Concurrent leveling system for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11034205-B2
Application number	US-201816136192-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2018
Priority date	Oct 18, 2017
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

A concurrent leveling system includes a pressurized air source. A manifold block, having a body defining an air feed inlet, is disposed between air springs and the pressurized air source. The body includes front and rear suspension valves. Each of the suspension valves defines a suspension valve orifice having a first predetermined diameter. The body includes at least one restrictor valve parallel to and in fluid communication with the front suspension valves. The at least one restrictor valve includes a first check valve and a first blocker valve orifice defining a first orifice diameter. The first check valve and the first blocker valve orifice are disposed parallel to one another and in series with the front suspension valves and in fluid communication with the air feed inlet and the front suspension valves for reducing fluid back flow to allow the vehicle to be lowered in nominal loading conditions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A concurrent leveling system for a vehicle having a pair of front air springs and a pair of rear air springs, said concurrent leveling system comprising:
a pressurized air source for supplying air to said front air springs and said rear air springs; and
a manifold block having a body defining an air feed inlet disposed between the air springs and said pressurized air source for controlling the fluid flow from said pressurized air source to said air springs;
wherein said body of said manifold block includes a plurality of suspension valves having a pair of front suspension valves and a pair of rear suspension valves each defining a suspension valve orifice having a first predetermined diameter for inhibiting and allowing the air to be conveyed from said pressurized air source through said manifold block; and
said body includes at least one restrictor valve disposed in series with said front suspension valves and in fluid communication with said front suspension valves for reducing fluid back flow to allow the vehicle to be lowered in nominal loading conditions;
wherein said at least one restrictor valve includes a first check valve and a first blocker valve orifice defining a first orifice diameter with said first check valve and said first blocker valve orifice being disposed parallel to one another and in series with said front suspension valves between said air feed inlet of said body and said front suspension valves and in fluid communication with said air feed inlet and said front suspension valves for reducing fluid back flow;
wherein said at least one restrictor valve includes a second check valve and a second blocker valve orifice defining a second orifice diameter with said second check valve and said second blocker valve orifice being disposed parallel to one another and in series with said rear suspension valves between said air feed inlet of said body and said rear suspension valves and spaced from said first blocker valve orifice and in fluid communication with said air feed inlet and said rear suspension valves.

2. The concurrent leveling system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first orifice diameter is equal to said first predetermined diameter.

3. The concurrent leveling system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first orifice diameter is smaller than said first predetermined diameter.

4. The concurrent leveling system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first orifice diameter is larger than said first predetermined diameter.

5. The concurrent leveling system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said second orifice diameter is larger than said first predetermined diameter.

6. The concurrent leveling system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one restrictor valve further includes a bypass valve disposed parallel to said first check valve and said first blocker valve orifice and in fluid communication with said air feed inlet and said front suspension valves for restoring balance flow.

7. The concurrent leveling system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said body includes a dryer isolation valve disposed between said air feed inlet and said at least one restrictor valve and in series with said first check valve and said first blocker valve orifice and said second check valve and said second blocker valve orifice to maintain an improved exhausted flow.

8. A manifold block for a concurrent leveling system for a vehicle having a pair of front air springs and a pair of rear air springs, said manifold block comprising:
a body defining an air feed inlet disposed between the air springs and a pressurized air source for controlling the fluid flow from the pressurized air source to the air springs;

said body including a plurality of suspension valves having a pair of front suspension valves and
a pair of rear suspension valves each defining a suspension valve orifice having a first predetermined diameter for inhibiting and allowing the air to be conveyed from the pressurized air source through said manifold block; and
said body including at least one restrictor valve disposed in series with said front suspension valves and in fluid communication with said front suspension valves for reducing fluid back flow to allow the vehicle to be lowered in nominal loading conditions;
wherein said at least one restrictor valve includes a first check valve and a first blocker valve orifice defining a first orifice diameter with said first check valve and said first blocker valve orifice being disposed parallel to one another and in series with said front suspension valves between said air feed inlet of said body and said front suspension valves and in fluid communication with said air feed inlet and said front suspension valves for reducing fluid back flow;
wherein said at least one restrictor valve includes a second check valve and a second blocker valve orifice defining a second orifice diameter with said second check valve and said second blocker valve orifice being disposed parallel to one another and in series with said rear suspension valves between said air feed inlet of said body and said rear suspension valves and spaced from said first blocker valve orifice and in fluid communication with said air feed inlet and said rear suspension valves.

Assignees

• Beijingwest Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Reuter David Fredrick
• Borgemenke Daniel Norbert
• Riddiford Bryan P
• D'Amico Brian Marc
• Dowe Laurene Marie
• Seim Martin H

Classifications

• B60G2500/302

  using distributor valves · CPC title

• B60G2400/51222

  Pneumatic · CPC title

• B60G17/0408

  details, e.g. antifreeze for suspension fluid, pumps, retarding means per se · CPC title

• B60G2500/2042

  Air filling valves · CPC title

• B60G17/0565

  Height adjusting valves · CPC title