US 2017/0282671 A1 · Ride Height Leveling with Selectable Configurations: System and Method

Abstract

Disclosed is a configurable dynamic valve. In various embodiments the valve operates to control a pneumatic leveling system for vehicles and provide the capability for an operator to select an elevated or lowered ride height, to block air flow in and out of the leveling air bags, or to dump air from the air bags controlling the ride height. In various embodiments, the valve utilizes rotary disks which contain actuate apertures, wherein the disks form seals between ports which connect various inlet and outlet chambers such that the pneumatically selected operative disk apertures and ports provide air flow in or out of leveling air bags dynamically at a selected ride height during varying load and road conditions. In various embodiments, the modular design of the valve components allows for an easily configurable valve which may be customized to a particular application with a minimum of effort and manufacturing cost.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A valve comprising;

an inlet port;
a common inlet chamber:,
a first inlet chamber;
a second inlet chamber;
a first rotor valve incorporating a plurality of apertures, wherein the first rotor valve separates the common inlet chamber and the first inlet chamber,
a second rotor valve incorporating a plurality of apertures, wherein the second rotor valve separates the common inlet chamber and the second inlet chamber,
at least one pressure seal incorporating an aperture abutting each rotor valve and having the aperture open to the common inlet chamber,
a first outlet orifice,
a second outlet orifice,
a shaft assembly which includes a shaft member and each of the rotor valves being mounted on the shaft member;
a lever mounted on the shaft assembly wherein the rotor valves are angularly configurable to be keyed to the lever and to each other at configurable angular offsets;
wherein the inlet port is pneumatically connected to the at least one pressure seal abutting each rotor valve through the aperture in each pressure seal and the pressure seals are pneumatically connected to either, one, or both the first inlet chamber and the second inlet chamber according to the rotational orientation of the shaft and positions of pressure seals against the corresponding rotor valve, wherein according to configurable rotational positions of the incorporated apertures and shaft, the inlet port is pneumatically connected to either;
one or both the first outlet orifice and the second outlet orifice.

10 more elements

A leveling control system adapted for operation with pressurized air from a pressurized air source through flow paths and valves to provide configuration modes of operation comprising:

a common structure having a duplex rotor valve module and a pilot selection module that permit customized parts for adapting the leveling control system to selected optional operation wherein the optional operation is selected from the group consisting of;
an elevated ride height option that provides configuration modes A1, A2 and A3;
an lowered ride height option that provides configuration modes B1, B2 and B3;
and a blocking option that provides configuration modes C1, C2 and C3.

1 more element

A method for configurable dynamic vehicle leveling comprising:

linking a vehicle chassis and a vehicle axle with a physical link wherein the link translates a vertical distance between the vehicle chassis and the vehicle axle to an angular translation of a rotational valve which valve may be configured in at least two configurations and for each configuration to operate in at least two modes, wherein each of the valve configurations comprises a default operating mode wherein the valve forms a pneumatic connection according to the valve configuration and operator selected mode according to the vehicle chassis to axle distance, wherein the valve comprises two rotor valves wherein the rotor valves and associated valve chambers are configured to enable operation of the valve within a default range of vehicle heights and a second operating mode when signaled by an operator, wherein the second condition is either a second vehicle height range or a mode wherein air flow in and out of the leveling air bags is blocked;
selecting the operating mode as the default condition, or the second condition by actuating a pilot signal sent to a shuttle valve assembly;
leveling the vehicle by inflating or deflating one or more leveling air bags positioned to raise or lower the vehicle chassis above the axle respectively to maintain a default height or if so configured a second height according to a signal from the operator;
whereby the valve is configured to operate in at least two modes for at least two configurations, the first configuration having operating modes of at least the default tide height range and a second ride height range, and the second configuration having operating modes of at least the default ride height range and the blocking mode.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ride Height Leveling with Selectable Configurations: System and Method

Life of this patent

Ride Height Leveling with Selectable Configurations: System and Method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30