Vehicle suspension

Claim 2

In a suspension sub-assembly for a vehicle comprising a subassembly support structure separate from the vehicle frame and mountable thereon, a spring structure on the sub-assembly support structure securable to the vehicle frame, an axle suspended from said spring structure, an integral drawbar and guide member secured to the axle, said integral drawbar and guide member including a central portion having transverse recess means on the underside thereof, said recess means meeting with at least a portion of the periphery of the axle and being received thereon, said integral drawbar and guide member being welded to the axle in the area of said recess means, said integral member including a drawbar portion extending outwardly from the axle towards the forward end of the sub-assembly support structure, a second depending axle support structure at the forward end of the subassembly, resilient fastening means pivotable about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drawbar portion and generally parallel to the axis of the axle securing the drawbar to the second support structure, and vertical guide means comprising downwardly depending means defining guide surface structure for securement to the vehicle frame, said integral member including a guide portion having vertically slidable structure, said guide portion extending outwardly from the axle for sliding engagement of said vertical slidable structure with the guide surface structure.

Claim 3

In a suspension sub-assembly for a vehicle comprising a sub-assembly support structure separate from the vehicle frame and mountable thereon, a spring structure on the sub-assembly support structure securable to the vehicle frame, an axle suspended from said spring structure, an integral drawbar and guide member secured to the axle, said integral drawbar and guide member including a central portion having transverse recess means on the underside thereof, said recess means meeting with at least a portion of the periphery of the axle and being received thereon, said integral drawbar and guide member being welded to the axle in the area of said recess means, said integral member including a drawbar portion extending outwardly from the axle towards the forward end of the sub-assembly support structure, a second depending axle support structure at the forward end of the subassembly, resilient fastening means pivotable about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drawbar portion and generally parallel to the axis of the axle securing the drawbar to the second support structure, and vertical guide means comprising downwardly depending means defining guide surface structure for securement to the vehicle frame, said integral member including a guide portion having vertically slidable structure, said guide portion extending outwardly from the axle for sliding engagement of said vertical slidable structure with the guide surface structure.

Claim 4

In a suspension sub-assembly for a vehicle comprising a sub-assembly support structure separate from the vehicle frame and mountable thereon, a spring structure on the sub-assembly support structure securable to the vehicle frame, an axle suspended from said spring structure, an integral drawbar and guide member secured to the axle, said integral drawbar and guide member including a central portion having transverse recess means on the underside thereof, said recess means meeting with at least a portion of the periphery of the axle and being received thereon, said integral drawbar and guide member being welded to the axle in the area of said recess means, said integral member including a drawbar portion extending outwardly from the axle towards the forward end of the sub-assembly support structure, a second depending axle support structure at the forward end of the subassembly, resilient fastening means pivotable about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the drawbar portion and generally parallel to the axis of the axle securing the drawbar to the second support structure, and vertical guide means comprising downwardly depending means defining guide surface structure for securement to the vehicle frame, said integral member including a guide portion having vertically slidable structure, said guide portion extending outwardly from the axle for sliding engagement of said vertical slidable structure with the guide surface structure.

Claim 5

A suspension sub-assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said recess means is oriented with respect to the drawbar portion and guide portion and the drawbar portion and guide portion are oriented with respect to each other in a fashion to achieve a desired orientation of the drawbar portion and guide portion with respect to the axle.

Claim 6

A suspension sub-assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that said integral member is received on the upper side of the axle, said welding comprising a weldment on opposite sides of the axle, said weldments terminating short of the upper surface of the axle whereby the upper surface of the axle is unrestrained and free to flex to relieve stress thereon.

Claim 7

A suspension sub-assembly as defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the central portion of said integral member is raised with respect to the drawbar portion and guide portion to reinforce the integral member over the axle.

Claim 8

A sub-assembly for a vehicle suspension sub-assembly comprising an axle, an integral drawbar and guide member secured to the axle, said integral member including a central portion having transverse recess means on the underside thereof, said integral member being secured to the upper side of the axle with the axle received in the recess means, said recess means having a configuration mating with at least a portion of the periphery of the axle, said recess means being oriented with respect to the drawbar portion and guide portion and the drawbar portion and guide portion being oriented with respect to each other in a fashion to achieve a desired orientation of the drawbar portion and the guide portion with respect to the axle, saId integral member being secured to the axle by means of welding, said welding comprising a weldment on opposite sides of the axle, said weldments terminating short of the upper surface of the axle whereby the upper surface of the axle is unrestrained and free to flex to relieve stress thereon, said integral member including a drawbar portion extending outwardly of the axle for ultimate extension forwardly of a vehicle and attachment of a vehicle, and said integral member including a guide portion extending in the opposite direction from the drawbar portion, said guide portion having vertically slidable structure for sliding engagement with a vertical guide means.

Claim 9

A sub-assembly for a vehicle suspension sub-assembly comprising an axle, an integral drawbar and guide member secured to the axle, said integral member including a central portion having transverse recess means on the underside thereof, said integral member being secured to the upper side of the axle with the axle received in the recess means, said recess means having a configuration mating with at least a portion of the periphery of the axle, said recess means being oriented with respect to the drawbar portion and guide portion and the drawbar portion and guide portion being oriented with respect to each other in a fashion to achieve a desired orientation of the drawbar portion and the guide portion with respect to the axle, saId integral member being secured to the axle by means of welding, said welding comprising a weldment on opposite sides of the axle, said weldments terminating short of the upper surface of the axle whereby the upper surface of the axle is unrestrained and free to flex to relieve stress thereon, said integral member including a drawbar portion extending outwardly of the axle for ultimate extension forwardly of a vehicle and attachment of a vehicle, and said integral member including a guide portion extending in the opposite direction from the drawbar portion, said guide portion having vertically slidable structure for sliding engagement with a vertical guide means.