US3779576A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suspension systems
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-10-14
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1991-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A trailed vehicle has at least one beam axle (but perhaps two with or without load sharing coupling) with the wheels independently suspended on leading or trailing arm members. The axle is mounted to the chassis or body so that in bump or positive roll conditions when a wheel on one side and the body or chassis move closer together, the axle moves forwardly at that side resulting in the steering of the wheels in a direction to counter the effects of the displacing force acting on the trailed vehicle and thus undesirable effects exerted by the trailed vehicle on the towing vehicle. A ''''bolt-on'''' suspension unit has a torsionally resilient beam axle, a primary torsion suspension for the arm members and a secondary suspension allowing forward movement of either side of the axle about one of a pair of transversely aligned pivots in reaction to torque imposed on that side of the axle under bump or positive roll conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 G Malcolm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:55
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G5/00; B60G5/005; B60G11/00; B60G11/22; B60G11/225; B60G11/32; B60G11/48; B60G11/60; B60G21/00; B60G21/02; B60G21/04; B60G21/05; B60G21/055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A beam axle suspension unit for a vehicle comprising a beam axle with torsional resilience, arm members, one at each end of the axle, to which the wheels are rotatably attached in use with the wheel axis offset from the axle axis, primary resilient means associated with the arm members to elastically control arm movements and imposing a torsional reaction on the axle, means enabling attachment of the axle to each side of the vehicle chassis for pivotal movement about a transverse axis so located that under conditions when an arm member on one side and the chassis move closer together, reactionary rotation of the axle caused at that side results in its forward movement at that side and a consequent steering of the wheels, and secondary resilient means interposed between the axle and the chassis in use to elastically control axle movement about the transverse axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A beam axle suspension unit for a vehicle comprising a beam axle with torsional resilience, arm members, one at each end of the axle, to which the wheels are rotatably attached in use with the wheel axis offset from the axle axis, primary resilient means associated with the arm members to elastically control arm movements and imposing a torsional reaction on the axle, means enabling attachment of the axle to each side of the vehicle chassis for pivotal movement about a transverse axis so located that under conditions when an arm member on one side and the chassis move closer together, reactionary rotation of the axle caused at that side results in its forward movement at that side and a consequent steering of the wheels, and secondary resilient means interposed between the axle and the chassis in use to elastically control axle movement about the transverse axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
62 words
A beam axle suspension unit as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said unit has leading arm members, the transverse pivot axis lies above the axle centre line in use, the means enabling pivotal attachment of the axle to each side of the vehicle are ball joints and the secondary resilient means interposed between the axle and the chassis comprises a rubber block.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
141 words
A beam axle suspension unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the beam axle is surrounded by a rectangular sectioned box member at each side at the ends, forming part of said means enabling attachment of the axle to each side of the vehicle chassis for pivotal movement about a transverse axis, said box member is arranged with a diagonal substantially vertical, said axle is rectangular sectioned where enclosed by the box member, a thrust member attached to the flat upper surface of the axle which is arranged to be horizontal bears against an innermost upper corner edge of said box member and said secondary resilient means interposed between the axle and the chassis in use to elastically control axle movement about the transverse axis is rubber located between adjacent portions of the axle and the box portions on either side.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A beam axle suspension unit as claimed in claim 3 wherein the primary resilient means associated with the arm members to elastically control arm movement, is rubber subjected to a compressive force between a portion of the axle which is rectangular in cross section and a portion of the arm member which lies within the axle which is also of rectangular section and lies with its diagonals substantially at 45* angles to those of the rectangular portion of the axle member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A beam axle suspension unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein the torsional resilience of the beam axle is achieved by having a square tubular beam axle suitably slotted on top and bottom horizontal sides at the centre.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A beam axle suspension unit as claimed in claim 4 wherein the beam axle is provided in two halves meeting at the centre with a coupling allowing relative torsional movement of each half.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
A beam axle suspension unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein the axle is a square tube and the coupling comprises an inner square section member whose faces are substantially perpendicular to the diagonals of the axle member and rubber located in the triangular spaces and subjected to compressive forces on relative rotation of the inner member and an axle half.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
A trailed vehicle having at least one beam axle, arm members, one at each end of each beam axle, resilient means associated with the arm members to elastically control arm movements and secondary means resiliently mounting the at least one beam axle to the chassis at each side so that in conditions when at least one wheel on one side and the chassis move closer together, substantial forward movement of the at least one axle at that side results with consequent steering of the wheel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
A trailed vehicle having at least one beam axle, arm members, one at each end of each beam axle, resilient means associated with the arm members to elastically control arm movements and secondary means resiliently mounting the at least one beam axle to the chassis at each side so that in conditions when at least one wheel on one side and the chassis move closer together, substantial forward movement of the at least one axle at that side results with consequent steering of the wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
80 words
A trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein two beam axles are provided in tandem with load sharing coupling between their arm members and the secondary means resiliently mounting the axles to the chassis includes a rigid member at each side to which the axles are attached, so fastened to the chassis as to move forwardly in the dIrection of trailed motion against said resilience when at least one wheel on the same side moves closer to the chassis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
A trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 9 wherein the rigid member is located at the rear to the chassis by a coupling allowing sliding movement in the direction of trailed motion and the front of the rigid member is constrained by a shackle to move forwardly as it moves upwardly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
125 words
A trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 8 wherein there is one beam axle with torsional resilience and the primary resilient means associated with the arm members to elastically control arm movements impose a torsional reaction on the axle while the means enabling attachment of the axle to each side of the vehicle chassis enable pivotal movement about a transverse axis so located that under conditions when an arm member on one side and the chassis move closer together, reactionary rotation of the axle caused at that side results in its forward movement at that side and a consequent steering of the wheels, and the secondary means resiliently mounting the axle to the chassis at each side elastically control axle movement about the transverse axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
A trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 11 wherein the arm members are leading arm members, the transverse pivot axis lies above the axle centre line in use, the means enabling pivotal attachment of the axle to each side of the vehicle are ball joints and the secondary resilient means interposed between the axle and the chassis comprises a rubber block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
139 words
A trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 11 wherein the beam axle is surrounded by a rectangular sectioned box member at each side at the ends forming part of said means enabling attachment of the axle to each side of the vehicle chassis for pivotal movement about a transverse axis, said box member is arranged with a diagonal substantially vertical, said axle is rectangular sectioned where enclosed by the box member, a thrust member attached to the flat upper surface of the axle which is arranged to be horizontal bears against an innermost upper corner edge of said box member and said secondary resilient means interposed between the axle and the chassis in use to elastically control axle movement about the transverse axis is rubber located between adjacent portions of the axle and the box portions on either side.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
78 words
A trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 13 wherein the primary resilient means associated with the arm members to elastically control arm movement, is rubber subjected to a compressive force between a portion of the axle which is rectangular in cross section and a portion of the arm member which lies within the axle which is also of rectangular section and lies with its diagonals substantially at 45* angles to those of the rectangular portion of the axle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 14 wherein the torsional resilience of the beam axle is achieved by having a square tubular beam axle suitably slotted on top and bottom horizontal sides at the centre.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 14 wherein the beam axle is provided in two halves meeting at the centre with a coupling allowing relative torsional movement of each half.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
59 words
A trailed vehicle as claimed in claim 16 wherein the axle is a square tube and the coupling comprises an inner square section member whose faces are substantially perpendicular to the diagonals of the axle member and rubber located in the triangular spaces and subjected to compressive forces on relative rotation of the inner member and an axle half.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |