Suspension assembly with air spring and self contained air lift spring

Claim 1

A suspension system system for a vehicle having a chassis and an axle, comprising a hanger assembly, means to connect the hanger assembly to the chassis, the hanger assembly having spaced lower plate portions with forward extensions thereon and a cross member connected between the forward extensions, a bushing assembly supported between the two plate portions, a torque beam assembly having a forward end journalled on the bushing assembly to allow the torque beam assembly to swing aabout the bushing assembly, means for connecting the torque beam assembly to the axle, an air spring connected between the torque beam assembly and the chassis, a generally vertical fixed wall supported by the hanger assembly above the lower plate portions, the fixed wall being wider than the span between the lower plate portions, two spaced plate sections above the lower plate portions, the space between the plate sections being greater than the space between the plate portions, the fixed wall being connected between the plate sections, means for connecting the plate sections to the respective plate portions, a movable wall supported by and extending upwardly from the torque beam assembly and mobable between the plate sections relative to the fixed wall when the torque beam assembly swings about the bushing assembly, and a lift air spring mounted on a generally horizontal axis between the fixed and movable walls in the area between the plate sections.