US3841652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tandem axle suspension assembly
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-10
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Granted: 1974-10-15
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Expires: 1992-03-10
Abstract
Abstract A tandem axle, spring suspension assembly having a pair of leaf springs each arranged for mounting an axle, and a pair of spring hangers mountable on a vehicle frame and arranged for receiving ends of the leaf springs. An equalizer assembly is arranged between the spring hangers for receiving the opposite spring ends. The spring hangers each have a cavity for receiving a spring end, and at least the front spring hanger is provided with an insert forming a spring bearing surface for protecting the hanger walls from wear. When the front hanger is provided with such an insert, a symmetrical spring bearing surface is provided for maintaining a predetermined effective length of a spring mounted in the hanger. The spring effective length and the suspension mounting height are selectable as a function of the arrangement of the insert. The front hanger side walls have torque arm attachment portions extending away from the insert extending portions, and provided with bosses for increasing the bearing surface of a torque arm bolt for resisting wear due to fore-and-aft motion of a torque arm during operation, and especially on braking. The equalizer assembly has an equalizer beam receiving the spring ends and provided with a transverse hole in which a hollow pin is arranged. The pin has flat surfaces provided on portions which extend beyond the beam, and an equalizer bracket to which the equalizer beam is removably connected has projections which are arranged to retainingly engage the flat surfaces and prevent movement of the pin about an axis parallel to the transverse hole and pin. A resilient member is arranged in the transverse hole and surrounding the pin for permitting the beam to articulate about the pin.
Inventors
- 👤 R Higginson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:30
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G5/00; B60G5/04; B60G5/047; B60G11/00; B60G11/02; B60G11/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A spring suspension assembly for tandem axles, comprising, in combination: a. a pair of leaf springs, each arranged for mounting an axle; b. a pair of spring hangers mountable on a vehicle frame and arranged for receiving ends of said leaf spring; and c. equalizer means arranged between said spring hangers for receiving ends of said springs opposite those ends received by said hangers for supporting a vehicle load exerted through the springs and transmitting force applied to one axle to the other axle, said equalizer means including an equalizer beam receiving the spring ends and provided with a transverse hole, a pin arrangEd in said transverse hole, and means for engaging said pin and preventing movement of said pin about an axis parallel to said transverse hole and said pin, said equalizer means further including an equalizer bracket mountable on a vehicle frame, and means for removably connecting said beam to said bracket, and wherein said means for preventing includes at least one flat surface provided on a portion of said pin which extends beyond said beam, and a means mounted on said bracket for retainingly engaging said flat surface when said beam and bracket are connected together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A spring suspension assembly for tandem axles, comprising, in combination: a. a pair of leaf springs, each arranged for mounting an axle; b. a pair of spring hangers mountable on a vehicle frame and arranged for receiving ends of said leaf spring; and c. equalizer means arranged between said spring hangers for receiving ends of said springs opposite those ends received by said hangers for supporting a vehicle load exerted through the springs and transmitting force applied to one axle to the other axle, said equalizer means including an equalizer beam receiving the spring ends and provided with a transverse hole, a pin arrangEd in said transverse hole, and means for engaging said pin and preventing movement of said pin about an axis parallel to said transverse hole and said pin, said equalizer means further including an equalizer bracket mountable on a vehicle frame, and means for removably connecting said beam to said bracket, and wherein said means for preventing includes at least one flat surface provided on a portion of said pin which extends beyond said beam, and a means mounted on said bracket for retainingly engaging said flat surface when said beam and bracket are connected together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said equalizer means further includes a resilient member arranged in said transverse hole and surrounding said pin for permitting said beam to articulate about said pin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring hangers each have a cavity defined by an end wall and side walls for receiving a spring end, and at least one of said hangers is provided with an insert forming a spring bearing surface for protecting the hanger walls from wear.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said insert has portions which extend away from the spring hanger end wall and arranged for protecting said side walls from wear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A structure as defined in claim 4, wherein said spring hangers are a front and rear spring hanger, the insert being associated with the front spring hanger and arranged for providing a symmetrical spring bearing surface for maintaining a predetermined effective length of a spring mounted in the hanger, the spring effective length and the distance between an axle centerline and underside of a vehicle frame being selectable as a function of the arrangement of said insert.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A structure as defined in claim 5, wherein said walls have torque arm attachment portions which extend away from the insert extending portions, and are provided with means for increasing the bearing surface of a torque arm bolt for resisting wear due to fore-and-aft motion of a torque arm during operation and especially on braking, and for permitting the use of torque arm bolts of various diameters as employed in existing suspension units.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said equalizer means further includes a resilient member arranged in said transverse hole and surrounding said pin for permitting said beam to articulate about said pin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A structure as defined in claim 6, wherein said transverse hole passes through said beam, said pin is hollow, and the removably connecting means is a bolt passing through said pin and openings provided in said bracket.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A structure as defined in claim 7, wherein said transverse hole passes through said beam, said pin is hollow, and the removably connecting means is a bolt passing through said pin and openings provided in said bracket.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said equalizer means further includes a resilient member arranged in said transverse hole and surrounding said pin for permitting said beam to articulate about said pin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A structure as defined in claim 10, wherein said transverse hole passes through said beam, said pin is hollow, and the removably connecting means is a bolt passing through said pin and openings provided in said bracket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said transverse hole passes through said beam, said pin is hollow, and the removably connecting means is a bolt passing through said pin and openings provided in said bracket.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
