摘要 |
A vehicle is provided with an in-line suspension and elevation system that interchangably performs both functions in accordance with the degree of air load placed in an air-adjustable shock absorber. The in-line aspect of the system provides that both the shock absorber and the vehicle running gear operate substantially in a single longitudinal plane and are disposed on a single face of a bellcrank mechanism that is pivoted to the vehicle chassis on an axis that is transverse to the longitudinal plane. Consequently, the chassis may include an unusually wide cargo carrying member or the like without such member being interrupted by housings for suspension system components. The elevation function operates with an air load in the shock absorber of from zero to the minimum load required to extend the shock absorber to a desired effective length. At the air load of full desired extension, the suspension system is automatically sprung to the chassis load that has been elevated.
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