Auxiliary axle and suspension assembly

摘要

A vehicle suspension assembly includes an axle member movable between a first position and a second position, mounting brackets adapted to couple to a vehicle frame assembly, trailing arms pivotably coupled to mounting brackets and pivotably coupled to the axle member, a lift arrangement including a pair of diaphragm chambers each having a push plate and a flexible bladder, the push plate of the diaphragm chamber dividing the associated diaphragm chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment of each diaphragm chamber being adjustably pressurized to move the push plate of the associated diaphragm chamber, and at least one push rod defining a single longitudinal axis and connected to each push plate such that pressurization of the diaphragm chambers cause a translational movement of the at least one push rod, thereby causing the axle member to move between the first and second positions.

主权项

1. A vehicle suspension assembly, comprising:
an axle member having a first end and a second end, the axle member movable between a first position, wherein at least one tire coupled with the axle member contacts a ground surface, and a second position, wherein the at least one tire is spaced from the ground surface; a first mounting bracket adapted to couple to a vehicle frame assembly; a first trailing arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the first mounting bracket, and a second end pivotably coupled to the first end of the axle member; a second mounting bracket adapted to couple to a vehicle frame assembly; a second trailing arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the second mounting bracket, and a second end pivotably coupled to the second end of the axle member; a first lift arrangement, comprising:
a first diaphragm chamber having a first push plate and a flexible bladder, the first push plate of the first diaphragm chamber dividing the first diaphragm chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment of the first diaphragm chamber being adjustably pressurized to move the first push plate of the first diaphragm chamber;a second diaphragm chamber having a second push plate including a flexible bladder, the second push plate of the second diaphragm chamber dividing the second diaphragm chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, the first compartment of the second diaphragm chamber being adjustably pressurized to move the second push plate of the second diaphragm chamber; andat least one push rod defining a single longitudinal axis and connected to the first push plate and the second push plate such that pressurization of the first and second diaphragm chambers cause a translational movement of the at least one push rod, wherein the at least one push rod is operably coupled with the vehicle suspension assembly such that translational movement of the at least one push rod causes the axle member to move between the first and second positions, wherein an overall length of the at least one push rod remains substantially constant as the axle member moves between the first and second positions and wherein the first push plate and the second push plate are configured to move in the same direction as the axle member moves between the first and second positions.