Roll stable vehicle suspension system

Abstract

A highly roll stable suspension system for a truck, trailer, or semi-trailer which achieves its roll stability by the use of at least three beam structures, one beam being located beneath a respective longitudinal side frame member of the vehicle, and the other being located midpoint between the side frame members and which occupies substantially less space than the space between these opposing longitudinal side frame members of the vehicle.

1 . In a wheel bearing axle suspension system for connection to a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members of a vehicle located on opposite sides of said vehicle, wherein said suspension system includes, with respect to each said frame members, a beam locatable beneath and in substantially the same vertical plane of said respective frame member, each said beam being connected at a first end thereof to a hanger bracket connectable to a said respective frame member and having connected to a second end thereof an air bellows connectable to said same respective frame member as said hanger bracket, means for connecting an axle to a said beam and means located between said pair of opposing frame members for increasing the roll stability of said suspension, the improvement comprising wherein: 
 said means for increasing the roll stability of said suspension located between said pair of opposing frame members comprises means structured and so located as to occupy substantially less than the entire vertical distance between said longitudinal frame members.    
   
   
       2 . A suspension system according to  claim 1  wherein said means for increasing the roll stability of said suspension includes three longitudinal beams.  
   
   
       3 . A suspension system according to  claim 2  wherein a first and a second said longitudinal beam is locatable beneath a respective said opposing longitudinal frame member of said vehicle and wherein a third said longitudinal beam is located between said opposing longitudinal frame members.  
   
   
       4 . A suspension system according to  claim 3  which further includes a laterally extending beam connected at each end to a respective said opposing longitudinal frame member and wherein a first end of said third longitudinal beam is connected to said laterally extending beam.  
   
   
       5 . A suspension system according to  claim 4  wherein said suspension includes an axle bracket connectable to said axle at a location intermediate the ends of said axle and wherein a second end of said third longitudinal beam opposite said first end is connected to said axle bracket.  
   
   
       6 . A suspension system according to  claim 5  wherein said three longitudinal beams are so located with respect to each other such that they form a cross-sectional, equal lateral triangle in a vertical plane with each other such that said third beam is the apex of said triangle and said first and second lower beams are located within substantially the same horizontal plane with respect to each other, when said suspension in its travel position.  
   
   
       7 . A suspension system according to  claim 6  wherein said three longitudinal beams are so constructed as to be wider in their horizontal plane than in the vertical plane when mounted on a vehicle.  
   
   
       8 . A suspension system according to  claim 7  wherein said three longitudinal beams are formed of a continuous top plate and a continuous bottom plate joined together by opposing, spaced side plates.  
   
   
       9 . A suspension system according to  claim 8  wherein each said spaced side plate has an orifice therein extending substantially the entire length of said plate.  
   
   
       10 . A suspension system according to  claim 8  which includes an axle.  
   
   
       11 . A suspension system according to  claim 8  wherein said axle comprises a transmission and a housing therefor.  
   
   
       12 . A suspension system according to  claim 10  wherein said axle bracket is so located as to be connected to said transmission housing.  
   
   
       13 . A suspension system according to  claim 11  wherein said longitudinal beams extend forward of said axle and said air bellows are located rearward of said axle with respect to the direction of forward vehicle travel.  
   
   
       14 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 1  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       15 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair located on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 2  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       16 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair being located on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension system of  claim 3  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       17 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair being located on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 4  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       18 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair being located on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 5  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       19 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair being located on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 6  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       20 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair being located on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 7  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       21 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair being located on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 8  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       22 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair being located on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 9  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       23 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair being located on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 10  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       24 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair being locate on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 11  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       25 . In a wheeled vehicle having a pair of opposing, spaced longitudinal frame members, one of said pair being located on each side of said vehicle, the improvement comprising the suspension of  claim 12  connected to said frame members.  
   
   
       26 . A torque arm for use in a vehicle which includes a pair of opposing longitudinal frame members defining a space therebetween, said torque arm being constructed so as to be attachable between said pair of opposing longitudinal frame members wherein said torque arm has a width substantially less than the space between the said pair of opposing longitudinal frame members.  
   
   
       27 . A torque arm according to  claim 25  comprising a pivot means located at each end thereof, an upper and a lower pair of substantially horizontal plates and a pair of orificed, spaced and substantially vertical plates so located between said upper and lower plates such that said upper and lower plates are substantially parallel with respect to each other.