Method for air management
AssigneeSystem Integrators International, LLC
InventorMehdi AHMADIAN
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle, in which the pneumatic suspension system includes a supply tank, a first set of air springs positioned on a first side of the vehicle; a second set of air springs positioned on a second side of the vehicle, and a dual-action dynamic valve positioned between the first set of air springs and the second set of air springs. The dual-action dynamic valve is connected to the supply tank, the first set of air springs, and the second set of air springs by a series of air hoses. The dual-action dynamic valve is adapted to supply air to either one of the first set of air springs or the second set of air springs while simultaneously exhausting air from the other one of the first set of air springs or the second set of air springs.
Claims25
A pneumatic suspension system for a vehicle comprising:
- a supply tank;
- a first air spring positioned on a first side of the vehicle;
- a second air spring positioned on a second side of the vehicle;
- a dual-action dynamic valve positioned between the first air spring and the second air spring, wherein the dual-action dynamic valve is connected to the supply tank, the first air spring, and the second air spring by a series of air hoses,
- wherein the dual-action dynamic valve is configured to supply air to either one of the first air spring or the second air spring and to simultaneously exhaust air from the other one of the first air spring or the second air spring.
A method of improving stability of a vehicle during rapidly changing driving conditions comprising:
- controlling air flow to first and second sides of the vehicle by supplying air to at least one air spring on one of either the first side of the vehicle or the second side of the vehicle, while simultaneously exhausting air from at least one air spring on the other one of the first side of vehicle or the second side of the vehicle to lift a vehicle side in need of lifting and to lower a vehicle side in need of lowering in response to changing driving conditions;
- wherein said air flow is controlled by a dual-action dynamic valve connected to the at least one air spring on the first side of the vehicle and the at least one air spring on the second side of the vehicle.
A method of enabling a driver to more easily control a vehicle comprising:
- installing in said vehicle an air suspension system configured to control air flow to first and second sides of the vehicle by supplying air flow to at least one air spring on the first side of the vehicle and simultaneously releasing air from at least one air spring on the second side of the vehicle to lift the vehicle side in need of lifting and to lower the vehicle side in need of lowering in response to changing driving conditions;
- wherein said air flow is controlled by a dual-action dynamic valve connected to the at least one air spring on the first side of the vehicle and the at least one air spring on the second side of the vehicle.
A shuttle mechanism for a vehicle suspension dual-action dynamic valve, the shuttle mechanism comprising:
- a rotary disk, wherein the rotary disk comprises:
- a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface of the disk body faces opposite to the first surface of the disk body;
- a central aperture extending entirely through rotary disk from the first surface to the second surface;
- a plurality of grooves or through holes spaced around the central aperture, and each groove is recessed from the first surface of the disk body;
- an auxiliary disk, wherein the auxiliary disk comprises:
- an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a central aperture extending entirely through auxiliary disk from the lower surface to the upper surface;
- a plurality of holes spaced around the central aperture, and the plurality of holes includes a supply hole, an exhaust hole, a first spring hole, and a second spring hole equally spaced apart at about 90° along the periphery of the auxiliary disk, and the supply hole is aligned with the exhaust hole, and the first spring hole is aligned with the second spring hole;
- and
- wherein the first surface of rotary disk is configured to mate with the upper surface of the auxiliary disk so that the central aperture of the rotary disk is aligned with the central aperture of the auxiliary disk, and the rotary disk is configured to rotate with respect to the auxiliary disk between a plurality of angular positions including a base position, a first angular position, and a second angular position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.