And Differential Support Feature Patents (Class 180/354)
  • Patent number: 8899372
    Abstract: A suspension system for a motor vehicle including a frame assembly; a differential supported on the frame assembly; a wheel hub connected to each of two half shaft assemblies engaging the differential and being pivotally connected to the frame assembly; and at least one air spring operatively positioned between the frame assembly and each of the wheel hubs. The air springs are connected to a rotating linkage which maintains a substantially linear axis of compression for the air springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Motor Trike, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Vey, John Petry, Jeffrey D. Vey, Christopher Vey, Adam Schumann, Ryan Reineck
  • Patent number: 8668214
    Abstract: A mounting arrangement for a V-rod in a vehicle suspension includes an axle housing having a mounting cavity formed thereon and a joint member installed in the mounting cavity so that a joint coupling extends outward from the axle housing. The joint member may include a ball joint mounted on a post mountable in the mounting cavity. The mounting cavity may be formed in a boss provided on the axle housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt T. Elliott, Mark Winders
  • Patent number: 8657316
    Abstract: A rear axle support assembly includes a swing arm assembly, a second axle tube, and a rear final gear assembly. The swing arm assembly includes a first support arm, a second support arm laterally spaced from the first support arm, a first axle tube attached to the first support arm, and an axle support bracket attached to the second support arm. Each of the first and second axle tubes is configured to receive an axle therewithin. The second axle tube includes an axle tube mount flange. The first axle tube is releasably attached to the rear final gear assembly. The axle tube mount flange is positioned laterally between, and is releasably attached to each one of, the axle support bracket of the swing arm assembly and the rear final gear assembly, and in direct, contacting engagement with the rear final gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Lee N. Bowers, Jason A. Sovern
  • Patent number: 8312955
    Abstract: A working vehicle according to the present invention includes a pair of front frames and a pair of main frames that are detachably connected to each other, a reinforcing member coupling the pair of main frames while being overlapped therewith in a side view, a pair of attachment stays fixedly attached to outer side surfaces of the pair of main frames so as to be at least partially overlapped with the reinforcing member in a side view. A cabin is supported in a vibration-isolation manner at no less than four positions including the pair of attachment stays and right and left supporting positions that are provided at a pair of rear axle cases or a transmission case. The working vehicle can enhance stabilization of support of the cabin while simplifying a structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Kawashiri
  • Patent number: 8240421
    Abstract: An adaptor for an older Corvette drive train provides a structure for coupling the drive shaft extending from a front-mounted transmission to the differential of a C5 or C6 Corvette rear suspension in which the rear mounted transmission has been removed. A housing holds a stub shaft for rotation on front (outside) and rear (inside) bearings. The shaft has a coupling yoke mounted to its front end and engages the differential gearing at its other (rear) end. The housing mounts to the differential at the five mounting points of the removed transmission. A bracket which attaches to frame mounts can be mounted to either the top or bottom front (outside) face of the housing, depending upon the suspension-to-frame geometry. A circular flange on the shaft positions and holds the inside bearing and a rearward extending boss on the yoke positions and holds the outside bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Chassis Concept, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Lewis Leicht, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20120067663
    Abstract: An adaptor for an older Corvette drive train provides a structure for coupling the drive shaft extending from a front-mounted transmission to the differential of a C5 or C6 Corvette rear suspension in which the rear mounted transmission has been removed. A housing holds a stub shaft for rotation on front (outside) and rear (inside) bearings. The shaft has a coupling yoke mounted to its front end and engages the differential gearing at its other (rear) end. The housing mounts to the differential at the five mounting points of the removed transmission. A bracket which attaches to frame mounts can be mounted to either the top or bottom front (outside) face of the housing, depending upon the suspension-to-frame geometry. A circular flange on the shaft positions and holds the inside bearing and a rearward extending boss on the yoke positions and holds the outside bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: CHASSIS CONCEPT, INC.
    Inventor: Raymond Lewis Leicht, SR.
