Importance

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Abstract

A shackle assembly is shown to include a shackle bracket, wear pads, a shackle stop, shackle plates and elastomer bushings. The shackle bracket includes legs forming portions thereof, which serve as contact surfaces for the wear pads and the shackle plates. By providing conical and lateral stiffness, the shackle bracket legs allow for the use of a more versatile elastomer bushing. The elastomer bushing preferably includes voids vertically separated with respect to each other and the elastomer layer preferably is in the form of a bowtie-shaped configuration, which enhances vertical, conical and torsional performance. A first redundancy feature is in the form of a shackle stop secured between the shackle plates. The shackle stop provides longitudinal control of the axle in the event the opposite limb of the leaf spring is broken, the vehicle is generally traveling in a given direction and the vehicle is subject to deceleration. A second redundancy feature is in the form of fingers forming portions of the shackle plates, which provides longitudinal control of the axle under the same conditions, but when the vehicle is generally traveling in an opposite direction. The redundancy features are activated under other conditions as well.

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First Claim