Axle suspension support assembly

Abstract

An axle suspension support assembly adapted to couple a trailing arm having a ring to a vehicle chassis includes a pivot bolt, a support bracket having spaced apart side plates having elongated holes for the pivot bolt, and an eccentric disc for adjusting the position of the pivot bolt in the elongated holes. The eccentric disc can rotate relative to the pivot bolt. The protrusion engages the outer contour of the eccentric disc such that cam drive is provided in which rotational adjustment of the eccentric disc about the pivot bolt causes translational adjustment of the bolt shaft in the elongated bore. The shaft of the pivot bolt is provided with a flat abutment surface which extends at least partially along the length of the shaft and is mounted such that said abutment surface is in the at least one elongated hole and the abutment surface is parallel to the upper and lower edge surfaces of the at least one elongated hole. The axis of the pivot bolt is constrained between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface of the at least one elongated hole such that significant movement of the pivot bolt in a direction perpendicular to the adjustment direction is prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a wheel axle suspension support assembly adapted to couple a trailing arm having a ring to a vehicle chassis. Background Art

[0002] A wheel axle suspension support assembly is known from GB 2257670. There, an assembly is disclosed, which comprises a pivot bolt, a support frame suitable for mounting on a vehicle chassis, the support frame having two side plates, each of which has a slot for receiving the pivot bolt, and an eccentric disk for adjusting the pivot bolt in a direction along the slot. The eccentric disk has a disk-shaped body arranged outside the side plates of the support frame and a bushing rotatably and movably received in the slot. The pivot bolt passes through the slot in an opening in the bushing of the eccentric disk. Summary of the invention

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative wheel axle suspension support assembly.It is a further object of the present invention to increase the life expectancy of the wheel axle suspension support assembly.

[0004] This object is achieved by a wheel axle suspension bearing assembly according to claim 1 .

[0005] The elongated hole may be a rectangular hole with straight transverse end edges at its head end (ie at the short sides of the hole), but may also be a slotted hole with rounded end edges.

[0006] In the pre-assembled state, the pivot bolt is non-rotatably mounted in the elongated hole due to the flat abutment surface, while the eccentric disk can still rotate relative to the pivot bolt. Rotating one or more eccentric disks around the pivot bolt causes the pivot bolt to translate in the elongated hole as the alignment of the bolt opening in the eccentric disk translates along the elongated hole. The elongated hole has a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle chassis and therefore parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Therefore, the adjustment direction in which the pivot bolt can move in the elongated hole is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. In this way, the front end of the trailing arm can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. Therefore, the shaft attached to a pair of trailing arms can be aligned so that it extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

[0007] In the assembled state, after tightening the pivot bolt, the eccentric disc is clamped between the side plate and the head of the pivot bolt and / or the tensioning nut.

[0008] The axle suspension support assembly facilitates easy installation and improved vertical loading of the support frame.

[0009] The shaft of the pivot bolt is constrained between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface of the at least one elongated hole so that significant movement of the pivot bolt in a direction perpendicular to the adjustment direction is prevented. Because the flat abutment surface is parallel to the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface of the at least one elongated hole and the abutment surface engages with the upper edge surface or the lower edge surface, the pivot bolt cannot rotate in the elongated hole. This facilitates installation, such as when tightening the tension nut on the bolt to fix the position of the pivot bolt and the eccentric disk. The tension nut can be tightened on the pivot bolt by a one-sided operation because the pivot bolt cannot rotate during the tightening of the pivot bolt.

[0010] In one embodiment, the flat abutment surface is parallel to and engages with the upper edge surface of at least one elongated hole. This surface-to-surface engagement enables vertical loads originating from the trailing arm and partly transmitted directly to the support frame via the pivot bolt to be distributed from the trailing arm along the corresponding edge surface of the elongated hole to the support frame. Since the vertical loads are distributed over the surface portion of the edge surface, local peak pressures can be prevented. For example, this reduces the risk of damaging the support frame and / or increases the life expectancy of the support assembly, and / or the wheel axle suspension support assembly can be used for heavier applications, and / or the side panels of the support assembly can be made of lighter and / or thinner sheet materials.

