Abstract: A frame beaming reduction assembly for use with a motor vehicle to eliminate or reduce the amplitude of frame beaming oscillations in a vehicle's frame caused by vibratory forces exerted on a motor vehicle. The assembly includes a frame having a beaming frequency in a first range of frequencies, and an engine is attached to the frame wherein the engine generates engine vibration that has a second range of frequencies that is different than the first range of frequencies. A spring is positioned between a cross member of the frame and a forward engine mount of the engine. A damper formed by a pair of shock absorbers is positioned between the frame and a second forward engine mount substantially parallel to the spring such that the combination of the damper, the spring, and the engine has an offsetting frequency that is substantially equal to the frame's beaming frequency and that offsets the beaming frequency.

Abstract: Disclosed is a shock absorbing suspension system supporting a seat on a floor of a vehicle. The suspension system includes a hydraulic bag filled with a liquid and coupled to support the seat on the floor, the hydraulic bag having a valve orifice. The suspension system also includes a reservoir partially filled with liquid, having a lower orifice, an upper orifice, and a baffle positioned adjacent the lower orifice to impede the liquid from escaping through the upper orifice. An adjustable valve has an internal passageway communicating with the hydraulic bag via its valve orifice and the reservoir via its lower orifice to allow the liquid from the hydraulic bag to pass into the reservoir. The passageway can be made sufficiently small to dampen motion of the seat toward and away from the floor. The reservoir includes a supply of gas in direct communication with the liquid, the gas being compressed when the liquid enters the reservoir through the valve, thereby providing a spring.

Abstract: A suspension system in which a relatively lightweight stiff beam connects the axle to the frame via a connection at one end with a resilient link that allows vertical motion of the end of the stiff beam and transverse motion of the stiff beam to reduce the lateral loads between the axle and the beam and between the beam and the frame rail connection to enable the suspension to be made of fewer and lighter weight components for improved payloads. In the preferred embodiment, the connection between the stiff beam and the frame rail is a C-shape spring allowing the forward connection of a horizontal fore aft link to be moved farther forward to give an increased clearance to the wheel, thereby reducing potential interference between the wheel and the horizontal link and bushing assembly at its forward end.

Abstract: A pneumatically damped vehicle suspension system. The suspension system provides damping which is load-dependent, i.e., the amount of damping varies in approximate proportion to the load supported by the suspension system, thereby maintaining a nearly constant fraction of critical damping over the normal range of operating loads. The damping provided by the system is also frequency-dependent, a characteristic not achievable with hydraulic dampers. Two independent damping circuits provide maximum damping at the suspension's two resonant frequencies, or modes of vibration--the bounce mode and the axlehop mode. Relatively little damping is provided at other frequencies, resulting in improved isolation of road inputs.

Abstract: A compact suspension system for a wheeled vehicle and method for its manufacture. The suspension includes a tapered, vertically mounted elongated arm having an integral eye at one end. The integral eye rotatably connects the elongated arm to the vehicle while the other end connects to an air spring attached to the vehicle. The axle connects to the arm near the air spring. The arm is tapered between the axle and the integral eye so that the amount of arm material, and thus weight, is reduced. A second arm is placed adjacent to, and parallel with, the first arm to back up the first arm if the first arm fails, or vice versa. A shock absorber is mounted near the axle on the opposite side of the axle as the air spring. The method of manufacture includes plasma cutting a blank elongated arm from spring steel, heat-treating the arm, machining to final form, and then shot peening the arm.

Abstract: A compact suspension system for a wheeled vehicle and method for its manufacture. The suspension includes a tapered, vertically mounted elongated arm having an integral eye at one end. The integral eye rotatably connects the elongated arm to the vehicle while the other end connects to an air spring attached to the vehicle. The axle connects to the arm near the air spring. The arm is tapered between the axle and the integral eye so that the amount of arm material, and thus weight, is reduced. A second arm is placed adjacent to, and parallel with, the first arm to back up the first arm if the first arm fails, or vice versa. A shock absorber is mounted near the axle on the opposite side of the axle as the air spring. The method of manufacture includes plasma cutting a blank elongated arm from spring steel, heat-treating the arm, machining to final form, and then shot peening the arm.

Abstract: A front engine mount for mounting an engine to a vehicle frame. The engine mount includes a connecting link pivotably secured at one end thereof to the front of the engine and pivotably secured at the opposite end thereof to the vehicle frame. The connecting link can be installed so as to be in either tension or compression. In compression, the end of the link connected to the engine is above the opposite end connected to the vehicle frame; in tension, the end of the link connected to the engine is below the opposite end connected to the vehicle frame. An alternate mounting arrangement utilizes a plurality of rollers disposed between an engine bracket and the crossmember for supporting the engine. The rollers provide the engine with lateral freedom permitting the engine to rotate, or vibrate, about the least energy axis.

Abstract: A front axle suspension for a vehicle that is soft in ride and stiff in roll is provided. The front axle is coupled to a solid beam. The beam is a relatively nonflexible member. The beam is pivotally coupled at one end thereof to the frame and is freely movable at the other end thereof, being coupled to said frame through a two-shackle coupling that permits vertical displacement and prevents horizontal displacement. Two air bag springs are coupled between said beam and said frame. In a second embodiment, the spring is J-shaped, having a thick uniform thickness bend short transition sections, a uniformly tapering section, joined to a thinner end of uniform thickness. The bend is closer to the end of the spring secured to the axle than to a second end of the spring coupled to the frame. In a third embodiment, an elongated spring is connected to the pivoted end of the beam and at its opposite end to the frame. A lever surface or beam seat on the beam presses against the undersurface of the spring.

Abstract: A front axle suspension for a vehicle that is soft in ride and stiff in roll is provided. The front axle is coupled to a solid beam. The beam is a relatively nonflexible member. The beam is pivotally coupled at one end thereof to the frame and is freely movable at the other end thereof, being coupled to said frame through a two-shackle coupling that permits vertical displacement and prevents horizontal displacement. Two air bags are coupled between said beam and said frame. The two air bags carry substantially all the weight of the vehicle over the front axle. The two bags are designed to provide a very soft ride. The two bags are positioned longitudinally along the beam such that one of the air bags is displaced a greater distance than the other from the pivotal connection of the beam to the frame. An air line couples the two air bags to each other to permit air to flow from one air bag to the other during movement of the front axle with respect to the frame.

Abstract: An engine and transmission mounting system has mounts which support the weight of the engine and transmission and which dampen vertical vibrations due to operation of the internal-combustion engine. A separate torque reaction mechanism reacts torque generated in the transmission directly against the vehicle chassis while permitting free vertical movement of the engine and transmission.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calculating a corrected fuel economy rate. A fuel-consuming engine that propels a ground vehicle has at least one fuel rate sensor for measuring the fuel consumption rate of the engine. The apparatus further comprises a sensor for measuring the distance travelled by the ground vehicle. Digital counters accumulate pulse counts from the sensors and the pulse counts are processed by a microprocessor to calculate the distance travelled by the ground vehicle, the fuel consumed by the engine, and the change of the kinetic energy of the vehicle. The microprocessor then corrects the fuel consumed by subtracting the weighted change of the kinetic energy of the vehicle over the sampling period. The microprocessor then calculates the ratio of the distance travelled to the corrected fuel consumed to produce a corrected fuel economy rate, or its reciprocal. The ratio can be displayed on a digital display.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for quickly adjusting the coolant flow in a tuned, low-flow coolant system to maintain the temperature of air leaving an aftercooler at a desired temperature and for maintaining the temperature of an engine block within a predetermined range, during various engine loads and ambient temperatures. The invention employs a quick-acting, proportional radiator shuttle valve to mix hot coolant from the radiator input with cool coolant from the radiator output for application to the aftercooler and a quick-acting aftercooler shuttle valve to mix cool coolant from the radiator output with coolant from the aftercooler for application to the engine block.

Abstract: A radially contractible hose clamp is provided with axially spaced serrations having inwardly facing openings and spaced gripping edges symmetrical about a centerline of each opening, with the serrations extending substantially the entire circumference of the clamp.

Abstract: A cab suspension system having a cab rail intermediate the cab and the frame rails. The cab rail is suspended above the frame rail from two points of equal deflection on the frame rail, thus reducing fore-aft pitching which would otherwise result were the cab mounted directly to the frame rail.

Abstract: An air deflector assembly for reducing aerodynamic drag on a tractor-trailer vehicle, a full truck or similar automotive vehicles which includes a deflector panel pivotally mounted above the roof of the tractor for deflecting a portion of the air flow passing over the roof upwardly and over the top of the trailer. The deflector panel is reinforced on its rear side by a stiffener having a plurality of diagonally extending segments which increases the torsional stiffness of the panel and permits the use of a single support strut. The strut, which is adjustable so as to permit the panel to be positioned in a retracted position and one or more operating positions, extends between the central portion of the stiffener and a frame mounted to the roof of the truck. Means are provided near the forward end of the frame for pivotal mounting of the deflector panel.

Abstract: A motor truck tractor of the type having a tilting operator's cab hinged transversely to the front of the chassis for forward and upward tilting to provide access to the engine. A back wall of the cab is provided with an opening for a passageway, and unitary non-tilting sleeping compartment is secured to the chassis, with its front wall having an opening for the passageway. The two openings and the passageway are in longitudinal alignment when the cab is not tilted. The compartment is provided with sufficient interior vertical space to provide standing headroom in at least a portion thereof, and has enough interior horizontal space to provide area for a double sleeping cot. It may also include an office, with a desk. A gap-closing plate is mounted to the cab at the outer periphery of the back wall for closing a gap between the cab and the compartment.