GB2187149A - Improvements in air suspensions for vehicles - Google Patents

Improvements in air suspensions for vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2187149A
GB2187149A GB08605028A GB8605028A GB2187149A GB 2187149 A GB2187149 A GB 2187149A GB 08605028 A GB08605028 A GB 08605028A GB 8605028 A GB8605028 A GB 8605028A GB 2187149 A GB2187149 A GB 2187149A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
vehicle
suspension
bump stop
trailer
air
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08605028A
Other versions
GB8605028D0 (en
Inventor
Nicholas Charles Raven
Peter Trevor Allen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Fruehauf Corp
Original Assignee
Fruehauf Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Fruehauf Corp filed Critical Fruehauf Corp
Priority to GB08605028A priority Critical patent/GB2187149A/en
Publication of GB8605028D0 publication Critical patent/GB8605028D0/en
Publication of GB2187149A publication Critical patent/GB2187149A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G7/00—Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof
    • B60G7/04—Buffer means for limiting movement of arms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G11/00—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs
    • B60G11/32—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having springs of different kinds
    • B60G11/34—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having springs of different kinds including leaf springs
    • B60G11/46—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having springs of different kinds including leaf springs and also fluid springs
    • B60G11/465—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having springs of different kinds including leaf springs and also fluid springs with a flexible wall
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2200/00—Indexing codes relating to suspension types
    • B60G2200/30—Rigid axle suspensions
    • B60G2200/31—Rigid axle suspensions with two trailing arms rigidly connected to the axle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/43—Fittings, brackets or knuckles
    • B60G2204/4306—Bracket or knuckle for rigid axles, e.g. for clamping
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
    • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
    • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
    • B60G2204/45—Stops limiting travel
    • B60G2204/4502—Stops limiting travel using resilient buffer

