Rotating three way valve for switchable air springs

A valve assembly for an air spring comprising;

• a casing disposed on a body axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end defining a compartment extending therebetween;
• a cap disposed at said proximal end and defining a first tank disposed in fluid communication with said compartment;
• a partitioning member slidably disposed in said compartment separating said compartment into a second tank and a third tank with said second tank being between said proximal end and said partitioning member and said third tank being between said partitioning member and said distal end;
• a valve including a body disposed in said compartment and extending through said partitioning member along said body axis between an opened end attached to said cap in fluid communication with said first tank and a closed end attached to said distal end and defining a cavity extending between said opened end and said closed end;
• a divider disposed in said cavity separating said cavity into an upper portion between said opened end and said divider and a lower portion between said closed end and said divider;
• said body defining at least two orifices including at least one upper orifice in fluid communication with said cavity and said second tank and at least one lower orifice axially spaced from said at least one upper orifice and in fluid communication with said cavity and said third tank;
• and
• an actuator disposed in said cavity of said body and rotatable along said body axis in fluid communication with said first tank and said second tank and said third tank and movable from a first position with said actuator being in fluid communication with said first tank alone to a second position allowing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank and a third position allowing fluid communication between said first tank and said third tank and a fourth position allowing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank and said third tank.

An air spring assembly comprising:

• a housing defining a chamber disposed on a center axis;
• a piston disposed in said chamber;
• a bellows disposed in said chamber and extending between a primary end secured to said housing and a secondary end secured to said piston defining a pocket extending between said housing and said piston;
• a casing disposed on a body axis spaced from said center axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end defining a compartment extending therebetween;
• a cap disposed at said proximal end and defining a first tank disposed in fluid communication with said compartment;
• a partitioning member slidably disposed in said compartment separating said compartment into a second tank and a third tank with said second tank being between said proximal end and said partitioning member and said third tank being between said partitioning member and said distal end;
• a valve including a body disposed in said compartment and extending through said partitioning member along said body axis between an opened end attached to said cap in fluid communication with said first tank and a closed end attached to said distal end and defining a cavity extending between said opened end and said closed end;
• a divider disposed in said cavity separating said cavity into an upper portion between said opened end and said divider and a lower portion between said closed end and said divider;
• said body defining at least two orifices including at least one upper orifice in fluid communication with said cavity and said second tank and at least one lower orifice axially spaced from said at least one upper orifice and in fluid communication with said cavity and said third tank;
• and
• an actuator disposed in said cavity of said body and rotatable along said body axis in fluid communication with said first tank and said second tank and said third tank and movable from a first position with said actuator being in fluid communication with said first tank alone to a second position allowing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank and a third position allowing fluid communication between said first tank and said third tank and a fourth position allowing fluid communication between said first tank and said second tank and said third tank.