Patent ID: 12221158

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A more complete understanding of the components, processes and apparatuses disclosed herein can be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures are merely schematic representations based on convenience and the ease of demonstrating the present disclosure, and are therefore not intended to indicate relative size and dimensions of the devices or components thereof and/or to define or limit the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the particular structure of the embodiments selected for illustration in the drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings and the following description below, it is to be understood that like numeric designations refer to components of like function.

A plurality of spring hangers may be provided on a frame.FIG.1illustrates a perspective bottom view of an exemplary arrangement of spring hangers100on a trailer frame102, according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The depicted trailer frame102is just one example frame that can suitably incorporate the principles of the present disclosure. Indeed, many alternative designs and configurations of the frame102may be employed, without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

With reference toFIGS.1and2, the frame102includes a first rail104and a second rail106extending along a length of a trailer. A spring hanger system200may include a plurality of spring hangers100aligned along each of the first and second rails104,106. In the exemplary embodiments, three (3) spring hangers100are provided on each rail104,106. However, it is to be appreciated that more or less than three (3) of the spring hangers100may be aligned on the first rail104and/or the second rail106.

Spring hangers100may be configured to receive various vehicle suspension components. The depicted suspension componentsFIG.2are just one example of suspension components that may be suitably incorporated with the principles of the present disclosure. Indeed, many alternative designs and configurations of suspension components may be employed, without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

As illustrated, the spring hanger assembly system200including spring hangers100include a left spring hanger202, a central spring hanger204, and a right spring hanger206. Here, an equalizer210is attached to the central spring hanger204. A first leaf spring212is arranged between the left spring hanger202and the central spring hanger204, and a second leaf spring214is arranged between the right spring hanger206and the central spring hanger204. Each of the first and second leaf springs212,214include loops formed at their ends215respectively that are configured to couple the first and second leaf springs212,214to the spring hangers100. That is, a fastener217may thread through both holes in the hanger100/suspension component, e.g., shackles220,222of equalizer210, and the end215loop of the leaf spring212,214, securing each leaf spring212,214to the rail. While not illustrated, wheel assemblies may be installed to the first and second leaf springs212,214. The length between the left spring hanger202, the central spring hanger204, and the right spring hanger206may vary depending upon the desired distance between the front and rear wheel assemblies. A left and right shackle220,222are provided on the left and right side, respectively, of the equalizer210, and the left and right shackle220,220couple the first and second leaf springs212,214to the equalizer210.

The loop at a first end of the first leaf spring212is bolted to the left spring hanger202and the loop at the opposing second end of the first leaf spring212is bolted to the left shackle220. The loop at a first end of the second leaf spring214is bolted to the right spring hanger206and the loop at the opposing second end of the second leaf spring214is bolted to the right shackle222. The equalizer210is configured to rock back and forth in the central spring hanger204, and the shackles220,222coupled to the equalizer210permit the leaf springs212,214travel axially along the length of the rails, towards and away from the central spring hanger204, thereby permitting load from the axel to transfer into the suspension.

In accordance with the present disclosure, a spring hanger100, includes of two sections, an inner and outer section.FIGS.3A-3Cillustrate various embodiments of spring hanger100sections. An inner hanger section302is illustrated inFIG.3Aand outer hanger sections304and305are illustrated inFIGS.3B and3C. The inner hanger section302includes a substantially planar top surface303configured to abut and mount a bottom surface of a rail104,106. The planar top surface303also provides a surface for receiving the outer hanger section304,305, discussed in greater detail below. The inner hanger section302also includes an inner tab portion309extending substantially perpendicular to the top surface303. The inner tab portion309includes at least one hole configured to receive a fastener for securing suspension components, e.g., leaf spring, equalizer, etc., in cooperation with corresponding holes on an outer tab portion of an outer hanger section304,305.

As illustrated, the outer hanger section304includes at least one finger307that is configured to abut an exterior surface of the rail104,106. The exemplary embodiments ofFIGS.3B and3Cshow includes two (2) spaced apart fingers307,307′. These fingers307,307′ may extend substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface310of the outer hanger304,305. The fingers307are configured to extend along a vertical dimension of the rail104,106. The fingers307,307′ may extend vertically at least half way upward along the rail104,106, up to about the upper third of the vertical portion of the rail104,106. Providing the spring hanger outer hanger section304with fingers307that extend too high vertically on the rail portion may stiffen the assembly and may result in cracking or other damage; however, providing the fingers307′ too low vertically on the rail portion may result in too much flexibility and may also result in cracking. Thus, in some embodiments, the inner hanger section302is provided with standard dimensions, whereas different outer hanger sections304,305may be provided with different finger307,307′ dimensions.

