US 12,122,208 B2Granted

Modular and expandable air management system

AssigneeWheel Pros, LLC

InventorsReno Heon, Dustin Heon

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Abstract

A Modular and Expandable Air Suspension Control System utilizes three basic units, a suspension control module, one or more pneumatic control modules, and an end cap usable across a variety of applications with different quantities of air springs, including 1-Corner, 2-Corner, 3-Corner, 4-Corner and more than 4-Corner systems. The invention is field expandable, with multiple sensing options as each pneumatic control module has an integrated air spring pressure sensor plus an electrical plug to connect with an electronic height sensor. This capability allows the system to level based on air spring pressure or air spring height depending on the customer use case. The sleek and compact design is piconet-enabled which gives the system connectivity to smartphone apps and dedicated piconet devices for user interface, and allows for over-the-air updating of the firmware inside of the suspension control module and pneumatic control modules to enhance functionality.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A pneumatic control unit comprising:

a pneumatic control manifold having an input channel for receiving pressurized air into said pneumatic control manifold, an output channel for exhausting air from said pneumatic control manifold and a device channel for inflating or deflating a pneumatic device from said pneumatic control manifold, where said device channel is connected to a pneumatic device fitting,
a first valve for controlling passage of said pressurized air from said input channel to said device channel,
a second valve for controlling passage of said air from said device channel to said output channel,
a device pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of said pressurized air and providing a pressure electrical signal representing said pressure of said pressurized air at said device channel, and
a pneumatic control module electronic control board responsive to said device pressure sensor electrical signal and generating a control signal to operate said first valve and said second valve to adjust said pressure of said device channel.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/983,984Filed 9 Nov 2022 · us provisional application
Priority: 9 Nov 2021
Published: US 2023/0147844 A111 May 2023
Granted: 22 Oct 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

B60G 11/27
Having fluid springs only, e.g. hydropneumatic springs: wherein the fluid is a gas
B60G 17/0523
Pneumatic spring characteristics: regulating distributors or valves for pneumatic springs
B60G 17/0155
Characterised by the action on a particular type of suspension unit: pneumatic unit
B60G 17/052
Fluid spring characteristics: pneumatic spring characteristics