| 摘要 |
<p>An air-ride beam-type axle suspension system for tractor-trailers and other heavy-duty wheeled vehicles having a brake chamber of an air brake assembly mounted on the beam, wherein the beam is tapered. Specifically, each beam of the axle suspension system tapers from a narrower width at its end that is pivotally attached to a frame rail of the trailer, to a wider width at its opposite end. The wider width of the beam enables a slack adjuster of the brake assembly to be disposed within the confines of the beam and still be accessible for repair, removal and/or replacement, without requiring an access cutout in the beam which could potentially weaken the beam structure. The tapered beam also provides, at its wider portions, efficient support for the axle and air springs of the suspension system, easier mounting of the suspension system on existing trailer frame rails and incorporation of a reduced-size pivot bushing at the narrower end of the beam, and optimizes the weight of the axle suspension system.</p> |
