Abstract There is provided in auxiliary axle suspension system for wheeled vehicles an improvement for insuring the safety of said suspension when under heavy load, particularly about 6,000 lbs. per axle or greater, which comprises an axle having mounted at its outer extremities two wheels on either side thereof for carrying such a heavy load along the path of travel of the vehicle. Inwardly of each pair of wheels and immediately adjacent to each respective pair of wheels there is provided a leaf spring of a plurality of leaves and means for connecting the leaf spring at about its respective ends to the longitudinal I-beam frame members of the vehicle and extending longitudinally on either side thereof. Each leaf spring has its intermediate portion overlying and being secured by bolt means to the axle such that the leaf springs are normally biased upwardly to raise the axle and the wheels mounted thereon above the surface along which the vehicle travels. Juxtapositioned between each leaf spring and its respective frame member is at least one vertically flexible pneumatic chamber which may be expanded or contracted vertically by applying pneumatic pressure thereto to thereby bias the axle downwardly against the force exerted by the springs to lower the wheels mounted thereon into contact with the vehicle travel surface. Torque arms are provided which extend in the forward direction of the vehicle and are connected between the bolt means for connecting the axle to the frame member and the means for connecting each respective leaf spring at about their ends to the vehicle. In addition, the leaf springs are not secured to the means which connect them at about their ends to the frame member of the vehicle, but rather, are connected in a manner which allows them to slide longitudinally therewithin. Upon braking under heavy load, the leaf springs are protected from undue torque forces by the torque arms and the slidable nature of the leaf spring connection.
In a wheeled vehicle having a frame comprised of a least two flanged beams and an axle suspension connected to said flanged beams, the improvement comprising a device for connecting said axle suspension to the flanged beams of the frame of said wheeled vehicle comprising bracket means to which said axle suspension is connected, said bracket means including a lower vertically extending member and an upper horizontal flange laterally extending therefrom; said horizontal flange abutting the horizontal flange of said flanged beam and extending beyond the outer extremities of the flange of said flanged beam, means located on either side of the vertical member of said flanged beam and connected to its corresponding means on the other side of said vertical member by bolt means extending through said means and said vertical member of said flanged beam, at least one of said means being an angled member having a leg abutting the side of the flange of said flanged beam opposite that side abutted by said horizontal flange of said bracket means and being bolted to the portion of said abutting flange of said bracket means extending beyond the abutting flange of said flanged beam without being bolted to the lower flange of said flanged beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a wheeled vehicle having a frame comprised of a least two flanged beams and an axle suspension connected to said flanged beams, the improvement comprising a device for connecting said axle suspension to the flanged beams of the frame of said wheeled vehicle comprising bracket means to which said axle suspension is connected, said bracket means including a lower vertically extending member and an upper horizontal flange laterally extending therefrom; said horizontal flange abutting the horizontal flange of said flanged beam and extending beyond the outer extremities of the flange of said flanged beam, means located on either side of the vertical member of said flanged beam and connected to its corresponding means on the other side of said vertical member by bolt means extending through said means and said vertical member of said flanged beam, at least one of said means being an angled member having a leg abutting the side of the flange of said flanged beam opposite that side abutted by said horizontal flange of said bracket means and being bolted to the portion of said abutting flange of said bracket means extending beyond the abutting flange of said flanged beam without being bolted to the lower flange of said flanged beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
168 words
The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said axle suspension comprises an axle, at least two leaf springs spaced from each other longitudinally along the length of said axle, means for connecting the leaf springs at about their ends to said bracket means, each leaf spring having its intermediate portion being secured by means to said axle, said leaf springs cooperating to normally bias said axle upwardly to raise the wheels mounted thereon above the surface along which the vehicle travels, at least onE vertically flexible pneumatic chamber extending between the vehicle and said axle, and means for applying pneumatic pressure to said chamber to cause vertical elongation thereof thus biasing said axle downwardly against the force exerted by said springs to lower the wheels mounted thereon into contact with the vehicle surface, said suspension not being provided with torque arms separated from each other longitudinally along the length of said axle and extending in the longitudinal direction of said vehicle between said axle and said bracket means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said leaf springs are connected at about their ends to said bracket means by means which allow said springs to slide longitudinally therewithin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said suspension includes at least two vertically flexible pneumatic chambers, each of said chambers being located between said vehicle and said intermediate portion of its respective leaf spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said leaf springs are comprised of a plurality of leaves.