US3592485A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Manually activated level control for automobiles
Assignee: AINSWORTH IND CORP AND HAROLD
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Filing: 1969-10-22
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Granted: 1971-07-13
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Expires: 1989-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A manually activated level control for an automobile suspension system having pneumatic support means, such as air springs or shock absorbers, and a source of air under pressure which is connected to the support means as necessary to compensate for changes in vehicle load in order to maintain a predetermined spatial relationship between the sprung body and the axle and wheels. The level control has a manually actuated pushbutton valve which supplies air under pressure to a feeler. The feeler has two relatively movable parts. The base of the feeler is mounted on either the sprung part of the vehicle (i.e., the chassis or body) or on an unsprung part, such as the rear axle, and the other part is extended by the air supplied to the feeler into contact with the other one of the chassis body or axle. If the axle is too close to the chassis, the feeler opens a port which connects the air under pressure to the support means, thus to raise the chassis relative to the axle. If the chassis and axle are too far apart, the feeler opens a port to vent the support means, thus to lower the chassis. Air is fed into or vented out of the pneumatic support means only when the pushbutton valve is actuated and only enough to bring the chassis and body to the desired, nominally ''''level'''' position relative to the axle and wheels.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter T Buhl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:54
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60G; B60G17/00; B60G17/06; B60G17/08; B60G17/02; B60G17/04; B60G21/00; B60G21/02; B60G21/06; B60G21/073
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A manually activated level control for an automobile having a sprung body structure and an unsprung axle structure and including pneumatic means for at least partially supporting the sprung structure of said automobile above the unsprung structure of said automobile, the vertical distance between said structures varying inversely to the load on said sprung structure and there being a desired ''''level'''' spacing between said structures, said control comprising, in combination, a source of air under greater than atmospheric pressure, a feeler mounted on one of said automobile structures and comprising a member movable toward a part of the other of said automobile structures in response to the admission of air under pressure into said feeler, said member being movable from a retracted position to a predetermined ''''level'''' position and beyond such ''''level'''' position toward said other automobile structure when said automobile structures are spaced at a distance greater than such ''''level'''' spacing therebetween, a part of the said other of said automobile structures that is engageable by said movable member when the spacing between said structures is less than ''''level'''' spacing, a manually operable valve, a first air line connecting said manually operable valve to said air source, a second air line connecting said manually operable valve to said feeler, said manually operable valve being actuatable for placing said air source in communication with said feeler, a third air line connecting said feeler to said pneumatic support means, a first valve movable with said member for connecting said second air line to said third air line during movement of said member toward such predetermined ''''level'''' position thereof, and a second valve movable with said member for connecting said third air line to atmosphere when said member is extended beyond such ''''level'''' position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A manually activated level control for an automobile having a sprung body structure and an unsprung axle structure and including pneumatic means for at least partially supporting the sprung structure of said automobile above the unsprung structure of said automobile, the vertical distance between said structures varying inversely to the load on said sprung structure and there being a desired ''''level'''' spacing between said structures, said control comprising, in combination, a source of air under greater than atmospheric pressure, a feeler mounted on one of said automobile structures and comprising a member movable toward a part of the other of said automobile structures in response to the admission of air under pressure into said feeler, said member being movable from a retracted position to a predetermined ''''level'''' position and beyond such ''''level'''' position toward said other automobile structure when said automobile structures are spaced at a distance greater than such ''''level'''' spacing therebetween, a part of the said other of said automobile structures that is engageable by said movable member when the spacing between said structures is less than ''''level'''' spacing, a manually operable valve, a first air line connecting said manually operable valve to said air source, a second air line connecting said manually operable valve to said feeler, said manually operable valve being actuatable for placing said air source in communication with said feeler, a third air line connecting said feeler to said pneumatic support means, a first valve movable with said member for connecting said second air line to said third air line during movement of said member toward such predetermined ''''level'''' position thereof, and a second valve movable with said member for connecting said third air line to atmosphere when said member is extended beyond such ''''level'''' position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A level control according to claim 1 in which the feeler comprises an air cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a contact member movable with said piston and adapted to engage the other automobile structure and in which the first and second valves are alternatively opened by movement of said movable contact member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
A level control according to claim 1 in which the feeler comprises an air cylinder and a piston and rod in said air cylinder; each of the first and second valves consists of a valve port in the wall of said cylinder and a valve head on said piston rod; and the movable member is a head on the end of said piston rod.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A level control according to claim 1 in which the feeler comprises an air cylinder and a piston in said cylinder; the first valve comprises a port communicating with the source of air under pressure and communicating through the respective one of the air lines with the pneumatic support means; the second valve comprises a port communicating through such air line to atmosphere and valve actuators for said valves that are movable with the movable member for alternatively opening said valves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A level control according to claim 4 in which each of the first and second valves consists of a cylinder having a closed end and two axially spaced air line ports in its wall and a piston movable in said cylinder between a position intermediate said ports and a position wherein said ports are located between said closed end and said piston; and a mechanical operating connection between the movable member and said valve pistons for alternatively moving said pistons between such positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
174 words
