Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120061887 | AIR SPRING FOR A HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE WITH DAMPING FEATURES - An air spring for a heavy-duty vehicle axle/suspension system includes a bellows chamber operatively connected to a piston chamber. An opening is disposed between the bellows chamber and the piston chamber in order to allow fluid to communicate between the bellows chamber and the piston chamber. The cross-sectional area of the opening and the volumes of the bellows chamber and the piston chamber are tuned in order to optimize the damping characteristics of the air spring. | 03-15-2012 |
20120080573 | BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENT AXLE MOUNT - A brake system component axle mount for a vehicle axle/suspension system includes an axle having at least one depression formed therein. A sleeve is formed with at least one depression and disposed about the axle so that the axle depression and the sleeve depression matingly engage one another to form a mated pair of depressions. A brake mount assembly is rigidly attached to the sleeve. A method of forming the brake system component axle mount includes providing an axle and disposing a sleeve about the axle. At least one mated pair of depressions is simultaneously formed in the axle and the sleeve. A brake mount assembly is rigidly attached to the sleeve. | 04-05-2012 |
20120080862 | HEAVY-DUTY AXLE-TO-BEAM CONNECTION - An axle-to-beam connection for a vehicle axle/suspension system includes an axle having at least one depression formed therein. A sleeve is formed with at least one depression and disposed about the axle so that the axle depression and the sleeve depression matingly engage one another to form a mated pair of depressions. A method of forming the axle-to-beam connection includes providing an axle and disposing a sleeve about the axle. At least one mated pair of depressions is simultaneously formed in the axle and the sleeve. The sleeve is immovably mounted to a vehicle axle/suspension system. | 04-05-2012 |
20120291626 | PISTON FOR AN AIR SPRING OF A HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE - A piston for an air spring of a heavy-duty vehicle includes a sidewall and a central hub. The sidewall and the central hub are attached to a first bottom plate of the piston. A top plate is removeably attached to a top portion of the sidewall and a top portion of the central hub. A bottom portion of said central hub includes a second bottom plate that is recessed relative to the first bottom plate for attachment to a piston mounting pedestal that is in turn mounted to a beam of a suspension assembly of the heavy-duty vehicle. | 11-22-2012 |
20130277936 | HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE AXLE-TO-BEAM OR CROSSBRACE-TO-BEAM CONNECTION - An axle-to-beam or crossbrace-to-beam connection for a vehicle axle/suspension system includes an axle or crossbrace having at least one depression formed therein. A sleeve is formed with at least one depression and disposed about the axle or crossbrace so that the axle or crossbrace depression and the sleeve depression matingly engage one another to form a mated pair of depressions. A method of forming the axle-to-beam or crossbrace-to-beam connection includes providing an axle or crossbrace and disposing a sleeve about the axle or crossbrace. At least one mated pair of depressions is simultaneously formed in the axle or crossbrace and the sleeve. The sleeve is immovably mounted to a vehicle axle/suspension system. | 10-24-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140300076 | VEHICLE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH RESERVOIR FOR AIR SPRING DAMPING - A suspension system can include an air spring, an air reservoir external to the air spring, and a flow control device which variably restricts flow of air between the air spring and the air reservoir. Flow between the air spring and the air reservoir may be permitted in response to compliance of the suspension system, and the air spring can have an internal air volume at least 2½ times as great may permit flow between the air spring and the air reservoir in response to a predetermined pressure differential level across the flow control device. Multiple air reservoirs can be internal to an axle, or other suspension system or vehicle component, and can be isolated from each other. | 10-09-2014 |
20150266507 | STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE AXLE/SUSPENSION SYSTEM - A steering lock mechanism for a steerable axle/suspension system includes a pair of independent tie rods, each one connected to a respective one of a pair of pivoting ends of a steerable axle/suspension system and also connected to a steering bracket that is pivotally connected to the axle of the steerable axle/suspension system. A primary lock assembly, which includes an air spring, and a secondary lock assembly are operatively connected to the steering bracket and to the steerable axle/suspension system. When the air spring of the primary lock assembly is inflated with air or when the secondary lock assembly is activated, the steering bracket is prevented from pivoting and in turn the first and second tie rods are prevented from moving transversely, so that the steerable axle/suspension system is locked into a generally straight travel position during operation of the vehicle. | 09-24-2015 |
20150273964 | HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLE AXLE-TO-BEAM OR CROSSBRACE-TO-BEAM CONNECTION - An axle-to-beam or crossbrace-to-beam connection for a vehicle axle/suspension system includes an axle or crossbrace having at least one depression formed therein. A sleeve is formed with at least one depression and disposed about the axle or crossbrace so that the axle or crossbrace depression and the sleeve depression matingly engage one another to form a mated pair of depressions. A method of forming the axle-to-beam or crossbrace-to-beam connection includes providing an axle or crossbrace and disposing a sleeve about the axle or crossbrace. At least one mated pair of depressions is simultaneously formed in the axle or crossbrace and the sleeve. The sleeve is immovably mounted to a vehicle axle/suspension system. | 10-01-2015 |