Underlift Fork-Air Suspension Coupling Unit

Abstract

An underlift fork-air suspension coupling unit for towing a semi-trailer truck having an air-ride suspension is provided. The coupling unit includes a substantially cylindrical device including a first end configured to engage with the air suspension slot beneath the air springs of certain air-ride suspensions of semi-trailer trucks, a second end configured to engage with a receiver of an underlift towing device, and a collar coaxially disposed between the first and second ends for separating the first and second ends. The coupling unit replaces underlift forks that are conventionally used with underlift towing devices. By specifically engaging with the air suspensions slot of these air-ride suspensions, rather than the axle as with the underlift forks, the coupling unit avoids the potential for the underlift device to bottom out against the underbody of the semi-trailer truck to be towed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.