Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling the delivery and exhaustion of pressurized air to and from an air spring. The valve assembly comprises a body having a bore and a port in communication with the bore. The port is adapted to receive an air connection with an air spring. Actuator shaft having a first end and a second end, is disposed coaxially in the valve bore for reciprocal movement between actuating and rest positions, and is biased toward the rest position. A valve block fixes within the bore and has an internal end and an external end. A stop chamber is disposed between the external end and the internal end. A stop member mounts on the actuator shaft within the stop chamber. Actuator shaft movement relative to the valve body is limited to the distance the stop moves within the stop chamber. The valve bore is filled with an incompressible fluid and the actuator has a piston disposed within the valve bore in order to dampen movement of the actuator shaft to provide a time delay in actuating the valve.

Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling delivery and exhaust of pressurized air to and from an air spring. The valve assembly comprises a body having a pair of valve bores with a coaxially open end, and a port in communication with the valve bore. The port is adapted to receive an air connection with an air spring. An actuator shaft, having a first end and a second end, is disposed coaxially in the valve bore for reciprocal movement between an actuating position and a rest position, and is biased toward the rest position. A valve block fixes within the valve bore and has an internal end and an external end. A coaxial bore extends from the internal end to the external end and slidably receives the actuator shaft second end. A stop chamber is disposed between the external end and the internal end. The valve block has a seat on the external end at the coaxial bore. An air passage communicates with the port and the coaxial bore.

Abstract: A mud flap bracket assembly (16) for a slider suspension has a forward portion (22) adapted to be fixedly secured to a shortened slider rail (14), and a rearward portion (28) adapted to be slidably mounted to a body rail (12). Mud flaps (30) are suspended from the rearward portion (28).

Abstract: A trailing arm suspension (10) has a trailing arm (12) comprising a central rib (32) to which opposing U-shaped side plates (52, 54) are welded. The central rib (32) and the opposing side plates (52, 54) have congruent semicircular recesses (34, 38) disposed at one end of the trailing arm to define a first seat (55) for receiving a mounting collar (36) to mount the one end of the trailing arm to a hanger bracket (16). The central rib (32) and opposing side plates (52, 54) have further congruent semicircular recesses (56, 58) that define a second seat (57) in which is mounted a cast member (40) for mounting an axle (24). A portion of the central rib extends above the opposed side plates and defines a shock absorber mount (42). The other end of the central rib (32) has a rectangular recess (46) for receiving an end shaft (48) to mount a transverse beam.

Abstract: A retractable suspension (10) comprises a trailing arm (22) pivotally mounted to a vehicle frame (12), an air spring (30) mounted between the trailing arm and the frame, and a lifting device (32) mounted between the trailing arm and the frame. The lifting device (32) comprises a strut (60) pivotally mounted between the frame (12) and a lever arm (64) that is fixedly mounted to the trailing arm (22). The strut (60) applies a force to the lever arm (64) that imparts a moment to the trailing arm (22) to urge the trailing arm and attached wheels (14) to a retracted position. The force of the air spring (30) can be adjusted to counter the upward movement of the wheels (14).

Abstract: An elastomeric bushing for mounting a first member to a second member which permits limited articulation of one of the members relative to the other. The bushing comprises an inner element, an outer element, and a highly compressed elastomeric insert retained between the outer and inner elements, wherein the outer element further comprises an adjustable portion to permit limited reduction of the circumference of the outer element from a maximum circumference. The outer element is constructed to restrain the expansion forces of the highly compressed elastomeric insert to maintain substantially constant, the circumference of the outer element at a predetermined circumference, while being capable of withstanding the shear forces during installation without buckling or tearing.

Abstract: A frame bracket for mounting a trailing arm to a trailer frame in a trailing arm suspension system comprising a U-shaped frame having a front wall and two side walls, a combined stiffener and gusset having a stiffening portion extending between the U-shaped frame side walls, and a gusset portion extending outwardly from at least one of the U-shaped frame side walls and adapted to mount to the trailer frame to provide additional stiffening, and an attachment flange curving inwardly from an upper edge of at least one of the front and side walls of the U-shaped frame; whereby a weld may be placed between the attachment flange and the trailer frame which is substantially in line with the at least one front or side wall having the attachment flange.

Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling the delivery and exhaustion of pressurized air to and from an air spring. The valve assembly comprises a body having a valve bore with a coaxially open end, and a port in communication with the valve bore. The port is adapted to receive an air connection with an air spring. An actuator shaft, having a first end and a second end, is disposed coaxially in the valve bore for reciprocal movement between an actuating position and a rest position, and is biased toward the rest position. A valve block fixes within the valve bore and has an internal end and an external end. A coaxial bore extends from the internal end to the external end and slidably receives the actuator shaft second end. A stop chamber is disposed between the external end and the internal end. The valve block has a seat on the external end at the coaxial bore. An air passage communicates with the port and the coaxial bore.

Abstract: An improvement is provided for connecting an air-spring suspension to the subframe of a slider comprising parallel frame rails. A beam is disposed beneath and extends between the frame rails and is suspended therefrom by three platelike gussets. Hanger brackets for trailing arms depend from a bottom surface of the beam. Support brackets are also provided for mounting air springs adapted to cushion the swinging movement of the trailing arms.

Abstract: A height control valve is for controlling the height of an air spring is disclosed, wherein the controlled height of the air spring can be easily adjusted. The height control valve comprises an interior bore in communication with an inlet port, an exhaust port and an air spring port. A hollow piston is movable within the valve bore in response to changes in the height of an air spring. A sealing member is biased onto a valve seat to seal the inlet port, and an open end of the piston abuts the sealing member to seal the exhaust port. Movement of the piston toward the sealing member disengages the sealing member from its valve seat, placing the spring port into communication with the inlet port. Axial movement of the piston away from the disk valve places the spring port into communication with the exhaust port through the interior of the piston. The controlled height of the air spring is adjusted by adjusting the axial position of the seat within the valve bore.

Abstract: A dump valve for selectively placing the inlet port of a height control valve into communication with a source of pressurized air or atmosphere. The dump valve comprises a body having a control bore, an opposing pilot bore, an exhaust bore intersecting the control bore, and a connection bore intersecting the control bore. The connecting bore has means for fluidly connecting the connection bore to the inlet bore of a height control valve. A valve seal disposed within the control bore for reciprocal movement therein selectively places the connection port in communication with either the supply port or the exhaust port. A piston axially disposed in the pilot bore for reciprocal movement therein controls the movement of the valve seal in response to the selective application of pressure to the pilot bore.

Abstract: A support bracket is provided for adjusting the pinion angle of an axle when mounting the axle to a trailing arm in a vehicle suspension. The bracket comprises a pair of spaced arms connected by a web. Each of the arms has a first aperture and a second aperture with the corresponding apertures on the spaced arms being aligned. The first apertures are elongated in an arc with a radius having is origin centered in the second aperture. The support bracket fixedly supports an axle and is mounted to the trailing arm by pins extending through and between the apertures and through bushed connections in the trailing arm so that the bracket is pivotable relative to the trailing arm about the pin extending through the second apertures.