Vehicle leveling system

Claim 2

In combination with an automotive vehicle having sprung and unsprung portions and comprising an engine driven electrical energy producing mechanism, a leveling system comprising at least one fluid actuatable leveling device for controlling the relative attitude between the vehicle portions, a source of actuating fluid for said leveling device and fluid passage defining means for communicating fluid between said source and said device, pump means for pumping fluid through said passage defining means and being drivingly connected to said electrical energy producing mechanism, whereby operation of said mechanism during energization of the vehicle engine will result in actuation of said pump means so that said pump means will maintain said actuating fluid at a preselected relatively constant pressure, and means responsive to preselected relative attitude changes of said vehicle portions for changing said fluid pressure and thereby effecting actuation of said leveling device.

Claim 3

The combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes an engine driven alternator having a rotatable drive shaft, a fluid pump including a rotatable drive shaft for pumping fluId through said passage defining means, and means including a coupling means drivingly connecting said drive of said alternator with said drive shaft of said pump.

Claim 4

The combination as set forth in claim 2 which includes support means fixedly secured to said alternator and adapted to support said pump adjacent thereto and in a position wherein said drive shaft of said pump is substantially coaxially aligned with said drive shaft of said alternator.

Claim 5

The combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes a valve actuatable in response to relative changes in attitude of said vehicle portions for changing the pressure of said fluid.

Claim 6

The combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes a pair of leveling devices each having one end thereof connected to the sprung portion of the vehicle and the opposite end thereof connected to the unsprung portion of the vehicle, and which further includes fluid accumulator means for receiving fluid from said source thereof and communicating the same to each of said leveling devices.

Claim 7

The combination as set forth in claim 1 which includes an engine driven alternator having a rotatable drive shaft, a fluid pump including a rotatable drive shaft for pumping fluid through said passage defining means , coupling means drivingly connecting said drive of said alternator with said drive shaft of said pump, which includes a position responsive fluid control means for controlling the flow of fluid between said source thereof and said leveling device in response to changes in attitude between the portions of the vehicle, a pair of leveling devices each having one end thereof connected to one portion of the vehicle and the opposite end thereof connected to the other portion of the vehicle, and fluid accumulator means for receiving fluid from said source thereof and communicating the same to each of said leveling devices, said fluid accumulator means including first and second deformable means adapted to move in response to preselected fluid pressure within said accumulator means.

Claim 8

In combination in a vehicle having a sprung portion and an unsprung portion and at least one fluid pressure responsive elevating means for controlling the relative attitude therebetween, a source of actuating fluid for the elevating means and fluid passage defining means for communicating fluid between said source and said elevating means, pumping means for pumping fluid through said passage defining means at a preselected relatively constant fluid pressure level, and means responsive to relative attitude changes of said vehicle portions for changing said fluid pressure from said relatively constant level and thereby actuating said elevating means.

Claim 9

In combination in a vehicle having a sprung portion and an unsprung portion and at least one fluid pressure responsive elevating means for controlling the relative attitude therebetween, a source of actuating fluid for the elevating means and fluid passage defining means for communicating fluid between said source and said elevating means, pumping means for pumping fluid through said passage defining means at a preselected relatively constant fluid pressure level, and means responsive to relative attitude changes of said vehicle portions for changing said fluid pressure from said relatively constant level and thereby actuating said elevating means.

Claim 10

The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said last mentioned means comprises position responsive means actuatable in response to changes in the relative attitude between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle.

Claim 11

The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said position responsive means in adapted to restrict the flow of actuating fluid between said source thereof and said elevating means.

Claim 12

The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said position responsive means includes valve means movable between positions opening and closing a flow passage between said fluid source and said elevating means.

Claim 13

The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said pumping means normally provides a relatively constant fluid pressure to said leveling means, and wherein said last mentioned means is operable to change said fluid pressure in response to preselected changes in attitude between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle.

Claim 14

The combination as set forth in claim 7 which includes an engine driven electrical energy producing means, and means drivingly connecting said electrical energy producing means with said pumping means.

Claim 15

The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said electrical energy producing means comprises an alternator. 14. The combination as set forth in claim 7 which includes fluid accumulator means adapted to receive fluid from said source thereof and communicate the same to said leveling device, said fluid accumulator means comprises an exterior housing and means defining first and second pressure chambers within said housing.

Claim 16

The combination as set forth in claim 7 which includes a pair of leveling devices each having one end thereof connected to the sprung portion of the vehicle and the opposite end thereof connected to the unsprung portion of the vehicle, and which further includes fluid accumulator means for receiving fluid from said source thereof and communicating the same to each of said leveling devices.

Claim 17

The combination as set forth in claim 7 wherein said last mentioned means comprises position responsive means actuatable in response to changes in the relative attitude between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle, wherein said pumping means normally provides a relatively constant fluid pressure to said leveling means, and wherein said last mentioned means is operable to change said fluid pressure in response to preselected changes in attitude between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle, an engine driven electrical energy producing means, means drivingly connecting said electrical energy producing means with said pumping means, a pair of leveling devices each having one end thereof connected to the sprung portion of the vehicle and the opposite end thereof connected to the unsprung portion of the vehicle, and fluid accumulator means for receiving fluid from said source thereof and communicating the same to each of said leveling devices.

Claim 18

The combination as set forth in claim 7 which includes a valve member for selectively controlling the flow of fluid between said source thereof and said elevating means, said valve member including a valve housing, a valve member cooperable with said housing to define a flow passage, and means for moving said valve member toward positions opening and closing said flow passage in response to relative movement between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle.

Claim 19

The combination as set forth in claim 17 which includes cam means for selectively moving said valve member from within said housing.

Claim 20

The combination as set forth in claim 17 which includes spring means resiliently urging said valve member toward a position closing said flow passage.

Claim 21

The combination as set forth in claim 18 which includes a sleeve member disposed within said housing, means supporting said sleeve member for relative rotational movement, which includes an eccentric cam member in said housing movable toward and away from said valve member in response to relative rotation of said sleeve member.

Claim 22

The combination as set forth in claim 20 which includes linkage means operatively connecting said sleeve member to said vehicle and adapted to move said cam member toward and away from said valve member in response to relative movement between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle.

Claim 23

The combination as set forth in claim 20 which includes shaft means for rotatably supporting said sleeve member, wherein said sleeve member has said cam member formed integrally thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom, and which includes a plunger element interposed between said cam member and said valve member.

Claim 24

The combination as set forth in claim 22 which includes means defining first and second pressure chambers comprising a pair of resilient compressible domed-shaped diaphragm members having elongated side wall sections extending longitudinally within said housing and defining said chambers with the opposite ends thereof.

Claim 25

The combination as set forth in claim 23 wherein said first and second pressure chambers defined by said diaphragm members are pressurized at different pressures.

Claim 26

The combination as set forth in claim 24 which includes a pair of longitudinally spaced end members clOsing the opposite ends of the said housing, said end members cooperating with said side wall sections of said diaphragm members to define said pressure chambers.

Claim 27

The combination as set forth in claim 25 which includes fluid passage means between the interior of said housing and said elevating means.

Claim 28

The combination as set forth in claim 26 which includes a pair of pressure responsive elevating means, which includes fluid passage means defining a fluid path from said source to the interior of said accumulator housing and between said accumulator housing and each of said elevating means.

Claim 29

The combination as set forth in claim 17 wherein said valve member is movable between first and second positions and is operable to restrict the flow of fluid through said valve house when moved toward either of said positions.

Claim 30

In combination in a vehicle having a sprung portion and an unsprung portion and at least one fluid pressure responsive elevating means for controlling the relative attitude therebetween, a source of actuating fluid for the elevating means and fluid passage defining means for communicating fluid between said source and said elevating means, pumping means for pumping fluid through said passage defining means, and a valve assembly for selectively controlling the flow of fluid between said source thereof and said elevating means, said valve assembly including a valve housing, a valve member cooperable with said housing to define a flow passage, spring means resiliently urging said valve member toward a position closing said flow passage, a sleeve member disposed within said housing, means supporting said sleeve member for relative rotational movement, and an eccentric cam member in said housing movable toward and away from said valve member in response to relative rotation of said sleeve member, and thereby moving said valve member toward positions opening and closing said flow passage in response to relative movement between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle.

Claim 31

In combination in a vehicle having a sprung portion and an unsprung portion and at least one fluid pressure responsive elevating means for controlling the relative attitude therebetween, a source of actuating fluid for the elevating means and fluid passage defining means for communicating fluid between said source and said elevating means, pumping means for pumping fluid through said passage defining means, and a valve assembly for selectively controlling the flow of fluid between said source thereof and said elevating means, said valve assembly including a valve housing, a valve member cooperable with said housing to define a flow passage, spring means resiliently urging said valve member toward a position closing said flow passage, a sleeve member disposed within said housing, means supporting said sleeve member for relative rotational movement, and an eccentric cam member in said housing movable toward and away from said valve member in response to relative rotation of said sleeve member, and thereby moving said valve member toward positions opening and closing said flow passage in response to relative movement between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle.

Claim 32

The combination as set forth in claim 29 which includes linkage means operatively connecting said sleeve member to said vehicle and adapted to move said cam member toward and away from said valve member in response to relative movement between the sprung and unsprung portions of the vehicle.

Claim 33

The combination as set forth in claim 29 which includes shaft means for rotatably supporting said sleeve member, wherein said sleeve member has said cam member formed integrally thereof and projecting outwardly therefrom, and which includes a plunger element interposed between said cam member and said valve member.

Claim 34

In combination in a vehicle having a sprung portion and an unsprung portion and at least one fluid pressure responsive elevating means for controlling the relative attitude therebetween. a source of actuating fluid for the elevating means and fluid passage defining means for communicating fluid between said source and said elevating means, pumping means for pumping fluid through said passage defining means, means for selectively controlling the actuation of said elevating means by controlling the pressure of the fluid communicated to said elevating means, a fluid accumulator adapted to receive fluid from said source thereof and communicate the same to said leveling device, said fluid accumulator comprises an exterior housing and a pair of resilient compressible elements extending longitudinally within said housing and defining said chambers with the opposite ends thereof, said elements comprising generally domed-shaped diaphragm members having elongated side wall sections pressurized at different pressures and extending longitudinally within said housing.

Claim 35

In combination in a vehicle having a sprung portion and an unsprung portion and at least one fluid pressure responsive elevating means for controlling the relative attitude therebetween. a source of actuating fluid for the elevating means and fluid passage defining means for communicating fluid between said source and said elevating means, pumping means for pumping fluid through said passage defining means, means for selectively controlling the actuation of said elevating means by controlling the pressure of the fluid communicated to said elevating means, a fluid accumulator adapted to receive fluid from said source thereof and communicate the same to said leveling device, said fluid accumulator comprises an exterior housing and a pair of resilient compressible elements extending longitudinally within said housing and defining said chambers with the opposite ends thereof, said elements comprising generally domed-shaped diaphragm members having elongated side wall sections pressurized at different pressures and extending longitudinally within said housing.

Claim 36

The combination as set forth in claim 32 which includes a pair of longitudinally spaced end members closing the opposite ends of said housing, said end members cooperating with said side wall sections of said diaphragm members to define said pressuRe chambers.

Claim 37

The combination as set forth in claim 33 which includes fluid passage means between the interior of said housing and said elevating means.

Claim 38

The combination as set forth in claim 33 which includes a pair of pressure responsive elevating means, which includes fluid passage means defining a fluid path from said source to the interior of said accumulator housing and between said accumulator housing and each of said elevating means.