Symmetrically dynamic equalized volume and pressure air management system
First Claim
1. A method for adjusting air pressure of an air management system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- adjusting independently the air pressure of a first pneumatic circuit by a first leveling valve such that the first leveling valve is either supplying air from 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 a 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 the air management system comprises;
one or more supply air tanks in fluid communication with the first and second pneumatic circuits;
the first pneumatic circuit having the first leveling valve configured to adjust independently the height of at least one air spring on a first side of the vehicle;
the second pneumatic circuit having the second leveling valve configured to adjust independently the height of at least one air spring on a second side of the vehicle; and
a cross-flow line connecting the first pneumatic circuit with the second pneumatic circuit;
wherein each of the first leveling valve and the second leveling valve comprises a plurality of ports including a supply port, an exhaust port, one or more spring ports, and a cross-flow port, andwherein the first and second leveling valves are configured to establish pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits when the first leveling valve is not independently adjusting the height of the first side of the vehicle and the second leveling valve is not independently adjusting the height of the second side of the vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air management system for a vehicle having a first pneumatic circuit and a second pneumatic circuit, in which the first and second pneumatic circuits are pneumatically connected in a neutral position via a cross-flow mechanism. The first pneumatic circuit includes a first leveling valve configured to adjust independently the height of a first side of the vehicle. The second pneumatic circuit includes a second leveling valve configured to adjust independently the height of a second side of the vehicle. The first and second leveling valves are configured to establish pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits when the first leveling valve is not independently adjusting the height of the first side of the vehicle and the second leveling valve is not independently adjusting the height of the second side of the vehicle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for adjusting air pressure of an air management system of a vehicle, the method comprising:
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adjusting independently the air pressure of a first pneumatic circuit by a first leveling valve such that the first leveling valve is either supplying air from 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 a 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, and establishing 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 the air management system comprises; one or more supply air tanks in fluid communication with the first and second pneumatic circuits; the first pneumatic circuit having the first leveling valve configured to adjust independently the height of at least one air spring on a first side of the vehicle; the second pneumatic circuit having the second leveling valve configured to adjust independently the height of at least one air spring on a second side of the vehicle; and a cross-flow line connecting the first pneumatic circuit with the second pneumatic circuit; wherein each of the first leveling valve and the second leveling valve comprises a plurality of ports including a supply port, an exhaust port, one or more spring ports, and a cross-flow port, and wherein the first and second leveling valves are configured to establish pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits when the first leveling valve is not independently adjusting the height of the first side of the vehicle and the second leveling valve is not independently adjusting the height of the second side of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An air management system for a vehicle, the air management system comprising:
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one or more supply air tanks in fluid communication with a first pneumatic circuit and a second pneumatic circuit; a compressor operatively connected to the one or more supply air tanks; the first pneumatic circuit having a first leveling valve configured to adjust independently the height of at least one air spring on a first side of the vehicle; the second pneumatic circuit having a second leveling valve configured to adjust independently the height of at least one air spring on a second side of the vehicle; and a cross-flow line connecting the first pneumatic circuit with the second pneumatic circuit; wherein each of the first leveling valve and the second leveling valve comprises a plurality of ports including a supply port, an exhaust port, one or more spring ports, and a cross-flow port, and wherein the first and second leveling valves are configured to establish pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits when the first leveling valve is not independently adjusting the height of the first side of the vehicle and the second leveling valve is not independently adjusting the height of the second side of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification