Universal axle pad and clamp assemblies for vehicle suspensions

{
  "publication_number": "US3913937A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Universal axle pad and clamp assemblies for vehicle suspensions",
  "abstract": "A universal axle pad and clamp assembly for connecting leaf spring means with an axle housing in a vehicle suspension, includes spring cap means, spring seat and axle pad means including a spring seat member and an axle pad adapter relatively adjustably engagedly related, axle clamp means including an axle clamp member and an axle clamp adapter relatively adjustably engagedly related, and U-bolt means for securing the spring cap, the spring seat and axle pad means and the axle clamp means in fixed clamped relation to spring means received between the cap and spring seat member and an axle housing received between the axle pad adapter and the axle clamp adapter. The arrangement provides for adjustments to attain required pinion angle and the adapters can be readily provided to receive various axle housing sizes and assembled with the other parts of the assembly which may be of a standard size.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A universal axle pad and clamp assembly for connecting leaf spring means in load-supporting relation with an axle housing in a vehicle suspension, comprising: spring cap means; spring seat and axle pad means including a spring seat member and an axle pad adapter relatively adjustably engagedly related; a pair of spaced axle clamp members and a pair of complementary axle clamp adapters relatively adjustably engaged with said axle clamp members; and a pair of U-bolts for securing the spring cap, the spring seat and axle pad means and the pairs of engaged axle clamp members and clamp adapters in fixed clamped relation to spring means received between said cap and spring seat member and an axle housing received between said axle pad adapter and said axle clamp adapter.",
    "2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said spring seat member and axle pad adapter have semicircular engaging surfaces for effecting relative angular adjustments of the member and adapter, and each of said axle clamp members and said axle clamp adapters having a pair of semi-circular engagement surfaces enabling angular adjustments corresponding to the adjustments of the spring seat member and axle pad adapter.",
    "3. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein said axle pad adapter and each of said axle clAmp adapters have respective axle housing receiving recesses.",
    "4. A universal axle pad and clamp assembly for connecting leaf spring means in load-supporting relation with an axle housing in a vehicle suspension, comprising: spring cap means; spring seat and axle pad means including a spring seat member and an axle pad adapter relatively adjustably engagedly related; axle clamp means including an axle clamp member and an axle clamp adapter relatively adjustably engagedly related; U-bolt means for securing the spring cap, the spring seat and axle pad means and the axle clamp means in fixed clamped relation to spring means received between said cap and spring seat member and an axle housing received between said axle pad adapter and said axle clamp adapter; and each of said spring seat member and said axle pad adapter having a single center indicator and at least one side indicator thereon to facilitate attaining desired relative adjustments of the spring seat member and the axle pad adapter.",
    "5. A universal axle pad and clamp assembly for connecting leaf spring means in load-supporting relation with an axle housing in a vehicle suspension, comprising: spring cap means; spring seat and axle pad means including a spring seat member and an axle pad adapter relatively adjustably engagedly related; axle clamp means including an axle clamp member and an axle clamp adapter relatively adjustably engagedly related; U-bolt means for securing the spring cap, the spring seat and axle pad means and the axle clamp means in fixed clamped relation to spring means received between said cap and spring seat member and an axle housing received between said axle pad adapter and said axle clamp adapter; and each of said axle clamp members and each of said axle clamp adapters having indicator means to facilitate attaining accurate relative desired adjustments of each of the pairs of axle clamp members and axle clamp adapters.",
    "6. A universal axle pad and clamp assembly for connecting leaf spring means in load-supporting relation with an axle housing in a vehicle suspension, comprising: spring cap means comprising a member having a shelf extension; spring seat and axle pad means including a spring seat member and an axle pad adapter relatively adjustably engagedly related; axle clamp means including an axle clamp member and an axle clamp adapter relatively adjustably engagedly related; U-bolt means for securing the spring cap, the spring seat and axle pad means and the axle clamp means in fixed clamped relation to spring means received between said cap and spring seat member and an axle housing received between said axle pad adapter and said axle clamp adapter; and compression spring means supported by said shelf extension.",
    "7. In combination in a leaf spring suspension including leaf spring means connected at opposite ends in load supporting relation to a vehicle frame, and a clamp assembly securing the spring means to an axle housing, the improvements comprising: the clamp assembly including a spring cap member engaging on top of the spring means, a spring seat member engaging the spring means, an axle pad adapter adjustably connected with the spring seat member and engaging the upper portion of the axle housing, and axle clamp means connected in adjusted relation with axle pad adapter means engaging the lower portion of the axle housing; means securing the clamp assembly together and onto the spring means and the axle housing; and a shelf extension on said spring cap member supporting an auxiliary compression spring.",
    "8. In combination in a leaf spring suspension including leaf spring means connected at opposite ends in load supporting relation to a vehicle frame, and a clamp assembly securing the spring means to an axle housing, the improvements comprising: the clamp assembly including a spring cap member engaging on top of the spring means, a spring seat member engaging the spring meanS and an axle pad adapter adjustably connected with the spring seat member and engaging the upper portion of the axle housing; a pair of spaced axle clamp members engaging the lower portion of the axle housing below said axle pad adapter; a pair of complementary clamp adapters respectively relatively adjustably engaged with said axle clamp members; and a pair of U-bolts securing the spring cap member, the spring seat member and axle pad adapter and the pairs of engaged axle clamp members and axle clamp adapters in fixed clamped relation to the spring means and the axle housing.",
    "9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein said spring seat member and axle pad adapter have semicircular engaging surfaces for effecting relative angular adjustments of the member and adapter, and each of said axle clamp members and said axle clamp adapters having a pair of semicircular engagement surfaces enabling angular adjustments corresponding to the adjustments of the spring seat member and axle pad adapter.",
    "10. A combination according to claim 9, wherein each of said axle clamp members and each of said axle clamp adapters has indicator means to facilitate attaining accurate relative desired adjustments of each of the pairs of axle clamp members and axle clamp adapters.",
    "11. A combination according to claim 8, wherein said spring cap member has a shelf extension, and compression spring means supported by said shelf extension."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "B60G 11/113",
    "B60G 2200/31",
    "B60G 2204/4306",
    "B60G 2204/45",
    "B60G 2204/4502",
    "B60G 5/047",
    "B60G 7/04",
    "B60G 9/003"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60G 11/113",
    "B60G 5/047",
    "B60G 7/04",
    "B60G 9/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Dura Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "William F Longworth",
    "Attila J Tamas"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1974-07-03",
  "publication_date": "1975-10-21",
  "grant_date": "1975-10-21",
  "priority_date": "1974-07-03",
  "application_number": "US-48544674-A",
  "family_id": "23928198",
  "cited_by_count": 55,
  "citations": [
    "US3749196A"
  ]
}