Automated control system for a vehicle lift axle
First Claim
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1. A positioning system for a lift axle for wheeled vehicles, the positioning system comprising:
- an air spring suspension system including a plurality of air springs for supporting a wheeled vehicle chassis from a plurality of axles including the lift axle;
an air spring inflation system including a primary air tank;
load sensors communicating with the plurality of air springs;
a vehicle speed sensor;
a transmission controller for reporting a selected transmission gear;
an accelerator pedal position sensor;
a park brake position sensor;
a primary air tank pressure sensor communicating with the primary air tank;
an ignition switch position sensor;
lift axle positioning means;
an electrical system controller connected to collect outputs of the load sensors, the vehicle speed sensor, the accelerator pedal position sensor, the transmission controller the primary air tank pressure sensor, the park brake position sensor and the ignition switch position sensor; and
the electrical system controller being programmed to issue instructions to the lift axle means responsive to the values of the load sensors, the vehicle speed sensor, the transmission controller, the park brake position sensor and the ignition switch position sensor.
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Abstract
An automated axle control system provides both indication to the driver when a lift axle should be raised or lowered, and takes action to effect axle positioning when the driver fails to respond. Operations are based on estimates of vehicle weight and vehicle speed and are implemented primarily through preexisting vehicle controllers and a controller area network over which the controllers communicate.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A positioning system for a lift axle for wheeled vehicles, the positioning system comprising:
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an air spring suspension system including a plurality of air springs for supporting a wheeled vehicle chassis from a plurality of axles including the lift axle; an air spring inflation system including a primary air tank; load sensors communicating with the plurality of air springs; a vehicle speed sensor; a transmission controller for reporting a selected transmission gear; an accelerator pedal position sensor; a park brake position sensor; a primary air tank pressure sensor communicating with the primary air tank; an ignition switch position sensor; lift axle positioning means; an electrical system controller connected to collect outputs of the load sensors, the vehicle speed sensor, the accelerator pedal position sensor, the transmission controller the primary air tank pressure sensor, the park brake position sensor and the ignition switch position sensor; and the electrical system controller being programmed to issue instructions to the lift axle means responsive to the values of the load sensors, the vehicle speed sensor, the transmission controller, the park brake position sensor and the ignition switch position sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wheeled vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of axles including a lift axle; means for raising and lowering the lift axle; an electrical system controller and at least a first controller area network including the electrical system controller as a node; a suspension system including air springs for supporting a sprung portion of the vehicle from the plurality of lift axles; an air spring inflation system including a primary air tank connected to supply pressurized air to the air springs; load sensor communicating with each of the plurality of air springs to generate pressure measurement signals relating to the plurality of air springs and connected for communicating the load signals to the electrical system controller; a primary air tank pressure sensor communicating with the primary air tank to provide a primary air tank pressure signal and coupled to the electrical system controller for providing a primary air tank pressure signal; a vehicle speed sensor which provides a vehicle speed related signal over said at least first controller area network; a transmission controller connected to said at least first controller area network for reporting the current selected transmission gear and a status value for a vehicle transmission; an accelerator pedal position sensor; a park brake position sensor connected to the electrical system controller; an ignition switch position sensor connected to a vehicle ignition switch; a lift axle positioning system including pneumatic valves, solenoids for actuating the pneumatic valves and a solenoid controller coupled to the electrical system controller for generating solenoid control signals; and the electrical system controller being programmed to issue instructions to the lift axle means responsive to the values of the load sensors. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification