Vehicle suspension system
First Claim
1. In a vehicle having a suspension system comprising a frame including first and second spaced elongated side rail members and transversey extending interconnecting members secured to said side rail members, an axle assembly, means provided on said axle assembly for securing ground engaging wheels thereto and suspension means for movably mounting said axle assembly to said vehicle frame, said suspension means comprising:
- a first trailling arm member having one end pivotably secured to one of said side rails;
a second trailing arm member having one end pivotably secured to the other of said side rails;
means securing said axle assembly to said first and second trailing arms;
first spring means extending transversely relative to said frame and having opposite end portions connected to respective of said first and second trailing arm members, and an intermediate portion secured directly to an intermediate portion directly to said frame, said first spring means being operative to inhibit lateral movement of said frame relative to said axle and to in part resiliently support said frame upon said axle assembly; and
a pair of second spring means, one of said pair of second spring means extending between said first trailing arm member and said frame and the other of said second pair of spring means extending between said second trailing arm member and said frame, said second pair of spring means being operative to primarily resiliently support said frame on said axle assembly.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed herein a vehicle suspension system suitable for use with both driving and steering wheels comprising a pair of trailing arms pivotably connected at one end to a frame assembly and having the other ends thereof movably supported by the cooperative effort of air springs and a leaf spring extending transversely between the trailing arms. The leaf spring has a center portion secured to the frame assembly so as to provide lateral support to each of the trailing arms as well as to cooperate with the air springs in supporting the frame assembly and associated vehicle body.
41 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a vehicle having a suspension system comprising a frame including first and second spaced elongated side rail members and transversey extending interconnecting members secured to said side rail members, an axle assembly, means provided on said axle assembly for securing ground engaging wheels thereto and suspension means for movably mounting said axle assembly to said vehicle frame, said suspension means comprising:
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a first trailling arm member having one end pivotably secured to one of said side rails; a second trailing arm member having one end pivotably secured to the other of said side rails; means securing said axle assembly to said first and second trailing arms; first spring means extending transversely relative to said frame and having opposite end portions connected to respective of said first and second trailing arm members, and an intermediate portion secured directly to an intermediate portion directly to said frame, said first spring means being operative to inhibit lateral movement of said frame relative to said axle and to in part resiliently support said frame upon said axle assembly; and a pair of second spring means, one of said pair of second spring means extending between said first trailing arm member and said frame and the other of said second pair of spring means extending between said second trailing arm member and said frame, said second pair of spring means being operative to primarily resiliently support said frame on said axle assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a vehicle having a suspension system including a frame assembly, rear axle means including means for mounting ground engaging wheels thereon, front axle means including means for mounting ground engaging wheels thereon and suspension means for movably securing said frame assembly to said front and rear axle means in supporting relationship, said suspension means comprising:
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a first pair of elongated laterally spaced trailing arm members each having one end pivotably secured to said frame assembly adjacent a forward end thereof; first leaf spring means extending transversely between said pair of trailing arm members, said first spring means having end portions secured to respective ones of said first pair of trailing arms and an intermediate portion secured to said frame assembly; a second pair of elongated laterally spaced trailing arm members each having one end pivotably secured to an intermediate portion of said frame assembly; second leaf spring means extending transversely between said second pair of trailing arms and having end portions secured to respective ones of said second pair of trailing arms and an intermediate portion secured to said frame assembly; and a plurality of air springs, one of said air springs extending between each of said first and second pair of trailing arm members and said frame assembly; said first and second leaf spring means and said plurality of air springs cooperating to support the weight of said motor vehicle and said first and second leaf spring means being operative to inhibit lateral movement of said first and second pairs of trailing arm members. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. In a vehicle having a suspension system comprising a frame including first and second spaced elongated side rail members and transversely extending interconnecting members secured to said side rail members, axle means including means for securing ground engaging wheels thereto and suspension means for movably mounting said axle means to said frame, said suspension means comprising:
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a first elongated trailing arm member having one end pivotably secured to one of said side rail members, a second elongated trailing arm member having one end secured to the other of said side rail members, a first spring means extending between and secured to said frame and the other end of said first trailing arm member, and operative to resiliently bias said other end of said first trailing arm member away from said frame assembly; a second spring means extending between and secured to said frame and the other end of said second trailing arm member and operative to resiliently bias said other end of said second trailing arm member away from said frame assembly; said axle means being secured to each of said first and second trailing arm members approximately centrally along the length thereof whereby the moment arm acting on the pivotal attachment of said one end and the moment arm acting on respective of said first and second spring means at the other end of respective of said first and second trailing arms is substantially equal; third spring means for inhibiting lateral movement of said first and second trailing arm members relative to said frame and in part resiliently supporting said frame on said axle means, said third spring means extending transversely of said frame and having opposite ends secured to respective of said first and second trailing arm members immediately adjacent said axle means and a central portion fixedly secured to one of said interconnecting members of said frame whereby a maximum lateral stabilizing effect is provided to respective of said first and second trailing arm members by said third spring means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification