Patent ID: 6527286
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
A suspension assembly for mounting an axle on a longitudinally extending vehicle structure, said suspension assembly including:a) a pair of transversely spaced hangers, each one of said pair of hangers being mounted on and depending from said vehicle structure; b) a pair of longitudinally extending control arms, each one of said pair of control arms having a first end and a second end, said first end of each one of the control arms being pivotally attached to a respective one of said pair of hangers through a bushing, and said second end of each one of said control arms being pivotally attached to a respective one of a pair of axle seats through a bushing, said pair of axle seats immovably capturing a transversely extending axle; c) a pair of transversely spaced air springs, each one of said pair of air springs being mounted on a selected one of said axle and a respective one of said axle seats, each one of the pair of air springs extending upwardly and being attached to the vehicle structure; and d) torque means mounted on and extending between said vehicle structure and said axle, said means including a generally box-like structure having a first end and a second end, said means further including a pair of shafts, each one of said shafts having a pair of ends and at least one compliant structure disposed about the shaft, each one of said shafts being mounted in a respective one of said box-like structure ends, said pair of ends of each one of the shafts being immovably connected to a selected one of said vehicle structure and said axle, whereby said compliant structure of said torque means is movable in certain directions for cooperating with said control arms and said air springs to control forces imposed on the axle during operation of the vehicle structure, so that said suspension assembly minimizes wind-up of said axle.