US3784221A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air ride suspension for trucks
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-07-24
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1992-07-24
Abstract
Abstract An air-ride suspension system for vehicles such as trucks, tractors, trailers, and the like has a spring and an air bag attached to an axle of the vehicle and arranged outside a frame thereof for permitting the axle to be selectively moved toward the frame a distance sufficient to lift a wheel on the axle out of contact with a surface supporting the vehicle. The suspension has a pair of adjustable, pivotally mounted torque arms positioned embracing the spring and arranged in parallel so as to form a parallelogram to prevent the axle from turning over. A shock absorber is arranged in a fixed position between the axle and the frame for absorbing shocks received by the axle. A semicylindrical insert is provided for adapting the system to an axle having a square cross section. This insert has a planar face provided with a recess arranged to receive the axle for permitting a beam connecting the air bag to the axle to pivot or tilt the axle and arrange its drive line at a desired angle. A system particularly suitable for use when lifting an axle off the vehicle supporting surface when the axle is not in use has an additional spring in place of the upper torque arm connected between the axle and the frame at points adjacent ends of the first mentioned spring, and arranged in a plane substantially parallel to that spring and spaced therefrom toward the frame.
Inventors
- 👤 V Frasier
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 13:18
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G11/00; B60G11/32; B60G11/34; B60G11/46; B60G11/465; B62; B62D; B62D61/00; B62D61/12; B62D61/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
248 words
An air-ride suspension system for vehicles, comprising, in combination: a. an axle; b. air bag suspension means for mounting said axle to a vehicle frame, and for permitting said axle to be selectively moved toward the frame a distance sufficient to lift a wheel on said axle out of contact with a surface supporting the vehicle, said suspension means including spring means for carrying at least a portion of a vehicle load; c. a spring hanger arranged for attachment to the frame, and wherein said spring means has a generally arched spring leaf having a pair of spaced ends and arranged extending generally parallel to and outside of the frame in a plane spaced toward the frame from said axle, and has a one end attached to said axle and the other end attached to said spring hanger; and d. said suspension means further including a beam attached to said axle outside Of the frame adjacent said spring means and extending from and forming a cantilever lying in a plane beneath said axle, said beam extending from said axle in a direction opposite to a direction of extension of said spring means from said axle, a common means for attaching the spring means and beam to said axle, an additional spring means connected between said axle and the hanger at points adjacent the ends of said spring leaf, and arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said spring leaf and spaced therefrom toward said frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
248 words
An air-ride suspension system for vehicles, comprising, in combination: a. an axle; b. air bag suspension means for mounting said axle to a vehicle frame, and for permitting said axle to be selectively moved toward the frame a distance sufficient to lift a wheel on said axle out of contact with a surface supporting the vehicle, said suspension means including spring means for carrying at least a portion of a vehicle load; c. a spring hanger arranged for attachment to the frame, and wherein said spring means has a generally arched spring leaf having a pair of spaced ends and arranged extending generally parallel to and outside of the frame in a plane spaced toward the frame from said axle, and has a one end attached to said axle and the other end attached to said spring hanger; and d. said suspension means further including a beam attached to said axle outside Of the frame adjacent said spring means and extending from and forming a cantilever lying in a plane beneath said axle, said beam extending from said axle in a direction opposite to a direction of extension of said spring means from said axle, a common means for attaching the spring means and beam to said axle, an additional spring means connected between said axle and the hanger at points adjacent the ends of said spring leaf, and arranged in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said spring leaf and spaced therefrom toward said frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said suspension means further includes an air bag connected to the free end of said beam and arranged for connection to the frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
A structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said suspension means further includes an adjustable torque arm having a pair of spaced ends, with one end pivotally connected to said axle at a point spaced toward the vehicle supporting surface from the plane of said spring means and the other end pivotally connected to the frame also at a point spaced toward the vehicle supporting surface from the plane of said spring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said suspension means further includes an additional adjustable torque arm pivotally connected between said axle and said frame at points spaced toward said frame from the plane of said spring means, and arranged substantially parallel to said torque arm for forming a parallelogram.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said suspension means further includes means connected between said axle and the frame and extending generally away from said axle in the direction of said spring means for absorbing shocks received by said axle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said axle has a rectangular cross section, and said suspension system further includes means in the form of a semi-cylindrical insert seated in said beam and having a planar face provided with a recess arranged to receive said axle for permitting said beam to assume a predetermined relationship with respect to said axle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
95 words
A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein there are a plurality of closely superimposed spring leaves of different lengths with one ends thereof flush with one another, and said additional spring means has a plurality of closely superimposed, generally arched further spring leaves of different lengths and having a pair of spaced ends with one ends thereof flush with one another, flush ends of said spring leaves being attached to one of said axle and said hanger and the flush ends of said further spring leaves being attached to the other of these members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A structure as defined in claim 7, wherein said axle has a rectangular cross section, and said suspension system further includes means in the form of a semi-cylindrical insert seated in said beam and having a planar face provided with a recess arranged to receive said axle for permitting said beam to assume a predetermined relationship with respect to said axle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of closely superimposed spring leaves of different lengths with one ends thereof flush with one another, and said additional spring means has a plurality of closely superimposed, generally arched further spring leaves of different lengths and having a pair of spaced ends with one ends thereof flush with one another, flush ends of said spring leaves being attached to one of said axle and said hanger and the flush ends of said further spring leaves being attached to the other of these members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said axle has a rectangular cross section, and said suspension system further includes means in the form of a semi-cylindrical insert seated in said beam and having a planar face provided with a recess arranged to receive said axle for permitting said beam to assume a predetermined relationship with respect to said axle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said suspension means further includes an adjustable torque arm having a pair of spaced ends, with one end pivotally connected to said axle at a point spaced toward the vehicle supporting surface from the plane of said spring means and the other end pivotally connected to the frame also at a point spaced toward the vehicle supporting surface from the plane of said spring means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A structure as defined in claim 11, wherein said suspension means further includes an additional adjustable torque arm pivotally connected between said axle and said frame at points spaced toward said frame from the plane of said spring means, and arranged substantially parallel to said torque arm for forming a parallelogram.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said suspension means further includes means connected between said axle and the frame and extending generally away from said axle in the direction of said spring means for absorbing shocks received by said axle.
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) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |