Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130193660 | HANGER ARRANGEMENT FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE AXLE/SUSPENSION SYSTEMS - A hanger arrangement for heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension systems includes a pair of front hangers transversely spaced from one another and attached to the vehicle. A pair of transversely spaced rear hangers are spaced longitudinally rearwardly from the front hangers and are attached to the vehicle. A first axle/suspension system is mounted on the front pair of hangers and a second axle/suspension system is mounted on the rear pair of hangers. The pair of front hangers include a rear edge that extends generally downwardly frontwardly toward the front end of the vehicle. The pair of rear hangers include a front edge extending generally downwardly rearwardly toward the rear end of the vehicle. | 08-01-2013 |
20140117176 | INTEGRATED BRAKE COMPONENT MOUNTING BRACKET - An integrated brake component mounting bracket for a mechanical spring axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle includes an axle seat that is disposed on and is rigidly connected to an axle of the vehicle. An air chamber mounting bracket is rigidly connected to the axle seat, and a cam shaft assembly mounting bracket is rigidly connected to the axle seat. A brake air chamber of a brake system is attached to the air chamber mounting bracket, and a cam shaft assembly of the brake system is mounted to the cam shaft assembly mounting bracket. The integrated brake component mounting bracket thus provides mounting of the brake air chamber and the cam shaft assembly on the axle seat, which reduces the number of components that are welded to the axle and enables the use of a thinner-wall axle, desirably reducing the weight and cost associated with the axle/suspension system. | 05-01-2014 |
20140117639 | Mechanical Spring Axle/Suspension System for Heavy-Duty Vehicles - A mechanical spring axle/suspension system includes a front axle/suspension system and a rear axle/suspension system. The front system includes a pair of front leaf spring stacks, and a front axle extending between and being connected to the front leaf spring stacks. A front end of a leaf spring of each front spring stack includes a spring eye that is pivotally connected to a front hanger, and a rear end disposed on a cam mounted in an equalizer. The rear system includes a pair of rear leaf spring stacks, and a rear axle extending between and being connected to the rear leaf spring stacks. A front end of a leaf spring of each rear spring stack includes a spring eye that is pivotally connected to an equalizer, in which the spring eye position reduces inter-axle load transfer, and a rear end disposed on a cam mounted in a rear hanger. | 05-01-2014 |
20140167337 | AIR SPRING PISTON FOR A HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE - An air spring piston for a heavy-duty vehicle includes a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion includes a bumper and a connecting means for an air spring bellows. The bottom portion is mounted on a structure of the vehicle. The top portion and bottom portion are connected to each other to form a piston chamber and include a bearing means for reacting bumper forces from the bumper to the bottom portion and to the structure of the vehicle on which the bottom portion is mounted. The piston chamber is in fluid communication with a bellows chamber of the air spring via an opening, wherein the geometry of the opening is such that during dynamic spring movements, the pressure in the piston chamber and the pressure in the bellows chamber are not equalized. | 06-19-2014 |
20140197612 | MECHANICAL STOP FOR AXLE/SUSPENSION SYSTEMS - An axle/suspension system for heavy-duty vehicles having a frame and at least one suspension assembly operatively connected to the frame, the axle/suspension system including a mechanical stop having a plurality of links and a first end and a second end, the second end rigidly attached to the suspension assembly and the first end rigidly attached to the vehicle frame, wherein the first end and the second end control a distance between the first end and the second end, and control the plurality of links to attain a movement tolerance range of said mechanical stop from about 0.0 inches to about 2.0 inches. | 07-17-2014 |
20140300076 | VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH RESERVOIR FOR AIR SPRING DAMPING - A suspension system can include an air spring, an air reservoir external to the air spring, and a flow control device which variably restricts flow of air between the air spring and the air reservoir. Flow between the air spring and the air reservoir may be permitted in response to compliance of the suspension system, and the air spring can have an internal air volume at least 2½ times as great may permit flow between the air spring and the air reservoir in response to a predetermined pressure differential level across the flow control device. Multiple air reservoirs can be internal to an axle, or other suspension system or vehicle component, and can be isolated from each other. | 10-09-2014 |
20150130157 | HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE AXLE/SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH COMPOSITE BEAM - The invention relates to an axle/suspension system that includes a composite beam and separately pultruded axle connection and bushing end brackets. The composite beam has an internal support with vertical stitching to minimize delamination, which is lightweight and maintains rigidity of the beam while still maintaining flexibility. The beam includes a pair of ends. The axle connection bracket is connected to one end of the beam and captures the axle. The bushing end bracket is connected to the other end of the beam and is connected to a hanger of the heavy-duty vehicle. | 05-14-2015 |
20160114778 | INTEGRATED BRAKE COMPONENT MOUNTING BRACKET - An integrated brake component mounting bracket for a mechanical spring axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle includes an axle seat that is disposed on and is rigidly connected to an axle of the vehicle. An air chamber mounting bracket is rigidly connected to the axle seat, and a cam shaft assembly mounting bracket is rigidly connected to the axle seat. A brake air chamber of a brake system is attached to the air chamber mounting bracket, and a cam shaft assembly of the brake system is mounted to the cam shaft assembly mounting bracket. The integrated brake component mounting bracket thus provides mounting of the brake air chamber and the cam shaft assembly on the axle seat, which reduces the number of components that are welded to the axle and enables the use of a thinner-wall axle, desirably reducing the weight and cost associated with the axle/suspension system. | 04-28-2016 |