Systems and methods for automated air suspension pressure drop

• US 9,278,601 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations LLC (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Grimm, John Harvey
• Primary Examiner(s): Verley, Nicole
• Application Number:
  US14/948,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20160075206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 109 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/04 fluid spring characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/052 Pneumatic spring characteristics B60G17/048 takes precedence ; valves per se F16K
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/154 with an accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/04 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/36 Independent Multi-axle long vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/60 Load
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2401/12 Strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/201 Air spring system type

Abstract

Various systems and methods for automated air suspension pressure drop are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for decreasing air pressure in an air spring is provided, comprising: providing a trailer, the trailer comprising: a first axle and a second axle, wherein at least one of the first axle and the second axle is operatively connected to at least one air spring; providing a strain gauge operatively connected to the trailer, wherein the strain gauge is configured to identify a lateral bending strain in the trailer; identifying the presence of the lateral bending strain in the trailer, wherein the lateral bending strain is about an axis substantially normal to the trailer'"'"'s plane of travel; communicating the presence of the lateral bending strain in the trailer to a control unit operatively connected to the at least one air spring; and decreasing the air pressure in the at least one air spring.

Claims

1. A method for decreasing air pressure in an air spring, comprising:

providing a trailer, the trailer comprising;

a first axle and a second axle,

wherein at least one of the first axle and the second axle is operatively connected to at least one air spring;

providing a strain gauge operatively connected to the trailer, wherein the strain gauge is configured to identify a lateral bending strain in the trailer;

identifying the presence of the lateral bending strain in the trailer,

wherein the lateral bending strain is about an axis substantially normal to the trailer'"'"'s plane of travel;

communicating the presence of the lateral bending strain in the trailer to a control unit operatively connected to the at least one air spring; and

decreasing the air pressure in the at least one air spring.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to decrease pressure in the at least one air spring in response to identification of the lateral bending strain.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the trailer further comprises at least one beam, and wherein the strain gauge is operatively connected to the at least one beam.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one beam comprises a web portion, and wherein the strain gauge is oriented on the web portion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the trailer further comprises at least one beam, and wherein the strain gauge is configured to identify a lateral bending strain in the at least one beam.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one beam comprises a web portion, and wherein the strain gauge is oriented on the web portion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the trailer further comprises at least one beam, wherein the beam comprises a center, and wherein the strain gauge is oriented substantially in the center of the beam.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the trailer further comprises at least one enclosure, and wherein the strain gauge is operatively connected to the at least one enclosure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the trailer further comprises at least one enclosure, and wherein the strain gauge is configured to identify a lateral bending strain in the at least one enclosure.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first axle and the second axle are separated by a distance of at least about 8 ft.

11. A method for decreasing air pressure in an air spring, comprising:

providing a trailer, the trailer comprising;

a first axle, a second axle, and at least one beam,

wherein at least one of the first axle and the second axle is operatively connected to at least one air spring;

providing a strain gauge operatively connected to the at least one beam, wherein the strain gauge is configured to identify a lateral bending strain in the at least one beam;

identifying the presence of the lateral bending strain in the at least one beam,

wherein the lateral bending strain is about an axis substantially normal to the trailer'"'"'s plane of travel;

communicating the presence of the lateral bending strain in the at least one beam to a control unit operatively connected to the at least one air spring; and

decreasing the air pressure in the at least one air spring.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the control unit is configured to decrease pressure in the at least one air spring in response to identification of the lateral bending strain.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one beam comprises a web portion, and wherein the strain gauge is oriented on the web portion.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one beam comprises a center, and wherein the strain gauge is oriented substantially in the center of the beam.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the first axle and the second axle are separated by a distance of at least about 8 ft.

16. A method for decreasing air pressure in an air spring, comprising:

providing a trailer, the trailer comprising;

a first axle, a second axle, and at least one enclosure,

wherein at least one of the first axle and the second axle is operatively connected to at least one air spring;

providing a strain gauge operatively connected to the at least one enclosure wherein the strain gauge is configured to identify a lateral bending strain in the at least one enclosure;

identifying the presence of the lateral bending strain in the at least one enclosure,

wherein the lateral bending strain is about an axis substantially normal to the trailer'"'"'s plane of travel;

communicating the presence of the lateral bending strain in the at least one enclosure to a control unit operatively connected to the at least one air spring; and

decreasing the air pressure in the at least one air spring.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the control unit is configured to decrease pressure in the at least one air spring in response to identification of the lateral bending strain.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first axle and the second axle are separated by a distance of at least about 8 ft.