Lift axle assembly

摘要

A lift axle assembly for supporting an auxiliary axle and wheels and selectively moving the auxiliary axle between in use and storage positions. The auxiliary axle is supported using two sets of upper and lower support arms pivotally connected between saddles attached to the axle and support hangers which are attached to the vehicle. Lift air springs selectively push the upper support arms vertically upwardly for rotating the support arms and placing the auxiliary axle in the storage position. The pivotal connections of the lower support arm as well as the pivotal connection of the upper support arm to the support hanger are of a bushing type allowing both rotational motion about the axis of rotation and coning for allowing twisting of the support arms about their longitudinal axes. The pivotal connection between the upper support arms and the saddles are of an antitwist type allowing pivotal motion about the axis of rotation but preventing coning or twisting of the upper support arms about their longitudinal axes.