Bird cage type suspension with bearing connected to axle tube
OwnerBrad M. Creightoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bird cage having a roller bearing imposed between the axle casing and the bird cage frame. The roller bearing may be sealed to effectively alleviate the problem of dirt accommodation interfering with the rotational action of the axle casing with respect to the bird cage frame. The inside of the roller bearing may be attached to the outer surface of the axle tube or casing to alleviate side play, a sliding motion of the bird cage with respect to the axle casing. This provides a more predictable and freer suspension. The bird cage design may be modular to allow the adaptation of the bird cage to different suspension configurations and to allow for the replacement of damaged parts.
Claims20
A bird cage for use in mounting an automobile axle assembly of the type having an axle tube to a suspension structure of an automobile comprising:
- bearing means for providing low friction rotational movement of the axle tube relative to said bird cage;
- suspension attachment means for attaching the suspension structure of the automobile to said bearing means;
- and, axle attachment means for attaching the axle tube to said bearing means.
A bird cage for use in mounting an automobile axle assembly of the type having an axle tube to a suspension structure of an automobile comprising:
- a bearing sleeve sized to fit around the axle tube and having a bearing receiving portion and a bearing stop portion;
- a bearing assembly having an inner and an outer portion and sized to fit over said bearing receiving portion;
- a bearing stop member sized to fit over the axle tube in position to hold said bearing assembly in position on said receiving portion;
- a bearing carrier sized to fit over said bearing assembly;
- a plurality of mounting plates bolted to said carrier such that they extend within the outside diameter of said outer portion of said bearing to hold said carrier in position over said bearing assembly, said plates being pivotally mounted to the suspension structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.