NIVEAUREGULIERENDE VORRICHTUNG FUER FAHRZEUGE

A leveling device is attached to a vehicle to assist in maintaining a body assembly at its preferred height even when added weight is installed in the body assembly of the vehicle. The leveling device includes a housing which is connected to either the body assembly or a wheel mounting assembly and a piston which is movably supported in the housing extends therefrom to connect with the other of the body assembly and the wheel mounting assembly. The piston cooperates with the housing to substantially define a pair of chambers and a passageway within the piston connects the chambers with each other. A pressure source, such as a vacuum or low pressure air pump, is in communication with the passageway and a first valve normally closes communication between the pair of chambers and the pressure source. A control member carries a second valve and cooperates with the first valve, when the body assembly is moved toward the wheel mounting assembly beyond a normal travel distance, in order to open one of the chambers to the pressure source. As a result a pressure differential is established across the piston so as to oppose movement of the body assembly toward the wheel mounting assembly. The control member is actuated automatically when the body assembly is moved toward the wheel mounting assembly to a position distance between the two assemblies.