Brackets for mounting auxiliary suspension systems, such as lift axle systems, to vehicles are disclosed herein. For example, brackets are disclosed for attaching lift axle hanger brackets and lift axle load springs to corresponding frame members. In some embodiments, the frame brackets can include physical features (e.g., a series of graduated steps in an edge portion thereof) to facilitate visual alignment of the lift axle with the vehicle frame members during installation. In other embodiments, the frame brackets can be two-piece brackets that enable the load springs to be removed and replaced without having to detach the frame bracket from the frame rail.
B62D 61/12 - Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern with variable number of ground-engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels
B60G 11/27 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of springs having fluid springs only, e.g. hydropneumatic springs wherein the fluid is a gas
B60G 5/00 - Resilient suspensions for a set of tandem wheels or axles having interrelated movements
B60G 11/28 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of springs having fluid springs only, e.g. hydropneumatic springs characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
B62D 21/02 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
2.
Driven lift axles and associated systems and methods
Driven lift axles and associated systems and components are provided for use on heavy duty trucks, trailers, and/or other vehicles. Driven lift axle systems may include one or more motors mounted to the lift axle to provide torque to drive one or more wheels of the lift axle. Various mounting configurations of such motors are possible, such as arranging a motor on the axle to provide torque at a conventional driveshaft input by interfacing with a differential drive gear, positioning a motor at each of the wheel ends of the axle to provide torque directly to the wheels, etc. Each wheel can be driven by a separate motor, allowing for independent control of the torque applied to each wheel. Lift axles described herein can be suitable for use with various motors capable of applying torque to the axle and/or wheels, such as electric motors, hydraulic motors, internal combustion engines, etc.
B62D 61/12 - Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern with variable number of ground-engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels
B60G 17/015 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or s the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements
B60K 1/02 - Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units comprising more than one electric motor
B60G 9/00 - Resilient suspensions for a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels
B60K 17/16 - Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of gearing of differential gearing
Brackets for mounting auxiliary suspension systems, such as lift axle systems, to vehicles are disclosed herein. For example, brackets are disclosed for attaching lift axle hanger brackets and lift axle load springs to corresponding frame members. In some embodiments, the frame brackets can include physical features (e.g., a series of graduated steps in an edge portion thereof) to facilitate visual alignment of the lift axle with the vehicle frame members during installation. In other embodiments, the frame brackets can be two-piece brackets that enable the load springs to be removed and replaced without having to detach the frame bracket from the frame rail.
B62D 61/12 - Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern with variable number of ground-engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels
B60G 11/28 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of springs having fluid springs only, e.g. hydropneumatic springs characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
B60G 11/27 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of springs having fluid springs only, e.g. hydropneumatic springs wherein the fluid is a gas
B60G 5/00 - Resilient suspensions for a set of tandem wheels or axles having interrelated movements
B62D 21/02 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
Vehicle cab suspension control systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the cab suspension control systems can include front cab-to-frame mounts that include controllable elastomer-based isolators that can provide real time variable damping to improve ride quality and/or road holding and reduce cab roll in response to, for example, input from one or more cab and/or frame mounted accelerometers, position sensors, etc. Embodiments of the control systems described herein can utilize a single vehicle controller (e.g., an ECU) to control all of the cab suspension components (e.g., semi-active damping technologies, air spring technologies, etc.) employed on a vehicle to provide a single suspension control solution that can provide improved ride performance, road holding, etc.
B60G 17/019 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or s the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof
B60G 17/016 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or s the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input
B60G 17/015 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or s the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements
Brackets for mounting auxiliary suspension systems, such as lift axle systems, to vehicles are disclosed herein. For example, brackets are disclosed for attaching lift axle hanger brackets and lift axle load springs to corresponding frame members. In some embodiments, the frame brackets can include physical features (e.g., a series of graduated steps in an edge portion thereof) to facilitate visual alignment of the lift axle with the vehicle frame members during installation. In other embodiments, the frame brackets can be two-piece brackets that enable the load springs to be removed and replaced without having to detach the frame bracket from the frame rail.
B62D 61/12 - Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern with variable number of ground-engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels
B60G 11/28 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of springs having fluid springs only, e.g. hydropneumatic springs characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
B60G 11/27 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of springs having fluid springs only, e.g. hydropneumatic springs wherein the fluid is a gas
B60G 5/00 - Resilient suspensions for a set of tandem wheels or axles having interrelated movements
B62D 21/02 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
Lift axle systems for use with trucks and other heavy duty vehicles are described herein. In some embodiments, lift axle systems configured in accordance with the present technology include upper and lower control arms on each side of the vehicle that operably couple an axle to a support system attached to the vehicle chassis. The upper control arm has a first end portion pivotally attached to a support system bracket at an upper bracket location, and a second end portion pivotally attached to the axle at an upper axle location. The lower control arm has a first end portion pivotally attached to the support system bracket at a lower bracket location, and a second end portion pivotally attached to the axle at a lower axle location. In some embodiments, the upper and lower bracket locations lie in a vertical plane that extends parallel to the vertical and longitudinal axes of the vehicle, and the upper axle location is spaced apart from the lower axle location in a lateral direction that extends parallel to the lateral axis of the vehicle.
