Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Patent
1992-05-07
1993-12-28
Focarino, Margaret A.
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
280714, 280840, B60G 1700, B60G 1126
Patent
active
052733084
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to air suspension systems for load carrying vehicles and to load carrying vehicles incorporating air suspension systems.
In such systems and vehicles there is provided at least one height control valve operatively connected, or adapted to be connected, between the vehicle and one axle, and pneumatically connected to a source of pressure air and to air springs As the axle to vehicle distance is varied, depending on the loading of the vehicle, the height control valve operates to admit pressure air to, or exhaust air from, the air springs to restore the vehicle-to-axle distance to its design value. In multi-axle installations provision is made for equalising the loads on the axles by interconnecting the air springs at each side of the vehicle. When such a vehicle enters a loading bay or dock (hereinafter referred to as a dock) to be loaded or unloaded it is frequently the case that the vehicle platform height is different from that of the dock. Accordingly, the air suspension system has provision (conventionally known as a Raise/Lower valve) for overriding, or by-passing, the height control valve so that the vehicle platform height can be adjusted, by raising or lowering, to equate with the height of the dock. Generally, where the vehicle is a trailer, the tractor will remain coupled to the trailer whilst the loading/unloading operation is carried out so that the dock can be vacated without delay to accept the next vehicle. However, this is not necessarily so and the tractor may be uncoupled from the trailer when the latter has been docked Such an air suspension system as described is hereinafter referred to as "an air suspension system of the type described".
If the vehicle platform height has been raised or lowered on docking, the operator should operate the system to restore the vehicle platform height to its normal ride height before moving the vehicle from the dock. If, however, he fails to do so, damage can be caused to the suspension system and/or to its shock absorbers.
The purpose of this invention is to make provision in an air suspension system of the type described for ensuring that the air suspension is restored to its normal ride height condition when a vehicle to which the system is fitted is moved following a raise or lower operation of the vehicle platform.
According to a first aspect the present invention consists in an air suspension system for a load carrying vehicle, the system comprising air springs, a height control valve means connected to the air springs and adapted to be pneumatically connected to a pressure air supply, and a first valve. means whereby the height control valve means can be over-ridden, or by-passed, in use to vary the height of a load-carrying platform of the vehicle relative to an axle of the vehicle from a normal ride height, wherein the first valve means is connected via second valve means to the air springs, the second valve means having first and second operating conditions and being connected to the height control valve means whereby in said first condition the air springs are enabled to be inflated/deflated via the height control valve means and in said second condition the air springs are connected to the first valve means whereby the air springs may be inflated/deflated, and wherein remote operating means is provided to cause the second valve means to be operated to the second condition, the remote operating means comprising a selector valve having first and second operating conditions being adapted to be connected to a pressure air supply and being in pressurized fluid communication with the second valve means for remote operation thereof when the selector valve is operated to its first operating condition and wherein means is provided to operate the selector valve to its second operating condition whereby the second valve means operates in its first operating condition and inflation/deflation of the air springs is controlled by the height control valve means.
The selector valve may be a pilot operated valve, the pilot being pneumati
REFERENCES:
patent: 4335901 (1982-06-01), Gladish
patent: 4558886 (1985-12-01), Straub
patent: 4733876 (1988-03-01), Heider et al.
patent: 4865349 (1989-09-01), Church, Jr.
patent: 4923210 (1990-05-01), Heider et al.
English Peter
Focarino Margaret A.
Rubery Owen-Rockwell Limited
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