Dual air spring design for applications with narrow packaging envelope and high load requirements
A Dual Air Spring Design for Applications with NarrowPackaging Envelope and High Load Requirements provides two, small-diameter air springs that can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle frame to provide additional lift and suspension capabilities. The smaller size allows for the same lifting and suspension capabilities as a traditional, single air spring, but with easier and more compact installation, without impeding the factory bump-stops and easy integration with aftermarket lift blocks.
1 . A device for providing air suspense to a vehicle having a vehicle front and a vehicle rear, the device comprising:
a first air spring having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end;
a second air spring having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end;
an upper frame bracket configured to attach to a vehicle frame of the vehicle;
an upper spring bracket formed as a one-piece construction, the upper spring bracket attached to the upper frame bracket; and
a lower spring bracket formed as a one-piece construction, the lower spring bracket configured to attach to a leaf spring of the vehicle, the upper end of each of the first and second air springs attached to the upper spring bracket and the lower end of each of the first and second air springs attached to the lower spring bracket such that the first and second air springs are retained between the upper spring bracket and the lower spring bracket with the first and second air springs aligned on the lower spring bracket in a linear aspect, the first air spring positioned closer to the vehicle front and the second air spring positioned closer to the vehicle rear with the lower end of the first air spring located in front of a central axis defined by an axle of the vehicle and the lower end of the second air spring is located behind the central axis of the axle when the upper frame bracket is attached to the vehicle frame and the lower spring bracket is attached to the leaf spring.
2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the first air spring and the second air spring are attached to a top of the lower spring bracket and the upper spring bracket, the upper frame bracket attached to a top of the vehicle frame and to an outer side of the vehicle frame, the upper spring bracket attached to the upper frame bracket.
3 . A device for providing air suspense to a vehicle having a vehicle front and a vehicle rear, the device comprising:
a first air spring having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end;
a second air spring having an upper end and a lower end opposite the upper end;
an upper frame bracket configured to attach to a vehicle frame of the vehicle;
an upper spring bracket formed as a one-piece construction, the upper spring bracket attached to the upper frame bracket; and
a lower spring bracket formed as a one-piece construction, the upper spring bracket configured to attach to a leaf spring of the vehicle, the first and second air springs are retained between the upper spring bracket and the lower spring bracket, the lower end of the first air spring located in front of a central axis defined by an axle of the vehicle and the lower end of the second air spring located behind the central axis when the upper frame bracket is attached to the vehicle frame and the lower spring bracket is attached to the leaf spring.
4 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the first air spring and the second air spring are aligned on the lower spring bracket in a linear aspect such that the first air spring is closer to the vehicle front and the second air spring is closer to the vehicle rear.
5 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein the first air spring and the second air spring are attached to a top of the lower spring bracket and attached to a bottom of the upper spring bracket, the upper frame bracket attached to the top of the vehicle frame and to the outer side of the vehicle frame, the upper spring bracket attached to the upper frame bracket.
6 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein lower spring bracket is configured to attach to the leaf spring directly over the axle such that the lower end of the first air spring is attached to the lower spring bracket in front of the central axis of the axle and the lower end of the second air spring is attached to the lower spring bracket behind the central axis of the axle.
7 . A method of providing air suspense to a vehicle comprising:
attaching a lower spring bracket to a leaf spring of the vehicle, the lower spring bracket formed as a one-piece construction;
attaching an upper frame bracket to a vehicle frame of the vehicle; and
attaching an upper spring bracket to the upper frame bracket, the upper spring bracket formed as a one-piece construction, the upper spring bracket and the lower spring bracket retaining a first air spring and the second air spring therebetween with a lower end of the first air spring located in front of a central axis defined by an axle of the vehicle and a lower end of the second air spring located behind the central axis.
8 . The method according claim 7 , wherein attaching the lower spring bracket includes the first and second air springs being aligned on the lower spring bracket in a linear aspect such that the first air spring is closer to a vehicle front and a second air spring is closer to a vehicle rear.
9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein attaching the lower spring bracket includes lower spring bracket being located on an outer side of a vehicle frame.