Electropneumatic control arrangement for an automatic vehicle level control system

• US 8,190,328 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF CV Systems Europe BV (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Wabco GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jovers, Ingo, Kleen, Berend, Lucas, Johann, Rathjen, Frauke, Rutsch, Andreas, Schwarzer, Andreas, Stellmacher, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US13/060,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20110208390A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 701/37, 701/69, 701/91, 701/34.1, 701/34.4, 701/29, 701/78, 701/83, 701/85, 701/103, 701/217, 621/961, 621/97, 622/285, 572/93, 573/50, 579/08, 417/270, 417/277, 601/152, 134/166.C, 137/204, 335/271, 335/277, 400/124.17, 367/144, 181/120, 303/122.15, 477/196, 477/198
• US Class Current: 701/37
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0523 Regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/0116 Integrated distribution control units with valves, accumulators, PCB's or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/203 Distributor valve units comprising several elements, e.g. valves, pump or accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 57/908 Jet interlaced or intermingled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An electropneumatic control arrangement for an automatic vehicle level control system, particularly of a commercial vehicle, includes at least; a solenoid valve unit having at least two electropneumatic solenoid valves, a compressed air inlet for infeeding compressed air, at least one compressed air connection for at least one air bellows and electrical control inputs, and an electronic control unit for actuating the solenoid valve unit. The electronic control unit comprises control outputs for electrically connecting to the control inputs of the solenoid valve unit. A plug connector is configured on the housing of the solenoid valve unit, in which the electrical control inputs are disposed, and a plug connector is provided on the housing of the electronic control unit, in which the control outputs are disposed. The plug connectors are mechanically plugged into each other.

Claims

1. An electropneumatic control arrangement for controlling the ride level of a vehicle, comprising:

a solenoid valve unit including at least two electropneumatic solenoid valves, a compressed-air inlet for a compressed-air supply line, at least one compressed-air connection for at least one air bellows and electrical control inputs; and

an electronic control device for driving the solenoid valve unit, the electronic control device having control outputs for effecting an electrical connection to the control inputs of the solenoid valve unit;

a first plug connector on a housing of the solenoid valve unit, the electrical control inputs being arranged in the first plug connector; and

a second plug connector on a housing of the electronic control device, the control outputs being arranged in the second plug connector;

the first and second plug connectors being mechanically insertable one into the other.

2. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical connection between the solenoid valve unit and the electronic control device is formed solely by connection of the first and second plug connectors.

3. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an interlocking connection, between the solenoid valve unit and the control device.

4. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the interlocking connection is formed at least one of in and on the first and second plug connectors.

5. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solenoid valve unit is affixed to the vehicle, and wherein the electronic control device is mounted solely on the solenoid valve unit and is supported by the solenoid valve unit.

6. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, a third plug connector on the housing of the electronic control device for connection to at least one electrical supply voltage and to a data line of the vehicle.

7. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the third plug connector includes sensor connections for at least one sensor for measuring a level height for ride level control of the vehicle.

8. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second and third plug connectors are provided on the same side of the housing of the electronic control device.

9. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second and third plug connectors are provided on opposite sides of the housing of the electronic control device.

10. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic control device includes a circuit mount, and, wherein, a microcontroller and at least one driver circuit for driving the solenoid valves is mounted on the circuit mount.

11. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the solenoid valve unit includes a 3/2-way valve and at least two 2/2-way valves to selectively at least one of block and unblock the at least one compressed-air connection at one of a compressed-air inlet and a compressed-air outlet for discharging compressed-air.

12. The control arrangement as claimed in claim 11, further comprising two electrical pilot control units providing in the housing of the solenoid valve device for driving the solenoid valves.

13. A vehicle, comprising an electropneumatic control arrangement as claimed in claim 1.

14. A method for mounting an electropneumatic control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 on a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting compressed-air lines to compressed-air connections of the solenoid valve device;

affixing of the solenoid valve device to the vehicle; and

plugging the electronic control device onto the solenoid valve device.