[0011] In an embodiment, the abutment surface extends along the length of the shaft so that the abutment surface engages with respective upper or lower edge surfaces of the two elongated holes in the side plate. This facilitates surface-to-surface engagement.

[0012] In an embodiment, the pivot bolt is provided with abutment surfaces spaced apart along the length of the shaft, each abutment surface engaging with a respective upper or lower edge surface of an elongated hole in the side plate.Preferably, the pivot bolt has the same outer diameter at the spaced apart abutment surfaces.

[0013] In one embodiment, a central portion has a diameter that is equal to or less than an outer diameter of the shaft at the abutment surfaces, the central portion being defined between the spaced apart abutment surfaces.

[0014] In an embodiment, the pivot bolt is provided with one or more pairs of abutment surfaces along the circumference of the shaft rod, a pair of abutment surfaces engaging with the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface of the same elongated hole so that the pivot bolt is constrained in the elongated hole in a direction perpendicular to the adjustment direction, the abutment surfaces preferably being radially opposite along the circumference of the shaft.

[0015] In an embodiment, the abutment surface is a flat side made on a round bolt shaft, for example by flattening the round bolt shaft, or by milling the bolt shaft. Alternatively, the abutment surface on the pivot bolt can be manufactured by means of extrusion of a bar of metal material, wherein the extrusion hole in the extrusion die has a cross-section with flat sides. The bolt head can be butted against the extruded bar and can be threaded thereon. In another alternative, the pivot bolt can be manufactured by means of a casting process and can be threaded thereon in a separate process.

[0016] In one embodiment, the cross section of the shaft of the pivot bolt has a hexagonal, octagonal or square shape at the abutment surface and / or along the shaft until the threaded end portion, preferably with rounded edges. The rounded edge (e.g. forming the outer diameter of the cross section) can engage with the opening in the eccentric disk to facilitate the rotation of the disk relative to the pivot bolt. The rounded edge reduces the contact pressure between the edge and the eccentric disk.

[0017] In an embodiment, the further protrusion is arranged at a distance from the elongated hole such that the further protrusion engages with the outer contour of the eccentric disc at a third point, and wherein the opening in the eccentric disc is the elongated hole.

[0018] In an embodiment, the assembly comprises two eccentric discs, each of which is arranged on the outer side of a corresponding side plate of the support frame. By means of the two eccentric discs, the position of the two end portions of the pivot bolt can be adjusted in the corresponding elongated holes. Thus, the pivot bolt can be positioned perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0019] In an embodiment, one of the side plates is provided with a strut support attached to the side plate, the strut support comprising an annular base, wherein an eccentric disc is received within an inner contour defined by the annular base, wherein said inner contour engages with an outer contour of the eccentric disc and forms said protrusion, thereby providing a cam drive, wherein rotational adjustment of the eccentric disc about the pivot bolt causes translational adjustment of the bolt shaft in the elongated hole. The annular base of the strut support cooperates with the eccentric disc in a manner similar to two or more protrusions surrounding an opening in the side wall of the bearing frame.

[0020] In an embodiment, the pivot bolt has a head at one end and the tension nut is threaded onto the other threaded end portion of the bolt.

[0021] In an embodiment, the pivot bolt may be a fastener having a shaft, wherein the shaft is provided with a threaded end portion at both ends, the threaded end portion having a tensioning nut screwed on both ends, wherein the shaft is provided with a threaded end portion at both ends. This is advantageous for manufacturing a special-shaped shaft. Therefore, it should be understood that the term "bolt" not only means a fastener having a shaft with a threaded portion and a bolt head integrally formed at one end, but may also be a shaft having a nut at one end instead of a bolt head.

[0022] In a second aspect, the invention relates to a wheel axle suspension support assembly according to claim 14 .

[0023] In an embodiment, the eccentric disc is delimited over more than half of its circumference by intermittently arranged projections.

[0024] In a further embodiment, the eccentric disc is defined over half or more than half of its circumference by a single protruding member comprising said protrusions. In a particular embodiment, such a single protruding member may be a circular ring-shaped base, which may be part of a strut support, such as a strut attachment collar.

[0025] In an embodiment, the protrusions are stamped into the side panels.

[0026] The invention also relates to a wheel axle suspension according to claim 18 .

[0027] The invention also relates to a vehicle according to claim 19, such as a truck, trailer or semitrailer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts. In the drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 A part of a wheel axle suspension with a bearing assembly according to the invention is illustrated in an isometric view,

[0030] Figure 2 Schematically shown in isometric view Figure 1 Part of the support assembly of the wheel axle suspension,

[0031] Figure 3 Shown through Figure 1 The cross section of the support assembly of the wheel axle suspension,

[0032] FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C Schematically illustrating the adjustment of the position of the pivot bolt in the bearing assembly according to the present invention,

[0033] Figure 5A An isometric view showing an embodiment of a pivot bolt of an assembly according to the invention,

[0034] Figure 5B Schematically showing the slots in the support frame Figure 5A The pivot bolt,

[0035] Fig. 6A An isometric view showing another embodiment of a pivot bolt of an assembly according to the invention,

[0036] Figure 6B Schematically showing the slots in the support frame Fig. 6A The pivot bolt,

[0037] Fig. 7A An isometric view showing yet another embodiment of a pivot bolt of an assembly according to the invention,

[0038] Figure 7B Schematically showing the slots in the support frame Fig. 7A The pivot bolt,

[0039] Fig. 8A and Figure 8B an isometric view and a side view, respectively, showing a further embodiment of a pivot bolt of an assembly according to the invention,

[0040] Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B an isometric view and a side view, respectively, showing a further embodiment of a pivot bolt of an assembly according to the invention,

[0041] Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B an isometric view and a side view, respectively, showing a further embodiment of a pivot bolt of an assembly according to the invention,

[0042] Fig.11A and Fig. 11B an isometric view and a side view, respectively, showing a further embodiment of a pivot bolt of an assembly according to the invention,

[0043] Fig.12 An exploded view illustrating yet another embodiment of a support assembly according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] Figure 1 An air spring axle suspension 1 for a vehicle such as a truck, trailer or semi-trailer is illustrated. The suspension has a support frame 2 attached to a chassis beam 3 of the vehicle chassis on both lateral sides. Figure 1 Only one of the lateral sides is shown. The support frame 2 includes a pair of side plates 21 that are opposite to each other and spaced apart. Each of the side plates 21 has an aperture 22 for passing a pivot bolt, such as Figure 3 The openings 22 of the side plates 21 are aligned with each other.

[0045] The suspension comprises a trailing arm 4 having a front end 41 which is located between the side plates 21 of the support frame 2 and which is pivotably attached to the support frame 2 by a pivot bolt 5 which extends through the front end 41 of the trailing arm 4 and through an aperture 22 in the side plates 21 of the support frame 2. Figure 3 This is best seen in the cross section of FIG.

[0046] The air spring 6 is mounted to the trailing arm 4 at its rear end 42, which is distal to the pivoting front end 41. The air spring 6 supports the chassis beam 3 in this particular embodiment.

[0047] Between the front end 41 and the rear end 42, the trailing arm 4 is rigidly attached to the axle body 9. Figure 1 In the example of FIG. 1 , the shaft body 9 is a thin-walled tubular shaft body with a circular cross section. Other shaft body shapes are also possible.

[0048] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment of the invention, the trailing arm 4 is a two-part trailing arm having a front part and a rear part, wherein corresponding axle seat parts 43, 44 are formed on the two parts. The axle seat parts 43 and 44 are positioned relative to each other and clamped together on the axle body 9. The assembly of the axle seat parts 43, 44 and the axle body 9 is clamped together by a pair of U-bolts 8. Other trailing arms are also possible, for example, Fig.12 A one-piece trailing arm is shown in , which has an axle attachment area 45 where the axle body can be attached to the trailing arm.

[0049] like Figure 3 As can be seen in the figure, the pivot bolt 5 has a shaft 52 and a head 51 at one end of the shaft 52. In addition, the shaft 52 has a threaded portion 53 at the other end of the shaft 52, and the threaded portion 53 can cooperate with the threaded fastening nut 7.

[0050] The front end 41 of the trailing arm 4 is formed as a ring in which a bearing bushing 10 is arranged. The bearing bushing 10 comprises an inner metal bushing 11 and an outer elastic outer layer 12 which may be made of rubber. The outer bushing 12 is coaxial with the inner bushing 11, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 , and can be vulcanized onto the metal inner bushing. The elastic outer bushing 12 is in contact with the ring of the trailing arm 4. The metal inner bushing 11 extends beyond the outer bushing 12 and the edge of the ring in the axial direction of the bearing bushing 10 (see Figure 3). Thus, when the front end 41 of the trailing arm 4 assembled with the bearing bushing 10 is arranged between the side plates 21 of the bearing frame 2, only the ends of the inner bushing 11 will engage with the inner sides of the side plates 21. In this particular embodiment, washers 13 are arranged between the ends of the inner bushing 11 and the side plates 21, but these washers 13 may be omitted in other embodiments. The front end 41 of the trailing arm 4 is pivotably attached to the bearing frame 2 by aligning the inner bushing 11 with the holes 22 in the side plates 21 of the bearing frame 2 and inserting the shaft 51 of the pivot bolt 5 through the hole 22, the washer 13 and the inner bushing 11, after which the nut 7 can be screwed onto the threaded end of the bolt 5. The bolt shaft 51 has a diameter that fits precisely in the metal inner bushing 11. The diameter of the shaft 51 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the inner bushing 11, in practice this may be a clearance of 0.1 mm, so that the shaft 51 can fit through the inner bushing 11, but during use the bolt shaft contacts the inside of the inner bushing 11. By tightening the nut 7, the inner bushing 11 is clamped between the side plate 21 and the washer 13. The resilient (rubber) bushing 12 allows pivoting movement of the front end 41 of the trailing arm 4, which allows the ring to rotate relative to the fixed inner bushing 11. The resilient outer bushing 12 also absorbs lateral loads from the trailing arm 4.

[0051] The eccentric disk 14 is arranged on the outer side of each side plate 21 of the support frame 2. The eccentric disk 14 is provided with a bolt opening 15 through which the shaft 51 of the pivot bolt 5 extends. Therefore, the shaft 51 of the pivot bolt 5 extends through the elongated hole 22 of the side plate 21, the front end 41 of the trailing arm 4, and the bolt opening 15 of the eccentric disk 14. The eccentric disk 14 is used to adjust the position of the pivot bolt 5 in an adjustment direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the slotted hole 22 and is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0052] The side plate 21 is provided with a protrusion 23. Figure 1 In the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , two protrusions 23 are provided, which are arranged at a distance from the opposite ends of the elongated hole 22, so that the outer contour 14A of the eccentric disc 14 engages with the protrusions 23 when rotating about the pivot axis. The eccentric disc 14 is essentially an eccentric cam with a circular outer contour. The protrusions 23 can be stamped in the side plate 21, for example. FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C This section describes how to make adjustments. Figure 4BThe center position of the bolt shaft 51 in the elongated hole 22 is shown. By rotating the eccentric disk 14 clockwise (see FIG. 14A ), the distance between the eccentric hole 15 in the eccentric disk 14 and the right protrusion 23 increases, so that the disk 14 moves to the left. The eccentric disk 14 rotates relative to the bolt shaft 51, but also moves to the left along the shaft 51. By rotating the eccentric disk 14 counterclockwise (see FIG. 14C ), the distance between the eccentric hole 15 in the eccentric disk 14 and the left protrusion 23 increases, so that the hole 15 on the eccentric disk 14 moves to the left. The eccentric disk 14 rotates relative to the bolt shaft 51, but also drives the shaft 51 to move to the right together. Therefore, by rotationally adjusting the eccentric disk 14 by a certain angle, the position of the bolt shaft 51 in the elongated hole 22 can be adjusted. Therefore, the trailing arm 4 can be aligned so that the wheel axle body 9 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0053] The eccentric disc can be rotated with a tool. The eccentric disc 14 is provided with a recess 14B in the outer contour 14A so that a tool can engage with the disc and the angular position of the disc 14 can be adjusted (see FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C ). In a practical embodiment, the outer contour 14A of the eccentric disc 14 has a diameter of 65 mm.