A manually activated level control for an automobile, said control comprising, in combination, a source of air under greater than atmospheric pressure, a feeler mounted on one structure of the automobile that is connected to another structure by pneumatic support means, said feeler comprising a member movable toward a part of the other of Said automobile structures in response to the admission of air under pressure into said feeler, a manually operable valve, a first air line connecting said valve to said air source, a second air line connecting said valve to said feeler, said manually operable valve being actuatable for placing said air source in communication with said feeler, a third air line connecting said feeler to said pneumatic support means, a first valve movable with said member for connecting said second air line to said third air line during movement of said member toward the other of said automobile structures and a second valve movable with said member for connecting said third air line to atmosphere when said member is fully extended.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
174 words
A manually activated level control for an automobile, said control comprising, in combination, a source of air under greater than atmospheric pressure, a feeler mounted on one structure of the automobile that is connected to another structure by pneumatic support means, said feeler comprising a member movable toward a part of the other of Said automobile structures in response to the admission of air under pressure into said feeler, a manually operable valve, a first air line connecting said valve to said air source, a second air line connecting said valve to said feeler, said manually operable valve being actuatable for placing said air source in communication with said feeler, a third air line connecting said feeler to said pneumatic support means, a first valve movable with said member for connecting said second air line to said third air line during movement of said member toward the other of said automobile structures and a second valve movable with said member for connecting said third air line to atmosphere when said member is fully extended.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
185 words
A manually activated level control for an automobile having pneumatic body support means, said control comprising, in combination, a source of air under greater than atmospheric pressure, a feeler mechanism positioned between the sprung and unsprung structures of said automobile, said feeler being mounted on one of said structures and comprising a member movable toward a part of the other of said structures in response to the admission of air under pressure into said feeler, a manually operable valve, a first air line connecting said valve to said air source, a second air line connecting said valve to said feeler mechanism, said manually operable valve being actuatable for placing said air source in communication with said feeler mechanism, a third air line connecting said feeler mechanism to said pneumatic support means, a first valve movable with said member for connecting said second air line to said third air line during movement of said member toward a predetermined ''''level'''' position thereof, and a second valve movable with said member for connecting said third air line to atmosphere when said member is moved beyond such ''''level'''' position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
185 words
A manually activated level control for an automobile having pneumatic body support means, said control comprising, in combination, a source of air under greater than atmospheric pressure, a feeler mechanism positioned between the sprung and unsprung structures of said automobile, said feeler being mounted on one of said structures and comprising a member movable toward a part of the other of said structures in response to the admission of air under pressure into said feeler, a manually operable valve, a first air line connecting said valve to said air source, a second air line connecting said valve to said feeler mechanism, said manually operable valve being actuatable for placing said air source in communication with said feeler mechanism, a third air line connecting said feeler mechanism to said pneumatic support means, a first valve movable with said member for connecting said second air line to said third air line during movement of said member toward a predetermined ''''level'''' position thereof, and a second valve movable with said member for connecting said third air line to atmosphere when said member is moved beyond such ''''level'''' position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
299 words
In a level control for an automobile having pneumatic suspension means between the sprung and unsprung structures of said automobile, said control comprising an air cylinder mounted on one of said structures, a piston rod in said cylinder, the end of said rod protruding through one end of said cylinder toward the other of said structures, and said rod being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, two valve heads on said piston rod, one of said valve heads being carried at the inner end of said rod and the second of said valve heads being carried on said rod at a position approximately midway of said cylinder when said rod is in retracted position in said cylinder, a first valve port in the wall of said cylinder at the inner side of said second valve head when said rod is in retracted position, a second valve port in the wall of said cylinder at the inner side of said second valve head when said rod is in fully extended position, said second valve port communicating with atmosphere, a source of air under pressure, a manually operable activating valve mounted interiorly of said automobile, a first air line connecting said source to said activating valve, a second air line connecting said activating valve to the inner end of said cylinder and to said first valve port, and a third air line connecting said pneumatic support means to the interior of said cylinder between said valve heads, the axial distance between said valve heads being less than the axial distance between said first and second valve ports, whereby said first valve port is isolated from said third air line as said rod is extended before said second valve port is placed in communication with said third air line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
299 words
In a level control for an automobile having pneumatic suspension means between the sprung and unsprung structures of said automobile, said control comprising an air cylinder mounted on one of said structures, a piston rod in said cylinder, the end of said rod protruding through one end of said cylinder toward the other of said structures, and said rod being movable between a retracted position and an extended position, two valve heads on said piston rod, one of said valve heads being carried at the inner end of said rod and the second of said valve heads being carried on said rod at a position approximately midway of said cylinder when said rod is in retracted position in said cylinder, a first valve port in the wall of said cylinder at the inner side of said second valve head when said rod is in retracted position, a second valve port in the wall of said cylinder at the inner side of said second valve head when said rod is in fully extended position, said second valve port communicating with atmosphere, a source of air under pressure, a manually operable activating valve mounted interiorly of said automobile, a first air line connecting said source to said activating valve, a second air line connecting said activating valve to the inner end of said cylinder and to said first valve port, and a third air line connecting said pneumatic support means to the interior of said cylinder between said valve heads, the axial distance between said valve heads being less than the axial distance between said first and second valve ports, whereby said first valve port is isolated from said third air line as said rod is extended before said second valve port is placed in communication with said third air line.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-12 | 1975-01-11 | 1975-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-12 | 1979-01-11 | 1979-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-12 | 1983-01-11 | 1983-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |