US 6,805,215 B2Granted

Suspension travel-limiting arrangement

AssigneeInternational Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLC

InventorBenjamin S. Puterbaugh

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Abstract

An assembly that includes a mounted component that is suspended from a mounting component by a novel suspension-system in such a manner that relative movement between the mounted component and the mounting component is allowed only in certain directions and only within certain ranges. The novel suspension system comprises a travel-limiting link that is engaged to the mounted component at one connection point and also engaged to the mounting component at another connection point. The travel-limiting link is pivotally engaged to the mounted component at its connection point thereto and/or is pivotally engaged to the mounting component at its connection point thereto. The travel-limiting link comprises a first snubber that cooperates with a first bump-stop structure of the assembly to limit the rotation of the travel-limiting link relative to the mounted component and/or the mounting component.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An assembly comprising:

(a) a mounted component that is mounted to a mounting component through a first suspension system in such a manner that the mounted component may move within predefined ranges of positions relative to said mounting component;
(b) wherein said first suspension system comprises a travel-limiting link that is engaged directly or indirectly to said mounting component at a first connection point and is engaged directly or indirectly to said mounted component at a second connection point;
(c) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a spanning portion that extends between said first connection point and said second connection point;
(d) wherein both of said connection points are pivotal connections about which said travel-limiting link may pivot relative to said mounting component and said mounted component;
(e) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a first snubber that is disposed adjacent one of said pivotal connections and upon a side of said one pivotal connection opposite said spanning portion of said travel-limiting link;
(f) wherein either said mounting component or said mounted component comprises a first bump-stop structure that is disposed in such a position that when said travel-limiting link rotates about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves away from said mounting component said first snubber moves toward said first bump-stop structure and when said travel-limiting link rotates about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves toward said mounting component said first snubber moves away from said first bump-stop structure;
(g) wherein said first suspension system comprises one or more flexible-chamber air springs that are engaged between said mounting component and said mounted component in such a manner that they provide substantial jounce resistance and limited rebound resistance;
and
(h) wherein said mounted component is pivotally engaged to said mounting component about a suspension-system primary pivot-axis that is disposed at a distance from and at an angle of less than 30 degrees relative to a connection-point axis that extends through said connection points at which said travel-limiting link is connected to said mounted component and said mounting component.

6 more elements

An assembly comprising:

(a) a mounted component that is mounted to a mounting component through a first suspension system in such a manner that the mounted component may move within predefined ranges of positions relative to said mounting component;
(b) wherein said first suspension system comprises a travel-limiting link that is engaged directly or indirectly to said mounting component at a first connection point and is engaged directly or indirectly to said mounted component at a second connection point;
(c) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a spanning portion that extends between said first connection point and said second connection point;
(d) wherein both of said connection points are pivotal connections about which said travel-limiting link may pivot relative to said mounting component and said mounted component;
(e) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a first snubber that is disposed adjacent one of said pivotal connections and upon a side of said one pivotal connection opposite said spanning portion of said travel-limiting link;
(f) wherein either said mounting component or said mounted component comprises a first bump-stop structure that is disposed in such a position that when said travel-limiting link rotates about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves away from said mounting component said first snubber moves toward said first bump-stop structure and when said travel-limiting link rotates about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves toward said mounting component said first snubber moves away from said first bump-stop structure;
(g) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a second snubber that is disposed adjacent whichever of said pivotal connections said first snubber is not adjacent;
(h) wherein said second snubber is disposed upon a side of said pivotal connection that it is adjacent opposite said spanning portion of said travel-limiting link;
(i) wherein said mounting component or said mounted component comprises a second bump-stop structure that is disposed in such a position that when said travel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves away from said mounting component said second snubber moves toward said second bump-stop structure and when said travel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves toward said mounting component said second snubber moves away from said second bump-stop structure;
and
(j) wherein said first bump-stop structure and said second bump-stop structure are positioned such that, when said mounted component moves away from said mounting component to a rebound limit said first snubber contacts said first bump-stop structure and said second snubber contacts said second bump-stop structure.