As mentioned, the outer hanger sections304,305include a substantially planar bottom surface310configured to abut the top surface303of the inner hanger section302. Each surface303, and310may have corresponding holes for receiving a fastener for joining the inner hanger section302to an outer hanger section304,305. The outer hanger section304,305, also includes an outer tab portion311extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface310and in an opposite direction from fingers307,307′. The outer tab portion311includes at least one hole312configured to receive a fastener for securing suspension components, e.g., leaf spring, equalizer, etc., in cooperation with corresponding holes310on the inner tab portion309of the inner hanger section302.

As illustrated inFIGS.4A and4B, an inner hanger section302may be joined with an outer hanger section, e.g., outer hanger section304and/or outer hanger section305as a spring hanger assembly100,100′. The hanger sections may be in a variety of manners, for example, they may be welded together, bolted together, or hucked together. In the illustrated embodiment ofFIG.4A, spring hanger assembly100includes inner hanger section302hucked together with outer section304. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, Huck® fasteners are vibration resistant fasteners including a two-piece grooved pin and a collar combo where the collar sits over the pin and is compressed into the grooves of the pin via a designated tool. The tool presses the softer material collar into the pin making the two-piece combo an integrated one-piece entity. In the illustrated embodiment ofFIG.4B, spring hanger assembly100′ includes inner hanger section302hucked together with outer section305. Also, when inner hanger section302and the outer hanger section304,305are joined together, the fingers307,307′ and bottom surface303define a seat that receives a portion of a rail104.

As mentioned, the outer hanger section may be provided with different finger dimensions to accommodate frames having differently sized rails.FIG.4Aillustrates an example of the outer hanger section304having a pair of relatively longer fingers307, whereasFIG.4Billustrates an example of the outer hanger section305having a pair of shorter fingers307′ relative to those illustrated inFIG.4A.

FIG.5illustrates a spring hanger utilizing the outer hanger section304with longer fingers307. The inner hanger section302and the outer hanger section304are hucked together with a pin and collar fastener315. As illustrated inFIGS.3-5, each of the inner hanger section302and the outer hanger section304includes a pair of assembly holes320,321, with the assembly holes320of the inner hanger section302corresponding to the assembly holes321of the outer hanger section304,305when they are assembled together. The pin and collar fastener315may then be utilized to secure the inner hanger section302and the outer hanger section304,305together. In other examples, however, the inner hanger section302and the outer hanger section304,305need not include such assembly holes, for example, where the inner hanger section302and the outer hanger section304,305are welded together.

With continued reference toFIGS.3-5, each of the inner hanger section302and the outer hanger section304,305include various mounting holes330,331for securing the spring hanger assembly100to a rail104,106. For example, the inner hanger section302may include mounting holes330on its top surface303and the outer hanger section304may include mounting holes331on the fingers307,307′ for attachment to the rail of the frame. As illustrated inFIG.5, the spring hanger assembly100is attached to the rail104via fasteners502through mounting holes330and331.

FIGS.6A and6Billustrate top view of inner302and outer hanger sections304,305separate and joined, respectively. In some embodiments, the inner hanger section302includes a recess602configured to receive a portion of an outer hanger section304,305. The recess602is substantially U-shaped and is carved through of the top surface303about the side configured to engage the outer hanger section304,305. The bottom extending outer tab311of the outer section304occupies a portion of the recess602when the inner hanger section302is joined with the outer hanger section304,305(as illustrated inFIG.6A). In some embodiments, the inner hanger section302includes a tongue portion603of the top surface303that projects outwardly therefrom and into the recess602. The tongue portion603may abut an inner facing surface (occluded) of the bottom tab311. In this way, the tongue portion603may aid in maintaining a spaced apart relationship between the bottom tab310of the inner hanger section302and the bottom tab311of the outer hanger section304,305.

To aid the Patent Office and any readers of this application and any resulting patent in interpreting the claims appended hereto, applicants do not intend any of the appended claims or claim elements to invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the words “means for” or “step for” are explicitly used in the particular claim.