Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Structural detail
Utility Patent
1999-08-06
2001-01-02
Pedder, Dennis H. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Structural detail
C296S035100, C296S190050
Utility Patent
active
06168229
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a vehicle cab suspension and more particularly to a vehicle cab suspension for resiliently or flexibly supporting the rearward end of the truck cab or the like.
2. Description of the Invention
Many vehicle cab suspensions have been previously provided for supporting a vehicle cab on the chassis of the vehicle whereby a cushioning or shock absorber effect is achieved to provide a more comfortable ride for the occupants of the cab. Although the prior art vehicle cab suspensions have apparently met with some success, the previous vehicle cab suspensions do have certain drawbacks or disadvantages associated therewith. First, many of the prior art vehicle cab suspensions are extremely complicated and expensive. Further, the large number of moving parts of the prior art suspension systems results in greater maintenance and replacement costs. Third, some of the prior art cab suspension systems do not have adequate adjustment means associated therewith for adjusting the damping characteristics of the system. Yet another disadvantage of certain of the prior art suspension systems is that the damping mechanisms thereof do not provide any lateral control of the cab, with respect to the chassis, which requires that a separate component be utilized in the standard cab suspensions to control lateral movement of the cab relative to the chassis.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A cab suspension for a vehicle having an elongated chassis or frame which supports a cab thereon so as to permit vertical movement of the rearward end of the cab relative to the chassis. A conventional forward support structure pivotally connects the cab to the chassis at a forward location in conventional fashion. The suspension system of this invention includes rearward support structure which connects the rearward end of the cab to the chassis and may either consist of a single unit at the center of the rearward portion of the cab or a unit secured to each of the opposite rear corners of the cab. The rearward support structure comprises an elongated square metal housing in the form of a tube having its longitudinal axis disposed transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the chassis. The metal housing is secured to the frame rails of the chassis or to a cross-member extending between the frame rails. The metal housing has an elongated, resilient rubber or elastomeric cartridge positioned therein which has an elongated torsion bar extending therethrough, and bonded thereto, whereby the cartridge resists rotational movement of the torsion bar with respect to the housing. The torsion bar has opposite end portions positioned outwardly of the opposite ends of the housing and a lever arm is secured to each end of the torsion bar and extends forwardly therefrom. The forward ends of the lever arms are vertically adjustably secured to the cab.
A modified form of the invention is also disclosed wherein the lever arms extend rearwardly from the torsion bar and have adjustable turnbuckles connected thereto which extend to a bracket secured to the cross-member on the frame. A shock absorber is also provided in this embodiment.
Yet another embodiment is also disclosed wherein the housing which supports the torsion bar is operatively hingedly secured to the cab. A pair of lever arms extend rearwardly from the torsion bar and are operatively connected to the truck frame by means of a bracket. One or more shock absorbers extend between the housing and the bracket connected to the truck frame.
A principal object of the invention is to provide a vehicle cab suspension which is compact.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle cab suspension having a minimum of moving parts.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle cab suspension having adjustable load ranges.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle cab suspension which is less expensive to fabricate than existing vehicle cab suspensions.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle cab suspension having increased isolation performance characteristics compared to existing designs.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle cab suspension which also acts as a lateral control member.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a vehicle cab suspension which may either be mounted at the center of the rearward end of the cab or at the rear corners of the cab.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
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Kooi David S. Vander
Schwanke Richard R.
Link Mfg. Ltd.
Pedder Dennis H.
Thomte Dennis L.
Zarley McKee Thomte Voorhees & Sease
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