In-line lift axle suspension system
First Claim
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1. A lift axle suspension system comprising:
- a) an upper and a lower control arm, each arm having a first end and a second end;
b) a frame bracket member located at the first end of each said control arm;
c) pivot means connecting the first ends of said control arms to a respective frame bracket member;
d) an axle connecting member for connecting an axle to said suspension;
e) pivot means connecting the second ends of said control arms to said axle connecting member;
f) each said upper and lower control arm having an inboard edge and an outboard edge thereby defining between said respective opposing edges of said upper and lower control arms an inboard plane and an outboard plane and a space between said inboard plane and said outboard plane; and
g) an expandable and retractable lift bellows having a first end connected to one of said control arms and a second end connected to the other of said control arms and having a longitudinal axis located within said space between said inboard plane and said outboard plane.
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Abstract
A parallelogram lift axle suspension system includes an in-line lift bellows located between and vertically aligned with a pair of upper and lower control arms so as to provide bi-directional expansion and contraction of the lift bellows for raising and lowering the suspension while increasing the space available between the longitudinal frame rails enabling use of the suspension in certain vehicles by avoiding interference with other vehicle components of the vehicle located in this space.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A lift axle suspension system comprising:
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a) an upper and a lower control arm, each arm having a first end and a second end;
b) a frame bracket member located at the first end of each said control arm;
c) pivot means connecting the first ends of said control arms to a respective frame bracket member;
d) an axle connecting member for connecting an axle to said suspension;
e) pivot means connecting the second ends of said control arms to said axle connecting member;
f) each said upper and lower control arm having an inboard edge and an outboard edge thereby defining between said respective opposing edges of said upper and lower control arms an inboard plane and an outboard plane and a space between said inboard plane and said outboard plane; and
g) an expandable and retractable lift bellows having a first end connected to one of said control arms and a second end connected to the other of said control arms and having a longitudinal axis located within said space between said inboard plane and said outboard plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification