Air suspension override system

An override system in combination with an automatic air suspension leveling system for a vehicle, the automatic air suspension leveling system including a regulating valve mounted to a chassis of the vehicle for controlling air pressure in an air spring which is mounted between the chassis and an axle of the vehicle, the regulating valve operated by a control arm which is rotatable between a neutral position, an up position, and a down position and which is connectable to the axle whereby the regulating valve is operated in response to movement of the chassis relative to the axle, the override system comprising:

• a cylinder having a piston and a piston rod associated therewith, the cylinder connected to the chassis and the piston rod extending from the cylinder so as to be engageable with the control arm to move the control arm to the up position upon moving the piston rod from a retracted position to an extended position;
• a spring linkage assembly having one end connected to the axle of the vehicle and another end connected to the control arm, the linkage being constructed so that the control arm can be independently moved relative to the axle yet sufficiently stiff to transmit force between the axle and the control arm;
• pressurized fluid means for actuating the piston and the piston rod from the retracted position wherein the control arm is maintained in the neutral position to the extended position wherein the piston rod engages the control arm and causes the control arm to be pivoted to the up position so as to open the regulating valve to cause additional air to be introduced into the air spring thus resulting in the chassis being raised relative to the axle;
• and
• a valve interposed between the cylinder and the pressurized fluid means for selectively controlling the flow of the pressurized fluid means to the cylinder.

An override system in combination with an automatic air suspension leveling system for a vehicle, the automatic air suspension leveling system including a regulating valve mounted to a chassis of the vehicle for controlling air pressure in an air spring which is mounted between the chassis and an axle of the vehicle, the regulating valve operated by a control arm which is rotatable between a neutral position, an up position, and a down position and which is connectable to the axle whereby the regulating valve is operated in response to movement of the chassis relative to the axle, the override system comprising:

• a cylinder having a piston and a piston rod associated therewith, the cylinder connected to the chassis and the piston rod extending from the cylinder so as to be engageable with the control arm to move the control arm to the up position upon moving the piston rod from a retracted position to an extended position, the piston rod being spaced a distance from the control arm when the piston rod is in the retracted position;
• a spring linkage assembly having one end connected to the axle of the vehicle and another end connected to the control arm, the linkage being constructed so that the control arm can be independently moved relative to the axle yet sufficiently stiff to transmit force between the axle and the control arm;
• pressurized fluid means for actuating the piston and the piston rod from the retracted position wherein the control arm is maintained in the neutral position to the extended position wherein the piston rod engages the control arm and causes the control arm to be pivoted to the up position so as to open the regulating valve to cause additional air to be introduced into the air spring thus resulting in the chassis being raised relative to the axle;
• and
• a valve interposed between the cylinder and the pressurized fluid means for selectively controlling the flow of the pressurized fluid means to the cylinder.