Abstract: A steerable wheel assembly comprising a mounting bracket (1) incorporating a vertical pivot mounting (2) for attachment to the vehicle. A second bracket (6) has a first arm (7) carrying a road wheel and a second arm (8) generally upstanding from the first and linked at the upper end thereof to the mounting bracket by a parallelogram linkage (4,5). A spring and shock-absorber unit (9) is pivotally connected between the second bracket and the parallelogram linkage. Another aspect of the invention provides a vehicle suspension system comprising a mounting bracket (20) for attachment to a vehicle body or chassis, and a wheel-mounting arm (21) pivotally attached to the mounting bracket and having a wheel mounted thereon. A spring and shock-absorber unit (22) extends between the mounting bracket and the wheel-mounting arm, at least one end of the spring and shock-absorber unit being connected through a member (23) whose position is adjustable along the axis of the respective bracket or arm.

Abstract: With a motor vehicle having a front axle and rear axle, underbody and shock absorbers, each of which extend between an upper point of action on the underbody and a control arm on the rear axle extending adjacent to a rear wheel, and at least one back seat the upper point of action of one of the shock absorbers is located vertically below the back seat.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a suspension arm component for vehicles with sufficient strength or rigidity to withstand repetitive compressive and tensile forces, and a method for manufacturing such a component by pressing or hemming process alone, without recourse to any welding process, forming quickly and simply, a process with advantages in terms of material yield and cost. The suspension arm component for vehicles includes first flange pieces as well as second flange pieces, and a pair of half members, each having a hat-like shaped cross-section perpendicular to its axis, are joined together to protrude the first flange part and the second flange part from an expanded part, where both the first flange part and the second flange part extend linearly along the axis of the main body part. The main body part presents a rectangular shape in its side view.

Abstract: A steerable wheel assembly comprising a mounting bracket (1) incorporating a vertical pivot mounting (2) for attachment to the vehicle. A second bracket (6) has a first arm (7) carrying a road wheel and a second arm (8) generally upstanding from the first and linked at the upper end thereof to the mounting bracket by a parallelogram linkage (4,5). A spring and shock-absorber unit (9) is pivotally connected between the second bracket and the parallelogram linkage. Another aspect of the invention provides a vehicle suspension system comprising a mounting bracket (20) for attachment to a vehicle body or chassis, and a wheel-mounting arm (21) pivotally attached to the mounting bracket and having a wheel mounted thereon. A spring and shock-absorber unit (22) extends between the mounting bracket and the wheel-mounting arm, at least one end of the spring and shock-absorber unit being connected through a member (23) whose position is adjustable along the axis of the respective bracket or arm.

Abstract: The present invention provides an eccentric pivot member for effecting fore and aft movement of a leading end of a trailing beam member of a trailing beam suspension in response to rotation of the pivot member. Ratchet collars are provided which act between the eccentric pivot member and a suspension hanger to mechanically secure the assembly against rotation and any associated inadvertent misalignment.

Abstract: The present invention provides an eccentric pivot member for effecting fore and aft movement of a leading end of a trailing beam member of a trailing beam suspension in response to rotation of the pivot member. Ratchet collars are provided which act between the eccentric pivot member and a suspension hanger to mechanically secure the assembly against rotation and any associated inadvertent misalignment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shock absorber structure of a wheelchair front fork. A front wheel of the wheelchair is coupled to a fork body at a lower end of a front fork of the wheelchair. A mandrel is installed on the front fork. The front fork includes a U-shaped body at an upper end thereof. The mandrel is connected to an upper piece of the U-shaped body. Through elastic deformation of upper and lower pieces of the U-shaped body, the vibration from the front wheel can be absorbed, providing a shock absorption effect. Compared to the shock absorption device having a spring, the present invention has a simple configuration and is compact and pleasing.

