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US 5,470,096 AGranted
Wheeled vehicle suspension
AssigneeThe Binkley Company
InventorBobby G. Baxter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air-ride suspension for a vehicle comprising a pair of leaf springs, plates and an axle clamped to the springs, a cross-beam secured at its ends to the plates spanning the leaf springs and a pair of air bags interposed between bottom plates on the cross-beam and top plates at the bottom of the vehicle.
Claims18
An air-ride suspension for a vehicle having a bottom, sides and forward and rearward ends, said suspension comprising:
- a pair of hangers, one adjacent each side of the vehicle, extending down below the bottom of the vehicle coplanar in a vertical transverse plane of the vehicle, each of said hangers comprising a pair of side members with a space therebetween and an upper and lower member spanning said space defining an opening,
- a pair of leaf springs, one adjacent each side of the vehicle below the bottom of the vehicle, each spring extending longitudinally with respect to the vehicle and having one end constituting its forward end extending through the opening in a respective hanger;
- a pair of elongate plates, one on top of each leaf spring, each of said elongate plates having a width generally corresponding to the width of each leaf spring, and being of such length and so disposed on the respective leaf spring as to overlie a portion of the length of the spring with the side edges of the elongate plate generally coplanar with the side edges of the respective spring;
- an axle extending transversely of the vehicle below the bottom of the vehicle having end portions extending below the leaf springs and below forward end portions of said elongate plates;
- means for fastening each end portion of the axle to the bottom of the respective leaf spring and fastening said forward end portion of each of said elongate plates on top of the respective leaf spring;
- a cross-beam extending transversely of the vehicle below the bottom of the vehicle spanning the leaf springs having end portions bearing on the said elongate plates adjacent the rearward ends of said elongate plates and secured to said elongate plates;
- means for fastening the rearward ends of the elongate plates on top of the leaf springs adjacent the end portions of the cross-beam;
- a pair of air cushions, one adjacent each side of the vehicle below the bottom of the vehicle, interposed between the cross-beam and the bottom of the vehicle,
- said cross-beam having secured thereon adjacent the ends thereof a pair of plates, one adjacent each end of the cross-beam, each constituting a bottom plate for the respective air cushion;
- a pair of plates, one adjacent each side of the vehicle and carried by the vehicle below the bottom of the vehicle, each constituting a top plate for the respective air cushion;
- a pair of torque arms, one adjacent each side of the vehicle, each extending longitudinally with respect to the vehicle and having a forward end and a rearward end, and each extending at its forward end into the space between the side members of a respective forward hanger and pivoted at its forward end therein for swinging movement about a first horizontal axis transverse to the vehicle below the said lower member of the hanger and pivotally connected at its rearward end to the axle for swinging movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to the first;
- and
- means for limiting transverse displacement of said leaf springs and up and down movement of said leaf springs.
10 more elements
An air-ride suspension for a vehicle having a bottom, sides and forward and rearward ends, said suspension comprising:
- a pair of hangers, one adjacent each side of the vehicle, extending down below the bottom of the vehicle coplanar in a vertical transverse plane of the vehicle, each of said hangers comprising a pair of side members with a space therebetween and an upper and lower member spanning said space defining an opening,
- a pair of leaf springs, one adjacent each side of the vehicle below the bottom of the vehicle, each spring extending longitudinally with respect to the vehicle and having one end constituting its forward end extending through the opening in a respective hanger;
- a pair of elongate plates, one on top of each leaf spring, each of said elongate plates having a width generally corresponding to the width of each leaf spring, and being of such length and so disposed on the respective leaf spring as to overlie a portion of the length of the spring with the side edges of the elongate plate generally coplanar with the side edges of the respective spring;
- an axle extending transversely of the vehicle below the bottom of the vehicle having end portions extending below the leaf springs and below forward end portions of said elongate plates;
- a fastening system for fastening each end portion of the axle to the bottom of the respective leaf spring and fastening said forward end portion of each of said elongate plates on top of the respective leaf spring;
- a cross-beam extending transversely of the vehicle below the bottom of the vehicle spanning the leaf springs having end portions bearing on the said elongate plates adjacent the rearward ends of said elongate plates and secured to said elongate plates;
- a fastening system for fastening the rearward ends of the elongate plates on top of the leaf springs adjacent the end portions of the cross-beams;
- a pair of air cushions, one adjacent each side of the vehicle below the bottom of the vehicle, interposed between the cross-beam and the bottom of the vehicle,
- said cross-beam having secured thereon adjacent the ends thereof a pair of plates, one adjacent each end of the cross-beam, each constituting a bottom plate for the respective air cushion;
- a pair of plates, one adjacent each side of the vehicle and carried by the vehicle below the bottom of the vehicle, each constituting a top plate for the respective air cushion;
- a pair of torque arms, one adjacent each side of the vehicle, each extending longitudinally with respect to the vehicle and having a forward end and a rearward end, and each extending at its forward end into the space between the side members of a respective forward hanger and pivoted at its forward end therein for swinging movement about a first horizontal axis transverse to the vehicle below the said lower member of the hanger and pivotally connected at its rearward end to the axle for swinging movement about a second horizontal axis parallel to the first;
- and
- a stabilizer system for said leaf springs operable to limit their transverse displacement and their up and down movement.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.