Staggered low profile suspension

Abstract

A wheel suspension system including a wheel support pivotally attached to a vehicle frame at two, laterally-spaced locations, the wheel support being pivotal between an uppermost and a lowermost position. The wheel support is biased to a position intermediate of the uppermost and lowermost positions by a spring. The spring urges apart a spring support of the wheel support from the vehicle frame, the spring support being below the rotational axis of the wheel. The pivotal axes of the pivotal attachments are located below the rotational axis of the wheel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for a vehicle frame comprising: 
 a wheel;    a wheel support pivotally attached to the vehicle frame, said wheel support being pivotable between a first position and a second position, said wheel support rotatably supporting said wheel about a rotational axis, said wheel support including an air spring support; and    an air spring biasing said wheel support to a position between the first and second positions, said air spring urging said wheel support apart from the vehicle frame, said wheel support receiving said air spring in said air spring support, said air spring being located below the rotational axis.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of    claim 1    wherein said wheel support is pivotable about a pivot axis, and the pivot axis is located below the rotational axis.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of    claim 1    wherein said wheel support is pivotable about a pivot axis, and the pivot axis is parallel to the rotational axis.  
     
     
         4 . A wheel suspension for a vehicle frame comprising: 
 a wheel having a camber angle; and    a wheel support coupled to the frame by a first pivotal attachment and a second pivotal attachment and pivotable about a pivot axis, said wheel support rotatably supporting said wheel for rotation about a rotational axis;    wherein said first pivotal attachment is capable of being spaced apart from said wheel support so as to adjust the camber angle of said wheel, the rotational axis being located above the pivot axis.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of    claim 4    which further comprises: 
 a shim received between said first pivotal attachment and said wheel support; and  
 a fastener for releaseably coupling said first pivotal attachment to the frame;  
 wherein said shim spaces apart said first pivotal attachment from said wheel support so as to adjust the camber angle.  
 
     
     
         6 . A wheel suspension for a vehicle frame comprising: 
 a wheel having a toe-in angle; and    a wheel support coupled to the frame by a first pivotal attachment and a second pivotal attachment and pivotable about a pivot axis, said wheel support rotatably supporting said wheel for rotation about a rotational axis;    wherein said first pivotal attachment is capable of being spaced apart from said wheel support or from the frame so as to adjust the toe-in angle of said wheel, the rotational axis being located above the pivot axis.    
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of    claim 6    wherein the vehicle frame has a first spring support disposed laterally inward of said wheel, said wheel support has a second spring support below the rotational axis, and further comprising a spring urging the first spring support apart from the second spring support.  
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising: 
 a vehicle frame having a first spring support and a cross member;    a wheel;    a wheel support pivotally attached to the cross member, said wheel support being pivotable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position about a pivot axis, said wheel support rotatably supporting said wheel for rotation about a rotational axis, said wheel support having a second spring support, said cross member being lower than the rotational axis; and    a spring positioned between the first spring support and the second spring support, said spring biasing said wheel support to a position between the uppermost and lowermost positions.    
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of    claim 8    wherein the second spring support is below the rotational axis.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of    claim 9    wherein the first spring support is below the rotational axis.  
     
     
         11 . A wheel suspension system for a vehicle comprising: 
 a frame with a first spring support;    a wheel;    a wheel support pivotally attached to said frame for pivoting about a pivot axis, said wheel support having a second spring support, the second spring support being located rearward of the pivot axis;    means for rotatably supporting said wheel on said wheel support, said wheel being rotatable about a rotational axis; and    a spring having an end and being positioned between the first spring support and the second spring support and urging the first spring support apart from the second spring support, the second spring support being located below the rotational axis and laterally inward from said wheel, the end of said spring being between the second spring support and the rotational axis.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of    claim 11    wherein the first spring support is located generally at or below the rotational axis.  
     
     
         13 . A wheel suspension system for a vehicle comprising: 
 a frame having a transverse structure;    a wheel;    a wheel support coupled to the transverse structure by first and second pivotal attachments and pivotable between an uppermost position and a lowermost position, said wheel support rotatably supporting said wheel for rotation about a rotational axis, said first and second pivotal attachments being located forward of said rotational axis; and    a spring biasing said wheel support to a position between the uppermost and lowermost positions, said spring being coupled to said wheel support below the rotational axis, said spring being coupled to the transverse structure, the transverse structure defining a plane that is at or below the rotational axis.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of    claim 13    wherein said wheel support couples to said spring laterally inward from said wheel.  
     
