US 7,229,088 B2 · Shackle assembly

Abstract

A shackle assembly is shown to include a shackle bracket, wear pads, a shackle stop, shackle plates and elastomer bushings. The shackle bracket includes legs forming portions thereof, which serve as contact surfaces for the wear pads and the shackle plates. By providing conical and lateral stiffness, the shackle bracket legs allow for the use of a more versatile elastomer bushing. The elastomer bushing preferably includes voids vertically separated with respect to each other and the elastomer layer preferably is in the form of a bowtie-shaped configuration, which enhances vertical, conical and torsional performance. A first redundancy feature is in the form of a shackle stop secured between the shackle plates. The shackle stop provides longitudinal control of the axle in the event the opposite limb of the leaf spring is broken, the vehicle is generally traveling in a given direction and the vehicle is subject to deceleration. A second redundancy feature is in the form of fingers forming portions of the shackle plates, which provides longitudinal control of the axle under the same conditions, but when the vehicle is generally traveling in an opposite direction. The redundancy features are activated under other conditions as well.

Claims39

Dependent claims

A shackle assembly for connecting a vehicle suspension to a vehicle frame member, the vehicle suspension being further connected to a vehicle axle, said shackle assembly comprising:

a shackle bracket mounted to said vehicle frame member;
a first shackle plate pivotally connected to said shackle bracket having a redundancy feature in the form of a first shackle plate finger forming part of said first shackle plate and extending vertically upwardly towards said vehicle frame member, said first shackle plate finger being positioned on one side of said first shackle plate and further being constructed and positioned to contact said vehicle frame and thereby prevent further pivoting of said first shackle plate in the event of a particular vehicle condition when said vehicle is traveling in a predetermined direction and when said vehicle is subjected to a predetermined force;
and
a second shackle plate pivotally connected to said shackle bracket having a redundancy feature in the form of a second shackle plate finger forming part of said second shackle plate and extending vertically upwardly towards said vehicle frame member, said second shackle plate finger being positioned on one side of said second shackle plate and further being constructed and positioned to contact said vehicle frame and thereby prevent further pivoting of said second shackle plate in the event of said particular vehicle condition when said vehicle is traveling in said predetermined direction and when said vehicle is subjected to said predetermined force.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shackle assembly

Life of this patent

Shackle assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims39