A stabilizer unit having a pair of mounting rods adapted to extend fore and aft of a vehicle frame and to be pivoted at front ends thereof to locations near the outer ends of the rear axle of the vehicle. The rear ends of the mounting rods are adapted to be shiftably coupled by coil springs to respective bolts secured to and extending downwardly from respective frame members of the vehicle. A cross rod interconnects the rear ends of the mounting rods and acts as a sway bar. A pair of inflatable air springs or shock absorbers are disposed between respective frame members and the mounting rods, the air springs being between the front and rear ends of the mounting rods. When the stabilizer unit is to be put in use when a load is carried by the vehicle, the cross rod is secured against movement relative to the vehicle frame members by a pair of spaced, notched crank arms on a rotatable clamp rod carried by the vehicle, the notches of the crank arms receiving the cross rod as the clamp rod is rotated relative to the vehicle into an operative position. Inflation of the air springs then causes downward pressure on the mounting rods and thereby the rear axle to thereby cause a slight elevation of the rear end of the vehicle without any significant change in the elevation of the front end of the vehicle to thereby provide for uniform up and down movement of the frame when the wheels move over bumps in the roadway.
A suspension system for a vehicle wheel set, comprising first suspension means, second suspension means, and stabilizing means arranged generally transversely of the longitudinal axis of an associated vehicle and arranged to act in conjunction with at least one of said first and second suspension means, provide the vehicle with an anti-roll characteristic when operating under certain conditions. In a preferred embodiment, the first suspension means comprises a pair of leaf springs, and the second suspension means comprises a leaf spring, coil spring, hydraulic, pneumatic, or rubber (elastomeric) suspension arrangement, or any combination thereof, connected to an anti-roll bar or tube. Also provided is a composite stabilizing means in the form of an anti-roll bar or tube connected between a pair of leaf spring arms, preferably adjustable longitudinally thereof.
A supplemental suspension and method of supplementing the suspension in a vehicle having an axle, wheels rotatably disposed on the axle, a frame and an existing leaf spring suspension system for mounting the axle onto the frame. The supplementary suspension system includes first and second suspension arm members having front and rear ends, a cross member for connecting the two arm members, hanger means for pivotally suspending the rear ends of the arm members from the frame of the vehicle, mounting means for mounting the front ends of the arm members on the axle, and air suspension means for operably connecting a portion of the suspension arm members disposed between the front and rear ends of the members to the vehicle frame. The air suspension means further includes air bags, wherein the degree of suspension of the suspension means can be adjusted by altering the amount of air in the air bags. The arm members preferably have a generally "U" shape when viewed from a side of the vehicle. One leg of the "U" shape comprises the rear end of the arm member for suspension from the hanger means, and the other leg of the "U" shape comprises the front end of the frame member for mounting on the axle. The air suspension means is disposed toward the bottom of the "U" shape.
An air control system for an air suspension which supports a vehicle body on an axle having ground engageing wheels. A control valve mounted adjacent a door of the vehicle is operated by opening the door to dump air from the air springs and to deactivate a height control valve for the air springs. Upon closing the door, the control valve disables the dumping system and re-enables the height control valve for automatic reinflation of the air springs.
A vehicle suspension system, comprising suspension means, anti-roll means capable of rotational movement due to deflection of the suspension means during straight axle static bounce motion thereof, and counteracting means arranged to act between said anti-roll means and the vehicle frame or chassis during straight axle static bounce motion of the suspension means, to at least partially counteract any consequential rotational movement of the anti-roll means, thereby applying a couple or moment to, and as a result, altering the deflection and rate of said suspension means.
An air suspension anti-roll stabilization system includes air suspension devices, such as at least one pair of air bags air spring mounted upon an axle via leaf spring suspension arms of an associated vehicle on respective opposed sides of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, with the axle being located at least partially with respect to the frame or chassis of the vehicle by means of a pair of leaf spring arms which are located on respective opposed sides of the longitudinal vehicle axis and of which each has one end mounted pivotally to the vehicle frame or chassis, wherein anti-roll means is connected rigidly between the part of longitudinal leaf spring suspension arms.
