Trailing arm suspension and height control system with motorized valve therefor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for controlling the distance between a vehicle axle and a vehicle comprising:
- a sensor that senses a distance between the vehicle axle and the vehicle frame and generates a signal indicative thereof;
said sensor comprising a transducer selected from the group consisting of;
an optical sensor, a hall effect sensor, a magnetic sensor, a variable resistance sensor, ultrasonic sensor and combinations thereof;
a housing including a wall that at least partially defines a chamber, said chamber including an inlet port, an operating port, and an exhaust port extending therethrough;
a movable plate with a side which is sealable against the wall by pressurized air supplied to the chamber;
a motor coupled to the plate via a gearing for selectively moving the plate in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction based on, the signal, between a fill position in which the operating port is connected to the inlet port, and an exhaust position in which the operating port is connected to the exhaust port to selectively control the distance between the vehicle axle and the vehicle frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trailing arm suspension for a vehicle. The trailing arm suspension having a height control system for controlling the ride height of the suspension relative to the vehicle. The height control system preferably comprises a motor driven height control valve.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the distance between a vehicle axle and a vehicle comprising:
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a sensor that senses a distance between the vehicle axle and the vehicle frame and generates a signal indicative thereof; said sensor comprising a transducer selected from the group consisting of;
an optical sensor, a hall effect sensor, a magnetic sensor, a variable resistance sensor, ultrasonic sensor and combinations thereof;a housing including a wall that at least partially defines a chamber, said chamber including an inlet port, an operating port, and an exhaust port extending therethrough; a movable plate with a side which is sealable against the wall by pressurized air supplied to the chamber; a motor coupled to the plate via a gearing for selectively moving the plate in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction based on, the signal, between a fill position in which the operating port is connected to the inlet port, and an exhaust position in which the operating port is connected to the exhaust port to selectively control the distance between the vehicle axle and the vehicle frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for controlling the distance between a vehicle axle and a vehicle comprising:
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a ride height sensor that senses a distance between the vehicle axle and the vehicle frame and generates a ride height signal indicative thereof; a position sensor for sensing a position of an anti-creep device and generates a position signal indicative thereof; a housing including a wall that at least partially defines a chamber, said chamber including an inlet port, an operating port, and an exhaust port extending therethrough; a movable plate with a side which is sealable against the wall by pressurized air supplied to the chamber; a controller receiving the position signal and the ride height signal, and controlling movement of the plate according to the signal between a fill position in which the operating port is connected to the inlet port, and an exhaust position in which the operating port is connected to the exhaust port to selectively control the distance between the vehicle axle and the vehicle frame. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A system for controlling the distance between a vehicle axle and a vehicle comprising:
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a ride height sensor that senses a distance between the vehicle axle and the vehicle frame and generates a ride height signal indicative thereof; a position sensor for sensing a position of an anti-creep device and generates a position signal indicative thereof; a housing including a wall that at least partially defines a chamber, said chamber including an inlet port, an operating port, and an exhaust port extending therethrough; a movable plate with a side which is sealable against the wall by pressurized air supplied to the chamber; a motor coupled to the plate via a gearing for selectively moving the plate in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction; a controller receiving the position signal and the ride height signal, and controlling movement of the plate in the first and second directions with said motor and gearing according to the ride height signal between a fill position in which the operating port is connected to the inlet port, and an exhaust position in which the operating port is connected to the exhaust port to selectively control the distance between the vehicle axle and the vehicle frame. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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Specification