Abstract

A semi-trailer or trailer road vehicle has an axle (18) controlled by an air spring bellows unit (24). An upper bump stop (30) controlled by actuator (38) may be moved from an inoperative position to a working position where it is interposed between a lower bump stop (28) and a longitudinal beam (10) of the vehicle sub-frame, thereby eliminating most of the suspension movement and preventing undesirable settling of the vehicle when uncoupled and parked. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in air suspensions for vehicles This invention relates to an air suspension for a trailer or semi-trailer road vehicle and to a vehicle fitted with such suspension.
Certain vehicles, particularly trailers and semi-trailers, fitted with air suspensions settle when uncoupled from the tractor unit/towing vehicle and parked. Under some conditions this settling may be a hazard. For example, when the trailer/semi-trailer is parked in a loading bay, settling during load can cause unacceptablevariations in deck height.
Settling ofthesuspension can also causethevehicle to move forwards, increasing the dimension between the suspension and landing legs and causing damage or collapse ofthe landing legs.
According to the invention this problem can be solved by providing bump stop means operable between working and inoperative states and acting between a frame member of the vehicle and a moving element of the suspension to limit suspension movementwhen in its working stateto prevent settling of the vehicle which hasa suspension fitted with a gaseous orfluid springing medium.
The adjustable bump stop may be brought into action by any or combinations ofthefollowing actions: Operation of a manual control; Disconnection of a trailer's air or electrical connectors; Operation of a vehicle's parking brake control.
The adjustable bump stop eliminates most or all of the vehicle's suspension movement, when stationary, by swinging down between or movement into the space between the vehicle's bodywork or frame and its axles and/or suspension components.
An embodiment ofthe invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view of an air suspension fitted to a main beam of a road vehicle; and Figure 2 is an end view of the suspension.
In the drawings, a sub-frame longitudinal beam 10 carries a hanger bracket 12 that locates at pivot 1 4the front end of a leaf spring 16. An axle 18 is held to the spring 16 by U-bolts 20 and a damper 22 is pivoted between the axle 18 and the hanger bracket 12. An air spring bellows unit 24 is fitted between the beam 10 and the trailing end of the spring 16.
The axle 18 carries a support 26 for a lower bump stop 28 of hard rubber or other suitable material. An upper bump stop 30 is carried in brackets 32 on a cross-link34which is movable by operating rod 36of air acts atop so that the upper bump stop 30 either registers with or is removed from the lower bump stop 28. When the upper bump stop 30 is in position, the travel of spring 16 is limited, which facilitates vehicle loading and unloading as described above.
1. A road vehicle having a suspension operated by a gaseous orfluid springing medium and bump stop means movable between working and inoperative states and when in its operative state acting between a frame member of the vehicle and a moving element of the suspension to prevent settling ofthevehicle.
2. Avehicle according to Claim 1,whereinthe bump stop means is movable between working and inoperative states in response to Operation of manual control means, or in response to disconnection of a trailer's air orelectrical connectors, or in response to a parking brake control of the vehicle.
3. Atrailer or semi-trailer road vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2.
4. A road vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in air suspensions for vehicles This invention relates to an air suspension for a trailer or semi-trailer road vehicle and to a vehicle fitted with such suspension. Certain vehicles, particularly trailers and semi-trailers, fitted with air suspensions settle when uncoupled from the tractor unit/towing vehicle and parked. Under some conditions this settling may be a hazard. For example, when the trailer/semi-trailer is parked in a loading bay, settling during load can cause unacceptablevariations in deck height. Settling ofthesuspension can also causethevehicle to move forwards, increasing the dimension between the suspension and landing legs and causing damage or collapse ofthe landing legs. According to the invention this problem can be solved by providing bump stop means operable between working and inoperative states and acting between a frame member of the vehicle and a moving element of the suspension to limit suspension movementwhen in its working stateto prevent settling of the vehicle which hasa suspension fitted with a gaseous orfluid springing medium. The adjustable bump stop may be brought into action by any or combinations ofthefollowing actions: Operation of a manual control; Disconnection of a trailer's air or electrical connectors; Operation of a vehicle's parking brake control. The adjustable bump stop eliminates most or all of the vehicle's suspension movement, when stationary, by swinging down between or movement into the space between the vehicle's bodywork or frame and its axles and/or suspension components. An embodiment ofthe invention will now be described, byway of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view of an air suspension fitted to a main beam of a road vehicle; and Figure 2 is an end view of the suspension. In the drawings, a sub-frame longitudinal beam 10 carries a hanger bracket 12 that locates at pivot 1 4the front end of a leaf spring 16. An axle 18 is held to the spring 16 by U-bolts 20 and a damper 22 is pivoted between the axle 18 and the hanger bracket 12. An air spring bellows unit 24 is fitted between the beam 10 and the trailing end of the spring 16. The axle 18 carries a support 26 for a lower bump stop 28 of hard rubber or other suitable material. An upper bump stop 30 is carried in brackets 32 on a cross-link34which is movable by operating rod 36of air acts atop so that the upper bump stop 30 either registers with or is removed from the lower bump stop 28. When the upper bump stop 30 is in position, the travel of spring 16 is limited, which facilitates vehicle loading and unloading as described above. CLAIMS
1. A road vehicle having a suspension operated by a gaseous orfluid springing medium and bump stop means movable between working and inoperative states and when in its operative state acting between a frame member of the vehicle and a moving element of the suspension to prevent settling ofthevehicle.
2. Avehicle according to Claim 1,whereinthe bump stop means is movable between working and inoperative states in response to Operation of manual control means, or in response to disconnection of a trailer's air orelectrical connectors, or in response to a parking brake control of the vehicle.
3. Atrailer or semi-trailer road vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2.
4. A road vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB08605028A 1986-02-28 1986-02-28 Improvements in air suspensions for vehicles Withdrawn GB2187149A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08605028A GB2187149A (en) 1986-02-28 1986-02-28 Improvements in air suspensions for vehicles

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08605028A GB2187149A (en) 1986-02-28 1986-02-28 Improvements in air suspensions for vehicles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8605028D0 GB8605028D0 (en) 1986-04-09
GB2187149A true GB2187149A (en) 1987-09-03

