Abstract:
An adjustment mechanism for adjustably aligning the bushing pin of a hanger bracket to which a lift arm of a lift axle suspension system is secured. The adjustment mechanism may also be used for adjustably aligning the bushing pin of an auxiliary axle which is of the non-lift type. The adjustment mechanism may also be used for adjustably aligning the bushing pin of a primary axle. More particularly, the invention relates to an adjustable alignment mechanism of the type described which includes an improved pointer device which visually indicates the alignment position of the bushing pin. Even more particularly, this invention relates to an improved means for securing the bushing pin in its aligned position.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to an adjustment means for adjustably aligning the bushing pin of a suspension hanger assembly. The invention may be used with an auxiliary axle of the non-lift type, a lift axle or a primary axle. More particularly, the invention relates to an adjustment means of the type described which includes an improved pointer device which visually indicates the alignment position of the bushing pin. Even more particularly, this invention relates to an improved means for securing the bushing pin in its aligned position. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In most of the prior art lift axle assemblies, a pair of hanger brackets are secured to the elongated frame members of the vehicle. Each of the hanger brackets have a trailing lift arm pivotally secured thereto which extends rearwardly therefrom with the lift axle thereof being movable between raised and lowered positions. If the lift arms are not properly aligned with the frame members of the vehicle, the wheels of the lift axle will not be perfectly aligned with the wheels of the tandem axles. The same is also true with auxiliary axles of the non-lift type or other axles on the vehicle such as primary axles. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,679 B2, an adjustment arrangement for a suspension hanger assembly is disclosed. Although the assembly of the &#39;679 patent has apparently met with some success, the adjustment arrangement therein suffers from a pair of disadvantages. The first disadvantage of the suspension arrangement of the &#39;679 patent is that the indicia system thereof is not readily visible and may be covered with road debris. Further, the indicia system of the &#39;679 patent may wear off and not be visible at all. A second disadvantage of the adjustment arrangement of the &#39;679 patent is that the bushing pin must have a wrench mounted on the head portion thereof and a wrench mounted on the nut portion thereof to facilitate tightening of the bushing pin in the hanger member. Even though the &#39;679 patent has the above identified disadvantages, the disclosure of the &#39;679 patent is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference thereto to complete this disclosure if necessary. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     An improved lift axle suspension mounting system is disclosed in the co-pending application Ser. No. 14/751,647 filed Jun. 26, 2015 which is incorporated herein by reference thereto to complete this disclosure if necessary. The instant invention relates to an adjustment mechanism or system for properly aligning the hanger bushing pin of the hanger bracket. The adjustable alignment mechanism or system of the present invention also includes a more convenient method of tightening the hanger bushing pin of the hanger bracket. 
     More particularly, each of the hanger brackets of a lift axle, an auxiliary axle of the non-lift type or a primary axle includes inner and outer vertically disposed side walls. The inner side wall of the hanger bracket has a horizontally disposed first slot formed therein at the upper end thereof. The inner side wall of the hanger bracket also has an upwardly curved arcuate second slot formed therein below the first slot thereof. The outer side wall of the hanger bracket has a horizontally disposed first slot formed therein at the upper end thereof which registers with the first slot in the inner side wall of the hanger bracket. The outer side wall of the hanger bracket has an upwardly curved arcuate second slot formed therein below the first slot thereof which registers with the second slot in the inner side wall of the hanger bracket. 
     An inverted flat and generally U-shaped first ring member is secured to the outer side of the inner side wall of the hanger bracket so as to partially extend around the first slot in the inner side wall of the hanger bracket. The first ring member has inner and outer edges with the inner edge of the first ring member having a plurality of radially-spaced index notches formed therein. A first flat actuator plate having an upper end and a lower end has its upper end movably positioned within the inner edge of the first ring member. The upper end of the first actuator plate has a pointer extending upwardly therefrom which is movably positioned adjacent the index notches of the first ring member. The first actuator plate has a bolt opening formed therein at its upper end. The first actuator plate has an adjustment opening formed therein at the lower end thereof which is positioned outwardly of the second slot in the inner side wall of the hanger bracket. 
     A flat first plate is positioned outwardly of the upper end of the first actuator plate and is secured to the first ring member and/or the inner side wall of the hanger bracket. The flat first plate has an elongated bolt head receiving opening formed therein which is configured to receive and capture the head of a bolt therein. 
     An inverted flat and generally U-shaped second ring member is secured to the outer side of the outer side wall of the hanger bracket so as to partially extend around the first slot in the outer side wall of the hanger bracket. The second ring member has inner and outer edges with the inner edge of the second ring member having a plurality of radially-spaced index notches formed therein. A flat second actuator plate having an upper end and a lower end has its upper end movably positioned within the inner edge of the second ring member. The upper end of the second actuator plate has a pointer extending upwardly therefrom which is movably positioned adjacent the index notches of the second ring member. The second actuator plate has a bolt opening formed therein at its upper end and has an adjustment opening formed therein at the lower end thereof. A flat washer, having a central opening, is positioned at the outer side of the second actuator plate. An elongated bolt or bushing pin having a head portion and a threaded shank portion has its shank portion extending through the bolt head receiving opening in the flat first plate, through the bolt opening in the first actuator plate, through the first slot in the inner side wall of the hanger bracket, through the first slot in the outer side wall of the hanger bracket, through the bolt opening in the second actuator plate, and through the washer. A nut is secured to the bolt outwardly of the washer. The nut is able to be tightened on the bolt without the need for a wrench to be placed on the head of the bolt since the head of the bolt is held captive in the bolt head receiving opening formed in the first plate. The bolt or bushing pin is configured to have a bushing of a lift arm rotatably mounted thereon between the inner and outer side walls of the hanger bracket. 
     An adjustment tool is adapted to extend through the adjustment opening in the first actuator plate, through the second slot in the inner side wall of the hanger bracket, through the second slot in the outer side wall of the hanger bracket, and through the adjustment opening in the second actuator plate. The movement of the lower ends of the actuator plate by the tool causes the bolt to adjustably move within the first slots of the inner side wall and the outer side wall of the hanger bracket. The adjustment plates are selectively moved by the tool so that the lift arm is aligned with the associated frame member. If desired, the actuator plates may be individually moved by separate tools. 
     Although the adjustment means of this invention is well suited for use with a lift axle, the adjustment means of this invention is also well suited for auxiliary axles which are not of the lift type, and primary axles. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved adjustable alignment means for a suspension hanger assembly. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable alignment means for a suspension hanger assembly which includes an improved adjustment index system which is readily visible. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable alignment means for a suspension hanger assembly wherein the bolt or bushing pin of the suspension system has the head portion thereof captive so that the nut on the bolt may be tightened without the need for a wrench to be placed on the bolt head. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable alignment means for a suspension hanger assembly which is convenient to use. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a vehicle having a lift axle suspension system mounted thereon; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial perspective view illustrating a lift axle suspension system having the adjustable alignment system of the instant invention associated therewith; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial exploded perspective view of one of the hanger brackets of a lift axle suspension system having the adjustable alignment system of the instant invention associated therewith; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of one of the hanger brackets of a lift axle suspension system having the adjustable alignment system of the instant invention associated therewith; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the inner side of the hanger bracket of  FIG. 4  which has the adjustable alignment system of the instant invention associated therewith; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial side elevational view as seen from the outer side of the hanger bracket of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial side elevation view illustrating the adjustable alignment mechanism in a first position; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial side elevational view illustrating the adjustable alignment mechanism in a second position; and 
         FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view illustrating the adjustable alignment system of this invention attached to the upper end of a lift arm of a lift axle suspension system. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
     The numeral  10  refers to a lift axle suspension system such as disclosed in the co-pending patent application entitled AN AXLE SUSPENSION MOUNTING SYSTEM, Ser. No. 14/751,647 filed Jun. 26, 2015, the disclosure of which is relied upon to complete this disclosure if necessary. 
     The system  10  of this invention may be used with a lift axle suspension system of the “tag” type or a lift axle suspension system of the “pusher” type. If the lift axle suspension system is of the “pusher” type, the system  10  will be secured to the longitudinally extending frame members of the vehicle between the cab of the vehicle and the tandem axles of the vehicle. If the lift axle suspension system is of the “tag” type, the system  10  will be secured to the frame members of the vehicle rearwardly of the tandem axles. In the description of the preferred embodiment, the system  10  will be described as being of the pusher type with it being understood that the system  10  could be used with the tag type lift axle suspension system. The system  10  may also be used with auxiliary axles of the non-lift type and primary axles. 
     The system  10  is mounted to a vehicle  12  including first and second longitudinally extending frame members having forward and rearward ends. As used herein, the term vehicle includes trucks with primary and auxiliary suspensions and trailers with primary and auxiliary suspensions. 
     Frame brackets such as shown in the co-pending application are bolted to the frame members of the vehicle. Hanger brackets  14  and  14 ′ are bolted to the frame brackets. Inasmuch as hanger bracket  14 ′ is a mirror image of hanger bracket  14 , only hanger bracket  14  will be described in detail with “ ” indicating identical structure on hanger bracket  14 ′. 
     For purposes of description, hanger bracket  14  will be described as having an upper end  16 , a lower end  18 , a forward end  20 , and a rearward end  22 . Hanger bracket  14  includes a top wall  24 , a front wall  26 , a rear wall  28 , an outer side wall  30  and an inner side wall  32 . Front wall  26  is part of a structure  34  which interconnects hanger brackets  14  and  14 ′. 
     Outer side wall  30  has a horizontally disposed and elongated slot-like bolt opening  36  formed therein below the upper end thereof. Outer side wall  30  has a generally arcuate slot  38  formed therein below bolt opening  36 . Inner side wall  32  of hanger bracket  14  has a horizontally disposed and elongated slot-like bolt opening  40  formed therein below the upper end thereof which registers with bolt opening  36  in outer side wall  30  of hanger bracket  14 . Inner side wall  32  of hanger bracket  14  has a generally arcuate slot  42  formed therein below bolt opening  40  which registers with slot  38  in outer side wall  30  of hanger bracket  14 . 
