Independent paddle lift axle suspension system
AssigneeThe Boler Company
InventorMichael J. Gottschalk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An auxiliary lift axle suspension of the parallelogram type is constructed for heavy duty operation by providing longitudinal control arms at the corners of a parallelogram configuration extending between the axle connecting member and the frame hanger bracket. A lift bellows is then located between two opposing rigidity providing, U-shaped members (called paddles or stabilizer members) located within the three dimensional parallelogram space, wherein the legs of one U-shaped member are connected to the axle connecting member and the legs of the opposing U-shaped member are connected to the hanger bracket, such that the lift bellows is located between the bases of the opposing paddles and expands bi-directionally to lift the wheels of the suspension from the road surface.
Claims18
A lift axle suspension comprising:
- a) a first pair of longitudinally extending control arms, each control arm having a first end and a second end and wherein each control arm of said first pair is so located as to be in substantially the same vertical plane as the other control arm of said first pair;
- b) a second pair of substantially vertically spaced and longitudinally extending control arms, each control arm having a first end and a second end, and wherein each control arm of said second pair is so located as to be in substantially the same vertical plane as the other control arm of said second pair, said second pair of said control arms being horizontally spaced from said first pair of said control arms thereby defining a space between said first and said second pair of control arms;
- c) a frame bracket member;
- d) a first pivot member located at a first end of each said control arm and so located as to connect said first end of respective control arm to said frame bracket member;
- e) an axle connecting member for connecting an axle to said suspension;
- f) a second pivot member attached to a second end of each said control arm and so located so as to connect each of said second ends of a respective control arm to said axle connecting member;
- g) a pair of expandable and retractable lift bellows, each having a first end and a second end;
- h) a ride bellows;
- and
- i) a pair of spaced and opposing stabilizer members, each member being attached to and having located there between one of said pair of said lift bellows;
- wherein each said stabilizer member is attached to a respective control arm of a said pair of control arms, each said stabilizer member being so located with respect to said pair of control arms so as to be located between and in substantially the same vertical plane as defined by said pair of control arms to which said stabilizer member is attached.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.