Abstract:
An air spring assembly (50a, 50b) including a damper that extends into an air cylinder float, the damper including a rod positioned having an end affixed to an end cap of the air cylinder float, a first piston affixed to the rod within the damper, a second piston affixed to the damper and having one or more seals on an outer surface thereof that sealingly engage an inner surface of the air cylinder float, wherein when a load applied to the air spring assembly is increased, the second piston and the second end of the damper move towards the end cap compressing air within the air cylinder float, wherein the air cylinder float is a solid member that does not expand as the air pressure within increases during compression, and wherein a protective membrane (52a, 52b) is positioned on an outer diameter of the air cylinder float.
Abstract:
An independent wheel suspension having an upper suspension having an extending first arm, a lower suspension arm having an end pivotally attached to the first arm and a second end adapted for attachment to a spring, a wheel motor having a wheel motor mount positioned between the upper suspension member and the lower suspension arm, a first wheel motor linkage arm having a first end pivotally attached to the first arm of the upper suspension member and a second end pivotally attached to the wheel motor mount, a second wheel motor linkage arm having a first end pivotally attached to the lower suspension arm and a second end attached to the wheel motor mount, wherein the upper suspension member includes a spring mount adapted for attachment to a spring.
Abstract:
A method of setting the rides height of the air springs (130, 132, 134, 136) and air pressures of the tires (300), including receiving a user selected setting or preprogrammed ride height settings; sensing a ride height of and air pressure within, each of the air springs (130, 132, 134, 136); determining the weight of the vehicle based on the sensed ride height and air pressure within each of the air springs (130, 132, 134, 136); providing specified ride heights for the left and right front and rear air springs (130, 132, 134, 136); determining specified air pressures for the left and right front and rear tire inflators, based upon the determined weight of the vehicle and selected setting; inflating the left and right front and rear air springs (130, 132, 134, 136) to the specified ride heights; and inflating the left and right front and rear tires (300) to the specified air pressures.
Abstract:
A cylinder shock assembly comprising a damper with a first end, and a second end that extends into an air cylinder float. The damper has a rod positioned in the air cylinder float with one end positioned within a cavity of the damper and another end affixed to an end cap attached to the air cylinder float. A primary coil spring is positioned within the air cylinder float, wherein when a load applied to the cylinder shock assembly is increased, an end of the damper move towards the end cap compressing air within the air cylinder float, wherein as the load is increased the primary coil spring is compressed and the volume of air within the air cylinder decreases resulting in an increased air pressure, and wherein the air cylinder float is a solid member that does not expand as the air pressure within increases during compression.