Suspension and leveling system for a vehicle
First Claim
1. A suspension system for a vehicle, said vehicle having a vehicle frame with forward and rearward ends and opposite lateral sides, said vehicle also having a vehicle cab and at least one axle extending transversely of said vehicle frame and having opposite axle ends positioned adjacent said opposite sides of said frame;
- ground engaging wheels being mounted on said axle, said suspension system comprising;
an elongated spring means having a first end attached to said vehicle frame and a second end;
bag means having an upper end, a lower end and flexible walls enclosing a bag compartment whereby said bag compartment is capable of continuously expanding and contracting in vertical size between expanded and retracted positions in response to the introduction of fluid to and removal of fluid from said bag compartment so as to adjust the vertical distance between said upper and lower ends of said bag means;
first securing means attaching said upper end of said bag means to said vehicle frame;
second securing means attaching said second end of said spring means and said lower end of said bag means to said axle whereby the vertical distance of said axle below said frame is controlled by the position of said bag compartment between said expanded and retracted positions;
a pressurized fluid source;
fluid conduit means connecting said fluid source to said bag means;
first and second valve means in said fluid conduit means for controlling the amount of pressure within said bag means, said first and second valve means being movable between a normally closed position and an open position;
photo-electric sensor means located externally of said bag compartment and being connected between said frame and said axle for sensing the relative distance therebetween, said sensor means being electrically connected to said first and second valve means for automatically moving said first and second valve means between said closed and open positions in response to changes in the distance between said frame and said axle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The suspension system of the present invention includes an elongated spring having one end attached to the vehicle frame and having a second end. A pneumatic bag includes an upper end which is attached to the vehicle frame and a lower end. A securing bracket attaches the lower end of the bag and the second end of the elongated spring to the axle so that the weight of the vehicle frame above the axle is supported in combination by the spring and the air bag. A pneumatic control system is in communication with the bag for selectively introducing air to the bag so as to control the pressure within the bag and thereby control the height that the bag supports the vehicle frame above the axle. A stabilizer bar is pivotally connected at one end of the vehicle frame and at the other end to the axle so as to cause the vehicle frame to be centered over the axle while at the same time permitting the vehicle frame to move vertically with respect to the axle. The control means includes both manual controls and automatic photo-electric sensors for controlling the height of the frame above the axle.
99 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A suspension system for a vehicle, said vehicle having a vehicle frame with forward and rearward ends and opposite lateral sides, said vehicle also having a vehicle cab and at least one axle extending transversely of said vehicle frame and having opposite axle ends positioned adjacent said opposite sides of said frame;
- ground engaging wheels being mounted on said axle, said suspension system comprising;
an elongated spring means having a first end attached to said vehicle frame and a second end; bag means having an upper end, a lower end and flexible walls enclosing a bag compartment whereby said bag compartment is capable of continuously expanding and contracting in vertical size between expanded and retracted positions in response to the introduction of fluid to and removal of fluid from said bag compartment so as to adjust the vertical distance between said upper and lower ends of said bag means; first securing means attaching said upper end of said bag means to said vehicle frame; second securing means attaching said second end of said spring means and said lower end of said bag means to said axle whereby the vertical distance of said axle below said frame is controlled by the position of said bag compartment between said expanded and retracted positions; a pressurized fluid source; fluid conduit means connecting said fluid source to said bag means; first and second valve means in said fluid conduit means for controlling the amount of pressure within said bag means, said first and second valve means being movable between a normally closed position and an open position; photo-electric sensor means located externally of said bag compartment and being connected between said frame and said axle for sensing the relative distance therebetween, said sensor means being electrically connected to said first and second valve means for automatically moving said first and second valve means between said closed and open positions in response to changes in the distance between said frame and said axle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- ground engaging wheels being mounted on said axle, said suspension system comprising;
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11. A suspension system for a vehicle, said vehicle having a vehicle frame with forward and rearward ends and opposite lateral sides, said vehicle also having a vehicle cab and at least one axle extending transversely of said vehicle frame and having opposite axle ends positioned adjacent said opposite sides of said frame;
- ground engaging wheels being mounted on said axle, said suspension system comprising;
an elongated spring means having a first end attached to said vehicle frame and a second end; bag means having an upper end, a lower end and flexible walls enclosing a bag compartment whereby said bag compartment is capable of continuously expanding and contracting in vertical size between expanded and retracted positions in response to the introduction of fluid to and removal of fluid from said bag compartment so as to adjust the vertical distance between said upper and lower ends of said bag means; first securing means attaching said upper end of said bag means to said vehicle frame; second securing means attaching said second end of said spring means and said lower end of said bag means to said axle whereby the vertical distance of said axle below said frame is controlled by the position of said bag compartment between said expanded and retracted positions; a pressurized fluid source; fluid conduit means connecting said fluid source to said bag means; first and second valve means in said fluid conduit means for controlling the amount of pressure within said bag means, said first and second valve means being movable between a normally closed position and an open position; photo-electric sensor means attached to said frame and being electrically connected to said first and second valve means for controlling movement of said first and second valve means between said closed and open positions; linkage mechanism interconnecting said sensor means and said axle for causing said sensor means to automatically move said first and second valve means between said closed and open positions in response to changes in the distance between said frame and said axle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
- ground engaging wheels being mounted on said axle, said suspension system comprising;
Specification