Vehicle suspension system

Claim 2

A resilient axle suspension interposed between each side of a vehicle frame and the transversely extending axle of a wheel support means therefor comprising an elongate rigid arm member disposed beneath the frame side member and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a mounting bracket for said arm member having a depending portion at the forward end thereof and pivot means connecting the forward end of said rigid arm member to said depending forward end portion of said mounting bracket so as to permit vertical swinging movement of said rigid arm member, pivot forming means at the other end of said arm member, a bracket depending from said transversely extending axle and connected to said arm member by said pivot forming means at the other end of said arm member, an air cushion mounted between said transversely extending axle and said vehicle frame and a stress absorbing device connecting said arm member at a point intermediate its ends with the vehicle frame at the trailing end of the mounting bracket for said arm member which stress absorbing device acts as a snubber when the air cushion is extended.

Claim 3

An axle suspension as set forth in claim 1 and said stress absorbing device comprising a pin depending from said frame side member with the bottom end thereof connected to said arm member by a resilient sleeve bushing which permits limited swinging movement of said arm member in a vertical direction.

Claim 4

An axle suspension as set forth in claim 1 and said stress absorbing device comprising a rigid pin depending from a rearward portion of said mounting bracket and a resilient bushing on said pin which is seated in a recess in said arm member and which permits limited swinging movement of said arm member.

Claim 5

An axle suspension as set forth in claim 1 and said pivot means at the end of said arm member including a resilient bushing.

Claim 6

A resilient axle suspension structure for a vehicle having a frame with parallel side beams and a wheel support means having a transversely extending axle, said suspension structure comprising an elongate rigid arm member disposed beneath each frame side beam and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a mounting bracket for each said arm member at the forward end thereof and pivot means connecting the forward end of said arm member to said mounting bracket so as to permit vertical swinging movement of said arm member, pivot means at the other end of said arm member connecting said arm member to said transversely extending axle, a cushion forming means comprising a resilient compressible air member mounted between said transversely extending axle and said vehicle fRame, and means including a stress absorbing device connecting said arm member at a point intermediate its ends with the frame side beam which acts as a snubber when the cushion forming means is extended.

Claim 7

A resilient axle suspension structure for a vehicle having a frame with parallel side beams and a wheel support means having a transversely extending axle, said suspension structure comprising an elongate rigid arm member disposed beneath each frame side beam and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a mounting bracket for each said arm member at the forward end thereof and pivot means connecting the forward end of said arm member to said mounting bracket so as to permit vertical swinging movement of said arm member, pivot means at the other end of said arm member connecting said arm member to said transversely extending axle, a cushion forming means comprising a resilient compressible air member mounted between said transversely extending axle and said vehicle fRame, and means including a stress absorbing device connecting said arm member at a point intermediate its ends with the frame side beam which acts as a snubber when the cushion forming means is extended.

Claim 8

A resilient axle suspension structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cushion forming means comprises an air spring member.

Claim 9

A resilient suspension unit for single or multiple axle support of a vehicle frame, said suspension unit comprising an elongate rigid arm member disposed beneath the vehicle frame at each side thereof and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a mounting bracket for said arm member depending below said vehicle frame, pivot means connecting the forward end of said arm member to said depending mounting bracket so as to permit vertical swinging movement of said arm member, pivot means at the other end of said arm member connecting said arm member to a transversely extending axle, said pivot means at the opposite ends of said arm member having a resilient member so as to permit limited twisting movement, means forming a cushion member mounted between said transversely extending axle and said vehicle frame and a stress absorbing device connecting said arm member at a point intermediate its ends with the overlying vehicle frame which device acts as a snubber for the cushion member.

Claim 10

A resilient suspension unit for single or multiple axle support of a vehicle frame, said suspension unit comprising an elongate rigid arm member disposed beneath the vehicle frame at each side thereof and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a mounting bracket for said arm member depending below said vehicle frame, pivot means connecting the forward end of said arm member to said depending mounting bracket so as to permit vertical swinging movement of said arm member, pivot means at the other end of said arm member connecting said arm member to a transversely extending axle, said pivot means at the opposite ends of said arm member having a resilient member so as to permit limited twisting movement, means forming a cushion member mounted between said transversely extending axle and said vehicle frame and a stress absorbing device connecting said arm member at a point intermediate its ends with the overlying vehicle frame which device acts as a snubber for the cushion member.

Claim 11

A resilient suspension unit for single or multiple axle support of a vehicle frame, said suspension unit comprising an elongate rigid arm member disposed beneath the vehicle frame at each side thereof and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a mounting bracket for said arm member depending below said vehicle frame, pivot means connecting the forward end of said arm member to said depending mounting bracket so as to permit vertical swinging movement of said arm member, pivot means at the other end of said arm member connecting said arm member to a transversely extending axle, means forming a cushion member mounted between said transversely extending axle and said vehicle frame and a stress absorbing device connecting said arm member at a point intermediate its ends with the overlying vehicle frame, said stress absorbing device comprising a rigid pin depending from said frame and a resilient connection between the lowermost end of said pin and said arm member which resilient connection includes a resilient sleeve secured on the end of said pin, said arm member having a socket for receiving said resilient sleeve, and means for securing said resilient sleeve in said socket which permits limited vertical movement of said pin end and enables side sway to be absorbed by said resilient sleeve while acting as a snubber for limiting the movement of said arm member when said cushion member is extended.

Claim 12

A resilient suspension unit for single or multiple axle support of a vehicle frame, said suspension unit comprising an elongate rigid arm member disposed beneath the vehicle frame at each side thereof and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a mounting bracket for said arm member depending below said vehicle frame, pivot means connecting the forward end of said arm member to said depending mounting bracket so as to permit vertical swinging movement of said arm member, pivot means at the other end of said arm member connecting said arm member to a transversely extending axle, means forming a cushion member mounted between said transversely extending axle and said vehicle frame and a stress absorbing device connecting said arm member at a point intermediate its ends with the overlying vehicle frame, said stress absorbing device comprising a rigid pin depending from said frame and a resilient connection between the lowermost end of said pin and said arm member which resilient connection includes a resilient sleeve secured on the end of said pin, said arm member having a socket for receiving said resilient sleeve, and means for securing said resilient sleeve in said socket which permits limited vertical movement of said pin end and enables side sway to be absorbed by said resilient sleeve while acting as a snubber for limiting the movement of said arm member when said cushion member is extended.

Claim 13

A resilient axle suspension structure for a vehicle having a frame with parallel side beams and a wheel support means having a transversely extending axle, said suspension structure comprising an elongate rigid arm member disposed beneath each frame side beam and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a mounting bracket for each said arm member at the forward end thereof and pivot means connecting the forward end of said arm member to said forward mounting bracket so as to permit vertical swinging movement of said arm member, pivot means at the other end of said arm member connecting said arm member to said transversely extending axle, a cushion forming means mounted between said transversely extending axle and said vehicle frame and a stress absorbing device in the form of a rigid pin depending from said vehicle frame which pin extends into a cooperating socket formation in said arm member at a point intermediate its ends with a resilient sleeve bushing connection so as to act as a snubber when the cushion forming means is extended.

Claim 14

A resilient axle suspension structure for a vehicle having a frame with parallel side beams and a wheel support means having a transversely extending axle, said suspension structure comprising an elongate rigid arm member disposed beneath each frame side beam and extending longitudinally of the vehicle, a mounting bracket for each said arm member at the forward end thereof and pivot means connecting the forward end of said arm member to said forward mounting bracket so as to permit vertical swinging movement of said arm member, pivot means at the other end of said arm member connecting said arm member to said transversely extending axle, a cushion forming means mounted between said transversely extending axle and said vehicle frame and a stress absorbing device in the form of a rigid pin depending from said vehicle frame which pin extends into a cooperating socket formation in said arm member at a point intermediate its ends with a resilient sleeve bushing connection so as to act as a snubber when the cushion forming means is extended.