Modular dynamically adjustable suspension system for trailers
OwnerF. Brent Davisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments disclosed herein provide a modular apparatus and system for automatically raising and lowering the deck height of a towed trailer. The embodiment is comprised of a trailer frame to which a drop axle is attached via a dynamic height adjustable means, such as electrically operated air springs. The drop axle may have two or more wheels mounted to opposite ends of the drop axle and attached to the trailer frame via the dynamic height adjustable means. Thus allowing the dynamic height adjustable means to raise and lower the trailer frame above and below the centerline of the wheels, which aids loading and unloading of cargo onto the trailer.
Claims18
A modular apparatus for raising and lowering the deck height of
- a trailer comprising:
- a trailer frame;
- two or more wheels each mounted to opposite ends of a drop axle via an air spring mounted between said trailer frame and said wheels,
- said air springs are connected via one or more compressed air lines to an air compressor connected to an air reservoir tank wherein when said air compressor pulls air to and from said air springs via the compressed air lines into and from the reservoir tank, such that the air springs collapse when the air is drawn out, thereby lowering said trailer frame below the center line of said wheels and the air spring inflate when filled, thereby raising said trailer frame above said centerline of said wheels,
- wherein said drop axle is further mounted to said trailer frame at each wheel via a squat bar, wherein one end of said squat bar is mounted to said drop axle at each wheel, and an opposite end of said squat bar is adjustably mounted to said trailer frame, and
- wherein each squat bar is further adjustably mounted via a shock absorber to dynamic height adjustable means.
A system for raising and lowering the deck height of a trailer comprising:
- a trailer frame;
- and
- two or more wheels each mounted to opposite ends of a drop axle via a dynamic height adjustable means mounted between said trailer frame and said wheels;
- and such that said dynamic height adjustable means raises and lowers said trailer frame above and below the center line of said wheels to aid loading cargo onto said trailer frame,
- wherein said dynamic height adjustable means comprises air springs coupled to an electrically operable air compressor and an air reservoir tank such that said air compressor pulls air to and from said air springs via compressed air lines into and from the reservoir tank, such that the air springs collapse when the air is drawn out, thereby lowering said trailer frame below the center line of said wheels and the air spring inflate when filled, thereby raising said trailer frame above said center line of said wheels,
- wherein said drop axle is further mounted to said trailer frame at each wheel via a squat bar, wherein one end of said squat bar is mounted to said drop axle at each wheel, and an opposite end of said squat bar is adjustably mounted to said trailer frame, and
- wherein one or more pan-hard bars are connected on one side of said trailer frame and traverses the width of said trailer frame to connect said pan-hard bar to said squat bar mounted on an opposite side of said trailer frame using an adjustable attachment means, wherein said pan-hard bar serves to locate and center the drop axle.
A system for raising and lowering the deck height of a trailer comprising:
- a trailer frame;
- and
- two or more wheels each mounted to opposite ends of a drop axle via a dynamic height adjustable means mounted between said trailer frame and said wheels;
- and such that said dynamic height adjustable means raises and lowers said trailer frame above and below the center line of said wheels to aid loading cargo onto said trailer frame,
- wherein said drop axle is further mounted to said trailer frame at each wheel via a squat bar, wherein one end of said squat bars is mounted to said drop axle at each wheel, and an opposite end of said squat bar is adjustably mounted to said trailer frame, and
- wherein one or more pan-hard bars are connected on one side of said trailer frame and traverses the width of said trailer frame to connect said pan-hard bar to said squat bar mounted on an opposite side of said trailer frame using an adjustable attachment means, wherein said pan-hard bar serves to locate and center the drop axle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.