Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present
suspension system with typical
vehicle frame and optionnal reinforcements.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are perspective views of one sub-assembly of a preferred
embodiment with vehicle
frame with optional reinforcements removed for clarity.
FIG. 4 is an exploded view of one sub-assembly of a preferred embodiment with
vehicle frame with
optional reinforcements removed for clarity
FIG. 5 is a perpective view showing an axle under an arm.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of one end of an axle normally used with leaf
springs. A first axle seat is
welded to the axle. A second axle seat is also illustrated. The second axle
seat is not welded onto the
axle.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of one end of an axle normally used with leaf
springs. A first axle seat is
welded to the axle. A second axle seat is also illustrated. The second axle
seat is welded onto the axle.
FIG. 8 illustrates a second axle seat permanently fixed on the arm.
FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged axle seat with a second locating hole.
FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 shows a design with a lowered air connection and lowered
bolts that hold the top
of the air bag.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a more compact design.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a reversed air bag.
FIG. 14 illustrates stoppers permanently fixed on the arm.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to suspension systems for vehicles which include
trailers as well as cars,
trucks and industrial vehicles.
A vehicle suspension system assembly for attachement to a vehicle frame having
at least two ground
engaging wheels. An arm (7) is operably pivotally attached to the attachment
member (4) along an axis
(37). This axis has a rubber bushing (21) in which there is a steel sleeve
(22). A bolt (11), which is
secured with a nut (12) maintains the arm (7), the attachment member (4), the
rubber bushing (21) and
the steel sleeve (22) together.
An axle (13) is received in an axle receiving portion of the assembly at a
first distance spaced from the
axis (37). Type of axle used in this invention has two axle seats (14) per
axle (13). Each axle seat (14)
has a locating hole (38). Therefore, this suspension system can be, for
example, installed on a Dexter
Axle normally used with leaf springs. It is possible to install this
invention without altering the axle
(13). An axle alteration could be: welding, drilling, milling, grinding or any
other metalworking
performed on the axle (13). The axle (13) can be mounted above or below the
same arm (7) and this is
possible with the same hardware (FIG. 5). Obviously, the design of the arm can
be modified if the axle
does not need to be reversible.
The axle receiving portion of the assembly includes a locating pin (39) to
hold the axle seat (14) in
position. This axle seat is named the "first axle seat" (14). There must be at
least one other axle
support on the arm (7) to prevent it from turning around the first axle seat
(14) when lateral loads are
applied to the vehicle. These other axle supports can be:
1- a second axle seat (1), with a second locating hole (40), positionned on
the arm (7), on another
locating pin (41), like the first axle seat (14), but without the need to weld
on the arm (7) or on
the axle (13). This is the prefered embodiment;
2- a second axle seat (25) permanently fixed on the axle (13). This type of
second axle seat (25)
has a second locating hole (40) (FIG. 7);
3- a second axle seat (26) permanently fixed on the arm (7). This type of
second axle seat (26)
does not necessarily need a locating hole (FIG. 8);
4- an enlarged axle seat (28) to be able to add a second locating hole (40)
(FIG. 9).
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5- a second axle seat welded on the axle and on the arm (not preferred with
this invention);
6- to weld between the axle and the arm (not preferred with this invention);
7- a reinforcement welded between the axle and the arm (not preferred with
this invention).
We have previously said that the utility of the second axle seat (1) is to
prevent the axle (13) to turn
around the first axle seat (14) when lateral loads are applied to the vehicle.
To fulfill this function, the
second locating hole (40) and the second locating pin (41) may be replaced by
stoppers (46)
permanently fixed on the arm (7) (FIG. 14).
At least one collar (2) must be installed per arm (7) to firmly hold the axle
(13) and the arm (7)
together. The quantity, position and size of collars (2) will depend on the
available space and on the
required mechanical resistance, depending of the application. In the prefered
embodiment, four collars
(2) are used on each arm (7). There are holes (42) through the arms (7) to
introduce collars (2). These
holes (42) can be oblong to allow the of use the same arm (7) for different
axle diameters. In this case,
flat washers (not shown) should be added under the nuts (8).
An air bag (17) is operatively disposed between the attachment member (4) and
the arm (7), the air bag
(17) being spaced at a second distance from the axis (37). In a preferred
embodiment, the air bag (17)
is spaced further away from the pivotal axis (37) of the arm (7) than is the
axle (13). The air bag is
attached to the arm and to the attachment member with bolts (19) and flat
washers (18). The air line
connection (45) is normally on the top of the air bag (17). If required, the
air bag (17) can be reversed
to allow the air line connection (45) to be under the arm (7) (FIG. 13). The
air bag (17) is shown as a
double convolute air bag, but could be single or plural convolute air bag
without affecting the concept
of the invention. Moreover, if desired, optional air controls can be
incorporated easily to the final
suspension assembly. Furthermore, the air bag can use various types of
internal fluid for its operation,
although air is the preferred fluid which is supplied to the internal fluid
chamber from a compressor
(not shown).
A linkage element (6) of variable length, which can be a shock absorber, is
operably attached to the
attachment member (4) and to the arm (7) whereby the arm (7) will be held at a
predetermined position
with respect to the frame (10) and yet allow the arm (7) to pivot about the
axis (37). This linkage (6)
may be positioned vertically or towards the front or the rear of the vehicle
depending on the
application. An upper pin (44) which is threaded on the end to accept nut (9)
allows the linkage
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element to be pivotally attached to the pin (44). A lower pin (43) which is
threaded on the end to
accept nut (9) allows the linkage element to be pivotally attached to the
lower pin (43).
If required, a reinforcement bracket (3) can be installed between the
attachment member (4) and the
frame (10). The size and geometry of the reinforcement braket (3) will depend
on the type of frame
(10) and on the required mechanical resistance. If required, reinforcement
members (20) can also be
installed transversally between two attachment members (4). The first can be
welded at the front of the
attachment members (4) and the second at the rear of the attachment members
(4). The reinforcement
members (20) are shown with a rectangular cross-section, but they can have
different cross-sections
suitable for providing required rigidity. For example, the cross-section could
be square, cylindrical,
"C" shaped, "L" shaped, etc.
Obviously, with a shorter arm (35) and an shorter attachment member (36), the
suspension system can
be designed in a more compact manner (FIG. 12).
The attachment member (4) could be designed so that the air connection (45)
and the bolts (19) that
hold the air bag (17) to the attachment member (4) are lower than the top of
the attachment member
(4). To do so, the attachment member would be divided into two parts: the
upper attachment member
(32) and the lower attachment member (31). Depending on the needs, the linkage
element (6) can be
attached to the upper attachment member (32) or to the lower attachment member
(31). In FIG. 10 and
FIG. 11, the linkage element (6) is shown attached to the lower attachment
member (31).
