# US 7,976,038 B2 · Trailing arm vehicle suspension system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,976,038 B2 - Document ID: US7976038B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/476,812 - Filed: 2009-06-02 - Published: 2009-12-10 - Granted: 2011-07-12 - Earliest claimed: 2008-06-03 - Assignees: Peerless Limited - Inventors: John Stuart Gregg - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7976038B2 ## CPC - B60G 9/003: {the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device} - B60G 21/05: between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected - B60G 2204/126: Mounting of pneumatic springs - B60G 2204/148: on the unsprung part of the vehicle, e.g. wheel knuckle or rigid axle - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A duplex trailing arm chassis support system has two longitudinal trailing arm members disposed on respective sides of the vehicle chassis and a structurally connecting cross member joining the two trailing arms to couple the movement of the two respective arms. Resilient cushioning members extend between each of the trailing arms and the underside of the vehicle chassis or between the connecting member and the vehicle chassis to provide resilient support to the vehicle chassis. Each trailing arm carries a wheel axle having wheels on both ends of the axle, each of the wheel axles being pivotally mounted to its respective trailing arm for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis of the trailing arm, allowing the axles to rock from side to side. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle chassis suspension for free rolling axles comprising: a) first and second trailing arms, each pivotally mounted to a vehicle frame through a pivot mount having a pivot axis that is aligned generally horizontally and perpendicularly to a vehicle chassis centerline, such trailing arms being connected to the pivot mount at a root end, the respective trailing arms each being displaced laterally from one another on a respective side of the vehicle chassis centerline; b) a resilient cushioning member or members connected between an underside of a vehicle chassis and a point on each trailing arm located at a position or positions remote from each of the trailing arm pivot axes, for the support of the vehicle frame and the filtering of shock energy transmitted from the trailing arm to the chassis; c) a pair of wheel axles respectively pivotally mounted to the first and second trailing arms at a point remote from the trailing arm pivot mount, pivot axes of the axles about the trailing arms being aligned longitudinally with the length of each respective trailing arm; d) one or more road wheels rotatably connected at each end of each axle, and e) a connecting member attached to both the first and second trailing arms whereby, upon either rotation of a trailing arm about its trailing arm pivot axis or rotation of a trailing arm in any direction other than that allowed by its trailing arm pivot axis, the connecting member communicates a resisting force to said rotating trailing arm originating from the other trailing arm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A vehicle suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein the resilient cushioning member or members are in the form of one or more respective air springs that are respectively coupled between the vehicle chassis and the respective trailing arms. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A vehicle suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein the first trailing arm, the second trailing arm and the connecting member are unitary. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A vehicle suspension as defined in claim 3 wherein the unitary connecting member forms a pivot shaft of the trailing arm pivot mount. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1, 2) A vehicle suspension as defined in any of claim 1 or 2 wherein the connecting member is connected respectively to the first and second trailing arms at locations on such arms which are forward of the respective pivot mounts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A vehicle suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein the connecting member is connected respectively to the first and second trailing arms at locations on such arms which are substantially at the respective pivot mounts. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A vehicle suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein the connecting member is connected respectively to the first and second trailing arms at locations on such arms which are between the respective pivot mounts and axles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A vehicle suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein the connecting member is connected respectively to the first and second trailing arms at locations on such arms which are with respect to the trailing arm pivot mount point, at or further aft of a point of connection between the respective trailing arms and the pair of wheel axles. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A vehicle suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein the trailing arm pivot mount comprises an elastomeric bushing, whereby pivotal, radial and axial movements of the trailing arm are accommodated by deflection of the elastomeric bushing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A vehicle suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein the connecting member is bent or formed to extend the length of material comprising it, in order to achieve a specifically desired degree of resistance to deflection and control the characteristics of force transfer between the trailing arms. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A vehicle suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein the connecting member has a tubular cross section. ### Claim 12 A vehicle chassis suspension for free rolling axles comprising: a) first and second trailing arms, each pivotally mounted to a vehicle frame through a pivot mount having a pivot axis that is aligned generally horizontally and perpendicularly to a vehicle chassis centerline, such trailing arms being connected to the pivot mount at a root end, the respective trailing arms each being displaced laterally from one another on a respective side of the vehicle chassis centerline; b) a resilient cushioning member or members extending from an underside of a vehicle chassis and connected to each trailing arm at a position or positions remote from each of the trailing arm pivot axes, for the support of the vehicle frame and the filtering of shock energy transmitted from the trailing arm to the chassis; c) wheel axles respectively mounted to the first and second trailing arms at a point remote from the trailing arm pivot mount; d) one or more road wheels rotatably connected at each end of each axle, and e) a connecting member attached to both the first and second trailing arms whereby, upon either rotation of a trailing arm about its trailing arm pivot axis or rotation of a trailing arm in any direction other than that allowed by its trailing arm pivot axis, the connecting member communicates a resisting force to said rotating trailing arm originating from the other trailing arm and wherein the connecting member is bent or formed to extend the length of material comprising it, in order to achieve a specifically desired degree of resistance to deflection and control the characteristics of force transfer between the trailing arms. ### Claim 13 A vehicle chassis suspension for free rolling axles comprising: a) first and second trailing arms, each pivotally mounted to a vehicle frame through a pivot mount having a pivot axis that is aligned generally horizontally and perpendicularly to a vehicle chassis centerline, such trailing arms being connected to the pivot mount at a root end, the respective trailing arms each being displaced laterally from one another on a respective side of the vehicle chassis centerline; b) a resilient cushioning member or members extending from an underside of a vehicle chassis and connected to each trailing arm at a position or positions remote from each of the trailing arm pivot axes, for the support of the vehicle frame and the filtering of shock energy transmitted from the trailing arm to the chassis; c) wheel axles respectively mounted to the first and second trailing arms at a point remote from the trailing arm pivot mount; d) one or more road wheels rotatably connected at each end of each axle, and e) a connecting member attached to both the first and second trailing arms whereby, upon either rotation of a trailing arm about its trailing arm pivot axis or rotation of a trailing arm in any direction other than that allowed by its trailing arm pivot axis, the connecting member communicates a resisting force to said rotating trailing arm originating from the other trailing arm and wherein the connecting member is connected respectively to the first and second trailing arms at locations on such arms which are between the respective pivot mounts and axles.