Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-12
2001-03-20
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S124100, C280S124110
Reexamination Certificate
active
06203039
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to independent suspension systems for vehicles and, more particularly, is concerned with an independent suspension system with improved vertical alignment and range of travel.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various independent suspension systems for vehicles are known in the prior art. One example is the independent suspension system provided on model F-100 and F-250 trucks by Ford Motor Company as early as 1975. More recently, an agricultural boom sprayer illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,988 to Gallenberg adopted a substantially similar independent suspension system as originally provided in the Ford trucks.
The independent suspension system on the Ford truck and Gallenberg boom sprayer includes a pair of generally horizontally-disposed elongated axle members for supporting a pair of vehicle wheels adjacent to opposite sides of the vehicle chassis. Each of the axle members independent of one another interconnects a corresponding one of the rotatable wheels with an opposite side of the chassis. One end of the each axle member is pivotally connected to the one rotatable wheel via a kingpin assembly while the opposite end of each axle member is pivotally connected to the one opposite side of the chassis. The axle members are generally straight, extend parallel to one another and pivot in generally parallel vertical planes.
The independent suspension system on the Ford truck and Gallenberg boom sprayer also includes a pair of stabilizing bars or struts interconnecting the axle members at their one ends with portions of the opposite sides of chassis longitudinally spaced from the side portions of the chassis where the axle members are pivotally connected at their other ends. Particularly, each strut is rigidly secured to the one end of the respective axle member relative to vertical pivotal movement thereof and pivotally connected to the longitudinally spaced side portions of the chassis.
The independent suspension system on the Ford truck and Gallenberg boom sprayer further includes spring means positioned between the chassis and the one end of each axle member for cushioning the vehicle as it traverses the terrain. The spring means on the Ford truck is a heavy coiled spring whereas the spring means used on the Gallenberg boom sprayer is an air bag.
The above-described prior art independent suspension system appears to provide adequate stability for the limited range of vertical travel of the suspension system, such as a few inches up or down from a neutral position, required in the vehicles using the design. However, this prior art suspension system is not seen to provide adequate stability for heavier vehicles where a significantly greater range of vertical travel of the suspension system is required from the neutral position. Furthermore, because the stabilizing struts are fixed to the axle member, the vertical alignment of the centers of the wheels relative to a vertical reference substantially changes as the wheels move away from (above or below) the neutral position. This change is tolerable in the case of lighter vehicles where the required range of vertical travel is slight. This change would not be tolerable in the case of heavier vehicles where the required range of vertical travel is much greater.
Consequently, a need exists for an independent suspension system which will accommodate the conditions and requirements encountered with heavier vehicles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an independent suspension system designed to satisfy the aforementioned need. The independent suspension system of the present invention provides a pair of axle beams which extend in oblique relationships to the longitudinally-extending opposite sides of the vehicle chassis permitting independent vertical pivotal movements thereof that allow for an extended range of vertical travel of each of the wheels, for instance, about two feet at the centers of the wheels compared to a few inches in the case of the prior art independent suspension system. Thus, from a neutral position each wheel can move up about twelve inches and down about twelve inches before reaching upper and lower limits.
The independent suspension system of the present invention also provides a pair of radius arms each pivotally connected at opposite ends to the chassis and to the one end of each axle beam adjacent to where the axle beam is pivotally connected to one of the wheels so as to control fore and aft movement of axle beam during its vertical pivotal movement and to maintain the vertical pivotal axis between the one end of each axle beam and the one wheel closer to true vertical alignment with a vertical reference over the greater range of vertical travel than in the case of the prior art independent suspension system.
The independent suspension system of the present invention further provides a pair of torque links each pivotally interconnected at opposite ends to the chassis and the other end of each axle beam so as to counteract rotational forces introduced to the axle beam by the acceleration and braking of the vehicle. The torque links in being located adjacent to the other ends of the axle beams where the axle beams are pivotal connected to the chassis sides cause only minimal vertical tilting of the vertical pivotal axes to occur at the one ends of the axle beams.
The independent suspension system of the present invention still further provides spring means in the form of a pair of air bags disposed adjacent each of the one ends of the axle beams adjacent to their pivotal connections about vertical pivotal axes to the respective rotatable wheels. The air bags are supported under each of the chassis sides along opposite sides of each of the one ends of the axle beams by brackets attached to and extending in opposite directions from the opposite sides of the one ends of the axle beams.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2509803 (1950-05-01), Booth
patent: 5353988 (1994-10-01), Gallenberg
patent: 1057469 (1959-09-01), None
patent: 705114 (1954-03-01), None
patent: 1-28012 (1989-01-01), None
patent: 541685 (1977-03-01), None
Ford Truck Parts, Illustration Section 30, p. 3 Front Axle & Front Susension 1965/69 Fl00/250 Jan. 1975.
Culbreth Eric
Flanagan & Flanagan
John K. Flanagan
John R. Flanagan
LandOfFree
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