Gas distribution device for air suspension and air suspension system

Abstract

The utility model belongs to the technical field of air suspension systems, and particularly relates to a gas distribution device for an air suspension and an air suspension system. The gas distribution device for the air suspension is used in cooperation with a controller or in cooperation with the controller and a compressor and comprises a valve body, and a plurality of gas channels and a plurality of gas source connectors are arranged in the valve body; a pressure sensor, an air inlet connector, an air outlet connector, a pneumatic connector and an electromagnetic valve are installed on the valve body. The plurality of pneumatic joints are respectively connected with the corresponding air springs or air storage tanks; the multiple electromagnetic valves are used for achieving switching of different gas channels. The pressure sensor is used for monitoring the pressure in the gas channel. The electromagnetic valves and the pressure sensors are assembled with the valve body in a sealed mode through glue pouring or pressing riveting. A motor installation groove is formed in the side, opposite to the electromagnetic valve, of the valve body, and a motor power source through hole for containing the connector is formed in the side of the motor installation groove. The device is high in integration degree, good in sealing performance, more convenient to maintain and higher in reliability.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of air suspension systems, specifically relating to a gas distribution device for air suspension and an air suspension system. Background Technology

[0002] As a key chassis component in modern high-end vehicles (such as passenger cars, commercial vehicles, and construction machinery), the air suspension system dynamically controls vehicle height, stiffness, and comfort by adjusting the air pressure of the air springs. Its core function relies on the precise distribution and control of compressed air, and the gas distribution device is the "nerve center" of this process, responsible for coordinating the gas flow between the compressor, air tank, air springs, and the external environment to ensure stable operation of the system under different operating conditions.

[0003] Traditional air suspension consists of components such as air springs, shock absorbers, air tanks, compressors, gas distribution devices, and controllers. The gas distribution device typically comprises solenoid valves, pressure sensors, coils, and air piping, connected to the controller via electrical wiring harnesses to achieve its function. This modular design achieved basic functionality in early technological developments, but with increasing demands for automotive intelligence, integration, and reliability, its inherent shortcomings have gradually become apparent, such as:

[0004] 1. The dispersed components result in a large space occupation and complex assembly: Components such as compressors, gas distribution devices, and controllers need to be fixed in different positions on the chassis (such as the frame and the inside of the wheel arches), occupying a lot of installation space; each component needs to be positioned and connected to pipes and wiring harnesses multiple times, with many interfaces, time-consuming assembly, and the pipes are prone to loosening and air leakage due to vibration;

[0005] 2. Insufficient reliability: In traditional designs, the motor (high-voltage or low-voltage wiring harness) or gas distribution device is connected to the controller via an external plug. The plug is exposed in the chassis environment and is susceptible to corrosion from mud, water, and salt spray, which can lead to increased contact resistance, poor wiring contact, short circuits, or open circuits.

[0006] 3. High maintenance costs: The solenoid valve and coil are both injection molded in the gas distribution device. If one of them is damaged, the entire gas distribution device needs to be replaced, which increases maintenance costs.

[0007] The aforementioned defects have become a bottleneck restricting further optimization of air suspension performance. Utility Model Content

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a distribution device and air suspension system for air suspension, so as to solve the technical problems of dispersed components, large space occupation, and high maintenance costs in the existing air suspension gas distribution system.

[0009] To solve the above problems, the air distribution device for air suspension provided by this utility model adopts the following technical solution:

[0010] An air distribution device for air suspension, used in conjunction with a controller or a controller and compressor, includes a valve body with multiple gas channels and multiple gas source interfaces; the valve body is equipped with a pressure sensor, an intake connector, an exhaust connector, a pneumatic connector and a solenoid valve;

[0011] Multiple pneumatic connectors are provided, which are respectively connected to the air springs or air tanks at the corresponding positions of the vehicle; multiple solenoid valves are provided, and the switching of different gas channels is achieved by switching the corresponding solenoid valves; pressure sensors are used to monitor the pressure inside the gas channels; all solenoid valves and pressure sensors are located on the same side of the valve body, and all solenoid valves and pressure sensors are sealed to the valve body by potting or riveting.

