Closed level control system for a vehicle with the system having two pressure stores

• US 7,032,895 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental AG
• Original Assignee: Continental AG
• Inventors: Folchert, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Burch, Melody M.
• Application Number:
  US10/616,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20040026835A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 267/64.16, 267/64.28, 280/124.104, 280/124.106, 280/124.157, 280/124.158, 280/124.159, 280/124.16, 280/124.161, 280/5.514
• US Class Current: 267/64.28
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/056 Regulating distributors or valves for hydropneumatic systemsB60G17/044 - B60G17/048, B60G17/0416 take precedence; Fluid interconnection systems to control vehicle inclination B60G21/06, B60G21/10; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2014 Closed systems

Abstract

In a closed level control system for vehicles, a vehicle body is suspended relative to at least one vehicle axle. The level control system includes pressurized medium chambers, a compressor, an air dryer and a pressurized medium supply vessel which is partitioned into first and second pressurized medium spaces. The two pressurized medium spaces have no direct connection. Either the first pressurized medium space or the second pressurized medium space can be connected to the compressor input or the compressor output via at least one common controllable directional valve so that the pressurized medium from the pressurized medium chambers can be transferred into the first or into the second pressurized medium space or pressurized medium can be transferred from the first or the second pressurized medium space into the pressurized medium chambers.

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:

pressurized medium supply vessel means having first and second pressurized medium spaces for holding a medium under pressure as a pressurized medium;

said first and second pressurized medium spaces having no direct connection therebetween;

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

said compressor having an input and an output;

first and second controllable directional valves and each one of said valves having at least two switching states comprising a first and a second switching state;

said first controllable directional valve being switchable to connect either said first pressurized medium space or said second pressurized medium space to said compressor input or to said compressor output so that pressurized medium from said pressurized medium chambers can be transferred into said first pressurized medium space or into said second pressurized medium space or pressurized medium from said first pressurized medium space or from said second pressurized medium space can be transferred to said pressurized medium chambers;

wherein said pressurized medium is pressurized air and said system further comprises;

a first pressurized air line connecting said first controllable directional valve to said input of said compressor;

a second pressurized air line connecting said output of said compressor to said second controllable directional valve;

a third pressurized air line connecting said input of said compressor to said second controllable directional valve;

a fourth pressurized air line connecting said output of said compressor to said first controllable directional valve;

said pressurized medium chambers being connected to said second controllable directional valve;

said first pressurized air line being switched through by said first controllable directional valve in said first switching state thereof and said second pressurized air line being switched through by said second controllable directional valve in said first switching state thereof and said fourth pressurized air line being blocked by said first controllable directional valve in said first switching state thereof and said third pressurized air line being blocked by said second controllable directional valve in said first switching state thereof when pressurized air is transferred from one of said first and second pressurized medium spaces into one of said pressurized medium chambers;

said third pressurized air line being switched through by said second controllable directional valve in said second switching state thereof and said fourth pressurized air line being switched through by said first controllable directional valve in said second switching state thereof and said first pressurized air line being blocked by said first controllable directional valve in said second switching state thereof and said second pressurized air line being blocked by said second controllable directional valve in said second switching state thereof wherein pressurized air is transferred from one of said pressurized medium chambers into one of said first and second pressurized medium spaces;

a third controllable directional valve interposed between said first controllable directional valve and said pressurized medium spaces and said third controllable directional valve likewise having at least two switching states comprising a first and a second switching state;

said third controllable directional valve being switched into said first switching state thereof to provide a connection from said first controllable direction valve to said first pressurized medium space and to block a connection to said second pressurized medium space; and

,

said third controllable directional valve being switched into said second switching state thereof to provide a connection from said first controllable directional valve to said second pressurized medium space and to block a connection to said first pressurized medium space.

2. The closed level control system of claim 1, wherein said first pressurized air line and said third pressurized air line conjointly define a common connecting point;

and, wherein said closed level control system further comprises;

a first check valve mounted in said first pressurized air line between said common connecting point and said first controllable directional valve and said first check valve being disposed so as to be open toward said input of said compressor; and

,

a second check valve mounted in said third pressurized air line between said common connecting point and said second controllable directional valve and said second check valve being open toward said input of said compressor.

3. The closed level control system of claim 1, wherein said first and second pressurized medium spaces of said pressurized medium supply vessel means are separate first and second pressurized medium supply vessels.

4. The closed level control system of claim 1, wherein said first and second pressurized medium spaces have different pressure levels.

5. The closed level control system of claim 1, wherein the pressure in at least one of said first and second pressurized medium spaces is greater than the maximum actual compression end pressure of said compressor.

6. The closed level control system of claim 1, further comprising an additional air line connected into one of said pressurized airlines of said system to facilitate control of an external apparatus utilizing the pressure in at least one of said first and second pressurized medium spaces;

and, the residual pressure in the other one of said pressurized medium spaces being available to execute a level change of said level control system directly after an external control operation.

7. The closed level control system of claim 6, wherein said external apparatus is a tire inflating device.

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

an air dryer mounted in said fourth pressurized air line;

an air inlet/air outlet;

an intake line ending at said air inlet/air outlet and connecting said input of said compressor to the atmosphere via said air inlet/air outlet;

an additional controllable directional valve switchable between a base position wherein no throughflow is permitted and a switched position wherein throughflow is permitted to said air inlet/air outlet;

said second pressurized line branching off from said fourth pressurized air line at a branch point between said output of said compressor and said air dryer and ending at said additional controllable directional valve; and

,

said pressurized medium supply vessel means being connectable to the atmosphere via said air dryer and said second pressurized line when said additional controllable directional valve is in said switched position thereof.