8 more elements

An assembly comprising:

(a) a mounted component that is mounted to a mounting component through a first suspension system in such a manner that the mounted component may move within predefined ranges of positions relative to said mounting component;
(b) wherein said first suspension system comprises a travel-limiting link that is engaged directly or indirectly to said mounting component at a first connection point and is engaged directly or indirectly to said mounted component at a second connection point;
(c) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a spanning portion that extends between said first connection point and said second connection point;
(d) wherein both of said connection points are pivotal connections about which said travel-limiting link may pivot relative to said mounting component and said mounted component;
(e) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a first snubber that is disposed adjacent one of said pivotal connections and upon a side of said one pivotal connection opposite said spanning portion of said travel-limiting link;
(f) wherein either said mounting component or said mounted component comprises a first bump-stop structure that is disposed in such a position that when said travel-limiting link rotates about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves away from said mounting component said first snubber moves toward said first bump-stop structure and when said travel-limiting link rotates about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves toward said mounting component said first snubber moves away from said first bump-stop structure;
(g) wherein said first suspension system comprises one or more springs that are constructed and engaged between said mounted component and said mounting component in such a manner that they provide substantial jounce resistance and limited rebound resistance;
(h) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a second snubber that is disposed adjacent whichever of said pivotal connections said first snubber is not adjacent;
(i) wherein said second snubber is disposed upon a side of said pivotal connection that it is adjacent opposite said spanning portion of said travel-limiting link;
(j) wherein said mounting component or said mounted component comprises a second bump-stop structure that is disposed in such a position that when said travel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves away from said mounting component said second snubber moves toward said second bump-stop structure and when said travel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves toward said mounting component said second snubber moves away from said second bump-stop structure;
and
(k) wherein said first bump-stop structure and said second bump-stop structure are positioned such that, when said mounted component moves away from said mounting component to a rebound limit said first snubber contacts said first bump-stop structure and said second snubber contacts said second bump-stop structure.

9 more elements

An assembly comprising:

(a) a mounted component that is mounted to a mounting component through a first suspension system in such a manner that the mounted component may move within predefined ranges of positions relative to said mounting component;
(b) wherein said first suspension system comprises a travel-limiting link that is engaged directly or indirectly to said mounting component at a first connection point and is engaged directly or indirectly to said mounted component at a second connection point;
(c) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a spanning portion that extends between said first connection point and said second connection point;
(d) wherein both of said connection points are pivotal connections about which said travel-limiting link may pivot relative to said mounting component and said mounted component;
(e) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a first snubber that is disposed adjacent one of said pivotal connections and upon a side of said one pivotal connection opposite said spanning portion of said travel-limiting link;
(f) wherein either said mounting component or said mounted component comprises a first bump-stop structure that is disposed in such a position that when said travel-limiting link rotates about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves away from said mounting component said first snubber moves toward said first bump-stop structure and when said travel-limiting link rotates about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves toward said mounting component said first snubber moves away from said first bump-stop structure;
(g) wherein said first suspension system comprises one or more flexible-chamber air springs that are engaged between said mounting component and said mounted component in such a manner that they provide substantial jounce resistance and limited rebound resistance;
(h) wherein said travel-limiting link comprises a second snubber that is disposed adjacent whichever of said pivotal connections said first snubber is not adjacent;
(i) wherein said second snubber is disposed upon a side of said pivotal connection that it is adjacent opposite said spanning portion of said travel-limiting link;
(j) wherein said mounting component or said mounted component comprises a second bump-stop structure that is disposed in such a position that when said travel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves away from said mounting component said second snubber moves toward said second bump-stop structure and when said travel-limiting link pivots about said pivotal connections as said mounted component moves toward said mounting component said second snubber moves away from said second bump-stop structure;
and
(k) wherein said first bump-stop structure and said second bump-stop structure are positioned such that, when said mounted component moves away from said mounting component to a rebound limit said first snubber contacts said first bump-stop structure and said second snubber contacts said second bump-stop structure.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/279,299Filed 24 Oct 2002
Published: US 2004/0080133 A129 Apr 2004
Granted: 19 Oct 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

B62D 33/0608
Cabs insulated against vibrations or noise, e.g. with elastic suspension: pneumatic or hydraulic suspension
B60G 7/001
Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof: suspension arms, e.g. constructional features
B60G 7/04
Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof: buffer means for limiting movement of arms
B60G 9/003
Resilient suspensions of a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels: the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device