System and method for determining appropriate conditions for leveling a vehicle having an air suspension system

• US 7,722,017 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Driveright Holdings, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Driveright Holdings, Ltd.
• Inventors: Brookes, Graham R., Nordmeyer, Daniel L., Holbrook, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Burch; Melody M
• Application Number:
  US11/890,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20070282498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 267/64.16, 267/DIG.1, 267/DIG.2, 267/64.17, 267/64.28, 303/3, 303/15, 303/191, 280/5.513, 280/5.514, 280/5.506, 280/5.507, 701/37, 701/38
• US Class Current: 267/64.16
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0162 mainly during a motion involving steering operation, e.g. cornering, overtaking B60G17/0164 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/08 Characteristics of fluid dampers adjusting fluid dampers in general F16F9/44 - F16F9/53
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/47 Means for retracting the suspension
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4702 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/10 Acceleration; Deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/07 Inhibiting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/914 Height Control System

Abstract

A method of determining appropriate conditions for leveling a vehicle having a height adjustable air suspension system. The method includes the steps of providing an acceleration-determining device adapted to output a signal associated with an acceleration of the vehicle. Another step includes measuring an acceleration value of the vehicle and comparing the acceleration value to a pre-determined signal. Yet another step includes determining whether appropriate conditions exist for leveling the vehicle based on the comparison. A system for performing the steps of the method is also included.

Claims

1. A method of performing a leveling action on a vehicle having a height adjustable air suspension system and undergoing a vehicle acceleration, said method comprising steps of:

a) initiating a leveling action adjusting said suspension system toward a pre-determined height condition of the vehicle;

b) discontinuing said leveling action upon the vehicle acceleration exceeding a first pre-determined acceleration threshold prior to said suspension system achieving said pre-determined height condition;

c) waiting until the vehicle acceleration decreases below a second pre-determined acceleration threshold that is less than said first pre-determined threshold; and

,

d) continuing said leveling action adjusting said suspension system toward said pre-determined height condition.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said suspension system includes a controller and said method includes said controller acting to at least partially execute step a).

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said method includes said controller acting to at least partially execute at least one of steps b) and d).

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said method includes steps of determining the vehicle acceleration, comparing the vehicle acceleration with said first pre-determined acceleration threshold, and determining that the vehicle acceleration is greater than said first pre-determined acceleration threshold prior to step b).

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said air suspension system includes an accelerometer and a controller, and said method includes steps of said accelerometer measuring the vehicle acceleration and communicating a signal to said controller.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first pre-determined threshold is an acceleration value of from about 0.2 g to about 0.4 g.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said second pre-determined threshold is an acceleration value of from about 0.05 g to about 0.25 g.

8. A method of executing a leveling action on a vehicle having a height adjustable air suspension system, said method comprising steps of:

a) initiating a leveling action adjusting said suspension system toward a pre-determined height condition of the vehicle;

b) determining an acceleration value of an acceleration acting on the vehicle;

c) comparing said acceleration value to a first pre-determined threshold value;

d) discontinuing said leveling action in response to said acceleration value exceeding said first pre-determined threshold value;

e) waiting until said acceleration value is one of less than and substantially equal to a second pre-determined threshold value that is less than said first pre-determined threshold value; and

,

f) continuing said leveling action adjusting said suspension system toward a pre-determined height condition of the vehicle.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said first pre-determined threshold value is from about 0.2 g to about 0.4 g.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said air suspension system includes a controller and step a) includes said controller at least partially executing said leveling action.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein step d) includes said controller acting to at least partially discontinue said leveling action.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein step f) includes said controller acting to continue said leveling action once said acceleration value has been one of less than and substantially equal to said second pre-determined threshold value for a pre-determined duration.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein said air suspension system includes an acceleration-determining device, and step b) includes said acceleration-determining device determining said acceleration value.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein step e) includes said acceleration-determining device periodically determining an acceleration value corresponding to the acceleration and outputting a signal representative of said acceleration value.

15. A method according to claim 8, wherein said air suspension system includes a comparator, and step b) includes said comparator receiving a signal representative of said acceleration value and comparing said signal to said first pre-determined threshold.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein step e) includes said comparator comparing a signal representative of said acceleration value to said second pre-determined value.

17. A method according to claim 8, wherein said air suspension system includes a timer and step e) includes said timer monitoring a duration that said acceleration value is one of less than and substantially equal to said second pre-determined threshold.

18. A method of leveling a vehicle having a height adjustable air suspension system that includes a controller, an acceleration-determining device, a comparator and a memory storing a first pre-determined threshold value and a second pre-determined threshold value that is less than said first pre-determined threshold value, said method comprising steps of:

a) determining an acceleration value of an acceleration acting on the vehicle using said acceleration-determining device;

b) comparing said acceleration value to said first pre-determined threshold value using said comparator;

c) initiating a leveling action using said controller to adjust said suspension system toward a pre-determined height condition of the vehicle in response to said acceleration value being one of less than and substantially equal to said first pre-determined threshold value;

d) repeating steps a) through c) until said acceleration value is greater than said first pre-determined threshold value;

e) discontinuing said leveling action prior to said suspension system achieving said pre-determined height condition in response to said acceleration value being greater than said first pre-determined threshold value;

f) waiting until said acceleration value is one of less than and substantially equal to said second pre-determined threshold value; and

,

g) continuing said discontinued leveling action adjusting said suspension system toward said pre-determined height condition.

19. A method according to claim 18 further comprising a step of repeating steps a) to g) after said suspension system has achieved said pre-determined height condition in step g).