Torsion bar axle suspension
AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.
InventorErnest W. Wagner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An axle suspension system wherein shock-absorbing members (31,32) allow vertical movement of an axle (25) relative to a frame (16). Unequal vertical movement of the ends of the axle (25) is restrained by a torsion bar (40) spaced from and parallel to the axle and mounted (41,42) on the frame for axial rotation and by rods (46-49) extending between the ends of the torsion bar (40) and the axle (25), the rods each having a non-rotatable connection (53a-d) with the torsion bar (40) and a universal connection (58a-d) with the axle (25). Unequal vertical movement of the ends of the axle (25) imposes a torque on the torsion bar (40) which resists such axle movement. The axle suspension system has particular utility in single-axle tractor units of tractor-scraper vehicles.
Claims10
In a suspension system for a vehicle (10) having a frame (16), an axle (25) transverse to the longitudinal centerline of said frame (16) and a pair of shock-absorbing members (31,32) connected between said frame (16) and axle (25) to enable relative vertical movement between said frame (16) and axle (25), the improvement comprising:
- a torsion bar (40) spaced from and parallel to said axle (25);
- bearing means (41,42) for rotatably mounting said torsion bar (40) on said frame (25) outwardly from and on opposite sides of said longitudinal centerline;
- first and second rods (46,47) one on each side of said longitudinal centerline, said rods (46,47) each extending from said torsion bar (40) to said axle (25);
- first means (53a,53b) for non-rotatably connecting both of said rods (46,47) to said torsion bar (40);
- second means (58a,58b) for connecting both of said rods (46,47) to said axle (25).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.