Patent ID: 8870203
Filing Date: 2014-10-28
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
1. An air ride suspension kit formed as a replaceable unit for converting a motor vehicle having a solid rear axle supported by a leaf spring suspension assembly to one supported by an air ride suspension assembly, said kit comprising: a) first and second upper support arms positioned above the axle, each support arm configured for removable attachment in a fixed non-adjustable predetermined location on one of a left side and a right side of a chassis of the motor vehicle; b) connectors at a front end and a rear end of each said first and second upper support arm, said connectors being configured to receive pre-existing leaf spring mounting posts and attach each said first and second upper support arm to the leaf spring mounting posts and disposed on the respective one of the left side and the right side of the chassis of said motor vehicle when leaf spring sets have been detached and removed from the leaf spring attachment sites and wherein the first and second leaf spring attachment sites are disposed on either side of one end of the axle; c) first and second lower trailing arms positioned above the axle, each of said trailing arms having a leading and trailing end and an intermediate section, said leading end of each of said first and second lower trailing arms being adjacent to and directly, pivotally connected to a corresponding one of said first and second upper support arms proximate each of their said front ends, the first and second leaf spring attachment sites disposed separately from said first and second lower trailing arms; d) pivot connection means for respectively interconnecting the intermediate section of each of said first and second lower trailing arms to the axle when positioned above the axle and for permitting the axle to pivot at right angles to each of said first and second trailing arms; e) first and second inflatable air bladders each including a first end and a second end, said first end of said first inflatable air bladder being connected to said first upper support arm and said second end of said first inflatable air bladder being connected to said first lower trailing arm, said first end of said second inflatable air bladder being connected to said second upper support arm and said second end of said second inflatable air bladder being connected to said second lower trailing arm thereby respectively interconnecting said first and second upper support arms to said first and second lower trailing arms at a location rearwardly of said pivot connection means whereby each of said first and second inflatable air bladders functions to increase and decrease the spacing between the respective upper support arms and lower trailing arms in accordance with the quantity of air stored in said bladders; and f) an inflation control system for controlling air flow into and out of the first and second air bladders to maintain said spacing within a predetermined range.