266 words
A spring suspension assembly for tandem axles, comprising, in combination: a. a pair of leaf springs, each arranged for mounting an axle; b. a pair of spring hangers mountable on a vehicle frame and arranged for receiving ends of said leaf spring, said spring hangers each having a cavity defined by an end wall and side walls for receiving a spring end, and at least one of said hangers being provided with an insert affixed thereto and forming a spring bearing surface for protecting the hanGer walls from wear, said spring hangers being a front and rear spring hanger, and the insert being associated with the front spring hanger and arranged for providing a symmetrical spring bearing surface for maintaining a predetermined effective length of a spring mounted in the hanger, the spring effective length and the distance between an axle centerline and underside of a vehicle frame being selectable as a function of the arrangement of said insert, said walls having torque arm attachment portions which extend away from the insert extending portions, and being provided with means for increasing the bearing surface of a torque arm bolt for resisting wear due to fore-and-aft motion of a torque arm during operation and especially on braking, and for permitting the use of torque arm bolts of various diameters as employed in existing suspension units; and c. equalizer means arranged between said spring hangers for receiving ends of said springs opposite those ends received by said hangers for supporting a vehicle load exerted through the springs and transmitting force applied to one axle to the other axle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
266 words
A spring suspension assembly for tandem axles, comprising, in combination: a. a pair of leaf springs, each arranged for mounting an axle; b. a pair of spring hangers mountable on a vehicle frame and arranged for receiving ends of said leaf spring, said spring hangers each having a cavity defined by an end wall and side walls for receiving a spring end, and at least one of said hangers being provided with an insert affixed thereto and forming a spring bearing surface for protecting the hanGer walls from wear, said spring hangers being a front and rear spring hanger, and the insert being associated with the front spring hanger and arranged for providing a symmetrical spring bearing surface for maintaining a predetermined effective length of a spring mounted in the hanger, the spring effective length and the distance between an axle centerline and underside of a vehicle frame being selectable as a function of the arrangement of said insert, said walls having torque arm attachment portions which extend away from the insert extending portions, and being provided with means for increasing the bearing surface of a torque arm bolt for resisting wear due to fore-and-aft motion of a torque arm during operation and especially on braking, and for permitting the use of torque arm bolts of various diameters as employed in existing suspension units; and c. equalizer means arranged between said spring hangers for receiving ends of said springs opposite those ends received by said hangers for supporting a vehicle load exerted through the springs and transmitting force applied to one axle to the other axle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said equalizer means further includes a resilient member arranged in said transverse hole and surrounding said pin for permitting said beam to articulate about said pin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
73 words
A structure as defined in claim 3, wherein said walls have torque arm attachment portions which extend away from the insert extending portions, and are provided with means for increasing the bearing surface of a torque arm bolt for resisting wear due to fore-and-aft motion of a torque arm during operation and especially on braking, and for permitting the use of torque arm bolts of various diameters as employed in existing suspension units.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
258 words
A spring suspension assembly for tandem axles, comprising, in combination: a. a pair of leaf springs, each arranged for mounting an axle; b. a pair of spring hangers mountable on a vehicle frame and arranged for receiving ends of said leaf spring, said spring hangers each having a cavity defined by an end wall and side walls for receiving a spring end, and at least one of said hangers being provided with an insert affixed thereto and forming a spring bearing surface for protecting the hanger walls from wear, said spring hangers being a front and rear spring hanger, and the insert being associated with the front spring hanger and arranged for providing a symmetrical spring bearing surface for maintaining a predetermined effective length of a spring mounted in the hanger, the spring effective length and the distance between an axle centerline and underside of a vehicle frame being selectable as a function of the arrangement of said insert, the insert including an arcuate surface arranged adjacent the hanger end wall and forming a bearing surface for spring ends, and portions arranged extending away from the arcuate surface and the end wall for protecting the hanger side walls from wear, an arcuate recess being provided in the insert between the arcuate surface and hanger end wall; and c. equalizer means arranged between said spring hangers for receiving ends of said springs opposite those ends received by said hangers for supporting a vehicle load exerted through the springs and transmitting force applied to one axle to the other axle.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
258 words
A spring suspension assembly for tandem axles, comprising, in combination: a. a pair of leaf springs, each arranged for mounting an axle; b. a pair of spring hangers mountable on a vehicle frame and arranged for receiving ends of said leaf spring, said spring hangers each having a cavity defined by an end wall and side walls for receiving a spring end, and at least one of said hangers being provided with an insert affixed thereto and forming a spring bearing surface for protecting the hanger walls from wear, said spring hangers being a front and rear spring hanger, and the insert being associated with the front spring hanger and arranged for providing a symmetrical spring bearing surface for maintaining a predetermined effective length of a spring mounted in the hanger, the spring effective length and the distance between an axle centerline and underside of a vehicle frame being selectable as a function of the arrangement of said insert, the insert including an arcuate surface arranged adjacent the hanger end wall and forming a bearing surface for spring ends, and portions arranged extending away from the arcuate surface and the end wall for protecting the hanger side walls from wear, an arcuate recess being provided in the insert between the arcuate surface and hanger end wall; and c. equalizer means arranged between said spring hangers for receiving ends of said springs opposite those ends received by said hangers for supporting a vehicle load exerted through the springs and transmitting force applied to one axle to the other 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) | 1977-10-14 | 1978-04-15 | 1978-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-14 | 1982-04-15 | 1982-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-14 | 1986-04-15 | 1986-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |