US3877718A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High strength auxiliary axle suspension system
Assignee: WILKOF EDWARD W
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Filing: 1973-02-27
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Granted: 1975-04-15
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Expires: 1993-02-27
Abstract
Abstract An auxiliary axle suspension system of improved strength is provided. As it relates to a wheeled vehicle having two outer, longitudinally-extending frame members, the system is comprised of an axle extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the frame members, a leaf spring located substantially directly under each frame member and extending in the longitudinal direction thereof, the leaf springs being slidably connected at their ends by spring hanger members connected to their respective frame member and extending substantially vertically from beneath each frame member, means for connecting the axle to the springs at about the springs'' central portion, each spring being normally biased upwardly so that wheels attached to the axle are normally held above the road surface, at least one vertically flexible pneumatic chamber located between each leaf spring and its respective frame member, each pneumatic chamber being located in a spread configuration, means located substantially directly under the frame member when the system is installed for taking up the horizontal force components of braking and dynamic operating forces, and means connecting the pneumatic chambers to the frame members and the springs, which means also offset the chambers from the vertical plane of the axle, such that when pneumatic pressure is applied to the chamber it elongates, forcing the axle downwardly against the upward bias of the spring to engage the wheels with the road surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond M Scanlon
- 👤 Jr Stephen Turner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 06:36
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G11/00; B60G11/32; B60G11/34; B60G11/46; B60G11/465; B62; B62D; B62D61/00; B62D61/12; B62D61/125; B60G2202/00; B60G2202/10; B60G2202/15; B60G2202/152; B60G2202/1524; B60G2300/00; B60G2300/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
267 words
A lift-axle suspension system for a wheeled vehicle having a longitudinally extending frame member adjacent each side of said vehicle, said system when mounted on said vehicle connecting a wheel-bearing axle to said frame members in a manner to allow said axle to be alternately lowered and raised, thereby lowering said wheel into and raising said wheel from road engagement, the system comprising: longitudinally extending normally upwardly biased leaf springs; spring hanger means for retaining the leaf springs at their end portions; means for connecting the suspension system to said axle; longitudinally extending offsetting means mountable at about said means'' central portion below and to said axle by said axle connecting means, said offsetting means retaining said leaf springs in mountable underlying relation to said axle; said offsetting means having ends forward and aft of said central portion which terminate in support means for the lower portion of a pneumatic system; said pneumatic system comprising a vertically flexible pneumatic chamber extending between each of said support means and a respective frame member when the system is mounted on said vehicle such that when pneumatic pressure is applied to the chambers they expand, forcing the wheel into engagement with the road surface and such that when the pressure is released, the normal upward bias of the leaf springs lifts the wheel out of road engagement; the system being further characterized by said spring hanger means and said offsetting means being located in said system such that when the system is mounted on said vehicle, said leaf springs are located substantially directly under their respective longitudinally extending frame members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
267 words
A lift-axle suspension system for a wheeled vehicle having a longitudinally extending frame member adjacent each side of said vehicle, said system when mounted on said vehicle connecting a wheel-bearing axle to said frame members in a manner to allow said axle to be alternately lowered and raised, thereby lowering said wheel into and raising said wheel from road engagement, the system comprising: longitudinally extending normally upwardly biased leaf springs; spring hanger means for retaining the leaf springs at their end portions; means for connecting the suspension system to said axle; longitudinally extending offsetting means mountable at about said means'' central portion below and to said axle by said axle connecting means, said offsetting means retaining said leaf springs in mountable underlying relation to said axle; said offsetting means having ends forward and aft of said central portion which terminate in support means for the lower portion of a pneumatic system; said pneumatic system comprising a vertically flexible pneumatic chamber extending between each of said support means and a respective frame member when the system is mounted on said vehicle such that when pneumatic pressure is applied to the chambers they expand, forcing the wheel into engagement with the road surface and such that when the pressure is released, the normal upward bias of the leaf springs lifts the wheel out of road engagement; the system being further characterized by said spring hanger means and said offsetting means being located in said system such that when the system is mounted on said vehicle, said leaf springs are located substantially directly under their respective longitudinally extending frame members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said system further includes a radius rod, which when said system is mounted on said vehicle, is located substantially directly under its respective longitudinally extending frame member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said leaf springs are semi-elliptic and wherein for a respective semi-elliptic leaf spring, one spring hanger means is located forward and one aft of said offsetting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
249 words
A lift-axle suspension system for a wheel vehicle having a longitudinally extending frame member adjacent each side of said vehicle, said system when mounted on said vehicle connecting a wheel-bearing axle to said frame members in a manner to allow said axle to be alternately lowered and raised, thereby lowering said wheel into and raising said wheel from road engagement, the system comprising: two longitudinally extending normally upwardly biased leaf springs; spring haNger means for retaining the leaf springs at their end portions; means for connecting the suspension system to said axle; longitudinally extending offsetting means mountable at about its central portion below and to said axle by said axle connecting means, said offsetting means retaining said leaf springs in mountable underlying relation to said axle; said offsetting means having ends forward and aft of said central portion which terminates in support means for the lower portion of a pneumatic system; said pneumatic system comprising a vertically flexible pneumatic chamber extending between each of said support means and a respective frame member when the system is mounted on said vehicle such that when pneumatic pressure is applied to the chambers they expand, forcing the wheel into engagement with the road surface and such that when the pressure is released, the normal upward bias of the leaf spring lifts the wheel out of road engagement; the system being further characterized by said vertically flexible pneumatic chambers being located in a spread configuration when said system is mounted on said vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
249 words
