A trailer has a three-section flat bed in which the front and rear sections fold onto the middle section. The trailer has an airbag suspension system and one wheel on each side. When the airbags are deflated, the entire flat bed forms a ramp for loading and unloading. When the airbags are deflated and the flat bed is folded, the trailer can be stored vertically while resting on its wheels.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to perform a tank turn. An example apparatus includes programmable circuitry to determine that a first brake associated with a first wheel is engaged and a second brake associated with a second wheel is engaged, the first wheel located on an end of a first axle of a vehicle, the second wheel located on an end of a second axle of the vehicle, the end of the first axle opposite to the end of the second axle, cause a first suspension to decrease a first suspension load of the first wheel, cause a second suspension to decrease a second suspension load of the second wheel, cause a first motor to drive the first axle in a first direction, and cause a second motor to drive the second axle in a second direction, the second direction different from the first direction.

A bellows accumulator for a vehicle suspension system and related methods of operating the accumulator include inserting a bellows assembly within an outer shell. The bellows assembly includes an annular bellows wall defining a gas chamber of variable volume. An accumulation chamber is provided between the outer shell and the bellows assembly. The method includes operating a valve in fluid communication with the accumulation chamber in an open condition and a closed condition, filling the accumulation chamber with fluid prior to filling the gas chamber with pressurized gas, providing a pressure differential between the pressurized gas chamber and the accumulation chamber to extend the annular bellows wall and operate the valve in the closed condition. The method includes protecting the bellows wall during pre-charging of the pressurized gas chamber as well as during vehicle suspension operation by maintaining fluid between the outer shell and the annular bellows wall.

Provided is a compressor capable of achieving a reduction in overall size and an improvement in vehicle mountability by using a linear motor. The compressor 1 comprises a linear motor 2 having a reciprocating mover 6, a compression unit 9 having a piston 11 connected to the mover 6 at one end side of the linear motor 2 so as to reciprocate and a cylinder 10 slidably accommodating the piston 11 to form a compression chamber 10B, and an air dryer 17 connected to a cylinder head 14 of the compression chamber 10B of the compression unit 9 and filled therein with a desiccant 17C. The air dryer 17 is disposed along the axis in the movement direction of the mover 6 the piston 11.

Suspension systems include a gas spring and gas damper assembly that is adapted for operation in first and second conditions. In the first condition, the assembly provides spring and damping functionality across a first range of travel. In the second condition, the assembly provides actuator functionality with a second range of travel that is substantially less than the first range of travel. A pressurized gas system is in fluid communication with the assembly. A control system is in communication with the assembly and the pressurized gas system. The control system is operative to actuate one or more control devices to transfer pressurized gas and thereby transition the assembly from between the first and second conditions. Methods of operating such as suspension system are also included.

A communication and power transmission module includes a communication connection portion adapted for communicative coupling with an associated controller. A wireless power and communication portion is adapted for communicative coupling with an associated sensing device operatively associated with an associated suspension component and/or an associated wheel. The wireless power and communication portion is operable to communicate wireless data and/or signals to and/or from the associated sensing device and operable to wirelessly transmit power to the associated sensing device. Gas spring assemblies and vehicles including one or more of such communication and power transmission modules are also included.

The invention relates to an air spring module having an air spring and a shock absorber for the suspension and damping of vibrations of a motor vehicle chassis. The air spring has a rolling bellows which is fastened to an air spring cover and a rolling piston. The rolling bellows at least partially delimits a first working space filled with compressed air. At least two working spaces are provided in the rolling piston, which are separated from one another by a partition and connectable to the first working space via switchable valves arranged in the rolling piston. In order to achieve simple production and installation as well as a low overall height, the rolling piston has at least two working spaces which are arranged adjacent to one another.

An air spring system comprising at least one air spring with at least one compressed air chamber with a variable volume. The at least one air spring is connected to a compressor unit as a compressed air supply device with a compressed air storage device. A compressed air space of at least one of the air spring or the compressed air storage device is provided with an adsorptive material.

A spring-damper assembly for a suspension corner employed in a vehicle having a vehicle body and a road wheel includes a fluid spring configured to suspend the vehicle body relative to the road wheel. The spring-damper assembly also includes a damper configured to attenuate compression and rebound oscillations of the fluid spring. The spring-damper assembly additionally includes a spring-seat housing configured to retain the fluid spring and establish a position of the fluid spring relative to the damper. The spring-seat housing includes an inner surface defining a contour configured to guide the fluid spring upon compression thereof around the damper and define a non-linear stiffness of the fluid spring. A vehicle having such a spring-damper assembly is also provided.

Gas spring and gas damper assemblies include a gas spring and a gas damper. The gas spring includes a flexible spring member with opposing end members secured thereto and at least partially defining a spring chamber. An elongated damping passage having a spiral configuration extends through one of the end members. The gas damper includes a damper housing that at least partially defines a damping chamber in fluid communication with the spring chamber through the elongated damping passage. A damper piston assembly is received within the damping chamber and secured to the other of the end members. Suspension systems and methods are also included.