Pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle

• US 7,441,789 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2003
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Geiger, Hartmut, Russ, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US10/525,789
• Publication Number:
  US 20060049606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 280/124.16, 280/124.157, 280/5.5, 280/5.514, 280/5.515
• US Class Current: 280/124.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/2014 Closed systems

Abstract

A pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle includes a compressed air accumulator, a compressed air transport device, at least one pneumatic bellows and an electrically controllable reversing valve used to connect the compressed air accumulator to a suction connection of the compressed air transport device, in order to increase the amount of air in the pneumatic bellows in a first switching position, and to connect an outlet connection of the compressed air transport device to the pneumatic bellows, also used to connect the pneumatic bellows to the suction connection of the compressed air transport device and the outlet connection of the compressed air transport device to the pressure accumulator in a second switching position in order to reduce the amount of air in the pneumatic bellows. The reversing valve can be pre-controlled with the compressed air of the pneumatic suspension system.

Claims

1. An air-suspension system for a vehicle, comprising a compressed-air accumulator, a compressed-air delivery device, at least one air-suspension bellows and an electrically activatable changeover-valve device, said electrically activatable changeover-valve device being switchable to (i) a first valve position to increase air quantity in said at least one air-suspension bellows by placing the compressed-air accumulator in communication with a suction port of said compressed-air delivery device and an outlet port of said compressed-air delivery device in communication with said at least one air-suspension bellows, and (ii) a second valve position to decrease air quantity in said at least one air-suspension bellows by placing said at least one air-suspension bellows in communication with said suction port of said compressed-air delivery device and said outlet port of said compressed-air delivery device in communication with said compressed-air accumulator, said changeover-valve device being piloted with compressed air of said air-suspension system.

2. The air-suspension system according to claim 1, wherein said changeover-valve device includes at least one electromagnet.

3. The air-suspension system according to claim 1, wherein pilot pressure for said changeover-valve device is drawn from an outlet side of said compressed-air delivery device.

4. The air-suspension system according to claim 1, wherein pilot pressure is discharged to atmosphere when said changeover-valve device is switched between said first and second valve positions.

5. An air-suspension system for a vehicle, comprising a compressed-air accumulator, a compressed-air delivery device, at least one air-suspension bellows and an electrically activatable changeover-valve device, said electrically activatable changeover-valve device being switchable to (i) a first valve position to increase air quantity in said at least one air-suspension bellows by placing the compressed-air accumulator in communication with a suction port of said compressed-air delivery device and an outlet port of said compressed-air delivery device in communication with said at least one air-suspension bellows, and (ii) a second valve position to decrease air quantity in said at least one air-suspension bellows by placing said at least one air-suspension bellows in communication with said suction port of said compressed-air delivery device and said outlet port of said compressed-air delivery device in communication with said compressed-air accumulator, said changeover-valve device being piloted with compressed air of said air-suspension system, said air-suspension system further comprising a check valve for bypassing said compressed-air delivery device, said check valve being connected to ports of said changeover-valve device in communication with said compressed-air delivery device.

6. An air-suspension system for a vehicle, comprising a compressed-air accumulator, a compressed-air delivery device, at least one air-suspension bellows and an electrically activatable changeover-valve device including a pilot valve and a changeover valve, said electrically activatable changeover-valve device being switchable to (i) a first valve position to increase air quantity in said at least one air-suspension bellows by placing the compressed-air accumulator in communication with a suction port of said compressed-air delivery device and an outlet port of said compressed-air delivery device in communication with said at least one air suspension bellows, and (ii) a second valve position to decrease air quantity in said at least one air-suspension bellows by placing said at least one air-suspension bellows in communication with said suction port of said compressed-air delivery device and said outlet port of said compressed-air delivery device in communication with said compressed-air accumulator, said changeover-valve device being piloted with compressed air of said air-suspension system.

7. The air-suspension system according to claim 6, wherein said changeover valve device is a 4/2-way valve that is actuatable by compressed air.

8. The air-suspension system according to claim 6, wherein said pilot valve is an electrically actuatable 3/2-way valve.

9. The air-suspension system according to claim 6, wherein said changeover valve device includes two 3/2-way valves that are both actuatable by said pilot valve by means of compressed air.