Side mounted air spring trailing arm suspension

A suspension and frame assembly comprising:

• a first arm having one end configured for connection to a rigid axle structure and an opposite end configured for connection to one lateral side of a frame structure;
• a second arm having one end configured for connection to the rigid axle structure and an opposite end configured for connection to an opposite lateral side of the frame structure, wherein the rigid axle structure comprises a rigid beam extending between first and second wheels, and wherein the frame structure comprises a trailer frame including first and second side rails that extend in a longitudinal direction and which are laterally spaced apart from each other;
• a first air spring associated with said first arm;
• a second air spring associated with said second arm wherein said first and second air springs are configured to be positioned laterally outboard of the frame structure, wherein the trailer frame includes a sling lifting structure that extends in a lateral direction across the first and second side rails, and wherein said opposite end of said first arm is configured for connection to one end of the sling lifting structure and said opposite end of said second arm is configured for connection to an opposite end of the sling lifting structure;
• a first cantilevered bracket extending outboard of the frame structure on the one lateral side;
• and
• a second cantilevered bracket extending outboard of the frame structure on the opposite lateral side, and wherein said first air spring is mounted to said first cantilevered bracket and said second air spring is mounted to said second cantilevered bracket, and wherein said first cantilevered bracket is configured to be mounted to the first side rail to extend in a direction generally toward the first wheel and said second cantilevered bracket is configured to be mounted to the second side rail to extend in a direction generally toward the second wheel.

A suspension and frame assembly comprising:

• a first arm having one end configured for connection to a rigid axle structure and an opposite end configured for connection to one lateral side of a frame structure;
• a second arm having one end configured for connection to the rigid axle structure and an opposite end configured for connection to an opposite lateral side of the frame structure, wherein the rigid axle structure comprises a rigid beam extending between first and second wheels, and wherein the frame structure comprises a trailer frame including first and second side rails that extend in a longitudinal direction and which are laterally spaced apart from each other, and wherein said trailer frame includes at least one cross-rail extending in a lateral direction and which is connected to said first and second side rails, and wherein said opposite end of said first arm is configured for connection to one end of said cross-rail and said opposite end of said second arm is configured for connection to an opposite end of said cross-rail;
• a first air spring associated with said first arm;
• and
• a second air spring associated with said second arm wherein said first and second air springs are configured to be positioned laterally outboard of the frame structure;
• a first cantilevered bracket extending outboard of the frame structure on the one lateral side;
• and
• a second cantilevered bracket extending outboard of the frame structure on the opposite lateral side, and wherein said first air spring is mounted to said first cantilevered bracket and said second air spring is mounted to said second cantilevered bracket, and wherein said first cantilevered bracket is configured to be mounted to the first side rail to extend in a direction generally toward the first wheel and said second cantilevered bracket is configured to be mounted to the second side rail to extend in a direction generally toward the second wheel.

A suspension and frame assembly comprising:

• a first arm having one end configured for connection to a rigid axle structure and an opposite end configured for connection to one lateral side of a frame structure;
• a second arm having one end configured for connection to the rigid axle structure and an opposite end configured for connection to an opposite lateral side of the frame structure, wherein the rigid axle structure comprises a rigid beam extending between first and second wheels, and wherein the frame structure comprises a trailer frame including first and second side rails that extend in a longitudinal direction and which are laterally spaced apart from each other;
• a first air spring associated with said first arm;
• a second air spring associated with said second arm wherein said first and second air springs are configured to be positioned laterally outboard of the frame structure;
• a first cantilevered bracket extending outboard of the frame structure on the one lateral side;
• and
• a second cantilevered bracket extending outboard of the frame structure on the opposite lateral side, and wherein said first air spring is mounted to said first cantilevered bracket and said second air spring is mounted to said second cantilevered bracket, and wherein said first cantilevered bracket is configured to be mounted to the first side rail to extend in a direction generally toward the first wheel and said second cantilevered bracket is configured to be mounted to the second side rail to extend in a direction generally toward the second wheel, and wherein the first and second side rails have a lower surface and an upper surface spaced vertically above the lower surface, and wherein said first and second cantilevered brackets are configured to be mounted to the upper surface such that an upper surface of said first and second air springs is generally aligned with the upper surface of the first and second side rails.

An axle, frame, and suspension assembly comprising:

• a trailer frame comprising at least first and second side rails and a connector attached to the side rails and configured for connection to a towing vehicle;
• a rigid axle structure supporting the trailer frame, said rigid axle structure defining a lateral axis and configured to have a first axle end associated with a first wheel and a second axle end associated with a second wheel;
• a first trailing suspension arm having one end fixed to said rigid axle structure adjacent said first wheel and an opposite end adapted for connection to the first side rail at a first frame connection interface;
• a second trailing suspension arm having one end fixed to said rigid axle structure adjacent said second wheel and an opposite end adapted for connection to the second side rail at a second frame connection interface;
• a first air spring associated with said first trailing suspension arm;
• and
• a second air spring associated with said second trailing suspension arm, and wherein said first and second air springs are configured to be positioned laterally outboard of first and second side rails and longitudinally between the rigid axle structure and the first and second frame connection interfaces.

An axle, suspension, and frame assembly comprising:

• a rigid axle structure defining a lateral axis and configured to have a first axle end associated with a first wheel and a second axle end associated with a second wheel;
• a first trailing suspension arm having one end fixed to said rigid axle structure adjacent said first wheel and an opposite end adapted for connection to one lateral side of a frame structure;
• a second trailing suspension arm having one end fixed to said rigid axle structure adjacent said second wheel and an opposite end adapted for connection to an opposite lateral side of the frame structure, and wherein the frame structure comprises a trailer frame including first and second side rails that extend in a longitudinal direction and which are laterally spaced apart from each other;
• a first air spring associated with said first trailing suspension arm;
• a second air spring associated with said second trailing suspension arm wherein said first and second air springs are configured to be positioned laterally outboard of the frame structure;
• a first cantilevered bracket extending outboard of the frame structure on the one lateral side;
• and
• a second cantilevered bracket extending outboard of the frame structure on the opposite lateral side, and wherein said first air spring is mounted to said first cantilevered bracket and said second air spring is mounted to said second cantilevered bracket, and wherein said first cantilevered bracket is configured to be mounted to the first side rail and said second cantilevered bracket is configured to be mounted to the second side rail, and wherein said opposite end of said first trailing suspension arm is configured for connection directly to the first side rail and said opposite end of said second trailing suspension arm is configured for connection directly to the second side rail.

An axle, suspension, and frame assembly comprising:

• a rigid axle structure defining a lateral axis and configured to have a first axle end associated with a first wheel and a second axle end associated with a second wheel;
• a first trailing suspension arm having one end fixed to said rigid axle structure adjacent said first wheel and an opposite end adapted for connection to one lateral side of a frame structure;
• a second trailing suspension arm having one end fixed to said rigid axle structure adjacent said second wheel and an opposite end adapted for connection to an opposite lateral side of the frame structure, and wherein the frame structure comprises a trailer frame including first and second side rails that extend in the longitudinal direction and which are laterally spaced apart from each other;
• a first air spring associated with said first trailing suspension arm;
• a second air spring associated with said second trailing suspension arm, wherein said first and second air springs are configured to be positioned laterally outboard of the frame structure;
• a first cantilevered bracket extending outboard of the frame structure on the one lateral side;
• and
• a second cantilevered bracket extending outboard of the frame structure on the opposite lateral side, and wherein said first air spring is mounted to said first cantilevered bracket and said second air spring is mounted to said second cantilevered bracket, and wherein said first cantilevered bracket is configured to be mounted to the first side rail and said second cantilevered bracket is configured to be mounted to the second side rail, and wherein the trailer frame includes a sling lifting structure that extends in a lateral direction across the first and second frame rails, and wherein said opposite end of said first trailing suspension arm is configured for connection to one end of the sling lifting structure and said opposite end of said second trailing suspension arm is configured for connection to an opposite end of the sling lifting structure.

A trailer comprising:

• a trailer frame having at least first and second side rails extending generally in a longitudinal direction, a plurality of cross-rails extending generally in a lateral direction, and at least one sling lifting structure extending across said first and second side rails;
• at least one rigid axle assembly defining a lateral axis of rotation and configured to have a first axle end associated with a first wheel and a second axle end associated with a second wheel;
• a first trailing suspension arm having one end fixed to said rigid axle assembly adjacent said first wheel and an opposite end connected to said trailer frame at a first frame connection interface;
• a second trailing suspension arm having one end fixed to said rigid axle assembly adjacent said second wheel and an opposite end connected to said trailer frame at a second frame connection interface;
• a first air spring associated with said first trailing suspension arm;
• and
• a second air spring associated with said second trailing suspension arm, and wherein said first and second air springs are configured to be positioned laterally outboard of said first and second frame rails and longitudinally between the rigid axle structure and the first and second frame connection interfaces.

A trailer comprising:

• a trailer frame having at least first and second side rails extending generally in a longitudinal direction, a plurality of cross-rails extending generally in a lateral direction, and at least one sling lifting structure extending across said first and second side rails;
• at least one rigid axle assembly defining a lateral axis of rotation and configured to have a first axle end associated with a first wheel and a second axle end associated with a second wheel;
• a first trailing suspension arm having one end fixed to said rigid axle assembly adjacent said first wheel and an opposite end connected to said trailer frame;
• a second trailing suspension arm having one end fixed to said rigid axle assembly adjacent said second wheel and an opposite end connected to said trailer frame;
• a first air spring associated with said first trailing suspension arm;
• a second air spring associated with said second trailing suspension arm wherein said first and second air springs are configured to be positioned laterally outboard of said first and second frame rails;
• a first cantilevered bracket fixed to said first frame rail and extending outboard of said first frame rail in a direction toward said first wheel end;
• and
• a second cantilevered bracket fixed to said second frame rail and extending outboard of said second frame rail in a direction toward said second wheel end, and wherein said first air spring is mounted to said first cantilevered bracket and said second air spring is mounted to said second cantilevered bracket, and wherein said first and second side rails have a lower surface and an upper surface spaced vertically above said lower surface, and wherein said first and second cantilevered brackets are configured to be mounted to said upper surface such that an upper surface of said first and second air springs is generally aligned with said upper surface of said first and second side rails.