Valve for a pneumatic leveling system

Abstract

Abstract A semiautomatic activating valve for a level control for a suspension system having pneumatic support means, such as shock absorbers or air bags. The suspension system has a feeler consisting of two relatively movable parts, one being fixed to either the sprung or the unsprung structure of the vehicle and the other being movable toward the other structure by air from a source under pressure, such as a tank or a compressor, that is fed to the feeler by manual actuation of the valve from closed to open position. The valve has retaining means which hold it in open position to supply air to the feeler which extends its movable part to sense the distance separating the sprung and unsprung structures. The feeler has two alternatively openable ports between the support means and (1) atmosphere or (2) the air supply line from the valve. When the sprung structure is too low, the feeler feeds air to the support means until the sprung structure moves up to predetermined ''''level'''' spacing and the feeler moves up therewith to its ''''level''''position. When the sprung structure is too high, the feeler extends and opens the line from the support means to atmosphere to lower the sprung structure to ''''level'''' spacing which moves the feeler down, to close the vent line. The valve also comprises a piston which is responsive to a predetermined pressure in the air line from the valve to the feeler for restoring the valve to its closed position. This results when the feeler extends to or beyond its ''''level'''' position or if the sprung structure is low but the source air is unable to raise it at least to ''''level'''' position so the feeler cannot extend and the pressure in the feeler builds up.

Inventors

• 👤 Walter T Buhl

Bibliographic Details