Do you know the difference between a semi air suspension and a mechanical suspension?
Semi-trailers mainly have air suspension and mechanical suspension, which are two completely different routes. The following will elaborate on them from several aspects such as structure, principle, performance, cost and application scenarios.
Structural principle
Air suspension: It is mainly composed of air springs (airbags), height control valves, air tanks, air compressors, guiding mechanisms (thrust rods/pull rods), and shock absorbers. The air spring is filled with compressed air, which provides support and buffering by taking advantage of the compressibility of the gas.
Mechanical suspension: It is mainly composed of leaf springs (also known as blade springs) formed by superimposing multiple (or single) arc-shaped steel plates. When a vehicle is in motion, the impact on the road surface causes the leaf spring to bend and deform (flex). The vibration energy is absorbed and the impact is buffered by the elasticity of the steel plate itself and the friction between the plates.
Performance
Air suspension：Air springs have relatively low hardness, which can more effectively alleviate road bumps, provide a better riding experience, and ensure the safe arrival of goods, but their load-bearing capacity is relatively weak.
Mechanical suspension：It is relatively hard. The shock absorption performance mainly relies on the deflection of the leaf spring and the friction between the plates. The shock absorption effect is not as good as that of air suspension, and its load-bearing capacity is relatively larger than that of air suspension.
Maintenance cost
Air suspension: It has a more complex structure, more accessories, and requires more professional knowledge for maintenance, resulting in higher costs. However, its protective effect on tires can save considerable tire replacement expenses.
Mechanical suspension: Its structure is relatively simple, maintenance is relatively easy, and the cost is low.
Application scenarios
Air suspension: Applied in high-end logistics, precision instruments, fragile goods, dangerous goods transportation, etc.
Mechanical suspension: It is applied to the transportation of mid-to-low-end general cargo and goods with low requirements for shock absorption, etc.
