US 2003/0193149 A1 · Kneeling valve

Abstract

A kneeling valve assembly for transport vehicles to enable a quick and convenient kneeling operation to permit safe ingress and egress from the vehicle. The kneeling valve assembly employs a suspension member positioned between the vehicle body and the axle of the transport vehicle to raise and lower the transport vehicle relative to a ground level. The kneeling valve assembly includes a first valve that is operable to selectively permit fluid flow between the inlet passage and the suspension member to raise the transport vehicle relative to the ground level. A second valve is provided that is operable to selectively permit fluid flow between the suspension member and the exhaust passage to lower the transport vehicle relative to the ground level. A leveling trigger is fluidly coupled to the inlet passage and is operable to determine a height of the transport vehicle relative to the ground level. Finally, a third valve is provided that is operable to selectively permit fluid flow between the inlet passage and the suspension member to maintain a predetermined height above the ground level.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A kneeling system for a transport vehicle, said transport vehicle having a suspension member coupled between a chassis and a wheel of said transport vehicle, said kneeling system comprising:

an inlet passage;
an exhaust passage;
a supply valve fluidly connectable between said inlet passage and the suspension member, said supply valve being positionable in a first position preventing fluid flow between said inlet passage and the suspension member and a second position permitting fluid flow between said inlet passage and the suspension member;
an exhaust valve fluidly connectable between said exhaust passage and the suspension member, said exhaust valve being positionable in a first position preventing fluid flow between the suspension member and said exhaust passage and a second position permitting fluid flow between the suspension member and said exhaust passage;
a leveling trigger fluidly coupled to said inlet passage;
and
a leveling valve fluidly connectable between said leveling trigger and the suspension member, said leveling valve being positionable in a first position permitting fluid flow between said inlet passage and the suspension member and a second position preventing fluid flow between said inlet passage and the suspension member.

4 more elements

A kneeling system for a transport vehicle, said transport vehicle having a vehicle body and an axle, said kneeling system comprising:

a suspension member positionable between the vehicle body and the axle of the transport vehicle, said suspension member being operable to raise and lower the transport vehicle relative to a ground level;
an inlet passage;
an exhaust passage;
a first valve fluidly coupled between said inlet passage and said suspension member, said first valve being positionable in a first position preventing fluid flow between said inlet passage and said suspension member and a second position permitting fluid flow between said inlet passage and said suspension member to raise the transport vehicle relative to said ground level;
a second valve fluidly coupled between said exhaust passage and said suspension member, said second valve being positionable in a first position preventing fluid flow between said suspension member and said exhaust passage and a second position permitting fluid flow between said suspension member and said exhaust passage to lower the transport vehicle relative to said ground level;
a leveling trigger fluidly coupled to said inlet passage, said leveling trigger being operable to determine a height of the transport vehicle relative to said ground level;
and
a third valve fluidly coupled between said leveling trigger and said suspension member, said third valve being positionable in a first position permitting fluid flow between said inlet passage and said suspension member and a second position preventing fluid flow between said inlet passage and said suspension member to maintain a predetermined height above said ground level.

5 more elements

A kneeling system for a transport vehicle, said transport vehicle having a vehicle body and an axle, said kneeling system comprising:

a suspension member positionable between the vehicle body and the axle of the transport vehicle, said suspension member being operable to raise and lower the transport vehicle relative to a ground level;
an inlet passage;
an exhaust passage;
a first poppet valve fluidly coupled between said inlet passage and said suspension member, said first poppet valve being operable to selectively permit fluid flow between said inlet passage and said suspension member to raise the transport vehicle relative to said ground level;
a second poppet valve fluidly coupled between said exhaust passage and said suspension member, said second poppet valve being operable to selectively permit fluid flow between said suspension member and said exhaust passage to lower the transport vehicle relative to said ground level;
a leveling trigger fluidly coupled to said inlet passage, said leveling trigger being operable to determine a height of the transport vehicle relative to said ground level;
and
a third poppet valve fluidly coupled between said leveling trigger and said suspension member, said third poppet valve being operable to selectively permit fluid flow between said inlet passage and said suspension member to maintain a predetermined height above said ground level.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Kneeling valve

Life of this patent

Kneeling valve

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18