	US 7,455,306 B2
	Integral arm axle/suspension system
John Edward Ramsey, Canton, Ohio (US); and Jeffrey R Wittlinger, Clarksville, Tenn. (US)
Assigned to Hendrickson USA, L.L.C., Itsaca, Ill. (US)
Filed on Mar. 09, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/684,250.
Application 11/684250 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/966273, filed on Oct. 15, 2004, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/554729, filed on Mar. 19, 2004.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/512328, filed on Oct. 17, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2007/0145705 A1, Jun. 28, 2007
Int. Cl. B60G 3/10 (2006.01); B60G 3/12 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 280—124.128 [280/124.131; 267/41; 267/160]

21 Claims

1. An axle/suspension system for a heavy-duty vehicle, said heavy-duty vehicle having a frame, said axle/suspension system including at least one air spring for cushioning the vehicle frame, at least one shock absorber for dampening axle oscillations, and a pair of axle spindles for mounting wheels of said vehicle, wherein the improvement comprises:

at least one axle/suspension system integral arm structure, said integral arm structure being a generally continuous structure including:

a) an attachment member for connecting said integral arm structure to said vehicle frame;

b) a flexible transition member connected to and extending from said attachment member;

c) a body connected to and extending from said transition member, said body including an axle mount; and

d) said integral arm structure being free of a hanger for connecting the integral arm structure to said vehicle frame, and said integral arm structure being generally free of intervening structure for connecting said attachment member to said transition member and for connecting the transition member to said body, whereby said transition member enables articulation of said integral arm structure and cooperates with said body to distribute forces encountered by said axle/suspension system during operation of said heavy-duty vehicle.