Lift axle parallelogram suspension system
AssigneeWatson & Chalin Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsThomas N. Chalin, Cully B. Dodd, Herbert D. Hudson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift axle parallelogram suspension system. In a described embodiment, a suspension system for a vehicle having a generally longitudinally extending frame includes an axle assembly and upper and lower trailing arms. One end of each of the upper and lower arms is attached to the frame at a pivot connection, and an opposite end of the arm is attached to the axle assembly at another pivot connection. Each of the arms is angled laterally outward from the frame as the arm extends from the frame pivot connection to the axle assembly pivot connection.
Claims51
A suspension system for a vehicle having a generally longitudinally extending frame, the suspension system comprising:
- an axle assembly;
- an upper trailing arm, one end of the upper arm being attached to the frame at a first pivot connection, and an opposite end of the upper arm being attached to the axle assembly at a second pivot connection, the upper arm being angled laterally outward from the frame as the upper arm extends from the first to the second pivot connection;
- a lower trailing arm, one end of the lower arm being attached to the frame at a third pivot connection, and an opposite end of the lower arm being attached to the axle assembly at a fourth pivot connection, the lower arm being angled laterally outward from the frame as the lower arm extends from the third to the fourth pivot connection;
- and
- first and second hanger brackets attached to the frame and extending downwardly therefrom, each of the first and second hanger brackets being made of a composite material.
A suspension system for a vehicle having a generally longitudinally extending frame, the suspension system comprising:
- an axle assembly;
- first and second hanger brackets attached to the frame and extending downwardly therefrom;
- a crossmember attached to each of the first and second hanger brackets, the crossmember being made of a composite material;
- and
- at least one first trailing arm pivotably connected to the first hanger bracket at a pivot connection, the pivot connection extending between the first hanger bracket and the crossmember, and the first trailing arm further being pivotably connected to the axle assembly.
A suspension system for a vehicle having a generally longitudinally extending frame, the suspension system comprising:
- an axle assembly;
- first and second hanger brackets attached to the frame and extending downwardly therefrom;
- a crossmember attached to each of the first and second hanger brackets;
- and
- at least one first trailing arm pivotably connected to the first hanger bracket at a pivot connection, and the first trailing arm further being connected to the axle assembly,
- the crossmember and each of the first and second hanger brackets being made of a composite material.
A suspension system for a vehicle having a generally longitudinally extending frame, the suspension system comprising:
- an axle assembly;
- an upper trailing arm, one end of the upper arm being attached to the frame at a first pivot connection, and an opposite end of the upper arm being attached to the axle assembly at a second pivot connection, the upper arm being angled laterally outward from the frame as the upper arm extends from the first to the second pivot connection;
- a lower trailing arm, one end of the lower arm being attached to the frame at a third pivot connection, and an opposite end of the lower arm being attached to the axle assembly at a fourth pivot connection, the lower arm being angled laterally outward from the frame as the lower arm extends from the third to the fourth pivot connection;
- first and second hanger brackets attached to the frame and extending downwardly therefrom;
- and
- a crossmember connected between the first and second hanger brackets, the crossmember being made of a composite material.
A suspension system for a vehicle having a generally longitudinally extending frame, the suspension system comprising:
- an axle assembly;
- first and second hanger brackets attached to the frame and extending downwardly therefrom, each of the first and second hanger brackets being made of a composite material;
- a crossmember attached to each of the first and second hanger brackets;
- and
- at least one first trailing arm pivotably connected to the first hanger bracket at a pivot connection, the pivot connection extending between the first hanger bracket and the crossmember, and the first trailing arm further being pivotably connected to the axle assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.