US3586308A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Prefabricated tandem axle assembly
Assignee: Hutchens & Son Metal Products Inc
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Filing: 1969-01-24
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Granted: 1971-06-22
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Expires: 1989-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A prefabricated spring assembly for tandem axles and the like is provided comprising axle brackets and pivotal mounting members having leaf springs passing therethrough with wedging elements locking the leaf springs in position within the mounting members. Each assembly is provided with means for detachably securing the pivotal mounting member to the axle bracket which is rigidly affixed to an axle of the vehicle whereby the pivotal mounting bracket and leaf spring assembly can be readily replaced or interchanged by substituting one prefabricated assembly for another. The prefabricated pivotal mounting member and leaf spring assemblies are assembled by: passing the leaf spring through the mounting member; applying a load to the spring in excess of any load requirements designated for the vehicle on which the assembly is to be used; drawing the wedging elements together to wedge the spring in place while the spring is under the load; securing the wedging elements in place while the spring is under the load and then releasing the load thereby forming the prefabricated spring assembly wherein the spring is affixed within the mounting member for any load up to the preloading value.
Inventors
- 👤 John B King
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:25
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G21/00; B60G21/02; B60G21/04; B60G21/045; B60G5/00; B60G5/04; B60G5/047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A prefabricated spring assembly for single and multiple axle vehicles comprising: axle bracket means for securing said prefabricated spring assembly to an axle of a vehicle; pivotal spring-mounting means pivotally carried by said axle bracket means, said pivotal spring-mounting means being readily mountable on and separable from said axle bracket means; and spring means carried by said pivotal spring mounting means, said spring means being locked in place with respect to said spring mounting means by wedging means; shaft means carried by said axle bracket means for pivotally securing said pivotal spring-mounting means to said axle bracket means, said shaft means extending substantially parallel to the vehicle axles longitudinal axes; said pivotal spring-mounting means having two aligned slots which receive said shaft means; and fastener means disengageably engaging between the shaft means and the pivotal spring-mounting means for removably securing the shaft means in the slots.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A prefabricated spring assembly for single and multiple axle vehicles comprising: axle bracket means for securing said prefabricated spring assembly to an axle of a vehicle; pivotal spring-mounting means pivotally carried by said axle bracket means, said pivotal spring-mounting means being readily mountable on and separable from said axle bracket means; and spring means carried by said pivotal spring mounting means, said spring means being locked in place with respect to said spring mounting means by wedging means; shaft means carried by said axle bracket means for pivotally securing said pivotal spring-mounting means to said axle bracket means, said shaft means extending substantially parallel to the vehicle axles longitudinal axes; said pivotal spring-mounting means having two aligned slots which receive said shaft means; and fastener means disengageably engaging between the shaft means and the pivotal spring-mounting means for removably securing the shaft means in the slots.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
In the prefabricated spring assembly of claim 1: said pivotal spring-mounting means having an upper web with transversely spaced-apart flanges depending from said web and a plate, vertically spaced with respect to said web, extending between said depending flanges and secured to said depending flanges; said spring means extending through said pivotal spring-mounting means intermediate said web and said plate; and said wedging means cooperating with said web and said plate to lock said spring means in place with respect to said spring-mounting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
In the prefabricated spring assembly of claim 2: said web having an underside complementary in configuration to said wedging means whereby movement of said wedging means relative to said underside of said web varies the clearance between said wedging means and said plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
In the prefabricated spring assembly of claim 2: said wedging means being held in place by bolt assemBly means and said wedging means in combination with said web and plate exerting a clamping force on said spring means to maintain said spring in a locked position with respect to said spring-mounting means up to a predetermined spring loading.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
In the prefabricated spring assembly of claim 2: said wedging means being welded to said pivotal spring-mounting means and said wedging means in combination with said web and plate exerting a clamping force on said spring means to maintain said spring in a locked position with respect to said spring-mounting means up to a predetermined spring loading.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
In the prefabricated spring assembly of claim 2: said wedging means in combination with said web and said plate exerting a clamping force on said spring means to maintain said spring means in a locked position with respect to said spring-mounting means up to a predetermined spring loading.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
In the prefabricated spring assembly of claim 1: said wedging means in combination with said spring-mounting means exerting a clamping force on said spring means to maintain said spring means in a locked position with respect to said spring-mounting means up to a predetermined spring loading.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the prefabricated spring assembly of claim 1, said slots being open-ended and said fastener means comprising knockout pins passing through and being wedged within means defining aligned apertures in said shaft means and said pivotal spring-mounting means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
In the prefabricated spring assembly of claim 8: said wedging means in combination with said spring-mounting means exerting a clamping force on said spring means to maintain said spring means in a locked position with respect to said spring-mounting means up to a predetermined spring loading.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
In the prefabricated spring assembly of claim 9: said axle bracket means having tubular brace means for mounting a torque arm on said axle bracket means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
250 words
A prefabricated spring assembly for single and multiple axle vehicles comprising: axle bracket means for securing said prefabricated spring assembly to an axle of a vehicle; pivotal spring-mounting means pivotally carried by said axle bracket means, said pivotal spring-mounting means being readily mountable on and separable from said axle bracket means; and spring means carried by said pivotal spring-mounting means, said spring means being locked in place with respect to said spring-mounting means by wedging means; shaft means carried by said axle bracket means, said shaft means adapted to extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of an axle on which said axle bracket is mounted; said pivotal spring-mounting means having open-ended slots therein for receiving said shaft means with said shaft means being retained within said slots by knockout pins which pass through and are wedged within aligned apertures in said shaft means and said pivotal spring-mounting means; said pivotal spring-mounting means having an upper web with transversely spaced-apart flanges depending from said web and a plate, vertically spaced with respect to said web, extending between and secured to said depending flanges; said spring means extending through said pivotal spring-mounting means intermediate said web and said plate, said spring means having boss means extending into an aperture in said plate to align said spring means within said pivotal spring-mounting means; and said wedging means cooperating with said web and said plate to lock said spring means in place with respect to said spring-mounting means up to a predetermined spring loading.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
250 words
A prefabricated spring assembly for single and multiple axle vehicles comprising: axle bracket means for securing said prefabricated spring assembly to an axle of a vehicle; pivotal spring-mounting means pivotally carried by said axle bracket means, said pivotal spring-mounting means being readily mountable on and separable from said axle bracket means; and spring means carried by said pivotal spring-mounting means, said spring means being locked in place with respect to said spring-mounting means by wedging means; shaft means carried by said axle bracket means, said shaft means adapted to extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of an axle on which said axle bracket is mounted; said pivotal spring-mounting means having open-ended slots therein for receiving said shaft means with said shaft means being retained within said slots by knockout pins which pass through and are wedged within aligned apertures in said shaft means and said pivotal spring-mounting means; said pivotal spring-mounting means having an upper web with transversely spaced-apart flanges depending from said web and a plate, vertically spaced with respect to said web, extending between and secured to said depending flanges; said spring means extending through said pivotal spring-mounting means intermediate said web and said plate, said spring means having boss means extending into an aperture in said plate to align said spring means within said pivotal spring-mounting means; and said wedging means cooperating with said web and said plate to lock said spring means in place with respect to said spring-mounting means up to a predetermined spring loading.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-21 | 1974-12-21 | 1975-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-21 | 1978-12-21 | 1979-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-21 | 1982-12-21 | 1983-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |