Vehicle suspension and pneumatic systems
First Claim
1. A vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
two front wheels connected to the frame;
two front suspension assemblies connecting the two front wheels to the frame;
two rear wheels connected to the frame;
two rear suspension assemblies connecting the two rear wheels to the frame,at least one of the two front and two rear suspension assemblies including an air spring;
two seats connected to the frame, the two seats being disposed laterally beside each other;
a steering device operatively connected to the two front wheels;
an engine connected to the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the wheels;
an air compressor connected to the frame, the air compressor being disposed under one of the two seats;
an air inlet fluidly communicating with the air compressor for supplying air to the air compressor, the air inlet being disposed higher than the wheels;
at least one air spring valve selectively fluidly communicating the air compressor with the at least one air spring for supplying air to the at least one air spring;
an auxiliary air output supported by the frame;
an auxiliary valve selectively fluidly communicating the auxiliary air output with the air compressor for selectively supplying air from the air compressor to a device other than the at least one air spring;
a control unit electrically connected to the air compressor for controlling an operation of the air compressor and electrically connected to the at least one air spring valve and the auxiliary valve for controlling positions of the valves; and
a vehicle condition sensor electrically connected to the control unit, the vehicle condition sensor sensing an operating condition of the vehicle, the control unit only opening the auxiliary valve to fluidly communicate the auxiliary air output with the air compressor when a predetermined operating condition of the vehicle is sensed by the vehicle condition sensor.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle has a frame, at least two wheels, at least one front and one rear suspension assembly, at least one of the suspension assemblies including an air spring, an air compressor, at least one air spring valve selectively fluidly communicating the air compressor with the at least one air spring, an auxiliary air output, an auxiliary valve selectively fluidly communicating the auxiliary air output with the air compressor, a control unit electrically connected to the air compressor, the at least one air spring valve, the auxiliary valve, and a vehicle condition sensor. The condition sensor senses an operating condition of the vehicle. The control unit only opens the auxiliary valve to fluidly communicate the auxiliary air output with the air compressor when a predetermined operating condition of the vehicle is sensed by the condition sensor. A method of controlling a pneumatic system of a vehicle is also disclosed.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a frame; two front wheels connected to the frame; two front suspension assemblies connecting the two front wheels to the frame; two rear wheels connected to the frame; two rear suspension assemblies connecting the two rear wheels to the frame, at least one of the two front and two rear suspension assemblies including an air spring; two seats connected to the frame, the two seats being disposed laterally beside each other; a steering device operatively connected to the two front wheels; an engine connected to the frame and operatively connected to at least one of the wheels; an air compressor connected to the frame, the air compressor being disposed under one of the two seats; an air inlet fluidly communicating with the air compressor for supplying air to the air compressor, the air inlet being disposed higher than the wheels; at least one air spring valve selectively fluidly communicating the air compressor with the at least one air spring for supplying air to the at least one air spring; an auxiliary air output supported by the frame; an auxiliary valve selectively fluidly communicating the auxiliary air output with the air compressor for selectively supplying air from the air compressor to a device other than the at least one air spring; a control unit electrically connected to the air compressor for controlling an operation of the air compressor and electrically connected to the at least one air spring valve and the auxiliary valve for controlling positions of the valves; and a vehicle condition sensor electrically connected to the control unit, the vehicle condition sensor sensing an operating condition of the vehicle, the control unit only opening the auxiliary valve to fluidly communicate the auxiliary air output with the air compressor when a predetermined operating condition of the vehicle is sensed by the vehicle condition sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of controlling a pneumatic system of a vehicle, the pneumatic system including an air compressor, at least one air spring associated with at least one suspension assembly of the vehicle, and an auxiliary output for supplying air from the air compressor to a device other than the at least one air spring, the method comprising:
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determining if the vehicle is stationary or in motion; sensing an air pressure in the at least one air spring; supplying air from the air compressor to the at least one air spring when the air pressure in the at least one air spring is less than a first predetermined pressure regardless of whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion; and only when the vehicle is determined to be stationary; sensing an air pressure in an auxiliary air output hose fluidly communicating with the auxiliary air output; and supplying air from the air compressor to the auxiliary air output hose when the air pressure in the auxiliary air output hose is less than a second predetermined pressure. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification