Air suspension pressure display

• US 9,346,357 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liteway Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Questar Ventures Inc.
• Inventors: Roberts, Byron
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US14/447,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20150035664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340442-449, 340/440, 731/465, 701/29, 701/36, 701/37, 701/38, 701/40, 280/5.512, 280/5.507, 280/5.514, 280/5.515
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/51222 Pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/042 Monitoring means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles

Abstract

A system for displaying the relative air pressure in an air suspension system for a vehicle comprises an intake line connecting from the air suspension system to a manifold. One or more pressure switches are connected to the manifold. A corresponding light is attached to each of the pressure switches. When the pressure within the manifold reaches preconfigured levels, one of the pressure switches is closed, and a corresponding light is illuminated. The lights are located on the side of the vehicle such that they can be easily seen.

Claims

1. A system for displaying relative air pressure within one or more air springs of an air suspension system for a vehicle during loading of said vehicle, said system comprising:

an intake line operatively connected to said one or more air springs;

a manifold connected to said intake line;

one or more pressure switches connected to said manifold, each of said pressure switches configured to close during loading of said vehicle when a particular air pressure is reached within said manifold;

one or more lights, wherein each of said pressure switches is operatively connected to one of said one or more lights and wherein said one or more lights are visible during loading of said vehicle along an exterior side of said vehicle; and

a power source connected to said pressure switches;

wherein when one of said pressure switches is closed, a corresponding one of said one or more lights is illuminated.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said intake line is connected to said one or more air springs through a second line that is connected to said one or more air springs.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said intake line is connected to said second line through a T-joint.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein a number of said pressure switches is three.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said power source is a battery.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said power source is located on said vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a box, wherein said box houses said manifold, said pressure switches, and said lights.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second box, said second box located on an opposite side of said vehicle from said lights;

one or more secondary lights located on said second box, wherein each of said pressure switches is operatively connected to one of said one or more secondary lights;

wherein when one of said pressure switches is closed, a corresponding one of said one or more secondary lights is illuminated.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said pressure switches comprises an adjustment mechanism to allow for adjustment of said particular air pressure when each of said pressure switches closes.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a screw for adjusting said particular air pressure.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more lights are of different colors when illuminated.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein a first one of said one or more lights is green, a second one of said one or more lights is red, and a third one of said one or more lights is amber.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein a first one of said three lights is illuminated when said particular air pressure is at a first level that is lower than a correct air pressure for said air suspension system;

a second one of said three lights is illuminated when said particular air pressure is at a second level that is approximate to said correct air pressure for said air suspension system; and

a third one of said three lights is illuminated when said particular air pressure is at a third level that is above said correct air pressure for said air suspension system.

14. A system for displaying relative air pressure within one or more air springs of an air suspension system for a vehicle during loading of said vehicle, said system comprising:

an intake line operatively connected to said one or more air springs;

an adjustment box, said adjustment box comprising;

a manifold connected to said intake line; and

one or more pressure switches connected to said manifold, each of said pressure switches configured to close during loading of said vehicle when a particular air pressure is reached within said manifold; and

a display box, said display box comprising;

one or more lights, wherein each of said pressure switches is operatively connected to one of said one or more lights and wherein said one or more lights are visible during loading of said vehicle along an exterior side of said vehicle;

wherein when one of said pressure switches is closed, a corresponding one of said one or more lights is illuminated.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a power source connected to said pressure switches.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said intake line is connected to said one or more air springs through a second line that is connected to said one or more air springs.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said intake line is connected to said second line through a T-joint.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein a number of said pressure switches is three.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein each of said pressure switches comprises an adjustment mechanism to allow for adjustment of said particular air pressure when each of said pressure switches closes.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a screw for adjusting said particular air pressure.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein said one or more lights are of different colors when illuminated.

22. A system for displaying relative air pressure within one or more air springs of an air suspension system for a vehicle during loading of said vehicle, said system comprising:

an intake line operatively connected to said one or more air springs;

a manifold connected to said intake line;

one or more pressure switches operatively connected to said manifold, each of said pressure switches configured to close during loading of said vehicle when a particular air pressure is reached within said manifold;

a light, wherein each of said pressure switches is operatively connected to said light and wherein said light is capable of illuminating at two or more different colors during loading of said vehicle along an exterior side of said vehicle; and

a power source connected to said pressure switches;

wherein when one of said pressure switches is closed, said light is illuminated at one of said different colors.