US 12,403,737 B2
Lift axle suspension systems with lift paddle
Ashley T. Dudding, Yorkville, IL (US); Sean T. Lindsay, Palos Park, IL (US); Ryan M. Ettenhofer, Oak Park, IL (US); Michael P. Robinson, Chicago, IL (US); and Richard J. Aumann, Bolingbrook, IL (US)
Assigned to Hendrickson USA, L.L.C., Schaumburg, IL (US)
Appl. No. 18/551,357
Filed by Hendrickson USA, L.L.C., Schaumburg, IL (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 18, 2022, PCT No. PCT/US2022/020987
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 19, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/198070, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 22, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/163,539, filed on Mar. 19, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0174040 A1, May 30, 2024
Int. Cl. B60G 11/46 (2006.01)
CPC B60G 11/465 (2013.01) [B60G 2202/11 (2013.01); B60G 2202/152 (2013.01); B60G 2204/121 (2013.01); B60G 2204/148 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lift axle suspension system comprising,
hanger bracket configured for attachment to a vehicle frame;
an axle;
a leaf spring, comprising a front arm and a seat, the front arm extending forwardly from the seat, the front arm having a top surface and a bottom surface and being of a generally solid construction, the leaf spring configured for coupling at the location of the seat to the axle with the use of an axle coupling fastener, the front arm of the leaf spring including an eye or connected to an eye extension, the leaf spring configured for pivotally mounting to the hangar bracket;
a lift bracket and a lift spring, the first end portion of the lift bracket secured to the hangar bracket, the second end portion the lift bracket connected to the first end portion of the lift spring;
a lift paddle comprising a first pad, a second pad, and a first rigid support arm, the first pad providing an engagement surface for attaching the first pad to the second end portion of the lift spring, the second pad providing an engagement surface for securing the second pad to the bottom surface of the front arm of the leaf spring, and the first rigid support arm connecting the first pad and the second pad to support the fixed position of the first pad and the second pad in relation to one another;
the front arm of the leaf spring defining a bore, the second pad of the lift paddle defining a bore, the bore of the front arm of the leaf spring extending through the leaf spring and positioned in registration with the bore of the second pad, the bores of the front arm of the leaf spring and the second pad receiving a fastener securing the front arm of the leaf spring to the second pad of the lift paddle;
wherein the lift bracket, the lift spring and the lift paddle are configured for arrangement in an operative relationship with one another wherein by actuation of the lift spring, a load is transmitted from the lift spring to the lift paddle and from the lift paddle to the leaf spring causing the axle to be lifted out of contact with the ground surface.