Family

ID=10593867

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08605028A Withdrawn GB2187149A (en) 1986-02-28 1986-02-28 Improvements in air suspensions for vehicles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2187149A (en)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE8909613U1 (en) * 1989-08-10 1989-09-14 Ffg Fahrzeugwerkstaetten Falkenried Gmbh, 2000 Hamburg, De
EP0401100A1 (en) * 1989-05-30 1990-12-05 S.E.S.R. - Societe Europeenne De Semi-Remorques Trailer suspensions
WO1992004197A1 (en) * 1990-08-31 1992-03-19 Sjoelund Anders Wheel suspension device
EP0698547A1 (en) * 1994-08-03 1996-02-28 E. BARTOLETTI S.p.A. Bump range reducing device for axle suspensions of a road-rail intermodular semitrailer used for leveling the semitrailer at a predetermined position during piggybacking onto railway wagons
WO1996009179A1 (en) * 1994-09-22 1996-03-28 Nai Neway, Inc. Anti-creep device
WO1997037864A1 (en) * 1996-04-10 1997-10-16 Neway Anchorlok International, Inc. Anti-creep device for a trailer with air springs
US6068276A (en) * 1996-06-14 2000-05-30 Kallstrom; Ervin C. Pneumatic trailer system
US6962360B1 (en) * 1999-06-10 2005-11-08 Detroit Steel Products Co., Inc. Air suspension anti-roll stabilization system
US7350795B2 (en) 2000-06-16 2008-04-01 Volvo Trucks North America, Inc. Suspension
FR2927277A1 (en) * 2008-02-08 2009-08-14 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Metallic suspension mechanism fitting device for wheel of vehicle, has adjusting units arranged for adjusting length of strokes of suspension arm between rest position and contact position at which units are in contact with stopper
EP2292452A1 (en) * 2009-09-07 2011-03-09 Schmitz Cargobull AG A suspension limiting device
WO2013063756A1 (en) * 2011-11-01 2013-05-10 Wu Chiang-Chuan Vehicle wheel axle lifting device
EP3296175A1 (en) 2016-09-20 2018-03-21 Schmitz Cargobull AG Method for transporting a semitrailer
DE202016008550U1 (en) 2016-09-20 2018-05-22 Schmitz Cargobull Ag Railway wagon with a semitrailer dropped on it
CN108430811A (en) * 2015-12-25 2018-08-21 五十铃自动车株式会社 Collision brake device

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB866315A (en) * 1958-08-07 1961-04-26 Girling Ltd Vehicle suspension

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB866315A (en) * 1958-08-07 1961-04-26 Girling Ltd Vehicle suspension

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0401100A1 (en) * 1989-05-30 1990-12-05 S.E.S.R. - Societe Europeenne De Semi-Remorques Trailer suspensions
FR2648759A1 (en) * 1989-05-30 1990-12-28 Fruehauf France IMPROVEMENTS IN SUSPENSION OF SEMI-TRAILERS
DE8909613U1 (en) * 1989-08-10 1989-09-14 Ffg Fahrzeugwerkstaetten Falkenried Gmbh, 2000 Hamburg, De
WO1992004197A1 (en) * 1990-08-31 1992-03-19 Sjoelund Anders Wheel suspension device
EP0698547A1 (en) * 1994-08-03 1996-02-28 E. BARTOLETTI S.p.A. Bump range reducing device for axle suspensions of a road-rail intermodular semitrailer used for leveling the semitrailer at a predetermined position during piggybacking onto railway wagons
WO1996009179A1 (en) * 1994-09-22 1996-03-28 Nai Neway, Inc. Anti-creep device
US6257597B1 (en) 1996-04-10 2001-07-10 Holland Neway International, Inc. Anti-creep device for a trailer with air springs
WO1997037864A1 (en) * 1996-04-10 1997-10-16 Neway Anchorlok International, Inc. Anti-creep device for a trailer with air springs
US6068276A (en) * 1996-06-14 2000-05-30 Kallstrom; Ervin C. Pneumatic trailer system
US6962360B1 (en) * 1999-06-10 2005-11-08 Detroit Steel Products Co., Inc. Air suspension anti-roll stabilization system
US7350795B2 (en) 2000-06-16 2008-04-01 Volvo Trucks North America, Inc. Suspension
FR2927277A1 (en) * 2008-02-08 2009-08-14 Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa Metallic suspension mechanism fitting device for wheel of vehicle, has adjusting units arranged for adjusting length of strokes of suspension arm between rest position and contact position at which units are in contact with stopper
EP2292452A1 (en) * 2009-09-07 2011-03-09 Schmitz Cargobull AG A suspension limiting device
WO2013063756A1 (en) * 2011-11-01 2013-05-10 Wu Chiang-Chuan Vehicle wheel axle lifting device
CN108430811A (en) * 2015-12-25 2018-08-21 五十铃自动车株式会社 Collision brake device
EP3296175A1 (en) 2016-09-20 2018-03-21 Schmitz Cargobull AG Method for transporting a semitrailer
DE202016008550U1 (en) 2016-09-20 2018-05-22 Schmitz Cargobull Ag Railway wagon with a semitrailer dropped on it

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8605028D0 (en) 1986-04-09

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Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)