Patent ID: 6378878
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: B60G

Abstract:
A vehicle including a suspension for supporting the vehicle from side to side over an axle oriented orthogonally with respect to the sides, the vehicle comprising:symmetric spring support means for suspending the vehicle over the axle; a load intermittently supported on the symmetric spring support means which produces a predictable list to a first side of the vehicle when so supported; and a leveling system coupled to the vehicle suspension including; an auxiliary air spring positioned to provide support to a first of the sides of the vehicle from the axle; means for indicating spacing of the vehicle from the axle at first and second locations spaced along the axle; means responsive to the means for indicating for determining if (i) the spacing at the first location is compressed relative to a predetermined index, and the spacing at the second location is extended relative to the spacing at the first location indicating a list toward the first side of the vehicle, and (ii) the spacing at the first location is extended relative to the predetermined index, and the spacing at the second location is compressed relative to the spacing at the first location indicating a list toward the second side of the vehicle; and means responsive to determination of (i) for adding air to the auxiliary air spring and further responsive to determination of (ii) for releasing air from the auxiliary air spring.