Abstract: A vehicle has a chassis (11) and at least one axle (12, 13) suspended from the chassis for vertical and roll movement relative to the chassis. The axle is mounted on the chassis via a first pivotal mounting means in the form of an upper pair of arms (12a, 13a) which is pivoted on the chassis for vertical pivoting movement relative thereto and which carry an axle support (15, 16) on which the axle (12, 13) is free to pivot in the roll mode. A first damping means (19) acts between the chassis (11) and the first pivotal mounting means (12a, 13a) to control vertical movement of the axle relative to the chassis, and a second damping means acts between the first pivotal mounting means (12a, 13a) and the axle (12, 13) to provide independent control of the roll movement of the axle relative to the chassis. A second lower pair of pivoting arms (12b, 13b) also connect the axle (12, 13) to the chassis to control fore and aft movement of the axle relative to the chassis.

Abstract: A track rod for laterally locating an axle assembly with respect to a vehicle frame. The disclosed track rod is especially useful for large off highway vehicles.

Abstract: A vehicular suspension arm is provided in which an arm main body (1) includes a main plate (2) press-formed as a main part of the arm main body and having a short cylindrical part (EB) provided integrally with one end by flanging, and a reinforcing plate (H) superimposed on one of upper and lower faces of the main plate (2) and reinforcing the main plate (2). The reinforcing plate (H) has an eye-shaped head part (Ha) formed in an annular shape and arranged coaxially with the short cylindrical part (EB), and a tail part (Hb) extending integrally from the eye-shaped head part (Ha) along the longitudinal direction of the main plate (2), is formed from a single plate material that is thicker than the main plate (2), and has at least the tail part (Hb) welded to the main plate (2). A bush press-fit portion (P1) is formed from an inner peripheral face of the eye-shaped head part (Ha) and an inner peripheral face of the short cylindrical part (EB).

Abstract: A steering mechanism that operates by shifting weight in the desired direction. One embodiment includes an arm perpendicularly hinged to the underside of a platform. Connected to the bottom of the arm is a pivoting axle, which is in turn linked to a series of gears that lead back to the platform to form concurrent motion between the platform and axle. Supporting the platform in place is a pair of springs fastened to the arm on hinged mounts secured in place by a pair of stationary mounts fixed to the platform.

Abstract: A rod end mounting bushing for use in a connection assembly is disclosed. The rod end mounting bushing has a generally cylindrical body with a longitudinal axis line extending through the body and opposite end faces wherein each end face has a defining geometric plane. Each geometric plane is constructed and arranged at an angle of incline relative to the longitudinal axis line of the generally cylindrical body. The body defines a through aperture which extends from one end face to the opposite end face. This through aperture has a longitudinal axis line which is substantially perpendicular to at least one of the end faces.

Abstract: A spacer apparatus for insulating a beam bushing assembly of an axle/suspension system from direct metal-to-metal contact with the vehicle frame hanger on which the assembly is pivotally mounted. In one embodiment, an integrally-formed one-piece apparatus includes a spacer disk portion and collar portions, whereby the collars provide a complementary fit of the spacer apparatus on the bushing assembly mounting tube, and generally prevents or minimizes relative movement between the spacer disk and bushing assembly. In other embodiments, one or more load dissipation structures mounted on or forming a part of the beam and/or its bushing assembly prevent substantially non-planar surfaces of the assembly from contacting a spacer disk by increasing the bearing area of those surfaces which contact the disk. These apparatus generally eliminate excessive wear or damage to the spacer disk and possible resulting damage to the axle/suspension system.

Abstract: An axle mounting assembly includes a steerable axle mounted on an axle support and having a pair of opposing steerable wheels pivotally connected to the respective transverse ends of said steerable axle for pivotal movement relative thereto about respective wheel pivot axes. A substantially rigid connecting member extends between and is attached to the axle support and a steerable element of the steerable axle. The steerable axle is attached to the axle support by first, second and third flexible couplings. Each coupling provides for three planes of movement, the first flexible coupling attaching the axle to the axle support rearward of said axle, the second flexible coupling attaching the axle to a first end of a link forward of said axle and the third flexible coupling attaching a second end of said link to said axle support upwardly of said axle.