Suspension assembly for a machine

Abstract

A suspension assembly for a machine is provided. The suspension assembly includes a first suspension structure and a second suspension structure. The first suspension structure includes a first suspension pad and a first support plate coupled to the first suspension pad. The first support plate has a first interlock component formed therein. The second suspension structure includes a second suspension pad and a second support plate coupled to the second suspension pad. The second support plate has a second interlock component formed therein. The second interlock component is complimentary to the first interlock component and configured to engage with the first interlock component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suspension assembly for a machine, the suspension assembly comprising:
 a first suspension structure including:
 a first suspension pad; and 
 a first support plate coupled to the first suspension pad, the first support plate having a first interlock component formed therein; and 
   a second suspension structure including:
 a second suspension pad; and 
 a second support plate coupled to the second suspension pad, the second support plate having a second interlock component formed therein, the second interlock component being complimentary to the first interlock component and configured to engage with the first interlock component. 
   
     
     
         2 . The suspension assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first suspension structure and the second suspension structure are arranged in a stacked arrangement. 
     
     
         3 . The suspension assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first interlock component is a double bent tab and the second interlock component is a slot configured to receive the double bent tab therein. 
     
     
         4 . The suspension assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first interlock component includes a flat tab and the second interlock component includes a pair of bent tabs configured to receive the flat tab therein, the pair of bent tabs being bent inwardly towards each other. 
     
     
         5 . The suspension assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first support plate includes a first portion and a second portion defining a pair of shoulder tabs, and wherein a width of the first support plate at the first portion is greater than a width of the first support plate at the second portion. 
     
     
         6 . The suspension assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the second interlock component includes a pair of bent tabs configured to receive and engage the pair of shoulder tabs on the first support plate. 
     
     
         7 . The suspension assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first support plate includes a first end, a second end, and a tab portion extending from the first end and wherein the second support plate includes a first end, a second end and a curved portion extending from the first end, the curved portion including a complimentary slot with respect to the tab portion of the first support plate. 
     
     
         8 . The suspension assembly of  claim 7 , wherein a width of the first support plate at the first end is greater than a width of the tab portion. 
     
     
         9 . The suspension assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first support plate includes a first end such that the first interlock component includes a pair of spaced apart flat tabs extending from the first end. 
     
     
         10 . The suspension assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the second support plate includes a first end such that the second interlock component includes a curved portion extending beyond the first end and wherein the curved portion includes a pair of spaced apart slots configured to receive the pair of spaced apart flat tabs of the first support plate. 
     
     
         11 . A machine comprising:
 a main frame including a laterally-extending saddle member;   an under carriage supporting the main frame; and   a suspension assembly comprising:
 an equalizer bar having a central portion and a pair of distal end portions, the central portion pivotally coupled to the saddle member, and each of the pair of distal end portions coupled to the under carriage; 
 a first suspension structure including:
 a first suspension pad; and 
 a first support plate coupled to the first suspension pad, the first support plate having a first interlock component formed therein; and 
 
 a second support structure including:
 a second suspension pad; and 
 a second support plate coupled to the second suspension pad, the support plate having a second interlock component formed therein, the second interlock component being complimentary to the first interlock component and configured to engage with the first interlock component. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the first suspension structure and the second suspension structure are arranged in a stacked arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the first interlock component is a double bent tab and the second interlock component is a slot configured to receive the double bent tab therein. 
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the first interlock component includes a flat tab and the second interlock component includes a pair of bent tabs configured to receive the flat tab therein, the pair of bent tabs being bent inwardly towards each other. 
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the first support plate includes a first portion and a second portion defining a pair of shoulder tabs, and wherein a width of the first support plate at the first portion is greater than a width of the first support plate at the second portion. 
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 15 , wherein the second interlock component includes a pair of bent tabs configured to receive and engage the pair of shoulder tabs on the first support plate. 
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the first support plate includes a first end, a second end, and a tab portion extending from the first end and wherein the second support plate includes a first end, a second end and a curved portion extending from the first end, the curved portion including a complimentary slot with respect to the tab portion of the first support plate. 
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein a width of the first support plate at the first end is greater than a width of the tab portion. 
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 11 , wherein the first support plate includes a first end such that the first interlock component includes a pair of spaced apart flat tabs extending from the first end. 
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 19 , wherein the second support plate includes a first end such that the second interlock component includes a curved portion extending beyond the first end and wherein the curved portion includes a pair of spaced apart slots configured to receive the pair of spaced apart flat tabs of the first support plate.