     The numeral  44  refers to an inverted generally U-shaped ring member which is secured to the exterior of outer side wall  30  by welding or the like which partially extends around bolt opening  36  as seen in the drawings. Ring member  44  includes an outer surface or edge  46  and an inner surface or edge  48 . Inner surface  48  of ring member  44  has a plurality of radially spaced-apart indicator notches  50  formed therein. 
     The numeral  52  refers to a flat actuator plate having a generally circular upper end portion  54  and a leg portion  56  which extends downwardly from upper end portion  54 . The upper end of upper end portion  56  has a pointer  58  extending upwardly therefrom. The upper end portion  54  of actuator plate  52  has a bolt opening  60  formed therein, the center of which is offset from the center axis of upper end portion  54 . Upper end portion  54  of actuator plate  52  is rotatably positioned within ring member  44 . Leg portion  56  of actuator plate  52  has a tool opening  62  formed therein which registers with slot  32  as seen in  FIG. 4 . Tool opening  62  may have a hexagonal shape, a square shape or a shape other than circular. Washer  64  is positioned at the outer side of upper end portion  54  of actuator plate  52  so that the opening  66  of washer  64  registers with opening  60  of actuator plate  52 . 
     The numeral  68  refers to an inverted generally U-shaped ring member which is secured to the exterior surface of inner side wall  32  by welding or the like which partially extends around bolt opening  40  as seen in the drawings. Ring member  68  includes an outer surface or edge  70  and an inner surface or edge  72 . Inner surface  72  of ring member  68  has a plurality of spaced-apart indicator notches  74  formed therein. Ring member  68  is identical to ring member  44 . 
     The numeral  76  refers to a flat actuator plate having a generally circular upper end portion  78  and a leg portion  80  which extends downwardly from upper end portion  78 . The upper end of upper end portion  78  has a pointer  82  extending upwardly therefrom. Upper end portion  78  has a bolt opening  84  formed therein, the center of which is offset from the center axis of upper end portion  78 . Upper end portion  78  of actuator plate  76  is rotatably positioned within ring member  68 . A leg portion  80  of actuator plate  76  has a tool opening  86  formed therein which registers with slot  42  as seen in the drawings. Tool opening  86  may have a hexagonal shape, a square shape, or other shape other than circular. 
     The numeral  88  refers to a bolt head capture plate which is positioned at the outer side of upper end portion  78  of actuator plate  76 . Plate  88  has an elongated and horizontally disposed bolt head receiving opening  90  which has a generally hexagonal form or a form to match the bolt head which is received therein. 
     The numeral  92  refers to a lift arm which is part of the lift axle suspension system or an auxiliary axle system of the non-lift type and which has a bushing  94  secured thereto. Bushing  94  has a central bolt opening  96  extending therethrough. The bushing  94  could be a part of a primary axle as well. Bushing  94  is received between the outer side wall  30  and inner side wall  32  so that bolt opening  96  registers with bolt opening  36  in outer side wall  30  and registers with bolt opening  40  in inner side wall  32 . Washers  98  and  100  are positioned at the ends of bushing  94 . 
     The numeral  102  refers to a bolt or bushing pin having a head portion  104  and a threaded shank. Bolt  102  extends through opening  90  in plate  88 , through opening  84  in actuator plate  76 , through bolt opening  40  in inner side wall  32 , through washer  98 , through opening  96  in bushing  94 , through washer  100 , through bolt opening  36  in outer side wall  30 , through bolt opening  60  in actuator plate  52  and through washer  64 . Nut  108  is threadably secured to the outer end of bolt  102 . 
     The adjustment means of this invention is used to adjust the position of the bushing pin or bolt  102 . The nut  108  is first loosened somewhat. The shank of the tool  110  is inserted through tool opening  62  in actuator plate  52 , through slot  38  in outer side wall  30  of hanger bracket  14 , through slot  42  in inner side wall  32  of hanger bracket  14  and through tool opening  86  in actuator plate  76 . The tool  110  is then moved to pivot or rotate the actuator plates  52  and  76  within ring members  44  and  68  respectively. The rotation of actuator plates  52  and  76  causes the shank  106  of bolt  102  to move within slots  36  and  40 . The actuator plates  52  and  76  are rotated until they are properly aligned as indicated by the pointers  58  and  82  with respect to the notches  50  and  74  of ring members  44  and  68  respectively. 
     The nut  108  is then tightened to maintain the bolt  102  in position. The nut  108  may be tightened without a wrench being secured to the head  104  since head  104  is held captive in opening  90  of plate  88 . 
     If desired, separate tools may be inserted into the openings  62  and  86 . Further, a single tool may be used to first adjust one of the actuator plates and then used to then adjust the other actuator plate. 
     Although the adjustment means of this invention is well suited for use with a lift axle, the adjustment means of this invention is also well suited for auxiliary axles which are not of the lift type, and is well suited for primary axles. 
     Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.