Load relief control system
AssigneeBrandt Industries Ltd.
InventorsRaymond Strelic, Brett Burke, Anneke Snow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A suspension system is provided comprising at least one ride height valve, when engaged, that allows an air flow to engage a hydraulic control valve such that it initiates either extension or retraction of a hydraulic piston from a cylinder. Extension or retraction of the hydraulic piston causes a booster frame to be bias downwardly or upwardly, respectively. The ride height valve is engaged when a booster axle is at a predetermined distance from the frame.
Claims24
A suspension system for a trailer and a load-sharing accessory vehicle, the suspension system comprising:
- an air ride suspension extending between a frame of the accessory vehicle and at least one axle of the accessory vehicle;
- a biasing mechanism between the trailer and the frame including at least one hydraulic cylinder and a piston for providing a bias between the trailer and the frame;
- a first ride height valve configured to allow a fluid, when engaged, flowing from a fluid source to engage a first hydraulic control valve thereby causing extension of the piston to increase the magnitude of the bias, the first ride height valve is directly or indirectly engaged by a first axle of the at least one axle when the first axle is at or greater than a first predetermined distance from the frame;
- and
- a second ride height valve configured to allow fluid, when engaged, flowing from the fluid source to engage a second hydraulic control valve thereby causing retraction of the piston to decrease the magnitude of the bias, the second ride height valve is directly or indirectly engaged by a second axle of the at least one axle when the second axle is at or less than a second predetermined distance from the frame.
A method for controlling the ride height of a load-sharing accessory vehicle attached to a trailer, said load-sharing accessory vehicle having a frame supported by at least one air ride suspension on at least one axle, said method comprising the steps of:
- engaging a first ride height valve thereby allowing a fluid to engage a first hydraulic control valve;
- and
- extending a piston within a hydraulic cylinder, when the first hydraulic control valve is engaged, that provides a first magnitude of a bias to said frame in relation to said axle so as to adjust said ride height.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.