[0012] The valve body has a motor mounting slot on the opposite side of the solenoid valve for mounting the compressor motor, and a motor power through hole is provided next to the motor mounting slot for mounting a connector that connects the motor and the controller.

[0013] Furthermore, the valve body is provided with a drying chamber for placing desiccant, and a sealing assembly is detachably connected to the opening position of the drying chamber on the valve body, and the drying chamber is connected to the corresponding gas channel.

[0014] Furthermore, the drying chamber is provided in one or more, and the drying chambers are interconnected. Each drying chamber has an opening, and the sealing assembly can be detachably installed at each opening.

[0015] Furthermore, the sealing assembly includes a plug, a sealing ring, and an elastic retaining ring. The sealing ring is fitted onto the plug, and the plug and the cavity wall of the drying chamber are slidably sealed together by the sealing ring. The cavity wall of the drying chamber is provided with a groove whose outer diameter is larger than that of the plug. The elastic retaining ring is inserted into the groove and is engaged with the plug. The elastic retaining ring can be elastically deformed along its radial direction to be removed from the opening of the drying chamber.

[0016] The technical advantages of this utility model's air suspension gas distribution device are:

[0017] 1. This application integrates core components such as pressure sensors, inlet connectors, exhaust connectors, pneumatic connectors, and solenoid valves onto a single valve body. This simplifies the structure and replaces the traditional split-type structure where independent components are connected via external piping and wiring harnesses, reducing the number of external interfaces and thus reducing potential leakage points. The integrated structure is compact, smaller in size, and occupies less space.

[0018] 2. The integrated valve body reduces the risk of gas leakage through internal gas channels and potting sealing process, which significantly improves long-term reliability, especially in the high-frequency vibration environment of the automobile chassis.

[0019] 3. The gas distribution device of this application can be used in conjunction with a controller or with a controller and a compressor. The coil is installed on the controller. If the coil fails, it can be replaced separately without affecting the use of the gas distribution device.

[0020] 4. By placing the drying chamber inside the valve body, replacing the desiccant in the drying chamber only requires removing the sealing components, greatly reducing maintenance costs. At the same time, the integrated design of the drying chamber avoids interference with the internal air passage of the valve body during the replacement process of using an independent dryer, ensuring that the system's sealing performance is not affected after maintenance, ensuring that the air inside the air suspension system is dry, preventing corrosion of components such as solenoid valves and pressure sensors in the system, and extending their service life.

[0021] 5. The motor power supply is directly connected to the controller through the motor power through-hole inside the valve body, avoiding the connector bundle being exposed in the chassis environment and preventing power failures caused by changes in the external environment. The pressure sensor and valve body are further sealed with potting compound to isolate moisture and ensure the stability of the pressure monitoring signal.

[0022] The technical solution of the air suspension system of this utility model is as follows:

[0023] An air suspension system, including the air suspension gas distribution device in the above-mentioned technical solutions.

[0024] The beneficial effects of the air suspension system of this utility model are:

[0025] The air suspension system of this utility model adopts an integrated air suspension gas distribution device, which has a simpler structure, is more convenient to maintain, operates more stably, occupies less space, and has a longer service life. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the gas distribution device for air suspension according to this utility model. Figure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the gas distribution device for air suspension according to this utility model. Figure 2 ;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a front view of the gas distribution device for air suspension according to this utility model;

[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 3 AA sectional view.

[0030] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0031] 1. Valve body; 2. Pressure sensor; 3. Inlet connector; 4. Exhaust connector; 5. Upper drying chamber; 6. Lower drying chamber; 7. Blockage; 8. Sealing ring; 9. Elastic retaining ring; 10. Motor mounting slot; 11. Motor power through hole; 12. Pneumatic connector; 13. Solenoid valve. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should know that the embodiments described below are some embodiments of the present disclosure, but not all embodiments.

[0033] An embodiment of the gas distribution device for air suspension provided by this utility model:

[0034] The air suspension gas distribution device is used in conjunction with the controller or with both the controller and compressor. For example... Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the air distribution device for air suspension includes a valve body 1 and a pressure sensor 2, an intake connector 3, an exhaust connector 4, a pneumatic connector 12, and a solenoid valve 13, all of which are sealed and mounted on the valve body 1.

[0035] The valve body 1 is integrally molded using injection molding. Of course, in other embodiments, the valve body 1 can also be made of metal, such as aluminum, through extrusion molding, and the holes and gas passages on the valve body 1 can be machined.

[0036] The valve body 1 has multiple gas channels and a drying chamber for placing a desiccant, which can be a drying molecular sieve. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, there are two drying chambers, namely an upper drying chamber 5 and a lower drying chamber 6, which are separated from each other and connected by a connecting hole. One end of the upper drying chamber 5 and the lower drying chamber 6 is open, and the other end is closed; the open end is detachably connected to a sealing assembly. Of course, in other embodiments, depending on the actual usage, there may be only one drying chamber or more than three.

[0037] In this embodiment, the sealing assembly includes a plug 7, a sealing ring 8, and an elastic retaining ring 9. The sealing ring 8 is fitted onto the plug 7, and the plug 7 and the cavity wall of the drying chamber are slidably sealed together by the sealing ring 8. The cavity wall of the drying chamber is provided with a groove whose outer diameter is larger than that of the plug 7. The elastic retaining ring 9 can be a retaining spring. The elastic retaining ring 9 can deform radially. During installation, the elastic retaining ring 9 is engaged in the groove, which stops and limits the plug 7 in its axial direction. During disassembly, the elastic retaining ring 9 is pressed radially, and the elastic retaining ring 9 undergoes elastic deformation in its radial direction, so that it can be removed from the openings of the upper drying chamber 5 and the lower drying chamber 6. Then, the plug 7 can be pulled out, and the desiccant in the upper drying chamber 5 and the lower drying chamber 6 can be replaced. The upper drying chamber 5 and the lower drying chamber 6 are respectively connected to the corresponding gas channels.

[0038] Multiple pneumatic connectors 12 are provided, each connecting to an air spring or air tank at a corresponding location on the vehicle. Multiple solenoid valves 13 are provided; switching between different gas channels via the on / off state of the corresponding solenoid valve 13 enables the inflation and deflation of the air springs. Pressure sensor 2 is used to monitor the pressure inside the gas channels. On one hand, pressure monitoring controls the gas flow rate; on the other hand, it prevents excessive pressure from causing system malfunctions.

[0039] In this embodiment, as Figure 1 As shown, all solenoid valves 13 and pressure sensors 2 are located on the same side of the valve body 1, as... Figure 2 As shown, a motor mounting slot 10 can be optionally provided on the opposite side of the solenoid valve 13 on the valve body 1, and a motor power through hole 11 is provided next to the motor mounting slot 10. The motor power through hole 11 is used to install the connector connecting the motor and the controller. The motor power is directly connected to the controller through the motor power through hole 11 inside the valve body 1, avoiding the connector bundle being exposed in the chassis environment, and solving the problem of short circuits or poor contact caused by the susceptibility of traditional external plugs to mud, water, and salt spray corrosion.

[0040] Each solenoid valve 13 and pressure sensor 2 is sealed to the valve body 1 using a potting process. The potting seal utilizes the fluidity of the liquid adhesive to completely fill the irregular gaps between the solenoid valve 13 and the valve body 1, and between the pressure sensor 2 and the valve body 1. After curing, it forms a seamless, integral sealing layer, significantly reducing leakage. The potting process further isolates the pressure sensor 2 from moisture, resulting in a more stable pressure monitoring signal and providing reliable data support for precise system control. The potting material (such as silicone rubber) has high elastic modulus and aging resistance, making it suitable for high-vibration, wide-temperature-varying environments such as automotive chassis. Alternatively, in other embodiments, each solenoid valve 13 and pressure sensor 2 can also be sealed to the valve body 1 using a crimping process.

