Patent ID: 7938416
Filing Date: 2011-05-10
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
1. An air suspension kit for retrofitting a hub mounted light duty single fixed axle trailer having a leaf spring suspension to one having an air suspension, the kit comprising: first and second hanger brackets for attachment to respective first and second side rails of the trailer; first and second support arms for connection to the respective first and second hanger brackets, each of the support arms having a hanger bracket mount point at one end, an air bladder mounting surface at an opposing end of the arm, and a transverse recess located on one of a top and bottom surface of said arm and which is positioned between said ends for receiving said axle; first and second axle collars dimensioned for engagement with both the axle and recesses in each of the first and second support arms and which are each assembled from two identical half shell collar sections that along at least one longitudinal edge thereof include a centrally located edge recess thereby permitting adjacent half shell collar sections through said recess to be simultaneously welded together and to said axle, and welded separately to said support arms; first and second inflatable air bladders for connection to the air bladder mounting surface of the first and second support arms respectively and for connection to the first and second side rails respectively, each air bladder for increasing and decreasing the distance between the respective side rail and support arm in accordance with the quantity of air stored in the bladder; and an inflation control system for controlling air flow into and out of the first and second air bladders to maintain alignment of the side rails and support arms in a predetermined configuration.