     
         15 . A suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: 
 a frame;    a wheel;    a wheel support pivotally attached to said frame and pivotal about a pivot axis, said wheel support rotatably supporting said wheel about a rotational axis, the pivot axis being located below the rotational axis;    an air spring positioned between said frame and said wheel support;    a source of compressed air; and    a valve operably coupled to said source and said air spring and capable of placing said air spring in fluid communication with said source or in fluid communication with ambient air;    wherein said valve places said air spring in fluid communication with said source or with ambient air in response to pivoting of said wheel support.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of    claim 15    wherein said wheel is rotatable about a rotational axis, and said air spring is located below the rotational axis.  
     
     
         17 . A wheel suspension system for a vehicle comprising: 
 a wheel rotatable about a rotational axis;    a frame with a transverse structure, the transverse structure being below the rotational axis;    a wheel support pivotally attached to the transverse structure and pivotable about a pivot axis between an uppermost position and a lowermost position, said wheel support rotatably supporting said wheel, the pivot axis being below the rotational axis;    a spring coupled to said frame and coupled to said wheel support for biasing said wheel support to a position intermediate of the uppermost and lowermost positions; and    a shock absorber for dampening the motion of said wheel support, said shock absorber having two ends, one of the ends of said shock absorber being coupled to the transverse structure, said shock absorber being located substantially below the rotational axis.    
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of    claim 17    which further comprises a lever arm pivotally attached to said frame, said lever arm having two ends, one end of said lever arm being coupled to said wheel support, the other end of said lever arm being coupled to the other end of said shock absorber.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of    claim 17    wherein said shock absorber has an axis about which said shock absorber is actuated, and the axis is generally horizontal.  
     
     
         20 . A wheel suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: 
 a trailer frame with two opposite sides, said trailer frame having a longitudinal axis;    a first wheel supporting said trailer frame from a roadway, said first wheel having a first rotational axis, said first wheel being located on a first side of said trailer frame, said first wheel being rotatably supported about said first rotational axis by a first wheel support, said first wheel support being pivotally attached to said trailer frame below said first rotational axis;    a second wheel supporting said trailer frame from the roadway, said second wheel having a second rotational axis, said second wheel being located on the first side of said trailer frame and spaced longitudinally aft of said first wheel, said second wheel being rotatably supported about said second rotational axis by a second wheel support, said second wheel support being pivotally attached to said trailer frame below said second rotational axis; and    a third wheel supporting said trailer frame from the roadway, said third wheel having a third rotational axis, said third wheel being located on a second side of said trailer frame, said third wheel being rotatably supported about said third rotational axis by a third wheel support, said third wheel support being pivotally attached to said trailer frame below said third rotational axis;    wherein said third rotational axis is spaced longitudinally apart from said first rotational axis and said second rotational axis.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of    claim 20   , wherein said third axis is spaced longitudinally aft of said first axis and longitudinally forward of said second axis.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of    claim 20    wherein said first wheel support includes an air spring support, and which further comprises a first air spring being received within said air spring support, said first air spring being located below the first rotational axis.  
     
     
         23 . A wheel suspension system for a vehicle, comprising: 
 a trailer frame with two opposite sides, said trailer frame having a longitudinal axis;    a first wheel supporting said trailer frame from a roadway, said first wheel being located on a first side of said trailer frame, said first wheel being rotatably supported about a first rotational axis of a first wheel support, said first wheel support being pivotally attached to said trailer frame below said first rotational axis; and    a second wheel supporting said trailer frame from the roadway, said second wheel being located on the second side of said trailer frame and spaced longitudinally aft of said first wheel, said second wheel being rotatably supported about a second rotational axis of a second wheel support, said second wheel support being pivotally attached to said trailer frame below said second rotational axis;    wherein said first rotational axis is not coincident with the rotational axis of any other wheel supporting said trailer frame, and said second rotational axis is not coincident with the rotational axis of any other wheel supporting said trailer frame.    
     
     
         24 . A wheel suspension system for a vehicle comprising: 
 a frame with a first portion and a second portion;    a first wheel;    a second wheel;    a first wheel support pivotally attached to said frame for pivoting about a first pivot axis, said first wheel support rotatably supporting said first wheel about a first rotational axis, said first wheel support having a first spring support, said first spring support being located rearward of the first pivot axis;    a second wheel support pivotally attached to said frame for pivoting about a second pivot axis, said second wheel support rotatably supporting said second wheel about a second rotational axis, said second wheel support having a second spring support, said second spring support being located forward of the second pivot axis;    a first spring for urging said first wheel support apart from a first portion of said frame, said first spring having an end coupled to the first portion below the rotational axis; and    a second spring for urging said second wheel support apart from a second portion of said frame, said second spring having an end coupled to the second portion below the rotational axis.    
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of    claim 24    wherein said frame has two, generally opposed sides and said first wheel is on one side of said frame and said second wheel is on the other side of said frame.