  • Patent number: 7938221
    Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle includes a swing frame and right and left suspension cylinders for front wheels. The swing frame is swingably supported by the front portion of a vehicle body about a support shaft extending in a lateral direction, and supports the front axle case, so as to allow the front axle case to swing about a center shaft extending in a front-rear direction. The right and left suspension cylinders are provided on the swing frame. A lateral oscillation regulation unit is provided between the swing frame and the front frame, and configured to regulate an oscillation of the swing frame by contact in the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Matsuzaki, Atsushi Hayashi, Nobuyuki Okabe, Toshimitsu Yazaki
  • Patent number: 7866433
    Abstract: A carrier assembly has a unique architecture which allows the carrier assembly to be defined by a very small packaging envelope. The carrier includes a main carrier housing with an internal cavity for receiving a differential and a carrier cover that closes the internal cavity once the differential has been installed. Examples of architectural features include a differential lock actuator that is mounted to the carrier cover, dowel pins that accommodate differential leg thrust loads and align the carrier cover relative to the main carrier housing, and bolt-in differential leg structures to facilitate pinion installation. Further, the carrier assembly can be utilized with an independent suspension to provide a increased jounce travel range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Robert J. Martin, III, Dale J. Eschenburg, Brian David Hayes
  • Patent number: 7004277
    Abstract: A support member for a differential carrier housing, including a body having first and second apertures configured to align with corresponding apertures on one side of a flange of a carrier housing and configured to receive fasteners extending through the apertures in the carrier housing and corresponding apertures in an axle housing disposed on the other side of the carrier housing, the body extending between the apertures in the carrier housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Pollock, Darrell D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6929084
    Abstract: A suspension module for use with an independent suspension system includes a subframe having a pair of subframe rails and a bridge supported therebetween. A pair of semi-trailing arms are pivotally attached to the subframe rails. Each semi-trailing arm includes an airbag support onto which an airbag is mounted. The airbags are positioned between the airbag supports and the subframe rails. A shock absorber extends from the semi-trailing arms to the subframe rails. A drive line brings rotational drive from a transmission to a carrier housing attached to the bridge of the subframe. A carden shaft extends from the carrier housing to spindles attached to the semi-trailing arms to transmit rotational drive from the carrier housing to the spindles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Gregory D. Pavuk
  • Publication number: 20040079577
    Abstract: A support member for a differential carrier housing, including a body having first and second apertures configured to align with corresponding apertures on one side of a flange of a carrier housing and configured to receive fasteners extending through the apertures in the carrier housing and corresponding apertures in an axle housing disposed on the other side of the carrier housing, the body extending between the apertures in the carrier housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 29, 2004
    Inventors: Paul Pollock, Darrell D. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6439588
    Abstract: Attachment bracket with attachment plate for fixing a V-shaped torque rod. The bracket (21) has a support plate (22) intended to be fixed on a frame member, and a bearing surface (23) which forms an angle of less than 90° with the support plate and against which an attachment plate (19) fixed to the torque rod is intended to be screwed securely. The bracket and the plate have slots (27, 28, 31) which are open to the sides and which receive screws (29, 30), that slot (27) of the bracket nearest the support plate being designed so that the screw can be pivoted between a mounting position parallel to the support plate and a position at right angles to the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventor: Roland Svensson
  • Patent number: 6209676
    Abstract: A differential mounting assembly 10 which allows a differential 12 to be selectively and securely mounted within a vehicle and which substantially reduces and/or eliminates undesirable roll and pitch of the operatively mounted differential 12.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Inventors: Robert Allen Jones, Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 5054575
    Abstract: A rear suspension particularly adapted for light and medium weight trucks and buses wherein a chassis and body are supported upon a dead axle the latter of which is of a light weight and rigid construction so as to permit a lower positioning of the chassis relative to the ground and in such a way as to eliminate lateral displacement of the dead axle relative to the chassis and wherein the aft end of the roll axis of the suspension is either horizontal or displaced vertically above a horizontal line passing through the point of articulation of the suspension to the chassis to eliminate the tendency of the dead axle to oversteer the vehicle as it moves vertically relative to the chassis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: DLMA Transportation, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Collins
  • Patent number: 5012885
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a rear wheel suspension and steering system utilizing a rectilinear shape dead axle of the type wherein a differential mechanism is mounted directly to a vehicle body structure and delivers driving power to vehicle wheels supported by the dead axle and in such a way that the differential can move vertically relative to the dead axle. More specifically, the invention relates to a lightweight suspension system wherein the rear wheels are mounted upon the dead axle so as to be steerable relative thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1991
    Assignee: DLMA Transportation Inc.
    Inventor: Gilbert R. Hilden
  • Patent number: D344254
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Inventor: Wade Zimmerman