Air spring system having an integral height sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air spring leveling system comprising:
- a pair of end members located in a generally axial spaced relationship when in an at-rest position, said end members being adapted to be mounted on spaced apart portions of a vehicle and movable towards and away from each other upon said vehicle to absorb road shocks as said vehicle encounters road shocks and to maintain said spaced apart vehicle portions at a predetermined spaced relationship when in said at-rest positions;
a fluid pressure chamber formed between said end members by a flexible elastomeric sleeve having opposed open ends sealingly connected to said end members respectively, said flexible elastomeric sleeve being foldable partially over one of said end members thereby defining a covered region of said folded over end member and a corresponding covering region on the flexible elastomeric sleeve;
a sensor for sensing relative distance between said end members and selectively producing a height sensed signal responsive thereto, said sensor being positioned within at least one of said covered region and said covering region when the system is in said at-rest position; and
a pressurized fluid source fluidly connected to the fluid pressure chamber and electrically connected to a computer, the pressurized fluid source controlled by the height sensed signal from said sensor and the computer for regulating the amount of fluid within said fluid pressure chamber by controlling fluid entry and exit to maintain a predetermined axial separation between said end members when in said at-rest position.
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Abstract
An air spring system adapted to be mounted on a vehicle for absorbing road shocks exerted on the vehicle and for maintaining the vehicle body level with respect to the axles. The air spring includes an end plate and a piston sealingly connected to the open ends of a flexible elastomeric sleeve to form a pressurized fluid chamber therebetween. The flexible elastomeric sleeve rolls over the piston to allow for expansion and contraction of the chamber during shocks. A height sensor is positioned between the sleeve and the piston and in some embodiments includes elements that are molded or embedded within the sleeve and/or piston or both.
87 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An air spring leveling system comprising:
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a pair of end members located in a generally axial spaced relationship when in an at-rest position, said end members being adapted to be mounted on spaced apart portions of a vehicle and movable towards and away from each other upon said vehicle to absorb road shocks as said vehicle encounters road shocks and to maintain said spaced apart vehicle portions at a predetermined spaced relationship when in said at-rest positions; a fluid pressure chamber formed between said end members by a flexible elastomeric sleeve having opposed open ends sealingly connected to said end members respectively, said flexible elastomeric sleeve being foldable partially over one of said end members thereby defining a covered region of said folded over end member and a corresponding covering region on the flexible elastomeric sleeve; a sensor for sensing relative distance between said end members and selectively producing a height sensed signal responsive thereto, said sensor being positioned within at least one of said covered region and said covering region when the system is in said at-rest position; and a pressurized fluid source fluidly connected to the fluid pressure chamber and electrically connected to a computer, the pressurized fluid source controlled by the height sensed signal from said sensor and the computer for regulating the amount of fluid within said fluid pressure chamber by controlling fluid entry and exit to maintain a predetermined axial separation between said end members when in said at-rest position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An air spring leveling system comprising:
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a rigid piston being adapted to be mounted on a first portion of a vehicle frame; a rigid end member adapted to be mounted on a second portion of the vehicle frame, said end member spaced apart from said piston; a flexible elastomeric sleeve having opposed ends sealingly connected to said piston and end member, respectively, thereby defining a fluid pressure chamber within the sleeve between said piston and end member; a pressurized fluid source connected to the fluid pressure chamber for regulating the amount of fluid within said chamber; and
,a sleeve displacement sensor embedded within said piston outside of the fluid pressure chamber for sensing relative distance between said piston and end member, said sensor adapted to signal said pressurized fluid source to regulate fluid entry and exit to maintain a predetermined separation between said piston and end member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification