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Ultrasonic air spring system

  • US 4,798,369 A
  • Filed: 11/03/1987
  • Issued: 01/17/1989
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1987
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An ultrasonic air spring leveling system including:

  • (a) an end plate and a piston member located in a generally axial spaced relationship when in an at-rest position, said end plate and piston member being adapted to be mounted on spaced portions of a vehicle and movable towards and away from each other upon said vehicle encountering road shocks to absorb said shocks and to maintain said spaced vehicle portions at a predetermined spaced relationship when in said at-rest position;

    (b) a fluid pressure chamber formed between said end plate and piston member by a flexible elastomeric sleeve having opposed open ends sealingly connected to said end plate and piston member;

    (c) an ultrasonic transducer mounted on an inside surface of the end plate and located within the fluid pressure chamber for transmitting ultrasonic signals through the pressure chamber to the piston member and for picking up ultrasonic signals reflected from the piston member;

    (d) electronic circuit means operatively connected to the transducer responsive to the picked up signals for generating a control signal; and

    (e) a source of pressurized fluid connected to the fluid pressure chamber and controlled by the control signal for regulating the amount of fluid within said pressure chamber to maintain a predetermined axial separation between the end plate and piston member when in said at-rest position.

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