Air bag for sprint car

• US 6,733,022 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Curtis M. Bradshaw, Curtis S. Bradshaw
• Original Assignee: Curtis M. Bradshaw, Curtis S. Bradshaw
• Inventors: Bradshaw, Curtis M., Bradshaw, Curtis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bottorff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US10/059,385
• Publication Number:
  US 20020084615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.112, 280/124.157, 280/124.158, 280/124.162, 280/124.179, 280/124.116, 267/116, 267/118, 267/120, 267/122, 267/64.11, 267/64.27
• US Class Current: 280/124.157
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/28 characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/132 with a single trailing arm
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/126 Mounting of pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/14 the arm being rigid

Abstract

A vehicle air bag spring suspension system utilizing a swing arm as a member of a four-bar linkage subsystem wherein the suspension system with the airbag spring is compressed by the linkage opposite the swing arm'"'"'s fulcral point relative the supported wheel. The air bag further serves as an inherently, partially dampened spring having a non-linear spring compression rate, so as to firmly keep the vehicle tires firmly planted to a rough surface. A second embodiment employs two actuator arms per wheel, wherein one inside actuator arm contacts a fixed air bag spring and cooperates with the other outside actuator arm and a rotating actuator shaft inside a frame tube to dampen wheel movement. A third embodiment employs the air spring supports directly connected to the bird cages or the housings for the bearings for both the front and rear axles.

Claims

1. An air bag suspension system for a vehicle frame having front and rear axles comprising:

a vehicle frame having front and rear axles and wheels;

an air bag spring having a contiguous upper mount means and a contiguous lower mount means positioned on the front and rear axles adjacent the wheels, wherein each said lower mount means on the rear axles is wedge shaped;

each air bag spring'"'"'s contiguous upper mount means having a vertical post;

a clamp for each air bag spring affixed on the frame having an apertured ring extending therefrom; and

the post of each bag spring positioned within each apertured ring;

whereby the air bag springs replace other vehicle suspension systems.

2. The air bag suspension system according to claim 1, further comprising a cone positioned within each air bag spring, wherein the cone is based on the lower mount.

3. The air bag suspension according to claim 1, wherein said air bag suspension system is on a sprint car frame.

4. The air bag suspension system according to claim 1, wherein the air spring bag has an air intake stem for inflation.

5. The air bag suspension system according to claim 1, wherein each lower mount means for the front axle is circular and welded onto the front axle.

6. The air bag suspension system according to claim 1, wherein said each lower mount wedge means is welded to a bird cage.

7. The air bag suspension system according to claim 6, wherein each bird cage holds wheel bearings.

8. The air bag suspension system according to claim 7, wherein the wheel bearings and the bird cages are positioned on the rear axle by sliding over the ends of the axle.