Tandem axle suspension system for heavy-duty vehicle

Claim 2

A suspension for a vehicle comprising, a vehicle frame, first and second axles in tandem beneath the vehicle frame, wheels at the ends of the axles, a first A-frame associated with the first axle, a second A-frame associated with the second axle, first and second ball joints connecting the apexes of the first and second A-frames to the vehicle frame, a rigid connection between each end of each A-frame and the associated end of its axle, a rigid equalizer beam extending between adjacent ends of the first and second axles at each side of the vehicle, shock absorbing connecting means for connecting each of the ends of the equalizer beams with an associated end of an axle, said connecting means supporting axial loads only and a pivotal connection between the mid-part of each equalizer beam and the vehicle frame whereby the loads on the wheels are equalized by the equalizer beams and all drive and braking torques are taken by the ball joints at the apexes of the A-frame.

Claim 3

A suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the axles is a drive axle.

Claim 4

A suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein the shock absorbing connecting means are air-oil struts connected between the end of the equalizer beam and the end of the axle to take an axial load only without taking any side thrust.

Claim 5

A suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein each axle is stabilized against side thrusts by a radius arm pivotally connected at opposite ends to the vehicle frame and the axle.

Claim 6

A suspension as defined in claim 1 wherein all connections of the suspension have a spherical joint construction for universal action.

Claim 7

A vehicle suspension for a heavy-duty vehicle having a hauler body and comprising a vehicle frame and first and second suspension units beneath the vehicle frame at opposite ends of the hauler body, each suspension unit comprising, first and second axleS in tandem beneath the vehicle frame, wheels at the ends of the axles, a first A-frame associated with the first axle, a second A-frame associated with the second axle, first and second ball joints connecting the apexes of the first and second A-frames to the vehicle frame, a rigid connection between each end of each A-frame and the associated end of its axle, a rigid equalizer beam extending between adjacent ends of the first and second axles at each side of the vehicle, shock absorbing connecting means connecting each of the ends of the equalizer beams with an associated end of an axle, said connecting means supporting axial loads only and a pivotal connection between the mid-part of each equalizer beam and the vehicle frame whereby the loads on the wheels are equalized by the equalizer beams and all drive and braking torques are taken by the ball joints at the apexes of the A-frame.

Claim 8

A vehicle suspension for a heavy-duty vehicle having a hauler body and comprising a vehicle frame and first and second suspension units beneath the vehicle frame at opposite ends of the hauler body, each suspension unit comprising, first and second axleS in tandem beneath the vehicle frame, wheels at the ends of the axles, a first A-frame associated with the first axle, a second A-frame associated with the second axle, first and second ball joints connecting the apexes of the first and second A-frames to the vehicle frame, a rigid connection between each end of each A-frame and the associated end of its axle, a rigid equalizer beam extending between adjacent ends of the first and second axles at each side of the vehicle, shock absorbing connecting means connecting each of the ends of the equalizer beams with an associated end of an axle, said connecting means supporting axial loads only and a pivotal connection between the mid-part of each equalizer beam and the vehicle frame whereby the loads on the wheels are equalized by the equalizer beams and all drive and braking torques are taken by the ball joints at the apexes of the A-frame.