Patents Assigned to Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Limited
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Patent number: 8770604Abstract: A cast or forged suspension trailing arm for suspending a heavy vehicle chassis from a beam-type axle includes an integral axle locating feature.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2003Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventors: Garry Brereton, David Chan
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Patent number: 7946601Abstract: A composite suspension trailing arm for heavy commercial vehicles includes an axle locating portion integral with the trailing arm, a chassis mounting feature to mount the trailing arm to a chassis component of a vehicle and a spring mounting feature integral with the trailing arm. The axle locating portion is located between the chassis mounting feature and the spring mounting feature. The composite material is made of a matrix material and a reinforcement material.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2004Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventor: Thomas Hughes
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Patent number: 7669866Abstract: A suspension trailing arm suspends a vehicle chassis from a beam type axle. The trailing arm includes a chassis mounting feature, an axle mounting feature, and an arm portion intermediate the chassis mounting feature and the axle mounting feature. The arm portion has a generally X-section profile with four limbs.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2006Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicles Systems LimitedInventors: Martin Peaker, David Chan
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Patent number: 7270342Abstract: A vehicle suspension axle wrap is a composite tubular structure of cast or forged shells of part-tubular shape. The shells are assembled into a tubular form and welded together at juxtaposed edges. The shells can be cast or forged accurately to shape and profile to provide an improved quality axle wrap. Wall thickness variations can be designed into the shells. The juxtaposed edges are shaped to space the welding at the edges from the interior of the assembled axle wrap. The edges are beveled adjacent the external circumferential surfaces of the shells to provide a V-shaped groove at which the welding is made. There is a stepped engagement at the edges between the V-shaped groove and the internal surface of the axle wrap to prevent the welding from extending to the internal surface. Each shell is formed with an aperture at which a welded joint can be made between the axle wrap and an axle.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2006Date of Patent: September 18, 2007Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventors: David Chan, Martin Peaker
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Patent number: 7252298Abstract: A pivot bearing used in a vehicle trailing arm suspension includes a housing, a resilient bush compressed and bonded in the housing, and a rigid axial sleeve in the bush. The bush has voids, above and below the sleeve when the pivot bearing is fitted for use and stiffening elements which extend between the voids at opposite sides of the sleeve. When the pivot bearing is in use in a vehicle trailing arm suspension, the voids increase flexibility of the bush under generally vertical loading on the pivot bearing. The stiffening elements enhance the stiffness of the bush in generally horizontal direction for improved vehicle dynamics and reduced vibration. Preferably, the stiffening elements are of plate or leaf form, are bonded to the bush, and extend arcuately about the sleeve. The voids extend partially through the axial thickness of the bush from opposite ends of the bush and generally accurately about the sleeve. The bush also has enlarged opposite circumferential end portions.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2001Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventor: Thomas Hughes
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Patent number: 7178816Abstract: A hollow vehicle suspension beam (1) has opposed side walls formed with recesses (11) in which an axle wrap (2) is located and secured by welded jointing (12, 13) internally and externally of the opposed side walls to provide a strong joint between the beam and axle wrap. The beam may comprise at least one component (5, 6) of a generally U-shaped section the opposed limbs of which provide at least part of the opposed side walls of the beam, and the mouth of the section provides an access opening into the interior of the beam for the internal welded jointing (12) to be made at the axle wrap. One embodiment has the beam comprised of two of the U-shaped components (5, 6) disposed with their mouths opening in opposite directions to provide access to the interior of the beam for the internal welded jointing to be made at the axle wrap (2) before the mouths are closed by closure components (15, 16).Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2006Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventors: David Chan, Martin Peaker
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Patent number: 7086655Abstract: A vehicle suspension axle wrap is a composite tubular structure of cast or forged shells of part-tubular shape. The shells are assembled into a tubular form and welded together at juxtaposed edges. The shells can be cast or forged accurately to shape and profile to provide an improved quality axle wrap. Wall thickness variations can be designed into the shells. The juxtaposed edges are shaped to space the welding at the edges from the interior of the assembled axle wrap. The edges are beveled adjacent the external circumferential surfaces of the shells to provide a V-shaped groove at which the welding is made. There is a stepped engagement at the edges between the V-shaped groove and the internal surface of the axle wrap to prevent the welding from extending to the internal surface. Each shell is formed with an aperture at which a welded joint can be made between the axle wrap and an axle.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2001Date of Patent: August 8, 2006Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventors: David Chan, Martin Peaker