[0054] The pivot bolt 5 has a bolt shaft 51 having, on opposite sides, a flat abutment surface 54 extending at least partially along the length of the shaft 51. The shaft 51 is mounted with the abutment surface 54 in the elongated hole 22 and the abutment surface 54 is parallel to the upper edge surface 22A and the lower edge surface 22B of at least one elongated hole 22.

[0055] The shaft 51 may have a cylindrical basic shape with two opposing flat abutment surfaces 54, such as at Figure 5A and Figure 5B Shown in. Figure 5A and Figure 5B The actual embodiment of the pivot bolt 5 shown in has a shaft diameter of 26 mm. The distance between the flat surfaces is 24 mm. The width of the flat surfaces is about 10 mm, which is wide enough to prevent the shaft 51 from accidentally rotating in the slot 22. The threaded portion has an M24 thread.

[0056] However, the shaft may also have Fig. 6A and Figure 6B The hexagonal shape shown in Fig. 7A and Figure 7B The pivot bolt 5 in FIGS. 5 to 7 has an abutment surface 54 over the entire length between the threaded portion 53 and the bolt head 52 .

[0057] In other embodiments shown in FIGS. 8-11 , the shaft may have one or two longitudinal sections with flat abutment surfaces 54 .

[0058] exist Fig. 10A and Fig. 10B In the embodiment of the present invention, in the installed position of the bolt 5, the mentioned sections correspond to the positions of the elongated holes 22 in the side plate 21. Therefore, the abutment surfaces 54 are spaced apart along the length of the shaft 51, each abutment surface 54 engaging with a corresponding upper edge surface or lower edge surface of one of the elongated holes 22 in the side plate 21. The pivot bolt 5 has the same outer diameter at the spaced apart abutment surfaces 54. Fig. 10B In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , the shaft has a central portion 55 defined between the spaced apart abutment surfaces 54. The central portion 55 has a diameter that is equal to or less than the outer diameter of the shaft 51 at the abutment surfaces 54.

[0059] Fig. 8A , Figure 8B , Fig. 9A , Fig. 9B , Fig.11A and Fig. 11B The embodiment has only one longitudinal section with a flat abutment surface 54, or adjacent to the head 52 ( Fig. 9A , Fig. 9B and Fig.11A , Fig. 11B ), or adjacent to the threaded portion 53 of the shaft 51 ( Fig. 8A , Figure 8B ).

[0060] During assembly, the nut 7 may be screwed onto the bolt 5, but not yet tightened. In this state, the eccentric disc 14 can be used to position the pivot bolt 5 in the elongated hole 22 in the side plate 21 of the support frame 2. When the desired position of the pivot bolt 5 is set, the assembly can be fixed by tightening the combination of the nut 7 and the pivot bolt 5. Thereby, the eccentric disc 14 is clamped between the side plate 21 and the head 52 of the pivot bolt 5 and / or the tensioning nut 7, and the eccentric disc 14 is prevented from rotating.

[0061] By tightening the combination of nut 7 and bolt 5, inner bushing 11 is clamped between side plate 21 and washer 13. A portion of the vertical load is transmitted from trailing arm 4 to supporting frame 2 by friction between the head surface of inner bushing 11 and washer 13 and side plate 21. Another portion of the vertical load is transmitted from trailing arm 4 to supporting frame 2 via inner bushing 11 in contact with bolt shaft 51 of pivot bolt 5 and via abutment between abutment surface 54 of pivot bolt 4 and the straight edge of elongated hole 22 in side plate 21 of supporting frame 2.

[0062] The vertical load originates from the trailing arm 4 and is therefore partially transferred to the pivot bolt 5 through the bearing bushing 10 and directly to the support frame 2 through the pivot bolt 5. Therefore, the surface-to-surface engagement between the straight longitudinal edges of the elongated hole 22 and one or more flat surfaces 54 enables such vertical loads to be distributed from the trailing arm 4 to the support frame 2 along the corresponding edge surface of the elongated hole 22. Since the vertical load is distributed over a surface portion of the edge surface, rather than at one point (which would be the case with a full-round bolt shaft), local peak pressures can be prevented. This, for example, reduces the risk of damage to the support frame 2 and / or increases the life expectancy of the support assembly. In addition, the wheel axle suspension support assembly can be used for heavier applications. It also allows the side plate 21 of the support assembly to be manufactured from lighter and / or thinner sheet materials, which reduces the use of material, thereby reducing costs and ultimately making the vehicle lighter.

[0063] exist Fig.12 In FIG. 1 , another embodiment of a support assembly according to the present invention is shown. The support assembly comprises a chassis beam to be attached to a vehicle chassis (see Figure 1 ) on the supporting frame 2. The supporting frame 2 includes a pair of side plates 21 that are opposite to each other and spaced apart. The side plates 21 each have an aperture 22 to pass the pivot bolt 5. The apertures 22 of each side plate 21 are aligned with each other as viewed in the lateral direction of the vehicle. The trailing arm 4 has a front end 41 that is located between the side plates 21 of the supporting frame 2. The front end 41 of the trailing arm 4 is pivotably attached to the supporting frame 2 by the pivot bolt 5 that extends through the front end 41 and through the aperture 22 in the side plate 21 of the supporting frame 2. An eccentric disk 14 is arranged on the outer side of each side plate 21 of the supporting frame 2. The eccentric disk 14 is provided with a bolt opening 15 through which the shaft 51 of the pivot bolt 5 extends. The washer 13 is arranged on the inner side of the side plate 21 aligned with the opening 22.

[0064] The inner bushing 11 of the support bushing 10 of the trailing arm 4 is arranged between the washers 13. The front end 41 of the trailing arm 4 is pivotably attached to the support frame 2 by aligning the inner bushing 11 with the hole 22 in the side plate 21 of the support frame 2 and inserting the shaft 51 of the pivot bolt 5 through the hole 22, the washers 13, the eccentric disc 14 and the inner bushing 11, after which the nut 7 can be screwed onto the threaded end of the bolt 5. By tightening the nut 7, the inner bushing 11 is clamped between the side plate 21 and the washers 13.

[0065] On the outside of the inner side plate 21 of the support frame is welded a strut attachment collar 17. The strut attachment collar 17 has a circular ring-shaped base 18 located against the side plate and surrounding the opening 22. The strut attachment collar 17 also includes an overhang structure 19, which has a surface portion facing the chassis and therefore facing upwards in use, where the strut beam 50 is attached (in this case welded) to the overhang structure 19.

[0066] The annular base 18 has a circular outer contour and a circular inner contour. The eccentric disc 14 is arranged within the circular inner contour of the annular base 18. Another eccentric disc 14' is arranged on the outside of the opposite side plate 21. The eccentric discs 14 and 14' have a hole 15 through which the pivot bolt 5 extends. The position of the pivot bolt 5 in the slotted hole 22 can be adjusted by rotating the eccentric discs 14, 14'. Therefore, the longitudinal position of the front end 41 of the trailing arm 4 and the longitudinal position of the trailing arm 4 as a whole can be adjusted. This allows the shaft body to be aligned with the chassis. The circular inner contour of the collar 17 limits the movement of the eccentric disc 14 to rotation. Then, the slotted shape of the orifice 22 allows a certain degree of movement of the bolt 5 extending through the hole 15 in the eccentric disc 14.

[0067] Fig.12 The hole 15 on the eccentric disk 14 can be a slotted hole or a circular hole.

[0068] In a possible embodiment, the eccentric disc 14 has an outer diameter that fits precisely within the circular inner contour of the annular base 18, so that the eccentric disc 14 can rotate within the annular base 18. The center of the annular base 18 is located above the center of the opening 22 for the pivot bolt in the side wall 21. The distance between the two centers can be about 5 mm, which allows the eccentric disc 14 to be rotationally adjustable within the inner contour of the annular base 18. In such an embodiment, the hole 15 in the eccentric disc 14 is an elongated hole or a slot to provide a degree of freedom for the displacement of the pivot bolt 5.

[0069] In another embodiment, the outer diameter of the eccentric disc 14 is smaller than the inner contour of the annular base 18. Additional protrusions may then be arranged in the inner contour of the annular base. In the latter embodiment, the hole 15 may be circular with a diameter slightly larger than the shaft of the pivot bolt.

Claims

1. A wheel axle suspension support assembly, the assembly being adapted to couple a trailing arm having a ring to a vehicle chassis, the assembly comprising: - a pivot bolt having a shaft having an end portion provided with an external thread and a tensioning nut, The tension nut has an internal thread suitable for matching with the external thread, - a support frame adapted to be mounted to the vehicle chassis, the support frame having two spaced-apart side panels, each of the side panels being provided with an elongated hole having a longitudinal axis which, in the mounted state, is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle chassis, the elongated holes defining an adjustment direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle chassis, wherein each elongated hole has an upper edge surface and a lower edge surface which are parallel to each other, an eccentric disk for adjusting the pivot bolt in the adjustment direction, wherein the eccentric disk is arranged on the outer side of at least one of the corresponding side plates of the support frame, the eccentric disk having an outer contour and being provided with a bolt opening, wherein the pivot bolt extends through two elongated holes in the side plates, the ring of the trailing arm and the bolt opening of the eccentric plate, the pivot bolt thereby defining a pivot for supporting the ring between the side plates of the bracket, wherein the eccentric disc is rotatable relative to the pivot bolt, wherein the side plates have projections at a distance from opposite ends of the elongated hole so that the projections engage the outer contour of the eccentric disc at each opposite end, thereby providing a cam drive, wherein rotational adjustment of the eccentric disc about the pivot bolt causes translational adjustment of the bolt shaft in the elongated hole, wherein the shaft of the pivot bolt is provided with a flat abutment surface, the abutment surface extending at least partially along the length of the shaft, and the shaft of the pivot bolt is mounted with the abutment surface in at least one of the elongated holes and the abutment surface is parallel to the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface of the at least one elongated hole, The shaft of the pivot bolt is constrained between the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface of at least one of the elongated holes so that significant movement of the pivot bolt in a direction perpendicular to the adjustment direction is prevented.

2. The bearing assembly of claim 1, wherein the abutment surface extends along the length of the shaft such that the abutment surface engages a respective upper edge surface or a lower edge surface of two of the elongated holes in the side plates.

3. A support assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pivot bolt is provided with spaced abutment surfaces along the length of the shaft, each of the abutment surfaces engaging with a corresponding upper edge surface or lower edge surface of one of the elongated holes in the side plate.

4. The bearing assembly of claim 3, wherein a diameter of a central portion defined between the spaced apart abutment surfaces is equal to or less than an outer diameter of the shaft at the abutment surfaces.

5. A support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot bolt is provided with one or more pairs of abutment surfaces along the circumference of the shaft rod, a pair of the abutment surfaces engaging with the upper edge surface and the lower edge surface of the same elongated hole so that the pivot bolt is confined in the elongated hole in a direction perpendicular to the adjustment direction, the abutment surfaces preferably being radially opposite along the circumference of the shaft rod.

