Tandem axle assemblies and associated systems and components are provided for use on heavy duty trucks, trailers, and/or other vehicles. Tandem axle assemblies may include a drive axle and a non-drive lift axle mounted to a non-torque reactive suspension system having hanger brackets positioned between the tandem axles. Roll stability components of the suspension system can be located on the drive axle side of the suspension, reducing weight, cost, and complexity of the tandem axle assembly. The non-drive lift axle can be operated by a control system during vehicle dynamic operation to improve traction performance of the vehicle.
B60G 5/04 - Resilient suspensions for a set of tandem wheels or axles having interrelated movements with two or more pivoted arms, the movements of which are resiliently interrelated
B60G 17/015 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements
B60G 17/033 - Spring characteristics characterised by regulating means acting on more than one spring
B60G 21/073 - Interconnection systems for two or more resiliently-suspended wheels, e.g. for stabilising a vehicle body with respect to acceleration, deceleration or centrifugal forces permanently interconnected fluid between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected
2.
Cab suspension systems and associated methods of manufacture and use
Vehicle cab suspension control systems are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the cab suspension control systems can include front cab-to-frame mounts that include controllable elastomer-based isolators that can provide real time variable damping to improve ride quality and/or road holding and reduce cab roll in response to, for example, input from one or more cab and/or frame mounted accelerometers, position sensors, etc. Embodiments of the control systems described herein can utilize a single vehicle controller (e.g., an ECU) to control all of the cab suspension components (e.g., semi-active damping technologies, air spring technologies, etc.) employed on a vehicle to provide a single suspension control solution that can provide improved ride performance, road holding, etc.
B60G 17/015 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements
B60G 17/016 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input
B60G 17/019 - Resilient suspensions having means for adjusting the spring or vibration-damper characteristics, for regulating the distance between a supporting surface and a sprung part of vehicle or for locking suspension during use to meet varying vehicular or surface conditions, e.g. due to speed or load the regulating means comprising electric or electronic elements characterised by the type of sensor or the arrangement thereof
A vehicle suspension disclosed includes a pair of leaf springs arranged to extend longitudinally of a frame of an associated vehicle on respective opposed sides thereof, each leaf spring having one of its ends connectable pivotally to the vehicle frame at a fixed location with respect thereto and arranged to have mounted thereto intermediate its ends an axle extending transversely of the vehicle frame; a first bracket attached rigidly to each leaf spring at or adjacent the fixed location at which the one end of each leaf spring is connectable pivotally to the vehicle frame; a radius arm arranged to extend longitudinally on each side of the vehicle frame and having one end thereof connected pivotally to the first bracket in spaced relationship to said fixed location; and a second bracket which is attachable rigidly to the axle and to which is connected the other end of the corresponding radius arm in spaced relationship to the axle.
B60G 11/04 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of springs having leaf springs only arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle
B60G 11/34 - Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of springs having springs of different kinds including leaf springs
patents
