Vehicle leveling control with vacuum regulator valve means

Claim 2

A vehicle load leveling system for maintaining an optimum level relationship between the front and rear of a vehicle by controlling the height relationship between the sprung mass and unsprung mass at the rear of the vehicle, comprising a pair of main suspension springs, each of said springs adapted to be connected betwEen the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle, a fluid pressure operator associated with each of said springs operative to control the length of said springs by imposing a simulated load thereon to maintain a desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass, an air bleed conduit in communication with said operator, an air supply conduit in communication with said operator, means for connecting said bleed conduit to a vacuum source for reducing the pressure in said operator to cause it to compress said spring to a predetermined minimal height when the vehicle is at curb load, air control valve means including a flexible lever having a fixed end and a movable end, means for connecting the movable end between the sprung and unsprung mass, said supply conduit located between said movable end and fixed end to be pinched therebetween when the vehicle is leveled, said movable end moving from said supply conduit to open it when the vehicle is loaded to direct ambient air into the fluid actuator so as to reduce the vacuum therein when the vehicle is loaded thereby to allow the springs to expand from their minimal height position to support the added load and to maintain a predetermined height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass of the vehicle.

Claim 3

A vehicle load leveling system for maintaining an optimum level relationship between the front and rear of a vehicle by controlling the height relationship between the sprung mass and unsprung mass at the rear of the vehicle, comprising a pair of main suspension springs, each of said springs adapted to be connected between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle, a fluid pressure operator associated with each of said springs operative to control the length of said springs by imposing a simulated load thereon to maintain a desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass, an air bleed conduit in communication with said operator, an air supply conduit in communication with said operator, maximum vacuum regulator valve means having an inlet connected to said air bleed conduit and an outlet adapted to be connected to a vacuum source for bleeding air through said bleed conduit to reduce the pressure in said operator to cause it to compress said spring to a predetermined minimal height when the vehicle is at curb load, means responsive to a predetermined pressure differential between atmosphere and operator pressure to prevent flow through said regulator valve to hold a predetermined pressure in the actuator for maintaining the spring in its minimal height position when the vehicle is at curb load, and air control valve means including a flexible lever having a first position against said supply conduit to pinch it closed and a second position spaced from said supply conduit to open it when the vehicle is loaded thereby to direct atmospheric air into the fluid operator so as to reduce the vacuum therein when the vehicle is loaded thereby to allow the springs to expand from their minimal height position to support the added load and to maintain a predetermined height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass of the vehicle.

Claim 4

A vehicle load leveling system for maintaining an optimum level relationship between the front and rear of a vehicle by controlling the height relationship between the sprung mass and unsprung mass at the rear of the vehicle, comprising a pair of main suspension springs, each of said springs adapted to be connected between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle, a fluid pressure operator associated with each of said springs operative to control the length of said springs by imposing a simulated load thereon to maintain a desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass, an air bleed conduit in communication with said operator, an air supply conduit in communication with said operator, maximum vacuum regulator valve means having an inlet connected to said air bleed conduit and an outlet adapted to be connected to a vacuum source for bleeding air through said bleed conduit to reduce the pressure in said operator to cause it to compress said spring to a predetermined minimal height when the vehicle is at curb load, means responsive to a predetermined pressure differential between atmosphere and operator pressure to prevent flow through said regulator valve to hold a predetermined pressure in the actuator for maintaining the spring in its minimal height position when the vehicle is at curb load, and air control valve means including a flexible lever having a first position against said supply conduit to pinch it closed and a second position spaced from said supply conduit to open it when the vehicle is loaded thereby to direct atmospheric air into the fluid operator so as to reduce the vacuum therein when the vehicle is loaded thereby to allow the springs to expand from their minimal height position to support the added load and to maintain a predetermined height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass of the vehicle.

Claim 5

A vehicle leveling system comprising spring means adapted to be connected between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle, pressure actuated means for controlling the length of said spring means to level the vehicle, a first and a second pressure supply, a first fluid conduit communicating said actuator with said first pressure supply to cause said pressure actuator to be conditioned to compress said spring to a minimal height relationship when the vehicle is unloaded, a second fluid conduit connected to said second pressure supply and to said actuator for changing the pressure in said actuator to permit said spring to extend from its minimal height position, a height responsive operator for selectively opening and closing said conduits including a first spring band overlying one of said conduits, a second spring band enclosed by said first band including an elongated fLexible lever extending therefrom, means for connecting said elongated lever between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle for causing movement of said lever with respect to said first band, said lever having a first operative position when the vehicle is unloaded to cause it to close said second fluid conduit and to open said first fluid conduit to cause said actuator to compress said spring and to maintain it in its minimum height relationship to maintain a desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle at curb load, said lever having a second operative position when the vehicle is loaded to cause it to close said first conduit between said lever and said first band and to open said second conduit to vary the pressure in said actuator to allow said spring to expand from its minimal height relationship to compensate for the additional load placed on said vehicle.

Claim 6

A vehicle leveling system comprising spring means adapted to be connected between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle, pressure actuated means for controlling the length of said spring means to level the vehicle, a first and a second pressure supply, a first fluid conduit communicating said actuator with said first pressure supply to cause said pressure actuator to be conditioned to compress said spring to a minimal height relationship when the vehicle is unloaded, a second fluid conduit connected to said second pressure supply and to said actuator for changing the pressure in said actuator to permit said spring to extend from its minimal height position, a height responsive operator for selectively opening and closing said conduits including a first spring band overlying one of said conduits, a second spring band enclosed by said first band including an elongated fLexible lever extending therefrom, means for connecting said elongated lever between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle for causing movement of said lever with respect to said first band, said lever having a first operative position when the vehicle is unloaded to cause it to close said second fluid conduit and to open said first fluid conduit to cause said actuator to compress said spring and to maintain it in its minimum height relationship to maintain a desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle at curb load, said lever having a second operative position when the vehicle is loaded to cause it to close said first conduit between said lever and said first band and to open said second conduit to vary the pressure in said actuator to allow said spring to expand from its minimal height relationship to compensate for the additional load placed on said vehicle.

Claim 7

A vehicle leveling system comprising a pair of main suspension springs, each of said springs adapted to be connected between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle, a bellows sleeve on each of said springs for compressing said springs when the vehicle is unloaded to maintain a desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung masses, a supply and exhaust conduit leading to each of said bellows sleeve for directing fluid thereto and therefrom, first and second conduits connected to said supply and exhaust conduits for connecting said conduit to first and second pressure sources, means for controlling fluid flow through each of said first and second conduits including a pair of spaced apart flexible spring bands and a base member, one of said first and second conduits extending between said first and second bands, the other of said lines extending between said second spring band and said base member, said second band having an elongated extension therefrom, means for connecting said elongated extension between the sprung and unsprung mass to be moved between first and second operative positions, said elongated extension in its first operative position causing said second band to close said other line and causing said one line to be maintained opened between said first and second bands thereby to connect the supply and exhaust conduit to said bellows to only one of said pressure sources to maintain said springs at a minimal height relationship when the vehicle is unloaded, said extension having a second operative position wherein said other line is maintained open between said base member and second band and wherein said one line is closed by the first and second spring bands to connect the bellows sleeve to the second pressure source to change the pressure therein to allow the main springs to carry the additional vehicle load thereby to maintain the desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass when the vehicle is loaded.

Claim 8

A vehicle leveling system comprising a pair of main suspension springs, each of said springs adapted to be connected between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle, a bellows sleeve on each of said springs for compressing said springs when the vehicle is unloaded to maintain a desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung masses, a supply and exhaust conduit leading to each of said bellows sleeve for directing fluid thereto and therefrom, first and second conduits connected to said supply and exhaust conduits for connecting said conduit to first and second pressure sources, means for controlling fluid flow through each of said first and second conduits including a pair of spaced apart flexible spring bands and a base member, one of said first and second conduits extending between said first and second bands, the other of said lines extending between said second spring band and said base member, said second band having an elongated extension therefrom, means for connecting said elongated extension between the sprung and unsprung mass to be moved between first and second operative positions, said elongated extension in its first operative position causing said second band to close said other line and causing said one line to be maintained opened between said first and second bands thereby to connect the supply and exhaust conduit to said bellows to only one of said pressure sources to maintain said springs at a minimal height relationship when the vehicle is unloaded, said extension having a second operative position wherein said other line is maintained open between said base member and second band and wherein said one line is closed by the first and second spring bands to connect the bellows sleeve to the second pressure source to change the pressure therein to allow the main springs to carry the additional vehicle load thereby to maintain the desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass when the vehicle is loaded.

Claim 9

In a vehicle leveling system of the type including a main spring and a vacuum actuator for controlling the extension of the main spring wherein the main spring is connected between the sprung and unsprung mass for maintaining a predetermined height relationship therebetween and wherein the vacuum actuator is controlled by being selectively connected to ambient air and to a vacuum source, the improvement comprising; a maximum vacuum valve controller including a valve body having an inlet adapted to be connected to a conduit connected to the vacuum bellows and an outlet adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, said valve body including a bore at one end thereof having a ball check valve therein, a passageway through said body closed by said ball in the absence of vacuum in the vacuum source, said passageway communicating with side openings in the valve body, means including a flexible sleeve connected to said valve body in surrounding relationship therewith to overlie said side openings to form a fluid flow chamber, said passageway, said side openings and chamber defining a flow path between said inlet and outlet, said flexible sleeve being responsive to a maximum vacuum condition within said chamber to be pressed by atmospheric air outwardly of said sleeve into engagement with said housing to close said side openings thereby to disconnect the vacuum actuator from the vacuum source upon the occurrence of a predetermined maximum vacuum within said actuator to cause it to maintain said springs at a minimum height.

Claim 10

In a vehicle leveling system of the type including a main spring and a vacuum actuator for controlling the extension of the main spring wherein the main spring is connected between the sprung and unsprung mass for maintaining a predetermined height relationship therebetween and wherein the vacuum actuator is controlled by being selectively connected to ambient air and to a vacuum source, the improvement comprising; a maximum vacuum valve controller including a valve body having an inlet adapted to be connected to a conduit connected to the vacuum bellows and an outlet adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, said valve body including a bore at one end thereof having a ball check valve therein, a passageway through said body closed by said ball in the absence of vacuum in the vacuum source, said passageway communicating with side openings in the valve body, means including a flexible sleeve connected to said valve body in surrounding relationship therewith to overlie said side openings to form a fluid flow chamber, said passageway, said side openings and chamber defining a flow path between said inlet and outlet, said flexible sleeve being responsive to a maximum vacuum condition within said chamber to be pressed by atmospheric air outwardly of said sleeve into engagement with said housing to close said side openings thereby to disconnect the vacuum actuator from the vacuum source upon the occurrence of a predetermined maximum vacuum within said actuator to cause it to maintain said springs at a minimum height.

Claim 11

A vehicle leveling system controller for controlling flow from first and second pressure sources into a supply conduit of a fluid pressurized variable volume chamber of a load leveler device adapted to be connected between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle for maintaining a predetermined height relationship therebetween comprising; a first conduit adapted to be connected to a first pressure source; a second conduit adapted to be connected to a second pressure source, means for connecting one end of each of said conduits to the variable volume chamber, the other end of one of said conduits being connected to atmosphere, the other of said conduits adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum, a fixed member adapted to be connected to one of the mass portions of a vehicle, first and second spring bands fixedly secured to said fixed member, one of said bands including a loop portion thereon with an elongated extension, the other of said bands having a loop portion outwardly of and in surrounding relationship to the loop portion of said first band including an end portion thereon, the end portion and the extension being located on either side of said conduit connected to the vacuum source, the other of said conduit being located between said extension and said fixed member, means for connecting said extension to the other of said masses, said extension selectively opening and closing said conduits upon relative movement between the sprung and unsprung mass, said extension having a first position when the vehicle is level and a second position when the vehicle is loaded, said extension holding said one conduit closed against the fixed member when in its first position, said extension opening said one conduit and closing said other conduit between the extension and the band end portion when the vehicle is loaded, said opening and closing of said tubes controlling the amount of pressure within said vacuum actuators to maintain the spring at a minimum height relationship when the vehicle is unloaded and to reduce the vacuum in the bellows when the vehicle is loaded to permit the spring to carry the additional vehicle load so as to maintain a desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle.

Claim 12

A vehicle leveling system controller for controlling flow from first and second pressure sources into a supply conduit of a fluid pressurized variable volume chamber of a load leveler device adapted to be connected between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle for maintaining a predetermined height relationship therebetween comprising; a first conduit adapted to be connected to a first pressure source; a second conduit adapted to be connected to a second pressure source, means for connecting one end of each of said conduits to the variable volume chamber, the other end of one of said conduits being connected to atmosphere, the other of said conduits adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum, a fixed member adapted to be connected to one of the mass portions of a vehicle, first and second spring bands fixedly secured to said fixed member, one of said bands including a loop portion thereon with an elongated extension, the other of said bands having a loop portion outwardly of and in surrounding relationship to the loop portion of said first band including an end portion thereon, the end portion and the extension being located on either side of said conduit connected to the vacuum source, the other of said conduit being located between said extension and said fixed member, means for connecting said extension to the other of said masses, said extension selectively opening and closing said conduits upon relative movement between the sprung and unsprung mass, said extension having a first position when the vehicle is level and a second position when the vehicle is loaded, said extension holding said one conduit closed against the fixed member when in its first position, said extension opening said one conduit and closing said other conduit between the extension and the band end portion when the vehicle is loaded, said opening and closing of said tubes controlling the amount of pressure within said vacuum actuators to maintain the spring at a minimum height relationship when the vehicle is unloaded and to reduce the vacuum in the bellows when the vehicle is loaded to permit the spring to carry the additional vehicle load so as to maintain a desired height relationship between the sprung and unsprung mass of a vehicle.