Patents by Inventor Ashley Thomas Dudding
Ashley Thomas Dudding 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).
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Patent number: 7229088Abstract: A shackle assembly is shown to include a shackle bracket, wear pads, a shackle stop, shackle plates and elastomer bushings. The shackle bracket includes legs forming portions thereof, which serve as contact surfaces for the wear pads and the shackle plates. By providing conical and lateral stiffness, the shackle bracket legs allow for the use of a more versatile elastomer bushing. The elastomer bushing preferably includes voids vertically separated with respect to each other and the elastomer layer preferably is in the form of a bowtie-shaped configuration, which enhances vertical, conical and torsional performance. A first redundancy feature is in the form of a shackle stop secured between the shackle plates. The shackle stop provides longitudinal control of the axle in the event the opposite limb of the leaf spring is broken, the vehicle is generally traveling in a given direction and the vehicle is subject to deceleration.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2004Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.Inventors: Ashley Thomas Dudding, Gonzalo Luna Astudillo, Jerome Lim Cortez
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Patent number: 7182354Abstract: A non-torque reactive air suspension exhibiting excellent roll stability characteristics is shown to include frame hangers mounted to frame rails extending longitudinally on opposite sides of a vehicle. Longitudinally extending beams are connected to the frame hangers at one end and extend parallel to the frame rails. At their other ends, the beams are joined by a crossbrace extending laterally across the vehicle centerline. In a central portion thereof, the beams have an axle pivot bore to which an axle clamp assembly is connected, the axle clamp assembly clamping a drive axle housing for the vehicle. The axle pivot bore is generally aligned with the drive axle. A control rod assembly is connected to suspension or frame components. Together with the beams, the control rod assembly forms a parallelogram configuration wherein the beams form the lower linkages of that configuration and the control rods included within the control rod assembly form the upper linkages of that configuration.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2005Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.Inventor: Ashley Thomas Dudding
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Patent number: 6945548Abstract: A non-torque reactive air suspension exhibiting excellent roll stability characteristics is shown to include frame hangers mounted to frame rails extending longitudinally on opposite sides of a vehicle. Longitudinally extending beams are connected to the frame hangers at one end and extend parallel to the frame rails. At their other ends, the beams are joined by a crossbrace extending laterally across the vehicle centerline. In a central portion thereof, the beams have an axle pivot bore to which an axle clamp assembly is connected, the axle clamp assembly clamping a drive axle housing for the vehicle. The axle pivot bore is generally aligned with the drive axle. A control rod assembly is connected to suspension or frame components. Together with the beams, the control rod assembly forms a parallelogram configuration wherein the beams form the lower linkages of that configuration and the control rods included within the control rod assembly form the upper linkages of that configuration.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2003Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Hendrickson USA, L.L.C.Inventors: Ashley Thomas Dudding, John Wayne Stuart, Jason Steby Thomas
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Patent number: 6851689Abstract: A non-torque reactive air suspension exhibiting excellent roll stability characteristics is shown to include frame hangers mounted to frame rails extending longitudinally on opposite sides of a vehicle. Longitudinally extending beams are connected to the frame hangers at one end and extend parallel to the frame rails. At their other ends, the beams are joined by a crossbrace extending laterally across the vehicle centerline. In a central portion thereof, the beams have an axle pivot bore to which an axle clamp assembly is connected, the axle clamp assembly clamping a drive axle housing for the vehicle. The axle pivot bore is generally aligned with the drive axle. A control rod assembly is connected to suspension or frame components. Together with the beams, the control rod assembly forms a parallelogram configuration wherein the beams form the lower linkages of that configuration and the control rods included within the control rod assembly form the upper linkages of that configuration.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2001Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: The Boler CompanyInventors: Ashley Thomas Dudding, Christopher Wayne Forrest, John Wayne Stuart, Jason Steby Thomas, Pedro Ramses Banda Marquez, Mark William Dankow
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Publication number: 20040080135Abstract: A shackle assembly is shown to include a shackle bracket, wear pads, a shackle stop, shackle plates and elastomer bushings. The shackle bracket includes legs forming portions thereof, which serve as contact surfaces for the wear pads and the shackle plates. By providing conical and lateral stiffness, the shackle bracket legs allow for the use of a more versatile elastomer bushing. The elastomer bushing preferably includes voids vertically separated with respect to each other and the elastomer layer preferably is in the form of a bowtie-shaped configuration, which enhances vertical, conical and torsional performance. A first redundancy feature is in the form of a shackle stop secured between the shackle plates. The shackle stop provides longitudinal control of the axle in the event the opposite limb of the leaf spring is broken, the vehicle is generally traveling in a given direction and the vehicle is subject to deceleration.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Inventors: Ashley Thomas Dudding, Gonzalo Luna Astudillo