[0041] It should be noted that the number and arrangement of solenoid valves 13, as well as the number and path of gas passages, can be reasonably arranged according to actual needs, and this application does not impose specific limitations.

[0042] During actual vehicle operation, when the air springs need inflation, gas enters the valve body 1 from the air tank and / or air inlet 3, then enters the compressor for compression. The compressed air then enters the drying chamber for drying and enters the corresponding air spring that needs inflation through the pneumatic connector 12. When the air springs need deflation, the compressed air inside the air spring enters the valve body 1 through the corresponding pneumatic connector 12, and then enters the air tank through the valve body 1. When the desiccant in the upper drying chamber 5 and the lower drying chamber 6 is saturated, exhaust is performed. The compressed air in the air tank and / or the compressed air in the air spring enters the valve body 1, then enters the upper drying chamber 5, and is discharged from the lower drying chamber 6 through the exhaust connector 4.

[0043] This utility model patent integrates core components such as solenoid valve, pressure sensor, drying chamber, and air connector into a single valve body, resulting in a more compact structure and smaller footprint. The use of potting compound for sealing assembly of each component ensures better sealing, reduces the possibility of gas leakage, and guarantees stable operation of the air suspension. Furthermore, desiccant replacement does not require the removal of other components, leading to lower maintenance costs.

[0044] Embodiments of the air suspension system of this utility model:

[0045] The air suspension system includes the air suspension gas distribution device in the above embodiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0046] In the description of this specification, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three or more, etc., unless otherwise expressly and specifically defined.

[0047] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model shall be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. An air distribution device for air suspension, used in conjunction with a controller or with a controller and a compressor, characterized in that, Includes a valve body, which has multiple gas channels and multiple gas source interfaces; the valve body is equipped with a pressure sensor, an air inlet connector, an air outlet connector, a pneumatic connector, and a solenoid valve. Multiple pneumatic connectors are provided, which are respectively connected to the air springs or air tanks at corresponding positions on the vehicle; multiple solenoid valves are provided, and the switching of different gas channels is achieved by switching the corresponding solenoid valves; pressure sensors are used to monitor the pressure inside the gas channels; all solenoid valves and pressure sensors are located on the same side of the valve body, and all solenoid valves and pressure sensors are sealed to the valve body by potting or riveting. The valve body has a motor mounting slot on the opposite side of the solenoid valve for mounting the compressor motor, and a motor power through hole is provided next to the motor mounting slot. The motor power through hole is used to install the connector connecting the motor and the controller.

2. The air distribution device for air suspension according to claim 1, characterized in that, The valve body has a drying chamber for placing desiccant. A sealing assembly is detachably connected to the opening of the drying chamber on the valve body. The drying chamber is connected to the corresponding gas channel.

3. The air distribution device for air suspension according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drying chamber is provided in one or more, and the drying chambers are interconnected. Each drying chamber has an opening, and the sealing component can be detachably installed at each opening.

4. The air distribution device for air suspension according to claim 3, characterized in that, The sealing assembly includes a plug, a sealing ring, and an elastic retaining ring. The sealing ring is fitted onto the plug, and the plug and the cavity wall of the drying chamber are slidably sealed together by the sealing ring. The cavity wall of the drying chamber is provided with a groove with an outer diameter larger than that of the plug. The elastic retaining ring is inserted into the groove and engages with the plug. The elastic retaining ring can be elastically deformed along its radial direction to be removed from the opening of the drying chamber.

5. An air suspension system, characterized in that, Includes the air distribution device for air suspension as described in any one of claims 1-4.

Images