Vehicle cab suspension unit

• US 5,957,231 A
• Filed: 04/10/1998
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Power Packer North America, Inc. (Enerpac Tool Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Applied Power Incorporated (ICC-Nexergy, Inc)
• Inventors: Stuyvenberg, Douglas G., Conaway, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US09/058,464
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 180/89.12, 180/89.13, 180/89.16, 180/89.14, 180/89.15, 296/35.1, 296/190.05, 296/190.06, 296/190.07, 267/140.11, 267/140.13
• US Class Current: 180/89.14
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0608 pneumatic or hydraulic suspension

Abstract

A vehicle cab suspension unit has a foundation which is secured to an outer rail of the frame of the vehicle and pivotally connects one end of a track arm. The other end of the track arm is supported above the foundation by an air spring, and a cab support yoke is pivotally connected between the ends of the track arm so as to support and secure the cab at a position along the track arm between its ends. Shock absorbers are provided between the foundation and the cab support yoke on both sides of the track arm. A height control valve maintains the height of the suspension unit and elastomeric snubbers on the foundation provide limits to the range of travel of the unit.

Claims

1. In a vehicle cab suspension unit which supports a cab on a frame of a vehicle and has an air spring and at least one shock absorber, the improvement wherein said suspension includes an arm having one end pivotally connected to said frame, an opposite end supported by said air spring, and wherein said cab is supported by said arm at a position along said arm which is between said ends.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said one end of said arm is pivotally connected to said frame by a bracket of said unit which is fixed to said frame of said vehicle.

3. The improvement of claim 2, wherein said bracket is mounted to an outer side frame rail of said frame.

4. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said one end of said arm is pivotally connected to said frame so as to pivot about a pivot axis which is longitudinally oriented relative to said vehicle in a fore and aft direction of said vehicle.

5. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said air spring of said unit is angled relative to a vertical direction.

6. The improvement of claim 5, wherein said air spring is angled in a lateral plane which is a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said vehicle.

7. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said cab is supported by said arm at a position along said arm which is between said ends of said arm by means of a latch which is releasably securable to said cab and is pivotally connected to said arm.

8. The improvement of claim 7, wherein said latch is pivotally connected to said arm by an anti-vibration bushing.

9. The improvement of claim 7, wherein a linkage arm maintains said latch in an orientation to engage with said cab when said cab is disengaged from said latch.

10. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said suspension unit has two shock absorbers, with one of said shock absorbers being positioned on each side of said arm.

11. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said shock absorber is angled in a lateral plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said vehicle.

12. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said arm is pivotally connected to said frame by an anti-vibration bushing.