Railway vehicle suspension height adjustment device

Claim 2

A height adjustment device comprising a bottom adjuster element having a horizontal bottom surface, the top surface of said bottom adjuster element being divided into a plurality of equiangular sectors, each of said sectors being divided into a plurality of equiangular subsectors in sequential vertically stepped relation with each other accurately in a single direction along one radial face of the sector, the opposite radial face of each said sector being vertical, all of said sectors being stepped in the same direction, and a top adjuster element having equiangularly spaced depending individual teeth in the same number as said sectors, said top and bottom adjuster elements being rotatable about a common vertical axis to seat said teeth on selected subsectors of said bottom element whereby to vary the height of said device.

Claim 3

A height adjustment device according to claim 1 wherein said subsectors and said teeth are formed with matingly recessed and projecting opposing top and bottom surfaces respectively.

Claim 4

A height adjustment device according to claim 1 wherein said teeth are of sector shape in plan of substantially the same angularity as said subsectors.

Claim 5

A height adjustment device according to claim 1 wherein said teeth are of sector shape of substantially the same angularity as said subsectors and said subsectors and teeth are formed with matingly recessed and projecting opposing surfaces.

Claim 6

A height adjustment device according to claim 18 wherein said adjuster elements have mating vertical cylindrical bearing surfaces.

Claim 7

A height adjustment device according to claim 5 wherein said bottom element is of annular shape, its cylindrical bearing surface being its inner circumferential surface, the cylindrical bearing surface of said top element being a central cylindrical portion connecting said radial teeth.

Claim 8

In a vehicle suspension system spring support structure, a height adjustment device comprising a bottom adjuster element having a horizontal bottom surface seated on said spring support structure, the top surface of said bottom adjuster element being divided into a plurality of equiangular sectors, each of said sectors being divided into a plurality of equiangular subsectors in sequential vertically stepped relation with each other arcuately in a single direction along one radial face of the sector, the opposite radial face of each said sector being vertical, all of said sectors being stepped in the same direction, and a top adjuster element having equiangularly spaced depending individual teeth in the same number as said sectors, said top and bottom adjuster elements being rotatable about a common vertical axis to seat said teeth on selected subsectors of said bottom element whereby to vary the height of said device.

Claim 9

In a vehicle suspension system spring support structure, a height adjustment device comprising a bottom adjuster element having a horizontal bottom surface seated on said spring support structure, the top surface of said bottom adjuster element being divided into a plurality of equiangular sectors, each of said sectors being divided into a plurality of equiangular subsectors in sequential vertically stepped relation with each other arcuately in a single direction along one radial face of the sector, the opposite radial face of each said sector being vertical, all of said sectors being stepped in the same direction, and a top adjuster element having equiangularly spaced depending individual teeth in the same number as said sectors, said top and bottom adjuster elements being rotatable about a common vertical axis to seat said teeth on selected subsectors of said bottom element whereby to vary the height of said device.

Claim 10

In a vehicle suspension system according to claim 7, a spring seat supported on said top adjuster element, there being a separate base member supporting said bottom element.

Claim 11

In a vehicle suspension system according to claim 8, a flat pad of elastomeric material interposed between the top of said top adjuster element and said spring seat.

Claim 12

In a vehicle suspension system according to claim 7, said top adjuster element being fixed against rotation and said bottom adjuster element being rotatable.

Claim 13

In a vehicle suspension system according to claim 10, an upright spring being seated in said spring seat and a load supporting structure carried on said spring.

Claim 14

In a vehicle suspension system according to claim 11, said top adjuster element being supported from and being elevatable with said spring seat, there being means for elevating said pring sEat and said top adjuster element to permit rotation of said bottom adjuster element to bring said teeth of said top adjuster element into vertically opposing relation with different stepped subsectors of said bottom element and thus vary the height of said spring seat.

Claim 15

In a vehicle suspension system according to claim 12, said elevating means comprising vertically spaced apart downwardly and upwardly facing surfaces on said spring seat and said spring supporting structure respectively whereby jacks may be inserted between said vertically spaced surfaces.

Claim 16

In a vehicle suspension system according to claim 13, at least two of said surfaces on said spring seat spaced apart symmetrically thereabout.

Claim 17

In a vehicle suspension system according to claim 14, a pair of said surfaces being spaced apart diametrally of said spring seat.

Claim 18

In a vehicle suspension system according to claim 7, said bottom adjustment member being centrally vertically cylindrically apertured and said spring support structure being formed with an aligned cylindrical aperture, said top adjustment element being formed with a depending cylindrical post extending downwardly through said bottom element and said spring support structure.

Claim 19

In a vehicle suspension system according to claim 16 including railway wheels supporting said spring support structure on a track rail, said cylindrical apertures and said post being in substantial alignment with said wheels whereby the supporting railway track rail may provide stable and solid support for a jack placed under said post for raising said top element.