Closed level control system for a vehicle

• US 6,685,174 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2000
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Continental AG
• Original Assignee: Continental AG
• Inventors: Westerkamp, Helge, Behmenburg, Christof
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavinder, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): SICONOLFI, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/733,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20010004443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.104, 280/124.106, 280/124.157, 280/124.16, 280/5.514, 280/124.158, 280/124.159, 280/124.161, 267/64.28, 267/64.16
• US Class Current: 267/64.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/10 not permanently interconnected, e.g. operative only on acceleration, only on deceleration or only at off-straight position of steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/412 Pneumatic actuator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/414 using electrohydraulic valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8304 using a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/02 Supply or exhaust flow rates; Pump operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2014 Closed systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/204 Pressure regulating valves for air-springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/205 Air-compressor operation

Abstract

The invention relates to a closed level control system for a vehicle. The closed level control system includes a pump which transfers a pressurized medium between a pressurized medium supply vessel (4) and pressurized medium chambers (2a to 2d). The input (8) of the pump (6) is connected to the supply vessel (4) and the output (10) of the pump (6) is connected to the pressurized medium chambers (2a to 2d) when the pressurized medium is to be pumped from the supply vessel (4) into the pressurized medium chambers (2a to 2d). If, in contrast, pressurized air is to be pumped from a pressurized medium chamber (2a to 2d) into the supply vessel (4), then the input (8) of the pump (6) is connected to the pressurized medium chamber and the output (10) of the pump (6) is connected to the supply vessel (4). The above-mentioned connections preferably take place via controllable directional valves (14, 18). The level control system makes it possible that the pump (6) has to always run only in one direction.

Claims

1. A closed level control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body, vehicle axles and pressurized medium chambers with which the vehicle body is suspended relative to corresponding ones of said vehicle axles, the closed level control system comprising:

a pressurized medium supply vessel for holding a medium under pressure as a pressurized medium;

a pump for transferring said pressurized medium between said supply vessel and said pressurized medium chambers;

said pump having an input and an output and said pump being configured so as to permit said pump to pump said pressurized medium from said input to said output thereof;

a first controllable directional valve;

a second controllable directional valve;

a first pressurized medium line connected to said supply vessel and being connected via said first controllable directional valve to said input of said pump;

a second pressurized medium line connected to said pressurized medium chambers and being connected via said second controllable directional valve to said output of said pump at least when said pressurized medium is to be transferred from said supply vessel into said pressurized medium chambers;

a third pressurized medium line connected to said pressurized medium chambers and being connected via said first controllable directional valve to said input of said pump;

a fourth pressurized medium line connected to said supply vessel and being connected via said second controllable directional valve to said output of said pump at least when pressurized medium is to be transferred by said pump from said pressurized medium chambers into said supply vessel;

a single pressure sensor mounted in said third pressurized medium line;

said single pressure sensor being connectable to said first and fourth pressurized medium lines via said first and second controllable directional valves; and

,

ancillary valve means switchable between a first position wherein said single pressure sensor is connected to at least one of said pressurized medium chambers for measuring the pressure therein and a second position wherein said single pressure sensor is connected to said pressurized medium supply vessel for measuring the pressure therein.

2. The closed level control system of claim 1, further comprising:

said first and second controllable directional valves each being configured to assume at least first and second switching states;

control means for switching said first and second controllable directional valves into said first switching state to cause said first pressurized medium line to be connected to said input via said first controllable directional valve and said second pressurized medium line to be connected via said second controllable directional valve to said output of said pump thereby facilitating a transfer of said pressurized medium by said pump from said supply vessel and into said pressurized medium chambers; and

,

said control means functioning to switch said first and second controllable directional valves into said second switching state thereof to cause said third pressurized medium line to be connected via said first controllable directional valve to said input of said pump and said fourth pressurized medium line to be connected via said second controllable directional valve to said output of said pump thereby facilitating the transfer of said pressurized medium by said pump from said pressurized medium chambers into said supply vessel.

3. The closed level control system of claim 1, wherein said controllable directional valves are electrically controllable directional valves.

4. A closed level control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body, vehicle axles and pressurized medium chambers with which the vehicle body is suspended relative to corresponding ones of said vehicle axles, the closed level control system comprising:

a pressurized medium supply vessel for holding a medium under pressure as a pressurized medium;

a pump for transferring said pressurized medium between said supply vessel and said pressurized medium chambers;

said pump having an input and an output and said pump being configured so as to permit said pump to pump said pressurized medium from said input to said output thereof;

a first controllable directional valve switchable between a base state and a switched state;

a second controllable directional valve switchable between a base state and a switched state;

a changeover valve switchable between first and second states;

a first pressurized medium line connected to said supply vessel and being connected via said first controllable directional valve to said input of said pump;

a second pressurized medium line connected to said pressurized medium chambers and being connected via said changeover valve to said output of said pump at least when said pressurized medium is to be transferred by said pump from said supply vessel into said pressurized medium chambers;

control means for switching said first controllable directional valve into said switching state thereof and said changeover valve into said first switching state thereof to cause said first pressurized medium line to be connected to said input via said first controllable directional valve and said second pressurized medium line to be connected to said output of said pump thereby facilitating a transfer of said pressurized medium by said pump from said supply vessel into said pressurized medium chambers;

a third pressurized medium line connected to said pressurized medium chambers and being connected via said second controllable directional valve to said input of said pump;

a fourth pressurized medium line connected to said supply vessel and being connected via said changeover valve to said output of said pump at least when said pressurized medium is to be transferred by said pump from said pressurized medium chambers into said supply vessel;

said control means functioning to switch said second controllable directional valve into said switched state and said changeover valve into said second state thereby facilitating a transfer of said pressurized medium by said pump from said pressurized medium chambers into said supply vessel;

a single pressure sensor mounted in said third pressurized medium line;

said single pressure sensor being connectable to said first and fourth pressurized medium lines via said first and second controllable directional valves; and

,

ancillary valve means switchable between a first position wherein said single pressure sensor is connected to at least one of said pressurized medium chambers for measuring the pressure therein and a second position wherein said single pressure sensor is connected to said pressurized medium supply vessel for measuring the pressure therein.

5. The closed level control system of claim 4, wherein said first pressurized medium line is connected to said third pressurized medium line when said first and second controllable directional valves are simultaneously in the switched state thereof.

6. The closed level control system of claim 4, wherein said pressurized medium supply vessel is a first pressurized medium supply vessel;

and, said closed level control system further comprising;

a second pressurized medium supply vessel;

a third controllable directional valve for connecting said input of said pump to said second pressurized medium supply vessel; and

,

means for connecting said fourth pressurized medium line to said output of said pump when said first pressurized medium supply vessel is filled from said second pressurized medium vessel by said pump.

7. The closed level control system of claim 4, wherein said controllable directional valves are electrically controllable directional valves.

8. A closed level control system for a vehicle having a vehicle body, vehicle axles and pressurized medium chambers with which the vehicle body is suspended relative to corresponding ones of said vehicle axles, the closed level control system comprising:

a pressurized medium supply vessel for holding a medium under pressure as a pressurized medium;

a pump for transferring said pressurized medium between said supply vessel and said pressurized medium chambers;

said pump having an input and an output and said pump being configured so as to permit said pump to pump said pressurized medium from said input to said output thereof;

a first controllable directional valve switchable between a base state and a switched state;

a second controllable directional valve switchable between a base state and a switched state;

a changeover valve switchable between first and second states;

a first pressurized medium line connected to said supply vessel and being connected via said first controllable directional valve to said input of said pump;

a second pressurized medium line connected to said pressurized medium chambers and being connected via said changeover valve to said output of said pump at least when said pressurized medium is to be transferred by said pump from said supply vessel into said pressurized medium chambers;

control means for switching said first controllable directional valve into said switching state thereof and said changeover valve into said first switching state thereof to cause said first pressurized medium line to be connected to said input via said first controllable directional valve and said second pressurized medium line to be connected to said output of said pump thereby facilitating a transfer of said pressurized medium by said pump from said supply vessel into said pressurized medium chambers;

a third pressurized medium line connected to said pressurized medium chambers and being connected via said second controllable directional valve to said input of said pump;

a fourth pressurized medium line connected to said supply vessel and being connected via said changeover valve to said output of said pump at least when said pressurized medium is to be transferred by said pump from said pressurized medium chambers into said supply vessel;

said control means functioning to switch said second controllable directional valve into said switched state and said changeover valve into said second state thereby facilitating a transfer of said pressurized medium by said pump from said pressurized medium chambers into said supply vessel;

a pressure sensor mounted in one of said second and third pressurized medium lines; and

,

a third controllable directional valve connected between said pressure sensor and said pressurized medium chambers and being switchable between a base state wherein said pressurized medium chambers are separated from said pressure sensor and a switched state wherein said pressurized medium chambers are connected to said pressure sensor.