Trailing arm suspension with wrapper compression axle mounting
AssigneeLear Siegler, Inc.
InventorsWilliam C. Pierce, John P. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle suspension system for mounting ground-engaging wheels to a vehicle frame where two arms are secured to opposite sides of the frame and a wheel-carrying axle is suspended between the arms. The axle is secured to the arms by a wrapper plate partially surrounding the axle, and a bolt is utilized to compress the wrapper plate about the axle so that the wrapper plate supports and strengthens the axle. A plug weld is provided between the axle and the wrapper plate. The wrapper generally conforms to the profile of that portion of the axle which it surrounds. The axle can be square, round or D-shaped in cross-section.
Claims18
A vehicle suspension system for mounting ground-engaging wheels to a vehicle frame, the suspension system comprising at least two substantially rigid arms secured to opposite sides of the frame through substantially aligned pivot mounts;
- at least one wheel-carrying axle mounted to said arms;
- and an axle support means securing said at least one axle to each of said arms;
- the improvement in each of said axle support means comprising:
- a wrapper plate having an elongated planar complementary surface wrapping at least 180.degree. around said axle and depending opposite sides extending beyond said axle;
- compressing means for diametrically compressing said axle by drawing said opposite sides of said wrapper plate toward each other;
- whereby said wrapper plate supports and strengthens said wheel carrying axle at the point at which said axle is connected to said rigid arms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.