Level adjustment device for vehicles with air springs

• US 6,332,623 B1
• Filed: 08/04/1999
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental AG
• Original Assignee: Continental AG
• Inventors: Behmenburg, Christof, Westerkamp, Helge
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROYAL, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/366,953
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 280/707, 280/702, 280/711, 280/840, 280/124.16, 280/124.157, 280/6.157, 280/6.15, 280/6.159, 280/5.514, 267/64.28, 267/64.11
• US Class Current: 280/124.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0408 details, e.g. antifreeze for suspension fluid, pumps, retarding means per se
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2012 Open systems

Abstract

Level adjustment device for vehicles with air springs 8a through 8d, by which a vehicle body is furnished with suspension on at least one vehicle axle, which includes the following:

a source of compressed air 2, which, for the purpose of filling air springs 8a through 8d, can be connected to air springs 8a through 8d via an air dryer 4, the air dryer 4, for the purpose of filling the air springs, is connected on one side to air springs 8a through 8d through a check valve 6 that is open to air springs 8a through 8d, each air spring 8a through 8d, for the purpose of emptying them, can be connected through the air dryer 4 and through a pneumatically controlled first distribution valve 10 to the atmosphere, wherein the pneumatic control input 38 of this distribution valve 10 is then impinged through a second controllable distribution valve 12 with the pressure in air springs 8a through 8d against a restoring force 50 acting on the pneumatic control input 38, the pneumatic control input 38 of the pneumatically controlled first distribution valve 10, for the purpose of ending the emptying process, can be connected to the atmosphere, wherein the air dryer 4 is connected on the other side to air springs 8a through 8d through a pneumatically controlled third distribution valve 14, wherein the pneumatic control input 44 of this distribution valve is then impinged with the pressure of air springs 8a through 8d against a restoring force 52 acting on the pneumatic control input 44.

Claims

1. A level of adjustment device for vehicles with a plurality of air springs, comprising:

a source of compressed air;

an air dryer connected to the compressed air source;

a check valve connecting said air dryer to said air springs;

a pneumatically controlled first distribution valve having a pneumatic control input,

said first distribution valve connected to said air dryer, said compressed air source, the atmosphere, a second controllable distribution valve, and a pneumatically controlled third distribution valve,

said pneumatic control input of said first distribution valve connecting said pneumatically controlled first distribution valve to said second controllable distribution valve and to a pneumatically controlled input of said pneumatically controlled third distribution valve,

said second controllable distribution valve connecting said air springs to said pneumatic control input of said pneumatically controlled first distribution valve and to said pneumatic control input of said pneumatically controlled third distribution valve,

whereas during air spring filling, said check valve is open connecting the compressed air source to said air springs; and

whereas during air spring emptying, each air spring is connected to the atmosphere through said air dryer, through said pneumatically controlled first distribution valve, and through said pneumatically controlled third distribution valve,

wherein the pneumatic control input of said first distribution valve is impinged through said second controllable distribution valve with pressure from the air springs against a restoring force acting on the pneumatic control input, and

wherein the pneumatically controlled input of the a pneumatically controlled third distribution valve is impinged with the pressure of the air springs against a restoring force acting on the pneumatic control input of the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve, and

to end the air spring emptying process, the pneumatic control input of said pneumatically controlled first distribution valve is connected to the atmosphere through said second controlled distribution valve.

2. The level adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic control input of the first distribution valve, for the purpose of ending an emptying process, can be connected through the second controllable distribution valve to the atmosphere.

3. The level adjustment device according to claim 2, wherein the pneumatic control input of the third control valve, for the purpose of emptying the air springs, can be impinged through the second controllable distribution valve with the pressure in the air springs.

4. The level adjustment device according to claim 3, wherein the pneumatically controlled first distribution valve and the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve are combined into one pneumatically controlled distribution valve.

5. The level adjustment device according to claim 3, wherein the second controllable distribution valve is electrically controlled.

6. The level adjustment device according to claim 2, wherein the pneumatic control input of the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve can be connected to the atmosphere.

7. The level adjustment device according to claim 6, wherein the second controllable distribution valve is electrically controlled.

8. The level adjustment device according to claim 2, wherein the pneumatic control input of the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve can be connected through the second controllable distribution valve to the atmosphere.

9. The level adjustment device according to claim 2, wherein the pneumatically controlled first distribution valve and the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve are combined into one pneumatically controlled distribution valve.

10. The level adjustment device according to claim 2, wherein the second controllable distribution valve is electrically controlled.

11. The level adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic control input of the third control valve, for the purpose of emptying the air springs, can be impinged through the second controllable distribution valve with the pressure in the air springs.

12. The level adjustment device according to claim 11, wherein the pneumatic control input of the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve can be connected to the atmosphere.

13. The level adjustment device according to claim 11, wherein the pneumatic control input of the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve can be connected through the second controllable distribution valve to the atmosphere.

14. The level adjustment device according to claim 11, wherein the pneumatically controlled first distribution valve and the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve are combined into one pneumatically controlled distribution valve.

15. The level adjustment device according to claim 11, wherein the second controllable distribution valve is electrically controlled.

16. The level adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic control input of the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve can be connected to the atmosphere.

17. The level adjustment device according to claim 16, wherein the pneumatic control input of the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve can be connected through the second controllable distribution valve to the atmosphere.

18. The level adjustment device according to claim 16, wherein the pneumatically controlled first distribution valve and the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve are combined into one pneumatically controlled distribution valve.

19. The level adjustment device according to claim 16, wherein the second controllable distribution valve is electrically controlled.

20. The level adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatic control input of the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve can be connected through the second controllable distribution valve to the atmosphere.

21. The level adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the pneumatically controlled first distribution valve and the pneumatically controlled third distribution valve are combined into one pneumatically controlled distribution valve.

22. The level adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the second controllable distribution valve is electrically controlled.