Abstract: A split-type axle bracket is provided that is secured to a vehicle axle housing and extends downward over opposite lateral sides of a vehicle suspension torque beam, equalizer beam, or compensator beam and bushing. The axle bracket is secured to opposite lateral ends of the beam bushing on opposite lateral sides of the beam by a pair of releasable clamps. The clamps are secured to the depending legs of the bracket over the opposite lateral ends of the beam bushing. The pair of clamps are easily disassembled from the depending legs of the bracket to remove the beam and bushing from its connection to the axle bracket.

Abstract: A torque beam assembly is provided with a bushing clamp assembly at one end and an axle seat assembly at a second end that reduce the torsional stress exerted on the torque beam during normal suspension operation of a vehicle employing the torque beam assembly. The bushing clamp is formed as a cylinder having a slot through one side of the cylinder wall that is resiliently biased open to facilitate the insertion of a pivot bushing into the cylinder and the removal of the bushing from the cylinder. The pivot bushing is provided with troughs in its end walls and cavities that extend into the bushing from the troughs that together reduce torsional twisting stress exerted on the torque beam. The axle seat assembly is provided with inboard and outboard side plates that each have first ends connected to the torque beam and second ends that are flared outward and spaced further apart from each other than are the first ends.

Abstract: An active, frequency damping suspension system for vehicles having a chassis and at least one axle comprises a pneumatic spring connected mechanically between the vehicle axle and the vehicle chassis to absorb vertical movements of the vehicle axle and prevent them from being transmitted to the chassis, a hydraulic shock absorber connected between the vehicle axle and the vehicle chassis to dampen the vertical movements of the vehicle axle, and a pressure accumulator in fluid communication with the air spring or in fluid communication with both the air spring and the hydraulic shock absorber for enhancing the cushioning effect of the air spring on vertical movements of the vehicle axle and enhancing the dampening effect of the shock absorber on vertical movements of the axle.

Abstract: A tandem axle suspension system distributes a vehicle load asymmetrically to a drive and drag axle of a vehicle, the system comprises a compensator member that is pivotally connected between a front axle seat supporting the vehicle drive axle and a hanger member suspended beneath the vehicle chassis, and a torque beam member that is pivotally connected between the compensator member and a rear axle seat supporting the vehicle drag axle.

Abstract: A suspension system having a torque beam with a bushing for connecting the torque beams to a hanger. The torque beam can be telescopingly received in a sleeve of an axle seat assembly. There are a number of different axle seat assemblies for accommodating various vehicles but all have the sleeve so that one form of torque beam can be used with any one of the axle seat assemblies. The bushing has strategically located recesses to facilitate flow of the bushing member and to make it more yieldable in a vertical direction than in a longitudinal direction. An annular groove in the outer wall of the bushing also improves flow under compression of the bushing member. The telescoping connection between the torque beam and an axle seat assembly may include knock-away components to facilitate breaking the components apart in the event they become rusted together.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system having a torque beam pivotally supported from the vehicle chassis and an axle seat assembly connected to an axle with a telescoping connection between the torque rod beam and the axle seat assembly. The axle seat assembly has a telescoping component with slots in its side walls separating the telescoping component into separable sections. Flanges on the upper and lower sections can be connected by bolts. Bars on the torque beam extend through the slots and also can be connected by the bolts. Spaces are provided to span the distance between the bar and the upper and lower flanges to prevent bending of the flanges when the bolts are tightened.

Abstract: A suspension system has a lower torque rod with a forward end pivotally connected to a hanger and a rearward end pivotally connected to an axle seat assembly. An upper torque rod has a forward end pivotally connected to the chassis intermediate the sides thereof and a rearward end pivotally connected to the axle. Forward and rearward air springs are mounted between the axle seat assembly and the chassis fore and aft of the axle. The upper torque rod functions as the upper arm of a parallelogram and as a lateral stabilizer bar. The upper torque rod and a like torque rod on the opposite side of the vehicle cooperate with the axle to define an A-frame, but the connection of the upper torque rod to the chassis is independent of said opposite torque rod.

Abstract: A suspension system incorporating upper and lower torque rods pivotally connected between a hanger and an axle seat. The upper torque rod is preferably a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly, the length of which is adjustable between extended and retracted conditions. In the extended condition, the upper torque rod pivots the axle to a forward pitch at which it is self-steering when the vehicle is driven forward. In the retracted condition, the upper torque rod pivots the axle to a negative pitch condition in which it is self-steering when the vehicle is operated in reverse. The hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly can be operated by the driver such as when the gears are shifted between forward and reverse. A lift spring is mounted between a plate on the hanger and a plate on the lower torque rod. The lift spring is positioned within a pocket defined on the hanger.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a vehicle that has a rear-mounted engine and a longitudinal frame member and an axle below the frame member with a bolster beam connected to the axle and air springs connected between the ends of the bolster beam and the frame member. There are outrigger members to locate the air springs outboard for better stability. An upper torque rod and a lower torque rod are arranged parallel to one another and are connected between a bracket assembly on the bolster beam and a bracket assembly supported by the frame member. The torque rods are staggered from one another in three planes. The upper torque rod is forward of the lower torque rod and is outboard of the lower torque rod. Likewise, the forward ends of the torque rods are outboard of the rearward ends. This arrangement significantly enhances the overall stability of the suspension system.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a steering axle wherein a fabricated axle seat is welded to a fabricated torque rod bracket, and torque rods arranged in a parallelogram are pivotally connected to the torque rod bracket. The end of a sway bar is also connected to the torque rod bracket to provide lateral stability. A single air spring is mounted directly over the axle. The torque rods are also pivotally supported by a hanger and hangers on opposite sides of the vehicle are connected together by a cross channel brace.

Abstract: A suspension system having a self-contained air lift spring located within the confines of a hanger. A torque beam and axle seat assembly is pivotally supported by the hanger. An axle load air spring is mounted between the torque beam and axle seat assembly and the chassis. The air lift spring is mounted between a fixed wall on the hanger and a movable wall connected to the torque rod and axle seat assembly. The fixed wall is generally vertical and the movable wall projects upwardly with the axis of the lift air spring being generally horizontal.

Abstract: A suspension assembly having a hanger with a stub bolster beam. Gusset bracing and a cross channel member of small cross section provide strength and rigidity and accommodate large vehicle components in the area of the suspension assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension assembly for tandem drive axles has a suspension system for each axle. Each suspension system incorporates two lower torque beams on each side of the vehicle and a single central upper torque rod. A central hanger is mounted between the two axles. The lower torque beams are pivotally connected between the hanger and an axle seat. A straddle bracket connects the axle to the axle seat in a hinged fashion. The upper central torque rod is connected between the upper side of the axle housing and the chassis. The lower torque beams act as a parallelogram to stabilize the axle seat. They also act together with a portion of the axle seat as a composite lower torque rod cooperating with the upper torque rod to stabilize the axle.

Abstract: A suspension system having a torque beam pivotally connected to a bushing supported by a hanger and an axle seat having a linear bushing mount to the torque beam to provide a universal pivot at the axle seat. In one embodiment there is another bushing between the torque rod and the axle seat so that the entire universal pivot is at the axle seat. In another embodiment, the universal pivot is provided partly by the torque rod connection to the hanger and partly by the connection between the axle seat and the torque rod. In two other embodiments, identical components allow installation of a suspension system to a tag axle or a steer axle except that a special tower is provided for the steer axle installation to give clearance between the vehicle frame and the wheel. Two additional embodiments have an overslung axle seat and in one, the torque beam and axle seat are outboard of the chassis.

Abstract: A suspension for a heavy-duty vehicle includes a narrow profile skirt-type hanger with a unitized bolster beam extending laterally beneath the chassis between hangers at opposite sides of the vehicle, an axle seat assembly rigidly secured to the axle with a torque arm resiliently connected thereto at a pair of spaced-apart locations, the forward end of the torque arm being pivotally mounted to the bolster beam at the hanger assembly, and an outboard mounted air spring mounted outboard of the chassis between the axle seat assembly and an upper spring mount. A second embodiment of the suspension includes an overslung axle seat assembly rigidly secured to a trunnion rod, offset from a stub-axle supporting the wheel. A second bolster beam extends laterally between axle seat assemblies at opposite sides of the vehicle, such that both the first and second bolster beams and the trunnion rod extending laterally underneath the chassis between like suspensions on the opposite side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system having a longitudinally extending beam assembly with a medial section connected to the vehicle axle, a forward end that provides a spring seat for a front air spring, and a rearward end that provides a spring seat for a rear air spring. The air springs are outriggered by mounting brackets that project outboard of the beam assembly. Upper outboard projecting mounting brackets are connected to the vehicle chassis. The beam assembly has a special stepped configuration to avoid interference with existing vehicle components while providing the desired distribution of loads between the air springs. The suspension system incorporates two air springs and two shock absorbers on each side of the vehicle. A parallelogram is provided by upper and lower torque rods. The lower torque rod is of large cross section to provide increased strength and to allow for mounting on large heavy-duty bushings so that the torque rod can transfer push and pull loads.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system for suspending a vehicle from an axle may be used on a steering axle and includes resilient members, such as two air springs, on opposite longitudinal sides of the axle and supported on seats suspended from the ends of a beam. The beam is connected at its center to the axle. The air springs are are connected to hangers that are mounted to the vehicle chassis. The hangers for the air springs include spaced opposed surfaces that allow a longitudinal sway guide to pass between and be transversely restrained by the surfaces. One end of the sway guide is pivotally attached to a hanger on the chassis and the other end to a shackle. The sway guide comprises a small number of spring leaves that can flex but that are not adequate for load bearing, so almost all of the chassis load is on the air springs. The assembly can be installed as original equipment or retrofit to existing equipment. The beam may be inclined to provide caster to the axle.

Abstract: An air ride suspension having a step spring pivotally mounted from a front hanger by a universal bushing mount. A vertical step positions the trailing end of the step spring below the leading end and supports a transverse bolster beam for connection to the lower side of an air spring. The upper side of the air spring is connected to a seat that is fastened to the vehicle chassis. All the fasteners are bolts so that the suspension system can be readily used as a conversion for a vehicle suspension system. The air spring preferably supports two-thirds of the axle load with about one-third distributed to the step spring.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system incorporating an air spring for installation on a vehicle that already has a leaf spring suspension system. The air spring suspension system is supported at an end of the leaf spring assembly and it has a spring seat connected to a shackle that is connected to an end of the leaf spring assembly. A transverse bolster rail allows the air spring assembly to have a wide base mount laterally outboard of the vehicle chassis and the leaf spring suspension. A cross radius rod prevents transverse movements of the axle. A sway bar connected between the left and right side air spring suspension assemblies rigidizes and stabilizes the suspension system.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for supporting a vehicle chassis from at least one vehicle axle has a pair of outrigger bracket members extending into the wheel house area of the chassis, a bolster beam bolted to the axle with outrigger members extending into the wheel house area of the chassis and aligned with the outrigger brackets, and an air spring mounted and extending between each of the outrigger members and brackets to provide a suspension with an increased lateral distance between the spring members on opposite sides of the vehicle. Parallelogram stabilization of each axle is provided by a torque rod mounted at the point of attachment of the bolster beam to the axle with a torque rod having an offset and extending forwardly to a hanger assembly mounted in offset fashion to avoid interference with the vertical deflection of the bolster beam.