Symmetrically dynamic equalized volume and pressure air management system
First Claim
1. An air management system for leveling a vehicle operated under dynamic driving conditions, the air management system comprising:
- a supply tank;
a compressor operatively connected to the supply air tank;
a system controller integrated with the supply tank;
a first pneumatic circuit comprising one or more air springs disposed on a first side of the vehicle and one or more air lines pneumatically connecting the one or more air springs with the system controller;
a second pneumatic circuit comprising one or more air springs disposed on a second side of the vehicle and one or more air lines pneumatically connecting the one or more air springs with the system controller; and
wherein the system controller is configured to adjust independently air pressure of the one or more air springs of the first pneumatic circuit and adjust independently air pressure of the one or more air springs of the second pneumatic circuit without establishing pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits;
wherein the system controller is configured to establish pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits when the system controller is not adjusting independently the air pressure of the one or more air springs of the first pneumatic circuit and not adjusting independently the air pressure of the one or more air springs of the second pneumatic circuit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air management system for a vehicle having a supply tank, a system controller integrated with the supply tank, a first pneumatic circuit pneumatically connected to the system controller, and a second pneumatic circuit pneumatically connected to the system controller. The system controller adjusts independently air pressure of the first pneumatic circuit and the second pneumatic circuit without establishing pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits. The system controller establishes pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits when the system controller is not adjusting independently the air pressure of the first pneumatic circuit and the second pneumatic circuit.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An air management system for leveling a vehicle operated under dynamic driving conditions, the air management system comprising:
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a supply tank; a compressor operatively connected to the supply air tank; a system controller integrated with the supply tank; a first pneumatic circuit comprising one or more air springs disposed on a first side of the vehicle and one or more air lines pneumatically connecting the one or more air springs with the system controller; a second pneumatic circuit comprising one or more air springs disposed on a second side of the vehicle and one or more air lines pneumatically connecting the one or more air springs with the system controller; and wherein the system controller is configured to adjust independently air pressure of the one or more air springs of the first pneumatic circuit and adjust independently air pressure of the one or more air springs of the second pneumatic circuit without establishing pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits; wherein the system controller is configured to establish pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits when the system controller is not adjusting independently the air pressure of the one or more air springs of the first pneumatic circuit and not adjusting independently the air pressure of the one or more air springs of the second pneumatic circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for adjusting air pressure of an air management system of a vehicle operated under dynamic driving conditions comprising a supply tank, 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:
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adjusting independently, by a system controller, the air pressure of the first pneumatic circuit such that the system controller is either supplying air from the supply tank to the first pneumatic circuit or removing air from the first pneumatic circuit to the atmosphere; adjusting independently, by the system controller, the air pressure of the second pneumatic circuit such that the system controller is either supplying air from the supply tank to the second pneumatic circuit or removing air from the second pneumatic circuit to the atmosphere; and establishing, by the system controller, pneumatic communication between the first pneumatic circuit and the second pneumatic circuit only when the system controller is neither supplying air from the supply tank nor removing air to the atmosphere; wherein the system controller comprises a housing integrated with the supply tank, and the housing comprises an internal cross-flow passage pneumatically connecting the first and second pneumatic circuits. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system controller for an air management system comprising a supply tank, a first pneumatic circuit disposed on a first side of a vehicle, and a second pneumatic circuit disposed on a second side of a vehicle, the system controller comprising:
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a housing integrated with the supply tank, wherein the housing comprises at least one tank port pneumatically connected to the supply tank, a first port pneumatically connected to the first pneumatic circuit, a second port pneumatically connected to the second pneumatic circuit, and an exhaust port pneumatically connected to the atmosphere; and a set of valves configured to selectively supply air from the air tank to at least one of the first and second pneumatic circuits, remove air from at least one of the first and second pneumatic circuits to the atmosphere, and establish pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits; wherein the system controller is configured to adjust independently air pressure of the first pneumatic circuit and adjust independently air pressure of the second pneumatic circuit without establishing pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits; wherein the system controller is configured to establish pneumatic communication between the first and second pneumatic circuits when the system controller is not adjusting independently the air pressure of the first pneumatic circuit and not adjusting independently the air pressure of the second pneumatic circuit. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification