Patents by Inventor Donald F. Tandy, Jr.

Donald F. Tandy, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5636857
    Abstract: A novel solid axle front suspension system is disclosed having a staggered shock absorber arrangement which increases and balances shock absorber lever ratios, and provides adequate damping in both vehicle roll and axle pitch conditions. A leaf spring assembly with an elliptical forward bushing improves vehicle suspension noise, vibration and harshness levels. Leaf spring windup is reduced by an axle anti-windup device which is secured at its rearward end to the axle and which includes at its forward end a movable link to the vehicle frame. A bilateral link steering linkage assembly provides improved steering and handling, wherein a tie rod connects the two front steering knuckles together, and a drag link extends from a pitman arm to one of the two steering knuckles at a rearward sweep angle in a substantially horizontal plane. A panard rod extends from the vehicle frame to the solid axle at a rearward sweep angle that is substantially equivalent to the rearward sweep angle of the drag link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Donald F. Tandy, Jr., Len A. Wolf