Pneumatic isolator stabilizing assembly

Abstract

A novel pneumatic isolator stabilizing assembly is provided for use with a tow vehicle and a trailer for improving ride characteristics for a driver and passengers and for minimizing the possibility of damage to the tow vehicle and the trailer. The assembly includes a frame, structure for attaching the frame to the tow vehicle, structure for attaching the frame to the trailer, and an air spring for providing a cushion between the tow vehicle and the trailer when traveling over the roads. In one embodiment, the air spring is offset from the attachment point of the frame to the trailer and in another embodiment, the air spring is generally vertically aligned with this attachment point. The frame in each embodiment includes a first subassembly fixed relative to the trailer and a second subassembly fixed relative to the tow vehicle. The subassemblies are connected together such that they can move relative to each other. The air spring is provided between the subassemblies such that when relative movement is effected in response to movement by the tow vehicle and trailer over obstructions in the road, the air spring provides a cushion between the tow vehicle and the trailer to compensate for various load conditions.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.