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Symmetrically dynamic equalized volume and pressure air management system

  • US 10,093,145 B1
  • Filed: 06/15/2018
  • Issued: 10/09/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2017
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for adjusting air pressure of an air management system of a vehicle comprising one or more air supply tanks, a first pneumatic circuit disposed on a first side of the vehicle, and a second pneumatic circuit disposed on a second side of the vehicle, the method comprising:

  • adjusting independently the air pressure of the first pneumatic circuit by a first leveling valve such that the first leveling valve is either supplying air from the one or more air supply tanks to the first pneumatic circuit or removing air from the first pneumatic circuit to the atmosphere,adjusting independently the air pressure of the second pneumatic circuit by a second leveling valve such that the second leveling valve is either supplying air from the one or more air supply tanks to the second pneumatic circuit or removing air from the second pneumatic circuit to the atmosphere, andestablishing pneumatic communication between the first pneumatic circuit and the second pneumatic circuit only when both the first leveling valve and the second leveling valve are set in a neutral mode such that each leveling valve is neither supplying air from the one or more air supply tanks or removing air into the atmosphere, wherein each of the first leveling valve and the second leveling valve comprises;

    an upper housing mounted on a lower housing to form a valve body, wherein the valve body defines a chamber extending between the upper housing and the lower housing;

    the lower housing comprising a plurality of ports communicating with the chamber, wherein the plurality of ports include a supply port, an exhaust port, one or more spring ports, and a cross-flow port;

    a control arm having a first end attached to a shaft extending through an upper surface of the upper housing, wherein the control arm is configured to rotate about the valve body in response to extension or compression of the vehicle suspension;

    a rotary disk positioned in the chamber of the valve body and connected to the control arm by the shaft, wherein the rotary disk is configured to rotate about the supporting element within the chamber of the valve body; and

    wherein the rotary disk is configured to establish communication between the one or more spring ports and the cross-flow port while neither establishing communication between the one or more spring ports and the supply port nor the one or more spring ports and the exhaust port.

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