Suspension arrangement

Abstract

A passenger service vehicle includes one or more suspension mounts. Each suspension mount attaches a front axle to a chassis. In some cases, the axle is a drop beam axle. Each suspension mount is further mounted with one or more suspension components of the following: suspension arm links, suspension air springs, suspension dampeners, anti-roll bars and Panhard rods.

1 . A suspension arrangement for a passenger service vehicle, the passenger service vehicle having an overall length of about 35 feet or less comprising:
 one or more compact suspension mounts, the or each compact suspension mount having a drop beam axle connection region configured to attach the compact suspension mount to a front drop beam axle of a passenger service vehicle, the or each compact suspension mount further comprising an air spring connection region configured to attach the compact suspension mount to an air spring, and wherein each of the one or more compact suspension mounts comprises a body portion having a central axis, the central axis extending directly between the drop beam axle connection region and the air spring connection region, and wherein the compact suspension mount is further configured such that both the drop beam axle connection region of each mount and air spring connection region are configured to attach to suspension link arms for attachment of the compact suspension mount to the chassis of a passenger service vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , configured for a passenger service vehicle having an unladen weight of around 25,000 lbs or less. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the suspension arrangement comprises suspension link arms. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the suspension link arms are parallel. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement according to  claim 3 , wherein the suspension link arms are roughly less than 40 cm long. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the body portion of the each of the one or more compact suspension mounts comprises one or more curved ribs. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more compact suspension mounts is a unitary mount from a single cast. 
     
     
         8 . The suspension arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the drop beam axle connection region comprises one or more depending lugs, and each of the one or more depending lugs comprises attachment apertures. 
     
     
         9 . A passenger service vehicle having an overall length of about 35 feet or less, comprising:
 a front axle suspension arrangement comprising at least two compact suspension mounts, each compact suspension mount having an axle connection region attaching the compact suspension mount to a front axle of a passenger service vehicle, and a suspension spring connection region attaching the compact suspension mount to a suspension spring, and wherein each compact suspension mount comprises a body portion having a body axis, the body axis extending between the axle connection region and the suspension spring connection region, and wherein the chassis of the passenger service vehicle is attached to each compact suspension mount via suspension link arms.   
     
     
         10 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle has an unladen weight of around 25,000 lbs or less. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein each compact suspension mount is located proximate a wheel arch region, the wheel arch region having an upper surface configurable to provide additional seating within the passenger service vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein a gangway located interior to the vehicle is relatively positioned between the at least two compact suspension mounts. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the body portion of each of the one or more compact suspension mounts comprises one or more curved ribs. 
     
     
         14 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein each compact suspension mount connects directly to the front axle of a passenger service vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is configured to provide at least 35 passenger seats. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , including a front overhang of around 250 cm or less. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle according to  claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is a single deck vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . A passenger service vehicle having an overall length of about 35 feet or less, comprising:
 a front axle and at least one rear axle,   a front axle suspension arrangement provided at the front axle, comprising at least two compact suspension mounts, each compact suspension mount having an axle connection region attaching the compact suspension mount to the front axle of the passenger service vehicle, and a suspension spring connection region attaching the compact suspension mount to a suspension spring, and wherein each compact suspension mount comprises a body portion having a body axis, the body axis extending between the axle connection region and the suspension spring connection region, and   a rear-axle suspension arrangement comprising a spring arrangement connecting the chassis of the passenger vehicle to the at least one rear axle, the rear-axle suspension arrangement further comprising links connecting the chassis to a rear differential, the rear differential being configured to attach to a drive shaft and rear wheels.   
     
     
         19 . A passenger service vehicle according to  claim 18 , wherein each compact suspension mount is located proximate a wheel arch region, the wheel arch region having an upper surface configurable to provide additional seating within the passenger service vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . A passenger service vehicle according to  claim 18 , wherein a gangway located interior to the vehicle is relatively positioned between the at least two compact suspension mounts.