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Patent number: 7048288Abstract: A hollow vehicle suspension beam has opposed side walls formed with recesses in which an axle wrap is located and secured by welded jointing. The welded jointing is located internally and externally of the opposed side walls to provide a strong joint between the beam and the axle wrap. The beam includes at least one component of a generally U-shaped section having opposed limbs that provide at least part of the opposed side walls of the beam. The mouth of the component provides an access opening into the interior of the beam for the internal welded jointing to be made at the axle wrap. In one example, the beam includes two U-shaped components disposed with their mouths opening in opposite directions to provide access to the interior of the beam for the internal welded jointing to be made at the axle wrap. The mouths are then closed by closure components.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2001Date of Patent: May 23, 2006Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventors: David Chan, Martin Peaker
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Patent number: 6840525Abstract: A suspension system includes a longitudinal member, an air spring, a damper and an axle assembly. The air spring is not directly attached to the chassis but is mounted to contact a locating plate attached to the chassis. The locating plate includes a lip such that the locating plate is of a frustum configuration that laterally locates and self aligns the air spring upon pivotal movement and re-alignment of the air spring with the chassis. Preferably, the suspension system includes a protective skirt which aids in bringing the air cell into a correct position with the locating plate. In addition the axle assembly extends away from the chassis at a speed restricted by the damper such that the anti-vacuum system can equalize the pressure within the air cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2000Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventor: Paul J. Griffiths
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Patent number: 6604734Abstract: A method of retaining a suspension system includes creating a negative pressure within an air spring such that a longitudinal member is retained in a substantially fixed position relative to a chassis component when the longitudinal member is placed in an unloaded condition. When there is no pressure in the air spring, the air cell is deflated and the suspension is mechanically bottomed out. By further introducing a negative pressure into the air cell with the gas feed, a partial vacuum is formed and the air cell collapses in upon itself. The collapsed air cell grips the piston thereby immobilizing the air spring. Accordingly, when the vehicle is lifted and the air suspension becomes unloaded, the longitudinal member is maintained relative to the chassis component by the immobilized air spring to thereby prevent the air cell from being inverted and damaged.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2000Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventor: Paul J. Griffiths
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Patent number: 6543857Abstract: A vehicle axle, for example for a driven; undriven, steering or trailer system, comprises a member (1) formed as a hollow monocoque structure which includes at least one integral location (3, 20, 23) formed in the structure as a low stress area adapted to receive an attachment (24, 31, 34) thereto for use of the axle in a vehicle. The monocoque structure may be rigid, or substantially so, or it may include one or more compliant portions. It distributes throughout the member stresses to which the member is subjected when the axle is use in a vehicle and parts of the structure may be specifically shaped to suit the particular stresses to which they will be subjected when in use. In one embodiment the monocoque structure includes an axle beam part of a hollow lobed cross-section which gives roll compliance without necessarily having to add resilient components. In this embodiment trailing arms (4) are formed as an integral part of the monocoque structure which forms part of a trailing suspension system.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventors: Paul John Griffiths, David James Fanning
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Patent number: 6209896Abstract: Attachment assemblies for attaching suspension components within a vehicle suspension assembly are provided. First, a bracket assembly having an axle beam utilizes a one piece bracket to improve the structural rigidity of the axle beam and provides the attachment points for the control rods, brake chambers, and air springs. Next, a torsion attachment assembly attaches the torsion assembly to suspension supports using a bushing that fits within a first cylindrical bore in the torsion assembly. A plug is received within a hole in the support and secured to the support by fasteners. A shaft on the plug fits within a second cylindrical bore in the bushing. In this way, the torsion assembly is free to rotate about the plug and the torsion assembly can be easily disconnected from the supports when the fasteners are removed. Finally, a control rod attachment assembly utilizes a pin having tapered ends and a fastening device to secure a control rod end to a supporting structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems LimitedInventor: Gregory J. Hickling