Lifting system for a vehicle axle
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorAaron M. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and lifting method for a vehicle axle having a first bracket, a second bracket, an air spring and at least one connector. The first bracket has two substantially vertically oriented slots. The second bracket has a substantially horizontal plate and a bar secured to the plate. The ends of the bar extend through the vertically oriented slots. The air spring is located under the horizontal plate. Connectors connect the bar to the axle housing so that when the air bag is inflated the second bracket, with the bar, is moved upwardly. The axle housing, being connected to the bar via the connectors is also drawn upwardly.
Claims11
A lifting mechanism for a vehicle axle, comprising:
- a first bracket oriented perpendicular to and located directly above a vehicle axle and having two substantially vertically oriented slots;
- a second bracket comprising a substantially horizontal plate and a bar secured to said plate wherein end portions of said bar extends through said vertically oriented slots;
- an air bag located under said horizontal plate;
- a first connector having one end connected to one end portion of said bar and the other end of said first connector being connected to an axle housing;
- and
- a second connector having one end connected to the other end portion of said bar and the other end of said second connector being connected to said axle housing.
A lifting mechanism for a vehicle axle, comprising:
- a first bracket secured to a vehicle frame and located directly over an axle housing of a vehicle, said first bracket having two side portions and bottom portion, wherein each of said two side portions have a vertically oriented slot;
- a second bracket having a horizontally oriented plate, two anchor portions extending from said plate through said vertically oriented slots;
- a vertically oriented air bag having an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion in contact with said bottom portion of said first bracket and said upper portion in contact with said horizontally oriented plate of said second bracket;
- and
- two connectors connecting said two anchor portions of said second bracket with said axle housing.
A method of lifting a vehicle axle, comprising:
- inflating a substantially vertically oriented single air bag, said air bag oriented perpendicular to and located directly above a vehicle axle and having one end in contact with a first bracket and having the other end in contact with a second bracket;
- pushing said second bracket upwardly via said air bag so that anchor portions and anchor points from said second bracket are located beyond and move upwardly in vertically oriented slots in said first bracket;
- urging an axle housing upwardly through connectors connecting said anchor portions with said axle housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.