Vehicle cab suspension system
AssigneeFreightliner Corporation
InventorsJames Vincent McHorse, James T. Atchley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspension system for a vehicle cab which includes springs supporting the rear end of the cab over the frame. A sway resisting device including a torsion, or sway, bar is coupled to the frame and has arms extending outwardly therefrom which connect to the cab. The sway bar is restrained against movement laterally of the truck and through its connection with the cab inhibits lateral movement of the cab relative to the frame. The torsional resistance in the sway bar resists side-to-side roll of the cab relative of the frame.
Claims26
In a vehicle having an elongate frame and a cab overlying the frame, a suspension system for supporting the cab on the frame comprising,
- a pair of laterally spaced springs mounted adjacent opposite sides of the frame on which springs the cab is supported,
- a sway resisting device operable to resist vertical movement of one side of the cab relative to the other side of the cab and to inhibit lateral movement of the cab relative to the frame, the sway resisting device comprising a torsion bar having an elongate central section extending transversely of the frame and opposed leg sections secured to and extending at substantial angles outwardly from opposite ends of said central section, with outer end portions of said leg sections interposed between said springs and the cab and coupled to the cab during operation, and
- a mounting coupling the torsion bar to the frame.
In a vehicle having an elongate frame and a cab overlying the frame, a suspension system for supporting the cab on the frame comprising,
- springs mounted on the frame on which springs the cab is supported,
- a sway resisting device operable to resist vertical movement of one side of the cab relative to the other side of the cab and to inhibit lateral movement of the cab relative to the frame, the sway resisting device comprising a monolithic torsion bar formed in a shallow U-shape having an elongate central section extending transversely of the frame and opposed leg sections extending in a common direction at substantial angles outwardly from opposite ends of said central section, with outer end portions of said leg sections interposed between said springs and the cab and coupled to the cab during operation, and
- a mounting coupling the torsion bar to the frame comprising a bushing having a bore through which a portion of said central section extends and a housing in which said bushing is mounted, said housing being secured relative to the frame and said bushing being mounted in said housing to permit a limited amount of shifting longitudinally of the frame to accommodate movement of the torsion bar during operation.
In a vehicle having an elongate frame and a cab mounted thereon, a suspension system interposed between the cab and frame comprising
- springs interposed between the frame and cab and supporting opposite sides of the cab,
- an elongate torsion bar extending transversely of the frame with opposite ends thereof adjacent opposite sides of the cab,
- a mounting coupling the torsion bar to the frame, permitting rotation of the torsion bar about an axis extending laterally of the frame,
- a pair of spaced elongate connecting legs secured to and extending at substantial angles outwardly from the torsion bar adjacent opposite sides of the cab, said legs being coupled adjacent their distal ends to the cab, said torsion bar and connecting legs being operable to resist vertical movement of one side of the cab relative to the opposite side of the cab.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.