Abstract: A height control valve is preferably adapted to be mounted in a trailing arm suspension and fluidly interconnected to a source of pressurized air and to an air spring. The height control valve comprises a housing having a cylindrical bore, a supply port, an exhaust port and an air spring port each of which extends through the housing and fluidly communicates with the bore. A rotor is preferably rotatably mounted in the bore and interconnected to the arm wherein pivotal movement of the arm rotates the rotor with respect to the housing between first, second and third rotational positions.

Abstract: A trailing arm suspension, alone or in combination with a vehicle having a vehicle frame supported by an axle with ground engaging wheels. The trailing arm suspension comprises a pair of spaced trailing arm assemblies, each of which includes a trailing arm pivotally mounted to a the vehicle frame and a spring operably coupling the trailing arm to the frame to resist the pivotal movement of the trailing arm. A pneumatic lift mechanism is provided to selectively raise the trailing arm relative to the frame. The axle has at least a portion of which that is hollow and defines a pressurized air reservoir, which is coupled to the spring and/or the pneumatic lift mechanism to provided pressurized air for altering the resistance of the spring and/or actuating the pneumatic lift mechanism to selective lift the trailing arm.

Abstract: A sealed vehicle brake actuator having a housing divided into a first chamber and a second chamber by a movable member such as a diaphragm. The housing comprises a first and second portion joined with the diaphragm therebetween to seal the portions to one another and mount the diaphragm. The joint is formed by deforming at least a part of the first portion into a groove formed in the second portion with the diaphragm pinched between first and second housing portions. The deforming of a part of the first portion into the groove can be accomplished by deforming the wall edge of the first portion, continuously or discretely, into the groove, preferably by rolling. Alternatively, the sidewall of the first portion overlying the groove can be deformed into the groove by rolling the first portion, continuously or discretely, or by discretely punching the sidewall.

Abstract: A drive axle suspension for maintaining a differential pinion gear at a substantially constant position in response to engine torque induced or vehicle roll induced twisting forces acting on the differential axle housing. The drive axle suspension comprises a trailing arm having one end pivotally mounted to the vehicle through a hanger bracket, depending from a frame rail of the vehicle, and another end connected to the vehicle frame rail through an air spring. The trailing arms have a blade-like configuration that permits the blades to twist longitudinally and bend laterally to relieve the axle twisting forces that would otherwise rotate the differential and undesirably rotate the pinion gear, changing its angular orientation.

Abstract: An anti-creep device for a trailer includes a support arm adapted to be mounted to a trailer frame proximate a trailer axle for rotational movement between a retracted position and an extended position. An actuator is associated with the support arm for rotating the arm at least to the extended position to thereby lock the frame at a selected height when the frame is raised with respect to the axle. A sensor switch is mounted to the frame in the vicinity of the support arm for sensing the position of the support arm and an indicator is operably connected to the sensor for indicating when the support arm is in the extended position.

Abstract: A vehicle axle has mounted thereto a vehicle component, such as a brake actuator, a radius rod or track bar tower or a suspension for mounting the axle to the vehicle frame through an axle wrapper band which uniformly compresses the axle to provide a substantial frictional force between the axle and the wrapper band of a magnitude to prevent any appreciable translation or rotational movement of the axle with respect to the wrapper band in normal service on a vehicle. The axle can be round or multi-sided and the wrapper band has a corresponding shape. The wrapper band can be formed in parts, for example, U-shaped or L-shaped halves, and compressed towards each other before joining the halves either by welding or by a mechanical attachment. Alternatively, the wrapper band can be unitary in nature, heated and press-fit onto the axle. The wrapper band applies compressive pressure uniformly to the axle along multiple angularly spaced axes and minimizes or eliminates the need for welding the components to the axle.

Abstract: A vibration dampening assembly and a suspension system for use, for example, between a cab and a flame of a truck, has a link with a first end pivotably interconnected with a second plate at a first support pivot, a lever with a first end pivotably interconnected with the second end of the link at a link pivot, a shock absorber, the first end of which is pivotably interconnected with the lever second end at a shock pivot and the second end of which is pivotably interconnected to a first or the second plate at a second pivot support spaced from the first support pivot wherein the lever is pivotably interconnected with the first plate at a main pivot connection located intermediate the first and second ends thereof. In one embodiment, the shock absorber central axis and the lever longitudinal axis are parallel when the supporting body and the suspended body are in a static condition.

Abstract: A spring brake actuator (10), with a first spring brake chamber (76) filled with compressed air and a second spring brake chamber (78) housing a large-force compression spring (82), includes an elastomeric diaphragm (74) having a centrally-disposed aperture (90) separating the first and second spring brake chambers (76 and 78). The elastomeric diaphragm (74) is compressed at a peripheral edge (138) between housing sections (66, 68) and at a collar (140), which is adjacent the centrally-disposed aperture (90), between a ring-shaped retainer (142) and at least one of an actuator rod, a pressure plate (92), and an annular recess (144) in a pressure plate (92). In one embodiment, the retainer (142) includes an annular channel (154) having an inner rim (150), an outer rim (152), and a base (156). Evenly-spaced flanges (146) radiate axially from, and are separated by slots (148) on, the inner rim (150).

Abstract: An anti-creep device for a trailing arm suspension. The anti-creep device comprises an arm that is extended and retracted relative to a trailer frame and trailing arm of the suspension to prohibit their relative movement. The arm is connected to either the trailer frame or trailing arm by a frangible coupling designed to break at a predetermined load to prevent damage to the trailer or suspension from overloading or operation when the arm is extended.

Abstract: A spring brake actuator being divided into a first spring brake chamber and a second spring brake chamber by a diaphragm extending across the actuator. A pressure plate is provided in the first spring brake chamber and rests on the diaphragm. A power spring is positioned between the spring brake chamber housing and the pressure plate to urge the pressure plate toward the bottom of the actuator housing. Pressurized air is supplied to the second spring brake chamber to hold the power spring in a compressed state. A normally closed one-way check valve extends through the pressure plate and the diaphragm to provide for temporary fluid communication between the first spring brake chamber and the second spring brake chamber upon the exhausting of pressurized air from the second spring brake chamber to thereby prevent the creation of a vacuum in the first spring brake chamber that might retard the application rate of the spring brake actuator.

Abstract: A steerable independent front suspension having upper and lower wishbone control arms, each control arm pivotally mounted to a suspension frame which in turn is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle frame. The other end of the control arms are pivotally mounted to an upper and lower end of a knuckle post, which has an opening extending therethrough. A steering knuckle is pivotally mounted to the knuckle post and mounts an S-cam brake assembly having a brake actuator extending therefrom. The knuckle post opening is positioned and sized to receive the brake actuator when the steering knuckle is pivoted to a maximum position to increase the steering angle of the vehicle.

Abstract: The invention is a trailing arm suspension with a steerable axle assembly having a caster angle controlling the direction at which the axle steers. A lift axle suspension or a lockout device is provided to lift the wheels from a ground engaging position or to lock the position of the wheels, respectively, permitting the operation of the vehicle in a direction opposite the direction for which the caster angle is designed. Advantageously, the lift axle suspension is of a simplified design and the trailing arm configuration is V-shaped to better absorb lateral forces.

Abstract: A fluid-operated combination diaphragm spring brake has a tamper-resistant connection between a head and a flange case which together form a spring chamber housing a power spring. The head has an annular flange and an axial rim, and the flange case has an annular flange and an axial rim, The flanges of the head and the flange case and at least one of the rims of the head and the flange case define an annular recess. A diaphragm is sandwiched between the flanges and substantially fills the annular recess, removing substantially all the air within the annular recess. A welded connection radially adjacent the diaphragm secures head rim to the flange case rim.

Abstract: A fluid-operated brake actuator having a hollow actuator rod between a spring chamber of a spring brake housing and a spring chamber of a service brake housing incorporates a valve within the actuator rod. The valve isolates the two spring chambers from each other in normal operation and releases a vacuum in the spring brake housing spring chamber when the spring brake is activated. A separate one-way check valve mounted in a well of the spring brake housing permits fluid to exhaust from the spring chamber to atmosphere and prevents contaminants in the atmosphere from entering the spring chamber.