Multiple axle suspension

Claim 2

A multiple axle vehicle suspension structure, comprising transversely extending longitudinally spaced axles, torque pedestals supported by said axles, transversely spaced frame brackets disposed between said axles, a top bolster member having torque rod connections integral therewith, torque rods interconnecting said axle pedestals and said top bolster member, a bottom bolster member, columns interconnecting said top and bottom bolster members, opposing rocker beams separately trunnioned in said structure and pivotally supported at their longitudinally extending ends by said axles, cupped discs integral with substantially vertically extending arms of said opposing rocker beams, a compression-resistant elastomeric member having a cross-sectional area which tapers from the center to the ends of said elastomeric member being disposed between the cupped discs of said opposing rocker beams, and pilot members projecting from the central portion of said cupped discs into said elastomeric member.

Claim 3

A multiple axle vehicle suspension structure according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric member has a static resistance to deflection at least equalling its dynamic resistant to deflection.

Claim 4

A multiple axle vehicle suspension structure, comprising transversely extending longitudinally spaced axles, torque pedestals supported by said axles, transverSely spaced frame brackets disposed between said axles, a top bolster member having torque rod connections integral therewith, torque rods interconnecting said axle pedestals and said top bolster member, a bottom bolster member, columns interconnecting said top and bottom bolster members, opposing rocker beams separately trunnioned in said structure and pivotally supported at their longitudinally extending ends by said axles, cupped discs integral with substantially vertically extending arms of said opposing rocker beams, opposing pilots centered in said cupped discs, pressure resistant, load-equalizing means disposed between the cupped discs of said opposing rocker beams, said load-equalizing means comprising a substantially cylindrical elastomeric member formed with axially extending cavities in each of spherically convex ends thereof, said elastomeric member being tapered with a maximum diameter midlength, metallic discs disposed within said elastomeric member on opposite sides of said midlength, said discs being formed with cavities for registry with adjacent ends of said pilots at predetermined load positions, said elastomeric member exhibiting progressively increasing resistance to axial deflection.

Claim 5

A multiple axle vehicle suspension structure, comprising transversely extending longitudinally spaced axles, torque pedestals supported by said axles, transverSely spaced frame brackets disposed between said axles, a top bolster member having torque rod connections integral therewith, torque rods interconnecting said axle pedestals and said top bolster member, a bottom bolster member, columns interconnecting said top and bottom bolster members, opposing rocker beams separately trunnioned in said structure and pivotally supported at their longitudinally extending ends by said axles, cupped discs integral with substantially vertically extending arms of said opposing rocker beams, opposing pilots centered in said cupped discs, pressure resistant, load-equalizing means disposed between the cupped discs of said opposing rocker beams, said load-equalizing means comprising a substantially cylindrical elastomeric member formed with axially extending cavities in each of spherically convex ends thereof, said elastomeric member being tapered with a maximum diameter midlength, metallic discs disposed within said elastomeric member on opposite sides of said midlength, said discs being formed with cavities for registry with adjacent ends of said pilots at predetermined load positions, said elastomeric member exhibiting progressively increasing resistance to axial deflection.

Claim 6

A multiple axle vehicle suspension structure, comprising transversely extending longitudinally spaced axles, torque pedestals supported by said axles, transversely spaced frame brackets disposed between said axles, a top bolster member having torque rod connections integral therewith, torque rods interconnecting said axle pedestals and said top bolster member, a bottom bolster member, columns interconnecting said top and bottom bolster members, opposing rocker beams separately trunnioned in said structure and pivotally supported at their longitudinally extending ends by said axles, cupped discs integral with substantially vertically extending arms of said opposing rocker beams, opposing pilots centered in said cupped discs, pressure-resistant, load-equalizing means disposed between the cupped discs of said opposing rocker beams, said cupped discs surrounding the base of said pilots, said equalizing means being formed with end cavities adapted to receive portions of said pilots during movement of said rocker beams in an arcuate path.

Claim 7

A multiple axle vehicle suspension structure, comprising transversely extending longitudinally spaced axles, torque pedestals supported by said axles, transversely spaced frame brackets disposed between said axles, a top bolster member having torque rod connections integral therewith, torque rods interconnecting said axle pedestals and said top bolster member, a bottom bolster member, columns interconnecting said top and bottom bolster members, opposing rocker beams separately trunnioned in said structure and pivotally supported at their longitudinally extending ends by said axles, cupped discs integral with substantially vertically extending arms of said opposing rocker beams, opposing pilots centered in said cupped discs, pressure-resistant, load-equalizing means disposed between the cupped discs of said opposing rocker beams, said cupped discs surrounding the base of said pilots, said equalizing means being formed with end cavities adapted to receive portions of said pilots during movement of said rocker beams in an arcuate path.

Claim 8

The suspension structure recited in claim 4 further including means for attaching the suspension structure to a vehicle frame, said attaching means including brackets disposed outwardly and below the frame, detachable members extending between said top bolster member and the inside of the frame, said top bolster member extending transversely with respect to the frame and terminating within the inside width of the frame.

Claim 9

The suspension structure recited in claim 4 wherein said equalizing means comprises a generally cylindrical elastomeric member having spherically tapering ends and a metallic disc centrally disposed within said elastomeric member whereby the resistance of said elastomeric members to axial deflections increases progressively from the ends to the center of said elastomeric member.

Claim 10

A suspension system for a vehicle having a frame upon which a load is supported and a pair of stub axles or transversely extending axles, comprising: a first supporting member attached to the vehicle frame and positioned between the pair of axles; and means for isolating excitations on each of the axles from the vehicle frame and from the other axle, said isolating means including a pair of rocker beam members, each of said rocker beam members being pivotally connected to said first supporting member and having a horizontally extending component and a vertically extending component; said horizontally extending component of each of said rocker beam members being supported by said axles; a cup-shaped disc being attached to the top end of said vertically extending component of each of said rocker beam members, a pilot member being centered in each of said discs, and a compression-resistant elastomeric member being disposed bEtween said cupped discs, said pilot members extending axially within said elastomeric member, said elastomeric member having a varying cross-sectional area in order to provide a progressively increasing resistance to deflection.

Claim 11

A suspension system for a vehicle having a frame upon which a load is supported and a pair of stub axles or transversely extending axles, comprising: a first supporting member attached to the vehicle frame and positioned between the pair of axles; and means for isolating excitations on each of the axles from the vehicle frame and from the other axle, said isolating means including a pair of rocker beam members, each of said rocker beam members being pivotally connected to said first supporting member and having a horizontally extending component and a vertically extending component; said horizontally extending component of each of said rocker beam members being supported by said axles; a cup-shaped disc being attached to the top end of said vertically extending component of each of said rocker beam members, a pilot member being centered in each of said discs, and a compression-resistant elastomeric member being disposed bEtween said cupped discs, said pilot members extending axially within said elastomeric member, said elastomeric member having a varying cross-sectional area in order to provide a progressively increasing resistance to deflection.

Claim 12

The suspension system recited in claim 7 wherein the diameter of the midlength portion of said elastomeric member is greater than the diameter of the ends of said elastomeric member when said elastomeric member is in an uncompressed state and wherein the ends of said elastomeric member terminate in a generally spherical shape.

Claim 13

The suspension system recited in claim 7, further comprising a metallic disc bonded within said elastomeric member in order to progressively increase the axial resistance of elastomeric member to load deflections.

Claim 14

The suspension system recited in claim 9 wherein said metallic disc is bonded centrally of the length of said elastomeric member.