6. A bearing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the abutment surface is a flat side made on a circular bolt shaft.

7. A bearing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the cross-section of the shaft of the pivot bolt has a hexagonal, octagonal or square shape at the abutment surface and / or along the shaft until the threaded end portion, preferably with rounded edges.

8. A bearing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a further protrusion is arranged at a distance from the elongated hole so that the further protrusion engages with the outer contour of the eccentric disc at a third point, and wherein the opening in the eccentric disc is an elongated hole.

9. A bearing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the assembly comprises two eccentric discs, each eccentric disc being arranged outside a respective side plate of the bearing frame.

10. A support assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein one of the side plates is provided with a strut support attached to the side plate, the strut support comprising an annular base, wherein the eccentric disk is received within an inner contour defined by the annular base, wherein the inner contour engages with the outer contour of the eccentric disk and forms the protrusion, thereby providing a cam drive, wherein rotational adjustment of the eccentric disk about the pivot bolt causes translational adjustment of the bolt shaft in the elongated hole.

11. The bearing assembly of claim 10, wherein the opening in the eccentric disc is an elongated hole.

12. A bearing assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivot bolt has a head at one end and a tension nut is threaded onto the other end having the thread.

13. A bearing assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the pivot bolt has tensioning nuts threaded on both ends, wherein the shaft is provided with threaded end portions at both ends.

14. A wheel axle suspension support assembly adapted to couple a trailing arm having a ring to a vehicle chassis, the assembly comprising: - a pivot bolt having a shaft having an end portion provided with an external thread and a tensioning nut, The tension nut has an internal thread suitable for matching with the external thread, - a support frame adapted to be mounted to the vehicle chassis, the support frame having two spaced-apart side panels, each of the side panels being provided with an elongated hole having a longitudinal axis which, in the mounted state, is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle chassis, the elongated holes defining an adjustment direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle chassis, wherein each elongated hole has an upper edge surface and a lower edge surface which are parallel to each other, an eccentric disk for adjusting the pivot bolt in the adjustment direction, wherein the eccentric disk is arranged on the outer side of at least one of the corresponding side plates of the support frame, the eccentric disk having an outer contour and being provided with a bolt opening, wherein the pivot bolt extends through two elongated holes in the side plates, the ring of the trailing arm and the bolt opening of the eccentric plate, the pivot bolt thereby defining a pivot for supporting the ring between the side plates of the bracket, wherein the eccentric disc is rotatable relative to the pivot bolt, wherein the side plate has a protrusion at a distance from opposite ends of the elongated hole such that the protrusion engages with the outer contour of the eccentric disc at each opposite end, thereby providing a cam drive, wherein rotational adjustment of the eccentric disc about the pivot bolt causes translational adjustment of the bolt shaft in the elongated hole, and wherein another protrusion is arranged at a distance from the elongated hole such that the other protrusion engages the outer contour of the eccentric disc at a third point, and The opening in the eccentric disk is an elongated hole.

15. A bearing assembly according to claim 14, wherein the eccentric disc is bounded over more than half of its circumference by intermittently arranged protrusions.

16. The bearing assembly of claim 14, wherein the eccentric disc is defined over half or more of its circumference by a single protruding member including the protrusion.

17. A support assembly according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the projections are stamped into the side panels.

18. A wheel axle suspension comprising on both lateral sides: - A support assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support bracket is attached to a vehicle chassis, a trailing arm having a front end located between the side plates of the support frame and being pivotably attached to the support frame by a pivot bolt extending through the front end of the trailing arm and through the aperture in the side plates of the support frame, and having an axle mounting portion at which an axle body is mounted to the trailing arm, - An air spring mounted to the trailing arm at a position remote from the pivoting front end, the air spring supporting the vehicle chassis.

19. A vehicle comprising a wheel axle suspension according to claim 18.

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