Abstract: A leaf spring assembly features a stack of leaf springs having mounting couplings attached at opposite ends. The mounting couplings each have first and second mounting elements clamped together about at least a main spring and a safety spring. The safety spring has retaining elements at opposite ends each having an extension portion and a blocking portion. The extension portion extends past the end of the main spring. Here the blocking portion extends generally perpendicularly from the extension portion to block motion of the mounting coupling should failure cause it to be detached from the stack of springs. This ensures that failure does not cause complete separation of the spring stack and mounting couplings.

Abstract: A leaf spring assembly includes a safety strap extending along the bottom of a plurality of stacked leaf springs that are held in a stacked relationship by a leaf fastener. The strap is attached to each leaf spring in the stack by fasteners at opposite ends of the spring such that adjacent leaf springs are connected on each side of the fastener. In the event that any one of the springs fails between the leaf fastener and one of the ends at which the strap is attached, the broken pieces of the spring remain connected to the other springs in the stack. This prevents pieces from breaking free of the assembly and creating road hazards in the event of spring failure.

Abstract: A slipper end leaf spring assembly features a main spring having opposite ends portions at which mounting members are disposed. A central portion disposed between the end portions is profiled to provide particular spring characteristics. At least one of the end portions is arranged to at least partially support a respective mounting member through contact with an upper transverse element thereof extending across the main spring thereabove. In order to improve resistance to wear of the end portion due to contact with the upper element, the end portion has a thickness greater than a nearest end of the central portion. This shaping of the spring provides the improved resistance at the end portions without altering the spring characteristics provided by the central portion's thickness profile.

Abstract: Cylindrical bushing mounts, or eyes, for spring members have improved bushing retention characteristics over conventional mounts. In a first embodiment, a spring member has a bushing mount formed by forging to be integral with the spring beam and define an endless loop that fully encloses a cylindrical opening for receiving a bushing. The integral mount better resists deformation under loading than typical rolled mounts having an open end, and therefore can be made having a thinner cross section to reduce the weight of the beam. In a second embodiment, a spring member features a rolled mount having a profiled inner surface defining ridges protruding inward at each end of the mount's cylindrical opening. A bushing received in the mount is housed between the ridges, eliminating the need for an interference fit or bonding compound to retain the bushing.

Abstract: A bale processing machine features blades that gradually increase in width toward their cutting edges. The blades are mounted on a rotating drum by pivot pins passing through eye portions of the blades. By gradually increasing the width of the blade portion extending outward from the eye portion, the effective cutting area is increased without the significant increase in mass associated with widening a typical blade of uniform width. Furthermore, this gradual widening concentrates mass at the blade tip to better distribute kinetic energy at the cutting edge of the blade during drum rotation. In a second embodiment, the blade is twisted along the blade portion to set the cutting edge at an angle to improve cutting performance in the case where the drum and the strands of baled material are parallel by ensuring the cutting edge extends across the strands.

Abstract: A leaf spring assembly features a stack of leaf springs having mounting couplings attached at opposite ends. The mounting couplings each have first and second mounting elements clamped together about at least a main spring and a safety spring. The safety spring has retaining elements at opposite ends each having an extension portion and a blocking portion. The extension portion extends past the end of the main spring. Here the blocking portion extends generally perpendicularly from the extension portion to block motion of the mounting coupling should failure cause it to be detached from the stack of springs. This ensures that failure does not cause complete separation of the spring stack and mounting couplings.

Abstract: A leaf spring assembly includes a safety strap extending along the bottom of a plurality of stacked leaf springs that are held in a stacked relationship by a leaf fastener. The strap is attached to each leaf spring in the stack by fasteners at opposite ends of the spring such that adjacent leaf springs are connected on each side of the fastener. In the event that any one of the springs fails between the leaf fastener and one of the ends at which the strap is attached, the broken pieces of the spring remain connected to the other springs in the stack. This prevents pieces from breaking free of the assembly and creating road hazards in the event of spring failure.

Abstract: U-shaped cushions, also known as shanks or spring members, resiliently support a gang of disks on the frame of a disk harrow. The agricultural disk cushion is manufactured from a round section of raw material which is lighter and more resistant to torsion related failure than traditional rectangular section shanks. Two leg portions are each tapered to have flat surfaces on opposite sides for flush fitting with mounting elements, while a central portion connecting them remains circular in cross section. The round cross section in this critical area can withstand severe omni-directional loading, as its resistance is equal in all directions The spring rate the leg portions of the disk cushion can be tailored individually to meet the requirements of the application.

Abstract: In an alternative assembly of multiple leaves in an assembled leaf spring; a forged fastener is used instead of a bolt and nut. To form the forged fastener, a cylindrical member with a preformed head on one end is inserted through the centre holes of each leaf of the leaf spring and the inserted end is forged in a press to match the head of the fastener on the other side. This is used to make a permanent connection, to make both sides of the fastener identical for use with an under-slung or over-slung axle arrangement, and to reduce process time by eliminating the need to cut and peen the conventional bolt.