Claims
- 1. A suspension for a mobile vehicle, the vehicle having a chassis with two parallel frame rails, the suspension comprising:
a leaf spring engaged between a forward mounting component and a rear mounting component to each frame rail, said front and rear mounting components each being engageable to a face of each frame rail; each said leaf spring being engageable to a vehicle axle through a pair of U-bolts; a flexible spring bracket engageable to each frame rail above an engagement area of said leaf springs between said front and rear mounting components; and each said spring bracket having an elastomeric spring aligned and spaced from said leaf spring to make contact with said engagement area of said leaf spring upon increases in chassis load beyond a lightly loaded chassis condition, said elastomeric spring causing said suspension response to be non-linear over a portion of operation.
- 2. The suspension of claim 1, wherein:
said elastomeric spring is in contact with said engagement area of said leaf springs over a significant amount of the range of non-transient suspension operation.
- 3. The suspension of claim 2, wherein:
said elastomeric spring is in contact with said engagement area for at least fifty percent of said suspension operation.
- 4. The suspension of claim 3, wherein:
a U-bolt seat is sandwiched between said U-bolts and said leaf spring; and said U-bolt seat has a widened elastomeric engagement face and said widened elastomeric engagement face acts as said engagement area of said leaf springs.
- 5. The suspension of claim 4, wherein:
said elastomeric spring is made up of two pez shaped pads, an upper pad and a lower pad; and said pads being integral.
- 6. The suspension of claim 5, wherein:
said elastomeric spring pads having a narrow gap portion at an engagement zone between said pads; and said elastomeric pads having a partially hollow interior.
- 7. A suspension for a mobile vehicle, the vehicle having a chassis with two parallel frame rails, comprising:
a leaf spring engaged between a forward frame bracket and a rear frame bracket; said frame brackets being engageable to a face of each frame rail; each said leaf spring being engageable to a vehicle axle through a pair of U-bolts; a U-bolt seat with a widened spring engagement face; said U-bolt seat being sandwiched between a curved portion of said U-bolts and said leaf spring; a bracket engageable to each frame rail; and each said spring bracket having a symbiotic elastomeric spring device aligned to make contact with said U-bolt seat upon a modest increase in chassis load beyond a light load condition, and thereafter said elastomeric spring device in contact with said widened spring engagement face.
- 8. A mobile vehicle, comprising:
a chassis with two parallel frame rails; a leaf spring engaged between a forward mounting component and a rear mounting component to each frame rail, said front and rear mounting components each being engaged to a face of each frame rail; each said leaf spring being engaged to a vehicle axle through fasteners; a flexible spring bracket engaged to each frame rail above an engagement area of said leaf springs between said front and rear mounting components; and each said spring bracket having an elastomeric spring aligned and spaced from said leaf spring to make contact with said engagement area of said leaf spring upon increases in chassis load beyond a lightly loaded chassis condition, said elastomeric spring causing said suspension response to be non-linear over a portion of operation.
- 9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein:
said elastomeric spring is in contact with said engagement area of said leaf springs over a significant amount of the range of non-transient suspension operation.
- 10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein:
said elastomeric spring is in contact with said engagement area for at least fifty percent of said suspension operation.
- 11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein:
a U-bolt seat is sandwiched between said U-bolts and said leaf spring; and said U-bolt seat has a widened elastomeric engagement face and said widened elastomeric engagement face acts as said engagement area of said leaf springs.
- 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein:
said elastomeric spring is made up of two pez shaped pads, an upper pad and a lower pad; and said pads being integral.
- 13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein:
said elastomeric spring pads having a narrow gap portion at an engagement zone between said pads; and said elastomeric pads having a partially hollow interior.
- 14. A mobile vehicle, comprising:
a chassis with two parallel frame rails; a leaf spring engaged between a forward frame bracket and a rear frame bracket; said frame brackets being engageable to a face of each frame rail; each said leaf spring being engageable to a vehicle axle through a pair of U-bolts; a U-bolt seat with a widened spring engagement face; said U-bolt seat being sandwiched between a curved portion of said U-bolts and said leaf spring; a bracket engageable to each frame rail; and each said spring bracket having a symbiotic elastomeric spring device aligned to make contact with said U-bolt seat upon a modest increase in chassis load beyond a light load condition, and thereafter said elastomeric spring device in contact with said widened spring engagement face.
- 15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein:
said elastomeric spring is made up of two pez shaped pads, an upper pad and a lower pad; and said pads being integral.
- 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein:
said elastomeric spring pads having a narrow gap portion at an engagement zone between said pads; and said elastomeric pads having a partially hollow interior.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a non-provisional patent application claiming the priority of provisional patent application Serial No. 60/309,280, filed Aug. 1, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60309280 |
Aug 2001 |
US |