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Publication number: 20040056446Abstract: A non-torque reactive air suspension exhibiting excellent roll stability characteristics is shown to include frame hangers mounted to frame rails extending longitudinally on opposite sides of a vehicle. Longitudinally extending beams are connected to the frame hangers at one end and extend parallel to the frame rails. At their other ends, the beams are joined by a crossbrace extending laterally across the vehicle centerline. In a central portion thereof, the beams have an axle pivot bore to which an axle clamp assembly is connected, the axle clamp assembly clamping a drive axle housing for the vehicle. The axle pivot bore is generally aligned with the drive axle. A control rod assembly is connected to suspension or frame components. Together with the beams, the control rod assembly forms a parallelogram configuration wherein the beams form the lower linkages of that configuration and the control rods included within the control rod assembly form the upper linkages of that configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2003Publication date: March 25, 2004Inventors: Ashley Thomas Dudding, John Wayne Stuart, Jason Steby Thomas
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Patent number: 6616156Abstract: A vehicle steering knuckle assembly for use in association with a vehicle steering axle assembly is shown to include an upper piece having a first king pin bore extending through it and a backbone piece removably connectable to the first piece. The backbone has a second king pin bore extending through it. The upper piece has an integral steering arm and a pad through which is machined a steering ball taper. The lower piece has an integral tie rod and a pad through which is machined a tie rod ball taper. Because the two pieces are removable from each other, the steering knuckle can be assembled and serviced while a king pin is retained in place in an axle beam.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2000Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignee: The Boler CompanyInventors: Ashley Thomas Dudding, Michael John Gottschalk, Lawrence Edward Miller, Rodolfo Rosales, Jr.
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Patent number: 6609764Abstract: A fabricated vehicle axle is shown to include a main body having an inverted U-shaped configuration. The fabricated vehicle axle further includes a continuous bottom plate welded to the main body. The fabricated axle also includes a first king pin top plate having a reversed curved fork portion welded to the main body at one end thereof. Similarly, the fabricated vehicle axle includes a second king pin top plate having a reversed curved fork portion welded to the main body at an opposite end thereof. Still further, the fabricated vehicle axle includes a first gooseneck part welded to the first king pin top plate and the first end of the bottom plate. Similarly, the fabricated vehicle axle includes a second gooseneck part welded to the second king pin top plate and the second end of the bottom plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2001Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: The Boler CompanyInventors: Ashley Thomas Dudding, Lawrence Edward Miller
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Publication number: 20020158506Abstract: A fabricated vehicle axle is shown to include a main body having an inverted U-shaped configuration. The fabricated vehicle axle further includes a continuous bottom plate welded to the main body. The fabricated axle also includes a first king pin top plate having a reversed curved fork portion welded to the main body at one end thereof. Similarly, the fabricated vehicle axle includes a second king pin top plate having a reversed curved fork portion welded to the main body at an opposite end thereof. Still further, the fabricated vehicle axle includes a first gooseneck part welded to the first king pin top plate and the first end of the bottom plate. Similarly, the fabricated vehicle axle includes a second gooseneck part welded to the second king pin top plate and the second end of the bottom plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Inventors: Ashley Thomas Dudding, Lawrence Edward Miller
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Publication number: 20020117816Abstract: A non-torque reactive air suspension exhibiting excellent roll stability characteristics is shown to include frame hangers mounted to frame rails extending longitudinally on opposite sides of a vehicle. Longitudinally extending beams are connected to the frame hangers at one end and extend parallel to the frame rails. At their other ends, the beams are joined by a crossbrace extending laterally across the vehicle centerline. In a central portion thereof, the beams have an axle pivot bore to which an axle clamp assembly is connected, the axle clamp assembly clamping a drive axle housing for the vehicle. The axle pivot bore is generally aligned with the drive axle. A control rod assembly is connected to suspension or frame components. Together with the beams, the control rod assembly forms a parallelogram configuration wherein the beams form the lower linkages of that configuration and the control rods included within the control rod assembly form the upper linkages of that configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2001Publication date: August 29, 2002Inventors: Ashley Thomas Dudding, Christopher Wayne Forrest, John Wayne Stuart, Jason Steby Thomas, Pedro Ramses Banda Marquez, Mark William Dankow