Integrated brake component mounting bracket

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9580057-B2
Application number	US-201614989333-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Oct 26, 2012
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

An integrated brake component mounting bracket for a mechanical spring axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle includes an axle seat that is disposed on and is rigidly connected to an axle of the vehicle. An air chamber mounting bracket is rigidly connected to the axle seat, and a cam shaft assembly mounting bracket is rigidly connected to the axle seat. A brake air chamber of a brake system is attached to the air chamber mounting bracket, and a cam shaft assembly of the brake system is mounted to the cam shaft assembly mounting bracket. The integrated brake component mounting bracket thus provides mounting of the brake air chamber and the cam shaft assembly on the axle seat, which reduces the number of components that are welded to the axle and enables the use of a thinner-wall axle, desirably reducing the weight and cost associated with the axle/suspension system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A brake component mounting bracket for at least one leaf spring of a mechanical spring axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle, said brake component mounting bracket comprising:
an axle seat rigidly connected to an axle of said vehicle, said axle seat being connectable with said at least one leaf spring at a location intermediate opposite end portions of said at least one leaf spring;
an air chamber mounting bracket rigidly connected to said axle seat; and
a cam shaft assembly mounting bracket rigidly connected to said axle seat, a brake air chamber of a brake system being rigidly attached to said air chamber mounting bracket, and a cam shaft assembly of said brake system being rigidly mounted to said cam shaft assembly mounting bracket, whereby said air chamber mounting bracket, said cam shaft assembly mounting bracket and said axle seat are above and immediately adjacent said at least one leaf spring of said mechanical spring axle/suspension system.

2. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 1 , wherein said axle seat is a top axle seat that seats against an upper portion of said axle.

3. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 2 , wherein:
said top axle seat is formed with an inboard extension, said inboard extension being seated against an upper portion of said axle inboardly of said top axle seat;
said air chamber mounting bracket includes:
a mounting plate disposed generally parallel to said axle, said mounting plate being formed with openings to enable said brake air chamber to be mounted on the mounting plate; and
a connecting plate rigidly attached to and extending between a front surface of said mounting plate and a rear portion of said top axle seat inboard extension; and

said cam shaft assembly mounting bracket extends perpendicular to and is rigidly attached to a front of said top axle seat inboard extension, said cam shaft assembly mounting bracket being formed with openings to enable the said cam shaft assembly to be mounted on the cam shaft assembly mounting bracket.

4. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 2 , wherein said top axle seat is welded to said axle.

5. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 2 , wherein said axle is formed with an opening in an upper area, said top axle seat is formed with an opening corresponding to said axle opening, and a dowel engages said axle opening and said top axle seat opening to secure the top axle seat to the axle.

6. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 2 , wherein said brake component mounting bracket is incorporated into a clamp assembly that secures at least one leaf spring of said mechanical spring axle/suspension system to said axle, and wherein said clamp assembly includes:
said brake component mounting bracket being disposed on an upper portion of said axle;
a bottom axle seat disposed between a lower portion of said axle and an upper surface of said at least one leaf spring in general vertical alignment with said brake component mounting bracket;
at least one U-bolt; and
a bottom spring seat being formed with bosses including openings for receiving respective ends of said at least one U-bolt, the bottom spring seat being disposed on a lower surface of said at least one leaf spring in general vertical alignment with said brake component mounting bracket and said bottom axle seat, whereby the at least one U-bolt secures together said brake component mounting bracket, said axle, said bottom axle seat, said at least one leaf spring, and said bottom spring seat.

7. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 6 , wherein said brake component mounting bracket and said bottom axle seat are welded to said axle.

8. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 6 , wherein:
said axle is formed with an opening in an upper area;
said top axle seat of said brake component mounting bracket is formed with an opening corresponding to said axle upper opening;
a first dowel engages said top axle seat opening and said axle upper opening to secure said top axle seat to said axle;
said axle is formed with an opening in a lower area;
said bottom axle seat is formed with an opening corresponding to said axle lower opening; and
a second dowel engages said bottom axle seat opening and said axle lower opening to secure said bottom axle seat to said axle.

9. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 6 , wherein said top axle seat of said brake component mounting bracket is secured to said axle by dimpling of the brake component mounting bracket, and said bottom axle seat is secured to said axle by dimpling of the bottom axle seat.

10. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 6 , wherein said bottom spring seat is operatively connected to a radius rod of said mechanical spring axle/suspension system.

11. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 1 , wherein said axle includes an outer diameter of about 5.75 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.312 inches.

12. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 1 , wherein said brake component mounting bracket is free of welding of said brake chamber bracket and said cam shaft assembly mounting bracket to said axle.

13. A brake component mounting bracket for a mechanical spring axle/suspension system of a heavy-duty vehicle, said brake component mounting bracket comprising:
an axle seat rigidly connected to an axle of said vehicle;
an air chamber mounting bracket rigidly connected to said axle seat;
a cam shaft assembly mounting bracket rigidly connected to said axle seat, a brake air chamber of a brake system being rigidly attached to said air chamber mounting bracket, and a cam shaft assembly of said brake system being rigidly mounted to said cam shaft assembly mounting bracket, whereby said air chamber mounting bracket, said cam shaft assembly mounting bracket and said axle seat are above and immediately adjacent said at least one leaf spring of said mechanical spring axle/suspension system;
wherein said axle seat is a top axle seat that seats against an upper portion of said axle;
said top axle seat is formed with an inboard extension, said inboard extension being seated against an upper portion of said axle inboardly of said top axle seat;
said air chamber mounting bracket includes:
a mounting plate disposed generally parallel to said axle, said mounting plate being formed with openings to enable said brake air chamber to be mounted on the mounting plate;
a connecting plate rigidly attached to and extending between a front surface of said mounting plate and a rear portion of said top axle seat inboard extension; and

said cam shaft assembly mounting bracket extends perpendicular to and is rigidly attached to a front of said top axle seat inboard extension, said cam shaft assembly mounting bracket being formed with openings to enable the said cam shaft assembly to be mounted on the cam shaft assembly mounting bracket.

14. The brake component mounting bracket of claim 13 , wherein said brake component mounting bracket is incorporated into a clamp assembly that secures at least one leaf spring of said mechanical spring axle/suspension system to said axle, and wherein said clamp assembly includes:
said brake component mounting bracket being disposed on an upper portion of said axle;
a bottom axle seat disposed between a lower portion of said axle and an upper surface of said at least one leaf spring in general vertical alignment with said brake component mounting bracket;
at least one U-bolt; and
a bottom spring seat being formed with bosses including openings for receiving respective ends of said at least one U-bolt, the bottom spring seat

Assignees

• Hendrickson Usa Llc

Inventors

• Pierce Phillippi R
• Ramsey John E

Classifications

• F16D2051/003

  Brake supports · CPC title

• B60G2204/121

  Mounting of leaf springs · CPC title

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• B60G11/113

  Mountings on the axle (B60G11/107 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60T17/088 Primary

  Mounting arrangements · CPC title