# US 12,214,639 B1 · Integrated lift axle suspension system and method of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,639 B1 - Document ID: US12214639B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/606,891 - Filed: 2024-03-15 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2024-03-15 - Assignees: Transportation Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Transportation Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Ervin K. VanDenberg; Lyle Edward Turkson; David H. Croston - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214639B1 ## CPC - B60G 11/27: wherein the fluid is a gas - B60G 9/00: Resilient suspensions of a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels {(the axle being a part of a set of tandem axles B60G5/00-B60G5/065; with leaf springs B60G11/02-B60G11/08)} - B60G 9/003: {the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device} - B62D 61/12: with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels (for manoeuvring purposes only B60S) - B60G 2200/31: with two trailing arms rigidly connected to the axle - B60G 2200/314: with longitudinally arranged arms articulated on the axle - B60G 2202/152: Pneumatic spring - B60G 2204/126: Mounting of pneumatic springs - B60G 2204/4702: pneumatically - B60G 2300/402: Extra load carrying wheels, e.g. tag axles - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A suspension assembly and method of use is provided. The suspension is for an axle on a trailer or other vehicle. The suspension assembly has a cross support member connected with or integrally formed with a hanger bracket at the first end of the cross support member. A trailing beam is connected to the hanger bracket. The trailing beam and a mount are coupled with a load air bag and a lift air bag, with the bags located on each respective side of a pivot axis for the trailing beam. This establishes a teeter-totter configuration of the suspension assembly allowing independent wheel travel side-to-side of the suspension assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lift axle air suspension assembly for wheels on a vehicle, the lift axle air suspension assembly comprising: a lift axle cross support member that is adapted to mount to the vehicle; a first end and a second end of the lift axle cross support member; a first bracket operatively connected with the cross support member and located proximate the first end of the cross support member; a first beam pivotably coupled to the first bracket, wherein the first beam pivots about a pivot axis located between a forward end and a rear end of the first beam, wherein the first beam is adapted to couple with a first brake assembly for a first wheel; a second bracket operatively connected with the lift axle cross support member and located proximate the second end of the lift axle cross support member; and a second beam pivotably coupled to the second bracket, wherein the second beam pivots about the pivot axis located between a forward end and a rear end of the second beam, wherein the second beam pivots independently of the first beam, wherein the second beam is adapted to couple with a second brake assembly for a second wheel; wherein the operative connection of the first bracket and the second bracket with the lift axle cross support member is adapted to improve load distribution of the lift axle air suspension assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 1, wherein the lift axle cross support member carries the load that would normally be carried by an axle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 1, wherein the first bracket is a first hanger bracket, wherein the first hanger bracket comprises a first plate that is welded to the cross support member and a second plate that is welded to the cross support member, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of each of the first plate and the second plate extends downwardly from the cross support member defining a lower depending portion of each plate, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate define a transversely aligned aperture therethrough, wherein the pivot axis extends through the transversely aligned aperture of the first plate and the second plate, wherein the first beam is coupled to the first hanger bracket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 3, wherein the second bracket is a second hanger bracket, wherein the second hanger bracket comprises a first plate that is welded to the cross support member and a second plate that is welded to the cross support member, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate of the second hanger bracket has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of each of the first plate and the second plate of the second hanger bracket extends downwardly from the cross support member defining a lower depending portion of each plate, wherein each of the first plate and the second plate of the second hanger bracket define a transversely aligned aperture therethrough, wherein the pivot axis extends through the transversely aligned aperture of the first plate and the second plate of the second hanger bracket, wherein the second beam is coupled to the second hanger bracket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first load air bag located rearward of the pivot axis, and the first load air bag positioned between the first beam and the first bracket; and a first lift air bag located forward of the pivot axis, and the first lift air bag positioned between the first beam and the first bracket. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 5, further comprising: a second load air bag located rearward of the pivot axis, and the second load air bag positioned between the second beam and the second bracket; and a second lift air bag located forward of the pivot axis, and the second lift air bag positioned between the second beam and the second bracket. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 5, further comprising: a first mounting surface for the first load air bag, wherein the first mounting surface is operatively connected to the cross support member, wherein the first mounting surface is oriented at an angle that is in a range from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees relative to level ground. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 7, further comprising: a second mounting surface for the first lift air bag, wherein the second mounting surface is operatively connected to the cross support member, wherein the second mounting surface is oriented at an angle that is in a range from about 10 degrees to about 40 degrees relative to level ground, wherein the second mounting surface is positioned forwardly from the first mounting surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a jounce position of the first beam, wherein when the first beam pivots to the jounce position, the first load air bag is compressed relative to its normal position and the first lift air bag is extended relative to its normal position; and a rebound position of the first beam wherein when the first beam pivots to the rebound position, the first load air bag is extended relative to its normal position and the first lift air bag is compressed relative to its normal position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 9, wherein the forward end of the first beam is moveable between at least three different vertical heights that correspond to the normal position, the jounce position, and the rebound position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 10, wherein the forward end of the first beam is at its greatest vertical height in the rebound position and its lowest vertical height in the jounce position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 10, further comprising: a forward portion of the first beam located forward of the pivot axis; a rear portion of the first beam located rearward of the pivot axis; an angle defined between the forward portion and the rear portion that is in a range from about 110° to about 170°. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a jounce position of the second beam that is independent of the first beam, wherein when the second beam pivots to the jounce position, the second load air bag is compressed relative to its normal position and the second lift air bag is extended relative to its normal position; and a rebound position of the second beam that is independent of the first beam, wherein when the second beam pivots to the rebound position, the second load air bag is extended relative to its normal position and the second lift air bag is compressed relative to its normal position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a length of the first beam measured from the forward end to the rear end, wherein the pivot axis is located closer to the forward end than the rear end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 14, wherein the pivot axis is located about ⅓ the length from the forward end and about ⅔ the length from the rear end of the first beam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a transversely extending tube defining a bore, wherein the transversely extending tube is connected to the first beam; and a pivot pin that defines the pivot axis, wherein the pivot pin extends through the bore and couples the first beam to the first bracket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 16, further comprising: a first needle bearing that surrounds the pivot pin within the bore; and a second needle bearing that surrounds the pivot pin within the bore. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 17, further comprising: a sleeve that surrounds the pivot pin and is located within the bore between the first needle bearing and the second needle bearing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a rear portion of the first beam located rearward from the pivot axis; a top surface of the first beam at the rear portion; a mounting surface for the first load air bag that is connected to the first beam, wherein the mounting surface is oriented at an angle relative to the top surface of the rear portion of the first beam. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The lift axle air suspension assembly of claim 19, wherein the angle of the mounting surface is in a range from about 10° to about 35° relative to the top surface of the rear portion of the first beam.