B62D 61/12 - Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern with variable number of ground-engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels
B60G 9/00 - Resilient suspensions for a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels
B62D 33/077 - Superstructures for load-carrying vehicles characterised by the connection of the superstructure to the vehicle frame
B62D 21/20 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted characterised by the vehicle type and not provided for in groups trailer type, i.e. a frame specifically constructed for use in a non-powered vehicle
B62D 21/02 - Understructures, i.e. chassis frame on which a vehicle body may be mounted comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members
B62D 33/063 - Drivers' cabs movable from one position into at least one other position, e.g. tiltable, pivotable about a vertical axis, displaceable from one side of the vehicle to the other
9.
Auxiliary suspension air damping systems and associated methods of manufacture and use
Air damping systems for lift axles are described herein. In some embodiments, lift axle systems configured in accordance with the present technology can include one or more air springs for carrying vehicle sprung mass (“load springs”) and one or more air springs (or, for example, air cylinders) for raising the lift axle (“lift springs”). One or more air lines can be connected between the load springs and the lift springs so that, in operation, compression and extension of the load springs in response to axle movement causes pressurized air to flow back and forth between the load springs and the lift springs. As a result, the lift springs provide an additional volume to receive the pressurized air and provide an opposing spring force to the suspension. Additionally, in some embodiments the air line or lines extending between the load springs and the lift springs can include an air flow restriction and/or other air damping feature. In operation, the air damping feature dampens the flow of air between the load springs and the lift springs to provide damping of the vehicle suspension without the additional costs or disadvantages often associated with conventional hydraulic shock absorbers.
B60G 13/14 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or type of vibration-dampers having dampers accumulating utilisable energy, e.g. compressing air
B60G 11/27 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of springs having fluid springs only, e.g. hydropneumatic springs wherein the fluid is a gas
B60G 9/00 - Resilient suspensions for a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels
B60G 13/10 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or type of vibration-dampers having dampers dissipating energy, e.g. frictionally of fluid type pneumatic
F16F 9/512 - Means responsive to load action on the damper or fluid pressure in the damper
Vehicle cab suspension control systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the cab suspension control systems can include front cab-to-frame mounts that include controllable elastomer-based isolators that can provide real time variable damping to improve ride quality and/or road holding and reduce cab roll in response to, for example, input from one or more cab and/or frame mounted accelerometers, position sensors, etc. Embodiments of the control systems described herein can utilize a single vehicle controller (e.g., an ECU) to control all of the cab suspension components (e.g., semi-active damping technologies, air spring technologies, etc.) employed on a vehicle to provide a single suspension control solution that can provide improved ride performance, road holding, etc.
B60G 17/016 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or s the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input
B60G 17/019 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or s the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof
B60G 17/015 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or s the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements
11.
Height control linkage for a vehicle cab suspension system
A height control linkage for a vehicle cab suspension comprising upper and lower linkage members which are adjustably joined by a barrel assembly including first and second barrel members which are selectively joined together. The upper linkage member includes a laterally facing socket and a shaft portion which extends therefrom with the shaft portion having a plurality of alternating and spaced-apart annular grooves and ridges which are rotatably secured to the upper ends of the barrel members. The lower linkage member includes a laterally facing socket and a threaded shaft extending upwardly therefrom which is adjustably threadably secured to the lower ends of the barrel members. The length of the height control linkage may be changed by threadably rotating the barrel assembly with respect to the lower linkage member.
An auxiliary axle or lift axle is pivotally mounted to the frame of a vehicle for selectively providing additional flotation for the vehicle. A pair of frame brackets are secured to the frame members of the vehicle and have horizontally disposed mounting plates adjacent to the lower ends thereof. A bracket member extends downwardly from one end of the mounting plate and has a pair of spaced-apart slots formed therein. A bracket member also extends downwardly from the other end of the frame bracket and has a pair of spaced-apart first and second slots formed therein. The hanger brackets are adjustably secured to the bracket members to permit the axle assembly to be mounted on frame members having varying distances therebetween and having varying frame thicknesses. The novel method of securing the hanger brackets to the frame brackets is also disclosed.
B62D 33/10 - Superstructures for load-carrying vehicles characterised by the connection of the superstructure to the vehicle frame comprising means for the suspension of the superstructure on the frame
B62D 27/02 - Connections between superstructure sub-units rigid
B62D 21/09 - Means for mounting load bearing surfaces
An air suspension control system for a vehicle such as an ambulance, a bus or a semi-truck. The control system includes an air supply, such as a compressor, which is configured to pneumatically communicate with a lift mechanism for moving the lift mechanism between a ride height position and a kneeling position and vice versa. The controller is configured to return or recover the lift mechanism to its ride height position during the time the lift mechanism is moving from its ride height position to its kneeling position by only deactivating the kneel input. The controller is configured to return or recover the lift mechanism to its ride height position after the lift mechanism has reached kneeling position by both deactivating the kneel input and activating the recover trigger input by pressing the brake pedal. The control system also has a transmission park feature and an ignition timer feature.
B60G 17/017 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or s the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by their use when the vehicle is stationary, e.g. during loading, engine start-up or switch-off
B60G 17/015 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or s the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements
B60G 17/019 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or s the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof
An adjustable king pin assembly for a fifth wheel trailer which includes an adjustable slider bar having a king pin secured thereto. The slider bar and king pin are easily removed from the assembly for repair, maintenance or replacement.
An adjustment mechanism for adjustably aligning the bushing pin of a hanger bracket to which a lift arm of a lift axle suspension system is secured. The adjustment mechanism may also be used for adjustably aligning the bushing pin of an auxiliary axle which is of the non-lift type. The adjustment mechanism may also be used for adjustably aligning the bushing pin of a primary axle. More particularly, the invention relates to an adjustable alignment mechanism of the type described which includes an improved pointer device which visually indicates the alignment position of the bushing pin. Even more particularly, this invention relates to an improved means for securing the bushing pin in its aligned position.
B62D 33/10 - Superstructures for load-carrying vehicles characterised by the connection of the superstructure to the vehicle frame comprising means for the suspension of the superstructure on the frame
A height control valve for a suspension leveling system includes a control unit and a valve assembly. The control unit can include a servo powered by a servo current, the servo being coupled to the valve assembly with a linkage. The control unit also can include a controller in communication with the servo and adapted to sense a change in the servo current when the linkage fully engages the valve assembly to reconfigure the valve assembly to a desired supply, exhaust and/or closed position. Based on the change in servo current, the controller can determine a selected distance to move or reconfigure the valve assembly, with distance being independent of any wear or tolerance in the linkage or elsewhere. The control unit can also include an actuator, the movement of which is sensed by a non-contact sensor that is in communication with the controller.
An air suspension system for a load bearing vehicle which includes a pair of air springs fluidly connected to a pair of auxiliary air reservoirs and to a main air reservoir. The system includes control valves which permit the air in the air springs to be exhausted therefrom to lower the vehicle frame without exhausting the air from the auxiliary air reservoirs.
A lateral control rod for use in a vehicle cab suspension wherein the control rod has an attenuation assembly imposed therein between the ends thereof which reduces the transmission of vibration and shock therethrough.
B62D 33/10 - Superstructures for load-carrying vehicles characterised by the connection of the superstructure to the vehicle frame comprising means for the suspension of the superstructure on the frame
20.
Height control linkage for a vehicle cab suspension
A height control linkage for a vehicle cab suspension comprising elongated lower and upper linkage members, each of which has upper and lower ends. The lower linkage member has external, vertically spaced-apart, alternating ridges and grooves formed thereon for at least a portion thereof above its lower end. The lower end of the upper linkage member has a generally C-shaped cross-sectional portion defining a gap. The generally C-shaped portion of the upper linkage member has internal, vertically spaced-apart, alternating ridges and grooves which are complementary to the external ridges and grooves of the lower linkage member. The upper end of the lower linkage member is adapted to be vertically adjustably snap-fitted through the gap of the upper linkage member to connect the lower linkage member to the upper linkage member. A snap-clip is provided to maintain the linkage members in their connected relationship. Rotation of one of the linkage members with respect to the other linkage member does not result in a change in the length of the linkage. The linkage members and the snap-clip are preferably comprised of a molded plastic material. The linkage of this invention may be used to link components other than vehicle cab suspensions.
An apparatus for transporting caskets in a small van including upper and lower decks with the upper deck being movably mounted, with respect to the lower deck, from a lower position wherein the upper deck is adjacent the lower deck to an upper position wherein the upper deck is spaced above the lower deck so that both of the decks may support caskets or the like thereon. The apparatus includes rear supports or legs which are selectively longitudinally adjustably secured to horizontally extending beams so that the apparatus may be placed in vans having wheel housings extending into the cargo compartment thereof.
A casket transporter which is positioned in a vehicle and which is adapted to support a pair of caskets on a lower deck and a pair of caskets on an upper deck. The upper deck is movable from a transport position to a loading position.
A vehicle leveling system including at least one level sensor, a controller and an output. The sensor measures how level the vehicle is relative to horizontal. Optionally, it does so dynamically, as the vehicle moves across a potential parking area. The controller analyzes the sensor measurements, and informs the operator via the output whether the vehicle is level in a given direction, whether the vehicle is leveling, whether the vehicle can be leveled at a given location, and/or the “best” leveling that the system is capable of at a location. The system also may automatically level the vehicle relative to the ground for the operator. In one embodiment, the leveling system communicates with an existing vehicle electronic height control system. The leveling system overrides or controls the normal operation of this system, and uses it to level the vehicle, for example, by adjusting the vehicle suspension.
patents
