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US 4,420,171 AGranted
Heavy vehicle suspension assembly with free floating springs and axle stabilizing torque rod
OwnerJohn E. Raidelinventor
Life of this patent
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OwnerJohn E. Raidelinventor
Estimating the term…
A first embodiment of a leaf spring suspension assembly for a tractor trailer or the like having single or multiple axles includes a first and second hanger with a camelback spring slidingly secured to an axle bracket assembly with a single torque rod extending between the forward hanger and the axle bracket assembly to stabilize same and prevent axle wind up or wheel hopping. In a multiple axle vehicle, a pivoting type equalizer is mounted between leaf springs and provides the bearing support for an end of each spring. In a second embodiment, an equalizer is supported from the chassis member by an elastomeric spring member with a shock absorber dampening the oscillation thereof. The equalizer is stabilized in the fore and aft direction by a mounting bracket and web assembly within which the mounting bracket extends, and a telescoping tube assembly vertically aligned and surrounding the shock absorber to permit vertical movement but restrict fore and aft movement of same. A third embodiment has a free floating shackle assembly which rotatably mounts an end of each leaf spring to permit pivoting movement of the leaf spring with respect to the shackle assembly. The same torque rod and axle bracket assembly stabilizes the axle and permits relative sliding movement between each leaf spring and its respective axle to enhance the pivoting movement in the shackle assembly.
A vehicle suspension assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on at least two vehicle axles comprising a first and second hanger depending downwardly from the chassis, an equalizer, a third hanger depending downwardly from the chassis at approximately the same position as the equalizer, a spring means mounting said equalizer to the third hanger approximately midway between said first and second hangers, said hangers and equalizer being generally aligned longitudinally of the chassis, said spring means permitting limited vertical deflection of the equalizer with respect to the chassis, a shock means extending between the equalizer and the third hanger to dampen the oscillation of the equalizer, a first leaf spring bearing downwardly on the first axle with an end bearing upwardly on the first hanger and an end bearing upwardly on the equalizer, a second leaf spring bearing downwardly on the second axle with an end bearing upwardly on the equalizer and an end bearing upwardly on the second hanger, means to maintain said leaf springs in a load bearing relationship to said axles and permit relative transverse movement therebetween, and means to maintain said equalizer aligned as it deflects vertically with respect to the chassis.
A vehicle suspension assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on at least two vehicle axles comprising a first and second hanger depending downwardly from the chassis, an equalizer, a spring means mounting said equalizer to the chassis approximately midway between said first and second hangers, said hangers and equalizer being generally aligned longitudinally of the chassis, said spring means permitting limited vertical deflection of the equalizer with respect to the chassis, a shock means to dampen the oscillation of the equalizer, a first leaf spring bearing downwardly on the first axle with an end bearing upwardly on the first hanger and an end bearing upwardly on the equalizer, a second leaf spring bearing downwardly on the second axle with an end bearing upwardly on the equalizer and an end bearing upwardly on the second hanger, means to maintain said leaf spring in a load bearing relationship to said axles and permit relative transverse movement therebetween, and means to maintain said equalizer aligned as it deflects vertically with respect to the chassis.
A vehicle suspension assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis on at least two vehicle axles comprising a first and second hanger depending downwardly from the chassis, an equalizer, a spring means mounting said equalizer to the chassis approximately midway between said first and second hangers, said hangers and equalizer being generally aligned longitudinally of the chassis, said spring means permitting limited vertical deflection of the equalizer with respect to the chassis, said equalizer including a generally U-shaped bracket member, a mounting plate, said mounting plate being secured to said U-shaped bracket and having a generally centrally located threaded hole, and a bolt for mounting in said hole and extending upwardly therethrough, said spring means having an axial cylindrical opening for receiving said mounting bolt and securing said spring thereto, a first leaf spring bearing downwardly on the first axle with an end bearing upwardly on the first hanger and an end bearing upwardly on the equalizer, a second leaf spring bearing downwardly on the second axle with an end bearing upwardly on the equalizer and an end bearing upwardly on the second hanger, means to maintain said leaf springs in a load bearing relationship to said axles and permit relative transverse movement therebetween, and means to maintain said equalizer aligned as it deflects vertically with respect to the chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.