A lift-axle suspension system for a wheel vehicle having a longitudinally extending frame member adjacent each side of said vehicle, said system when mounted on said vehicle connecting a wheel-bearing axle to said frame members in a manner to allow said axle to be alternately lowered and raised, thereby lowering said wheel into and raising said wheel from road engagement, the system comprising: two longitudinally extending normally upwardly biased leaf springs; spring haNger means for retaining the leaf springs at their end portions; means for connecting the suspension system to said axle; longitudinally extending offsetting means mountable at about its central portion below and to said axle by said axle connecting means, said offsetting means retaining said leaf springs in mountable underlying relation to said axle; said offsetting means having ends forward and aft of said central portion which terminates in support means for the lower portion of a pneumatic system; said pneumatic system comprising a vertically flexible pneumatic chamber extending between each of said support means and a respective frame member when the system is mounted on said vehicle such that when pneumatic pressure is applied to the chambers they expand, forcing the wheel into engagement with the road surface and such that when the pressure is released, the normal upward bias of the leaf spring lifts the wheel out of road engagement; the system being further characterized by said vertically flexible pneumatic chambers being located in a spread configuration when said system is mounted on said vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said spring hanger means and said offsetting means are located in said system such that when said system is mounted on said vehicle, the leaf springs are located substantially directly under their respective longitudinally extending frame member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said system further includes a radius rod, which when said system is mounted on said vehicle, is located substantially directly under a respective longitudinally extending frame member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 5 wherein the center line of each chamber is spaced a distance not more than 20% the width of the chamber inwardly from said center line of said frame member when the system is mounted on said vehicle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 7 wherein said distance is not more than about 2 inches.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said offsetting means comprises a load arm means adapted to overlie the central portion of the leaf spring and underlie the axle, said load arm means including a substantially horizontal saddle portion within the confines of which said central portion of said leaf spring is retained, and an upwardly extending arm at either end of said load arm, at the top of each arm therebeing a platform upon which the lower portion of said chambers is supported.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said leaf springs are semi-elliptic and wherein for a respective semi-elliptic leaf spring one spring hanger means is located forward and one aft of said offsetting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
264 words
In a wheeled vehicle having longitudinally extending frame members in side-by-side relation and each frame member being disposed adjacent a respective side of said vehicle, first and second axles underlying said frame members and extending transversely thereof, said axles being spaced from each other longitudinally of said vehicle and each mounting wheels along which the vehicle may travel, means connecting said first axle to said frame members whereby said first axle provides a primary means of vehicle support and a lift-axle suspension system for raising and lowering said second axle so as to raise or lower said wheels mounted thereon out of or into contact with the travel surface of said vehicle, the improvement comprising as the lift-axle suspension system the system as defined in claim 1 wherein said lift axle is mounted substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the frame members, said offsetting means are connected at about said means'' central portion below and to said lift-axle by said axle connecting means, said springs being retained by said offsetting means so as to underly said lift-axle, said system being mounted on said vehicle such that said leaf springs are located substantially directly under their respective longitudinally extending frame members and such that said vertically flexible pneumatic chambers extend between each of said support means and a respective frame member such that when pneumatic pressure is applied to the chambers they expand, forcing the wheel into engagement with the road surface and such that when pressure is released, the normal upward bias of the leaf springs lifts the wheel out of road engagement.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said system further includes a radius rod located substantially directly under its respective longitudinally extending frame member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
260 words
In a wheeled vehicle having longitudinally extending frame members in side-by-side relation and each frame member being disposed adjacent a respective side of said vehicle, first and second axles underlying said frame members and extending transversely thereof, said axles being spaced from each other longitudinally of said vehicle and each mounting wheels along which the vehicle may travel, means connecting said first axle to said frame members whereby said first axle provides a primary means of vehicle support and a lift-axle suspension system for raising and lowering said second axle so as to raise or lower said wheels mounted thereon out of or into contact with the travel surface of said vehicle, the improvement comprising as the lift-axle suspension system the system as defined in claim 4 wherein said lift axle is mounted substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal directions of the frame members, said offsetting means are connected at about said means'' central portion below and to said lift-axle by said axle connecting means, said springs being retained by said offsetting means so as to underly said lift-axle said system being mounted on said vehicle such that said vertically flexible pneumatic chambers are in a spread configuration and such that said verticaally vertically pneumatic chambers extend between each of said support means and a respective frame member such that when pneumatic pressure is applied to the chambers they expand, forcing the wheel into engagement with the road surface and such that when pressure is released, the normal upward bias of the leaf springs lifts the wheel out of road engagement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said leaf springs are located substantially directly under their respective longitudinally extending frame members.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 14 which further includes a radius rod located substantially directly under a respective longitudinally extending frame member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 14 wherein the center line of each chamber is spaced a distance not more than about 2 inches inwardly from said center line of said frame member and wherein the center line of the leaf springs fall between the vertical planes of the horizontal extremities of their respective frame members.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
83 words
The system of claim 14 wherein said offsetting means comprises a load arm means overlying the central portion of its respective leaf spring and underlying said lift-axle, said load arm means including a substantially horizontal saddle portion within the confines of which said central portion of said leaf spring is retained, and an upwardly extending arm at either end of said load arm, at the top of each arm there being a platform upon which the lower portion of said chambers is supported.
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) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |