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US 6,199,876 B1Granted
Vehicle trailer suspension stabilizer and lift system
AssigneeMeritor Heavy Vehicle System, LLC
InventorJim Eckelberry
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle suspension system that is especially useful for truck trailer suspensions includes an adjustable support that stabilizes the vehicle when desired. The adjustable support preferably is hydraulic having a housing and a movable shaft. One end of the movable shaft preferably engages a receiver portion on a suspension beam to either adjust a position of the suspension beam relative to an underside of a truck trailer or to effectively lock the suspension beam into a desired position.
Claims20
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle that is adapted to support at least one wheel;
- a suspension beam associated with the axle, the suspension beam having a first end and a second end, at least one of the ends being moveable relative to the vehicle, the suspension beam including a receiver portion;
- and
- an adjustable support having a first end supported adjacent the vehicle and a second end that is selectively moveable relative to the first end, the second end being selectively received by the suspension beam receiver portion only when desired such that the support controls a distance between the moveable end of the suspension beam and the vehicle and the support is selectively locked such that a distance between the support first and second ends remains fixed thereby maintaining a selected distance between the moveable end of the suspension beam and the vehicle.
1 more element
A truck trailer wheel axle suspension system, comprising:
- a suspension beam associated with the axle, the suspension beam having at least one portion that is moveable relative to an underside of the trailer;
- an air cushion module that biases the suspension beam moveable portion away from the underside of the trailer;
- and
- an adjustable support having a first end supported adjacent the underside of the trailer and a second end that is moveable relative to the first end from a first position where the second end does not contact the suspension beam and a second position where the second end engages the suspension beam, the adjustable support being selectively adjustable and lockable to adjust a position of the suspension beam moveable portion relative to the underside of the trailer and to selectively maintain the suspension beam into a selected position.
1 more element
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle that is adapted to support at least one wheel;
- a suspension beam associated with the axle, the suspension beam having a first end and a second end, at least one of the ends being moveable relative to the vehicle, the suspension beam including a receiver portion;
- and
- an adjustable support having a first end supported adjacent the vehicle and a second end that is selectively moveable relative to the first end, the second end being received by the suspension beam receiver portion such that the support controls a distance between the moveable end of the suspension beam and the vehicle and the support is selectively locked such that a distance between the support first and second ends remains fixed thereby maintaining a selected distance between the moveable end of the suspension beam and the vehicle;
- wherein the adjustable support is hydraulic and comprises a hydraulic cylinder having a housing at the first end and a moveable shaft at the second end and wherein the moveable shaft is selectively moved relative to the housing to selectively adjust the distance between the first and second ends;
- and
- wherein the receiver portion comprises a pocket on the suspension beam and wherein the hydraulic support second end is received within the pocket.
4 more elements
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle that is adapted to support at least one wheel;
- a suspension beam associated with the axle, the suspension beam having a first end and a second end, at least one of the ends being moveable relative to the vehicle, the suspension beam including a receiver portion;
- and
- an adjustable support having a first end supported adjacent the vehicle and a second end that is selectively moveable relative to the first end, the adjustable support is selectively adjustable between a first position wherein the second end does not contact the suspension beam and a second position wherein the second end engages the receiver portion of the suspension beam, the second end being received by the suspension beam receiver portion such that the support controls a distance between the moveable end of the suspension beam and the vehicle and the support is selectively locked such that a distance between the support first and second ends remains fixed thereby maintaining a selected distance between the moveable end of the suspension beam and the vehicle.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.