least one of (a) the portion of the mounting bracket and (b) the leaf spring from frictional wear-and-tear;
- and
- wherein the sacrificial surface contacts the leaf spring and wears down in response to movement of the leaf spring.
A mounting bracket for a leaf spring suspension system, the mounting bracket comprising:
- a first end configured to be directly or indirectly coupled to a chassis and a second end opposite the first end, wherein at least one leaf in the leaf spring suspension system is configured to be directly or indirectly coupled to the mounting bracket;
- and
- a wear pad between the first end and the second end, wherein the wear pad has a sacrificial surface that contacts the at least one leaf and the sacrificial surface wears down in response to friction and abrasion caused by movement of the at least one leaf and the wear pad protects a portion of the mounting bracket to which the wear pad is mounted.
A method for a leaf spring suspension system, the method comprising:
- installing a wear pad at an installation location between a portion of a mounting bracket and a leaf spring in a leaf spring suspension system;
- moving the leaf spring relative to mounting bracket;
- contacting the wear pad with at least one of the portion of the mounting bracket and the leaf spring while moving the leaf spring relative to the mounting bracket;
- wearing down a sacrificial surface on the wear pad as the leaf spring moves relative to the mounting bracket;
- and
- protecting at least one at least one of the portion of the mounting bracket and the leaf spring by wearing down the sacrificial surface on the wear pad.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.