Motor vehicle priority control system for operating leveling and washing systems from a single source of compressed air

• US 4,323,266 A
• Filed: 02/13/1981
• Issued: 04/06/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Savage, Jack W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weaver, Ross
• Application Number:
  US06/234,368
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 280/6 H, 280/DIG. 1, 280/707, 15/250 A, 239/284 R, 239/284 A
• US Class Current: 280/6.157
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0195 characterised by the regulation being combined with other vehicle control systems conjoint control of vehicle sub-units including control of suspension systems B60W10/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/603 the operation of at least a part of the cleaning means being controlled by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 280/01 Load responsive, leveling of vehicle

Abstract

A control unit for interfacing a single motor-driven air compressor with both an automatic vehicle leveling control system and a headlamp washer control system. The washer and leveling system commands are serviced according to a predetermined priority schedule so that interaction between the two systems is avoided.

Claims

1. In a motor vehicle, a controller for operating a pressurized washer system and a leveling system from a single electrically energizable air compressor wherein compressed air in said leveling system is adapted to be exhausted to atmospheric pressure through the air intake of said compressor, said controller comprising:

supply lines connecting said compressor to said leveling system and to said washer system;

electrically energizable blocker valve means in the supply line between said compressor and said leveling system effective to control the connection of said compressor to said leveling system;

first control means responsive to the level of the sprung mass of said motor vehicle for generating up or down commands for said leveling system, said leveling system being operative at times to energize said compressor and open said blocker valve means in response to an up command to raise the level of said vehicle, and to deenergize said compressor and open said blocker valve means in response to a down command to lower the level of said vehicle by exhausting air through the air intake of said compressor;

second control means selectively actuable to generate a wash command for said washer system, said washer system being operative at times to energize said compressor in response to a wash command for dispensing a cleansing solution onto a motor vehicle surface; and

means for controlling the energization of said blocker valve means and said compressor as a function of the commands generated by said first and second control means in a manner to service said commands according to a predetermined priority wherein either said blocker valve means or said compressor is disabled in response to a command that is given priority so that said leveling system and said washer system will not interact when a down command and a wash command are generated concurrently.

2. In a motor vehicle, a controller for operating a pressurized washer system and a leveling system from a single electrically energizable air compressor wherein compressed air in said leveling system is adapted to be exhausted to atmospheric pressure through the air intake of said compressor, said controller comprising:

supply lines connecting said compressor to said leveling system and to said washer system;

electrically energizable blocker valve means in the supply line between said compressor and said leveling system effective to control the connection of said compressor to said leveling system;

first control means responsive to the level of the sprung mass of said motor vehicle for generating up or down commands for said leveling system, said leveling system being operative at times to energize said compressor and open said blocker valve means in response to an up command to raise the level of said vehicle, and to deenergize said compressor and open said blocker valve means in response to a down command to lower the level of said vehicle by exhausting air through the air intake of said compressor;

second control means selectively actuable to generate a wash command for said washer system, said washer system being operative at times to energize said compressor in response to a wash command for dispensing a cleansing solution onto a motor vehicle surface; and

means effective in response to the generation of a wash command for inhibiting the energization of said blocker valve means, so that said washer system is given service priority over said leveling system to avoid interference therebetween.

3. In a motor vehicle, a controller for operating a pressurized washer system and a leveling system from a single electrically energizable air compressor wherein compressed air in said leveling system is adapted to be exhausted to atmospheric pressure through the air intake of said compressor, said controller comprising:

supply lines connecting said compressor to said leveling system and to said washer system;

electrically energizable blocker valve means in the supply line between said compressor and said leveling system effective to control the connection of said compressor to said leveling system;

first control means responsive to the level of the sprung mass of said motor vehicle for generating up or down commands for said leveling system, said leveling system being operative at times to energize said compressor and open said blocker valve means in response to an up command to raise the level of said vehicle, and to deenergize said compressor and open said blocker valve means in response to a down command to lower the level of said vehicle by exhausting air through the air intake of said compressor;

second control means selectively actuable to generate a wash command for said washer system, said washer system being operative at times to energize said compressor in response to a wash command for dispensing a cleansing solution onto a motor vehicle surface; and

means effective in response to the generation of a wash command for preventing said leveling system from energizing said blocker valve means to service a down command so that said wash command is given service priority over said down command to avoid mutual interference between said washer and leveling systems.

4. In a motor vehicle, a controller for operating a pressurized washer system and a leveling system from a single electrically energizable air compressor wherein compressed air in said leveling system is adapted to be exhausted to atmospheric pressure through the air intake of said compressor, said controller comprising:

supply lines connecting said compressor to said leveling system and to said washer system;

electrically energizable blocker valve means in the supply line between said compressor and said leveling system effective to control the connection of said compressor to said leveling system;

first control means responsive to the level of the sprung mass of said motor vehicle for generating up or down commands for said leveling system, said leveling system being operative at times to energize said compressor and open said blocker valve means in response to an up command to raise the level of said vehicle, and to deenergize said compressor and open said blocker valve means in response to a down command to lower the level of said vehicle by exhausting air through the air intake of said compressor;

second control means selectively actuable to generate a wash command for said washer system, said washer system being operative at times to energize said compressor in response to a wash command for dispensing a cleansing solution onto a motor vehicle surface; and

means effective in response to the generation of a down command for preventing the energization of said air compressor by said washer system, so that said down command is given service priority over said wash command to avoid mutual interference between said washer and leveling systems.