AU2014201804B2 - Heavy vehicle suspension improvements - Google Patents

Abstract

[0047] This invention relates to a vehicle suspension assembly for heavy vehicles, and to a means for mounting the same. In one aspect, the vehicle comprises a through aperture for receiving a suspension assembly which is secured with respect to the chassis, and which comprises an axle assembly which extends through the aperture in the chassis. Li 1 ( 0 000 '3 (N.J U: 0 1~00 1~~~~ C N

Description

The present invention relates to a suspension assembly for a vehicle, and a means for mounting the same.

[0003] In a particular form of the present invention this relates to a suspension assembly for heavy vehicles such as semi-trailers.

BACKGROUND [0004] Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension commonly employed in heavy vehicle applications such as buses and trucks. An electric or engine driven air pump or compressor pressurizes the air, and this is employed as a spring in place of conventional steel springs. The purpose of air suspension is to provide a smooth, constant ride quality and in some cases it is self-levelling. Air pressurizes a bag commonly referred to as an air spring, and this in turn raises a vehicle chassis from the axle.

[0005] A wheeled axle assembly of a heavy vehicle is commonly connected to a chassis by a trailing arm extending forward from the axle to a mounting point on the chassis. Where air suspension in employed, an air spring then interposes the trailing arm and the chassis.

[0006] Considerable difficulties arise where it is necessary to replace suspension bushes for trailing arms of semi-trailer suspension assemblies, as access to these is presently problematic, making replacement time consuming and costly.

[0007] It is against this background and the problems and difficulties associated therewith that the present invention has been developed.

[0008] Certain objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

2014201804 26 Mar 2014

SUMMARY [0009] According to a first aspect, there is provided a vehicle comprising a chassis comprising a through aperture for receiving a suspension assembly which is secured with respect to the chassis, and which comprises an axle assembly which extends through the aperture in the chassis.

[0010] For the purpose of this specification, the term ‘vehicle’ should be considered to encompass a vehicle trailer.

[0011] In one form, the suspension assembly comprises a sub frame from which the axle assembly depends, the sub frame comprising a through aperture through which the axle assembly extends.

[0012] In a further aspect the invention may be said to reside in a suspension assembly for a vehicle or trailer, the suspension assembly comprising a sub frame comprising a through aperture, the suspension assembly further comprising an axle assembly depending from the sub frame and extending through the aperture.

[0013] In one form, the sub frame comprises a pair of perimeter frames for framing a perimeter of the sub frame aperture, and a cross-member bridging the perimeter frames.

[0014] In one form, the axle depends from a pair of spaced apart trailing arms, where each trailing arm depends from a mounting point on a respective perimeter frame of the sub frame.

[0015] In one form, an air spring interposes the axle and the sub frame. In an alternative, a mechanical spring interposes the axle and the sub frame.

[0016] In one form, an air spring interposes each trailing arm and the sub frame. In an alternative, a mechanical spring interposes the trailing arm and the sub frame.

[0017] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying Figures that illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. While the invention is described in connection with such embodiments, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any embodiment. On the contrary, the scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents. For the purpose of example, numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention.

[0018] The present invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related

2014201804 26 Mar 2014 to the invention has not been described in detail so that the present invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0019] Embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0020] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a vehicle suspension assembly;

[0021] Figure 2 is a plan view of the vehicle suspension assembly of Figure 1;

[0022] Figure 3 is a side view of the vehicle suspension assembly of Figure 1;

[0023] Figure 4 is an isometric view of a sub-frame from the vehicle suspension assembly of Figure 1;

[0024] Figure 5 is a side view of the sub-frame of Figure 4;

[0025] Figure 6 is an isometric view of the sub-frame of Figure 4, fitted with cover plates;

[0026] Figure 7 is a side view of the sub-frame of Figure 6;

[0027] Figure 8 is an isometric view of a portion of a chassis adapted to receive the vehicle suspension assembly of Figure 1;

[0028] Figure 9 is a side view of the chassis of Figure 8; and [0029] Figure 10 is an isometric view of the sub frame of Figure 4 mounted to the chassis of Figure 8.

[0030] In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS [0031] Referring now to Figures 1 through 3, where there is illustrated a suspension assembly 10 for, in the case of this illustrated embodiment, a semi-trailer.

[0032] The semi-trailer comprises a chassis 12 (see Figures 8 and 9) comprising a pair of opposed and lengthwise extending chassis rails 14 of I-beam cross-sectional shape. These chassis rails 14 are bridged by chassis cross-members (not illustrated).

2014201804 26 Mar 2014 [0033] The chassis rails 14 comprise aligned pairs of mounting apertures 18 for receiving a sub frame 20 of the suspension assembly 10.

[0034] With reference to Figures 4 and 5 it can be seen that the sub frame 20 comprises a pair of perimeter frames 22 for framing a sub frame aperture 23, and a cross-member 24 bridging the perimeter frames 22. In use, each of these perimeter frames 22 will nest in a chassis mounting aperture 18, hence these are of matching shape.

[0035] The suspension assembly 10 further comprises an axle assembly 50 depending from the sub frame 20 and extending through the sub frame aperture 23.

[0036] Referring once more to Figure 1, the axle assembly 50 depends from a pair of spaced apart trailing arms 60, where each trailing arm 60 depends from a mounting point on a respective perimeter frame 22 of the sub frame 20. An air spring 52 for an air suspension system interposes each trailing arm and the sub frame 20, and mounting points 54 are provided for a shock absorber to extend between each trailing arm and the sub frame 20.

[0037] Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, it can be seen how each mounting point comprises a pair of spaced apart apertures 72 defined in opposing cover plates 70. Each cover plate 70 depends from (by way of being bolted to) an attachment flange 26 (see Figures 4 and 5) which in turn depends from one of the perimeter frames 22.

[0038] There is for both an inner and an outer side of the perimeter frame 22 an attachment flange 26, so that there is for both the inner and the outer side of the perimeter frame 22 a cover plate 70.

[0039] Each cover plate 70 covers a forward-most portion of the sub frame aperture 23 defined by the perimeter frame 22 from which that cover plate 70 depends.

[0040] For each perimeter frame 22 a bolt or pin (not illustrated) is extended through the aligned apertures 72 in the cover plates 70 depending therefrom. Disposed over this bolt is a suspension bush (not illustrated) for pivotally mounting the trailing arm 60 which depends from the perimeter frame 22.

[0041] A significant advantage of the present invention is that access to the suspension bush is a simple matter of removing the pivot bolts and cover plates 70. When compared with arrangements of the prior art, this significantly reduces the time required to replace these suspension bushes.

[0042] A further advantage of this arrangement is that it reduces the ride height of the chassis 12, by virtue of the fact that the suspension is not suspended from the underside of the chassis, but passes

2014201804 26 Mar 2014 through it. Reduced ride height is of particular use in low-loaders (otherwise known as low-boys or floats).

[0043] Moreover, the entire sub frame 20 may be separated from the chassis 12 by removal of the attachment flanges 26, which themselves may be removably secured to the perimeter frame 22, such as by being bolted thereto. This may be of use where maintenance is simplified by a direct replacement of an unserviceable sub frame 20 (replete with all of its dependent components) with a serviceable one, thereby reducing downtime for the vehicle or trailer.

[0044] Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words “comprise” and “include” and variations such as “comprising” and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0045] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0046] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

2014201804 26 Mar 2014

Claims (14)

1. A vehicle comprising a chassis comprising a through aperture for receiving a suspension assembly which is secured with respect to the chassis, and which comprises an axle assembly which extends through the aperture in the chassis.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the suspension assembly comprises a sub frame from which the axle assembly depends, the sub frame comprising a through aperture through which the axle assembly extends.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the sub frame of the suspension assembly nests in the chassis aperture.

4. The vehicle as in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the chassis comprises a pair of opposed and elongate extending chassis rails bridged by a plurality of chassis cross-members, each chassis rail comprising at least a pair of transversely aligned through apertures for receiving a suspension assembly.

5. The vehicle as in any one of claims 2 through 4, wherein the sub frame comprises a pair of perimeter frames for framing a perimeter of the sub frame aperture, and a cross-member bridging the perimeter frames.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the axle assembly depends from a pair of spaced apart trailing arms, where each trailing arm depends from a mounting point on a respective perimeter frame of the sub frame.

7. The vehicle as in any one of claims 2 through 6, wherein an air spring interposes the axle assembly and the sub frame.

8. The vehicle as in any one of claims 2 through 6, wherein an air spring interposes each trailing arm and the sub frame.

9. A suspension assembly for securement with respect to a vehicle, the suspension assembly comprising a sub frame comprising a through aperture, the suspension assembly further comprising an axle assembly depending from the sub frame and extending through the aperture in the sub frame.

10. The suspension assembly of claim 9, wherein the sub frame comprises a pair of perimeter frames for framing a perimeter of the sub frame aperture, and a cross-member bridging the perimeter frames.

2014201804 26 Mar 2014

11. The suspension assembly of claim 10, wherein the axle assembly depends from a pair of spaced apart trailing arms, where each trailing arm depends from a mounting point on a respective perimeter frame of the sub frame.

12. The suspension assembly as in any one of claims 9 through 11, wherein an air spring interposes the axle assembly and the sub frame.

13. The suspension assembly as in either of claims 11 or 12, wherein an air spring interposes each trailing arm and the sub frame.

14. The suspension assembly as in any one claims 9 through 13, wherein the sub frame is adapted for releasable securement with respect to a chassis of the vehicle.

2014201804 26 Mar 2014

1/5

C«4 {-Δ

2014201804 26 Mar 2014

2/5

2014201804 26 Mar 2014

3/5 r4 r

4/5

2014201804 26 Mar 2014

5/5

2014201804 26 Mar 2014 ja ο