Vehicle suspension

Abstract

A non-torque reactive air suspension exhibiting excellent roll stability characteristics is shown to include frame hangers mounted to frame rails extending longitudinally on opposite sides of a vehicle. Longitudinally extending beams are connected to the frame hangers at one end and extend parallel to the frame rails. At their other ends, the beams are joined by a crossbrace extending laterally across the vehicle centerline. In a central portion thereof, the beams have an axle pivot bore to which an axle clamp assembly is connected, the axle clamp assembly clamping a drive axle housing for the vehicle. The axle pivot bore is generally aligned with the drive axle. A control rod assembly is connected to suspension or frame components. Together with the beams, the control rod assembly forms a parallelogram configuration wherein the beams form the lower linkages of that configuration and the control rods included within the control rod assembly form the upper linkages of that configuration.

1 . A non-torque reactive, roll stable vehicle air suspension connecting a vehicle drive axle housing to vehicle frame rails extending longitudinally on opposite sides of a vehicle, comprising: 
 frame hangers mounted to the frame rails;    longitudinally extending beams connected to the frame hangers at beam first ends defining lower linkages of a parallelogram configuration for the suspension, each beam having an axle pivot bore positioned a central portion thereof;    a laterally extending crossbrace being connected to beam second ends having a square-like geometry by a connection assembly;    axle clamp assemblies connected to the beams at axle pivot bores thereof and clamping the drive axle housing at opposite ends thereof; and    a control rod assembly having at least one control rod connected between the drive axle housing and one of the vehicle frame rails to define upper linkages of the parallelogram configuration for the suspension.    
   
   
       2 . The suspension defined by  claim 1  wherein the connection assembly comprises a machined taper joint.  
   
   
       3 . The suspension defined by  claim 1  wherein the axle clamp assembly includes a single leg having a curved surface to accommodate the curved portion of a D-shaped bar pin bushing that connects the axle clamp assembly to the beam through its axle pivot bore.  
   
   
       4 . The suspension defined by  claim 1  wherein the axle clamp assembly includes shock damper mounting features.  
   
   
       5 . The suspension defined by  claim 1  wherein the axle clamp assembly includes control rod mounting features.  
   
   
       6 . The suspension defined by  claim 1  wherein the axle clamp assembly includes a bump stop.  
   
   
       7 . The suspension defined by  claim 1  wherein the frame hanger includes integrated beam and control rod mounting features.  
   
   
       8 . The suspension defined by  claim 1  wherein the frame hanger includes features facilitating assembly of the beam.  
   
   
       9 . The suspension defined by  claim 1  wherein the control rod assembly includes two longitudinally extending control rods mounted on the frame hanger and axle clamp assembly outboard of the vehicle frame rails and one laterally extending control rod mounted between the drive axle housing and one of the vehicle frame rails.  
   
   
       10 . The suspension defined by  claim 1  wherein the control rod assembly includes a V-rod configuration mounted at an apex to the drive axle housing and at each end to opposite ones of the vehicle frame rails.  
   
   
       11 . The suspension defined by  claim 1  wherein the control rod assembly includes a longitudinally extending control rod mounted between the drive axle housing and a frame cross member extending laterally and mounted to the vehicle frame rails and a single laterally extending control rod mounted to the drive axle housing and one of the vehicle frame rails.