Suspension

A vehicle suspension assembly in a vehicle having two, longitudinally extending, laterally spaced frame members and at least one axle extending perpendicularly between the frame members and coupled to the frame members by the suspension assembly, the vehicle having a roll center located between the frame members, the suspension assembly comprising:

• a pneumatic spring mounted between one of said frame members and the axle for resiliently supporting said one frame member with respect to the axle;
• a control valve for controlling pressurization of said pneumatic spring mounted to an inboard side of said one frame member;
• a control lever operably connected to the control valve and extending laterally inboard from said frame member;
• an operating rod for said control valve having one end pivotally connected to said control lever at a first point laterally inboard of said control valve and a second end coupled to said axle at a second point vertically below the control valve and laterally outward of the first point;
• wherein,
• an axis of said operating rod extends through or in close proximity to said roll center of said vehicle.

A suspension assembly for a vehicle having two longitudinally extending, laterally spaced frame members and a drive axle extending laterally between and coupled to said frame members, the vehicle having a roll center approximately midway between said frame members, the suspension assembly comprising:

• a pneumatic spring mounted between and resiliently supporting one of said frame members with respect to the drive axle;
• a control valve for controlling pressurization of said pneumatic spring mounted to said one frame member;
• a control lever operably connected to the control valve and extending laterally inboard of said one frame member to a terminal end;
• an operating rod for said control valve having one end operatively connected to the terminal end of said control lever and a second end coupled to said drive axle at a point laterally outboard of said terminal end and vertically below the control valve;
• wherein, the operating rod is positioned at an angle oblique to a horizontal plane defined by the frame members such that an axis of the operating rod is directed toward the roll center of the vehicle.